Merry Christmas.

I stared at Scout's text. He was obviously still not talking to me. He wished me a Merry Christmas, though. It was as cold as the snow outside.

"How are you finding the Greek life, Connie?"

Drew's fiancée was doing small talk with me. She wasn't all bad. She was actually pretty cool. I just wasn't in the mood to be chatty.

"Fine."

My brother shot me a look from across the dining table, making me roll my eyes. It probably took a lot of effort for him to convince Kate to spend Christmas with us, knowing how much she was close to her own family. Right, I should play nice.

I turned to Kate, and added, "It's better than I expected."

She smiled gratefully, probably thankful that I gave her a full sentence this time. "That's great. It's too bad you didn't end up in Zeta Theta. But hey, we'll still be sisters soon," she said, glancing at Drew.

He reached out to her and kissed the back of her hand, his eyes heart-shaped as he gazed at her. Ugh, could I barf all over the dinner table?

"Tell us about that sorority you joined," my brother insisted. "We didn't get to talk much about it last Thanksgiving."

"Oh, you mean the one I 'joined' because you forced me to?"

My tone was snarkier than I intended it to be. Shit, I was really in a bad mood. My tone didn't miss Drew because his face hardened. Shit, times two.

"You really think I could've forced you to do that?" he deadpanned.

"Didn't you?"

I did not fucking want to have this conversation in front of Kate and Dad, who even though he didn't give a shit, he was still Dad. I didn't even want to look at them.

Drew, on the other hand, looked hella pissed now. "What, you think I would've stopped paying for your education just because you didn't join an organization?"

Yes, I did. But I also sort of didn't.

Ugh, fuck. My mind was all over the place.

"I'm not hungry anymore," I declared, getting to my feet and turning to Kate. She looked worried. "Thank you for dinner. It was... lovely."

"You're welcome," she said, with a little smile.

She offered to cook dinner for us tonight, which saved me from slaving away in the kitchen for the first time in fucking forever. I was grateful, even though I wasn't in the mood to show it. God, she didn't deserve my shitty attitude.

I met her eyes, looking at her apologetically. And even though she didn't say anything, she gave me a look that said she understood.

Yeah, she was cool.

I nodded to her and escaped to my bedroom.

About an hour later, someone knocked on my door. I told them to come in, and Dad came into view. I was sitting on my bed, randomly scrolling on instagram. I went back to my phone, as I waited for him to say something.

"You need to talk to your brother. He's upset."

Ah, so that was why he was in my room. His precious son was upset.

"I'll talk to him," I mumbled. Even if he didn't tell me, I was planning on doing it, anyway. Drew didn't deserve my outburst earlier.

There was silence, and I continued to scroll on my phone. I hid my surprise as Dad moved further into my room and stood right beside my bed. At this point, I had no choice but to look up at him.

He seemed awkward as shit.

"Listen, kid... I know I haven't been, uh..."

"I know," I said, saving him from saying more. He and I both knew what was up for the past few years. No need to rehash it.

He looked sad as he stared at me. "I'm sorry."

"I get it," I murmured, my eyes wandering to the window. I couldn't bear to see him sad, especially knowing that I was the reason behind it.

"I'll... I'll work on it."

I dropped my head and looked at my hands around my phone, before nodding. I didn't know what else I should say. The fact that he was willing to try again was more than enough for me.

I heard his footsteps come closer and suddenly I felt his big hand on my head. It was gentle and warm. It felt like my dad.

I missed it so fucking much.

I bit my lip to stop myself from crying, breathing deep and hard through my nose. It was a simple gesture from him, but it spoke volumes to me.

It was enough. It was more than enough.

A few minutes after Dad left my room, I went downstairs to look for Drew. I found him at the back porch smoking a cigarette.

Wow, I could say we had a back porch now.

My brother's head lifted up when I closed the back door, with his elbows on the railing as his body faced our empty backyard.

"I'll have some people work on a pool here," he said.

I stood beside him and didn't say anything.

"Can't imagine Dad swimming in it, though."

The corner of my lips curled up at the image. But I shook my head, and said, "Sorry about earlier. I was pissed, and I shouldn't have let it out on you."

He was quiet for a moment. "Why were you pissed?"

I shrugged.

"Does it have something to do with why Alfie didn't join us tonight?"

It was the first time in years that Alfie didn't eat at our house for a holiday dinner. He insisted that he join Oz and his siblings instead, since they were in town anyway. I didn't stop him.

"No," I replied. "Not really."

"Then... is it that Crimson kid?"

I didn't answer.

"Aha, it is."

"I like Kate," I admitted.

She was all bright and girly and just full of eternal sunshine – exactly what Drew needed having grown up where we did.

My brother smirked as he straightened up, knowing I was changing the subject. "She likes you, too." I watched him burn out the cigarette on the ashtray.

"Thank you."

Drew raised an eyebrow as he faced me.

"For putting up with me all these years."

Drew looked at me weird. "Is this the influence of that goody-two-shoes? 'Cause I gotta say, I fucking like it." He laughed before putting an arm around my shoulders and dragging me to him for a noogie.

Ah, shit. "Ack! Quit it, Drew!" I yelled, struggling to get free.

"You're welcome, you little nugget," Drew replied, still laughing.

"Ugh, your armpit stinks! Take a fucking shower, you dirtbag! Kate! Kate, wash your fiancé! He smells like shit!"

"Oh, I smell like shit? Wanna smell real shit?" He maneuvered me on his other arm so I was facing his back and my face was directly facing his ass.

"DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE!"

"Too late."

Yup, my motherfucking dear old brother farted right on my face.

* * * * *

Alfie was laughing again.

I didn't know if it was an act, though. He was so good at burying his problems at the back of his mind and ignoring them – until it consumed him again.

Like a pent up bottle, waiting to explode.

"Yo, remember that time I almost used Parker as a dart board?"

Kurt laughed, while Halo's eyes widened. Guess Oz didn't tell her that.

We were in the diner, sitting at our usual booth. This felt nice, I was back in my comfort zone. Honestly, I missed the crew and their dumbass clownery.

But... I missed a certain redheaded Golden Boy more.

"Yeah." Oz snorted. "Imagine the trouble we'd be in if that pushed through."

"Since when did you give a shit about that?" Alfie's eyes traveled to Halo, and he burst out laughing. "Oh, right. I forgot. You're..." he trailed off, finishing his sentence by making a whipping sound.

Oz grinned and flipped him the middle finger. Alfie made a show of catching it and placing it on his heart. I laughed through my nose.

"Aw," Alfie cooed. "You're so sweet."

Kurt sneered. "Can you still feel your dick, Oz?"

"You're welcome to touch it, dipshit," Oz dared.

"Nah, don't wanna make Halo jealous."

"I don't mind," said Halo, waving her hand dismissively.

We all gave her a funny look. Seriously, this precious girl always blurted out some shit that shocked us. We should've gotten used to it by now.

Oz looked at her like she grew another head. "Baby."

"Really?" I asked her.

"Sure." She shrugged. "So that Kurt will know what a real penis feels like."

My eyes went the roundest they'd ever gone, then I pointed to Kurt and laughed my fucking ass off.

"Ohhhhh, burn!"

Alfie howled in laughter, slapping the table and clutching his stomach. Frisco leaned forward on the table and covered his face with his arms from laughing so much. Oz buried his face in Halo's neck, his whole body shaking from laughter.

Kurt had a shit-eating grin on his face, shaking his head before saying, "A'ight, that was a hella good one."

"Dude, she burned you so hard I smelled the ashes of your soul," Alfie roared, slapping Kurt's shoulder before he was lost in another round of laughter.

"Oh! Hello, Scout!" chirped Halo.

I stilled, humor instantly gone. My heartbeat was beating crazy fast. I clenched my jaw and schooled my expression. I needed to calm the hell down.

I noticed Oz, Alfie, and Frisco's eyes land on me. But I played it cool, leaning back on my seat as I turned to the direction Halo was facing.

For the first time in days, I laid my eyes on the redheaded boy who had been plaguing my dreams. I almost cried at seeing him again. He was wearing a forest green parka, which only amplified the color of his eyes. He looked so fresh and good.

He didn't look like he was torn up like I was.

And he wasn't alone. Brody and Gaige were behind him.

"Hey," Scout greeted. He nodded to our table, careful not to look at me. "Uh, these are my friends, Brody and Gaige."

"Brothers, bro," corrected Brody, grinning at Scout.

Kurt leered. "You in a frat, Golden Boy?"

"Yeah, so?" countered Scout, daring him to say something.

Kurt just raised his hands and snickered, "Don't get your panties in a twist."

Scout turned back to his friends, subtly dismissing Kurt. I wanted to whack my big friend for being an ass.

"These were my classmates from high school," he told them.

"I'm Halo!" She waved at Brody and Gaige. "I'm still in high school."

Scout smiled warmly at her, and I tried not to get jealous because I knew Halo already belonged to Oz. But damn, I longed to see him smile at me like that again.

"Yeah, so that's Halo, Frisco—"

"Also still in high school," declared Frisco, pointing to himself.

"Weren't you there in Greek Week?" Brody asked, recognition in his eyes.

Frisco nodded. "Yeah, I was visiting Con."

Brody smiled. "Ah."

"Kurt," Scout continued with the introduction, and the big guy raised a hand. "Oz" (who only nodded) "and you know Alfie and Connie."

He didn't even look at me. Not even for a second.

Brody flashed me a wide grin. "Hey, Connie! What's u—"

"Holy shit, you're Oz Lacy!" Gaige looked like he was deadass about to cream his pants.

Oz raised an eyebrow. "Yeah?"

"Man, I—"

Brody cleared his throat, and whispered something like, "Be cool, G."

Gaige realized the whole table was looking at him, and he straightened up. "Uh, right. You know, we played against each other for State Champs last school year." He had his hands inside the pockets of his hoodie, pretending to be chill.

Wow, seeing him act this way was funny as hell.

He tried to play it cool but he was shifting on his feet like he was trying not to bounce. "Obviously, you won since you also won Nationals. Congrats," he added to the whole table to include the other guys.

"Thanks, man," Oz replied.

"So, uh, see you around." He turned around to leave and find a table, probably so he wouldn't make more of a fool of himself than he already had.

I'd never seen him so freaked out that I wanted to laugh. He was always so suave and laidback, even that night when he realized who Alfie was.

That was also the last time Scout properly looked at me.

"Nice seeing you, Connie." Brody was about to follow Gaige, but then suddenly turned back around. "Listen, can you tell Jamaica to return my calls?"

"Why would I do that?" I asked, completely forgetting that half the people on this table didn't know that we were friendly. "Maybe she finally found someone who'll give her what she wants."

He looked frustrated. "As long as she loves him, sure. But she's on a mission to..." He sighed and shook his head. "Nevermind. Thanks, anyway."

He started to walk away, but I wasn't done.

"If you don't think you deserve her, just leave her alone. Otherwise, you're just being a whiny bitch too chicken shit to do something about it," I called out to him.

I stopped when I realized Scout was looking at me, finally. God, it felt so good to have his green eyes on me again, even if they were dead as hell.

I couldn't read his expression at all.

He turned his attention to the table, and said, "See you later." With that, he went to his friends, without so much as a backward glance.

Oz, Alfie, and Frisco were looking at me now.

"How'd you know those guys, Con?" Kurt asked.

Leaning back, I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples in hopes of relaxing myself. "Scout and I go to Rutgers, remember?"

"There's something you ain't telling me, though." Kurt watched me. "Talk."

I sighed and looked outside the window. It was snowing. "I don't even know if there's still something to tell," I whispered.

"Still not talking to you, huh?" Oz asked, sounding pissed. But I felt like he also understood where Scout was coming from.

"Nope."

"Hello, feeling left out here," Kurt called, waving a hand.

"Eat your damn food," Alfie ordered.

"You eat your damn food."

I pulled out my phone to check, just in case. No notifications. I didn't even know what I was expecting. Before I could chicken out, I sent Scout a text.

"Here, have my milkshake," said Frisco.

"Don't want your goddamn milkshake."

From across the diner, I watched Scout check his phone when it lit up, read the message... aaand close it again. Shit.

"Do you want me to order you fries?" offered Halo softly, like a mother would to her impatient child.

"The fuck do I—"

I looked at Kurt. He glared at Oz who was now giving him a deadly look. Kurt pulled up his arms like he gave up.

"Fine, sure, whatever. Order me fucking fries."

Kurt then turned his glare on me, and I rolled my eyes.

I guessed it was about time. I originally planned on telling the truth to the rest of them, anyway. Halo was here, too. It was like the universe was telling me to grow a pair and just out with it.

"Make it to-go," I told Halo, before looking at Kurt. "You wanna know what's up? I'll tell you what the hell is up. But not here."

I spared another glance in Scout's direction. He had a small smile as he listened to Gaige go off about something, while Brody laughed.

This time, Halo caught me. No point in denying it, so I just shrugged a shoulder. She gave me a sad smile, like she got it.

"White House?" Oz asked, referring to his family's mansion up on the hill, with a basement that we practically lived in back in high school.

In chorus, we all replied, "White House."

_____________

I feel bad. Kurt's always left out on things. Haha

Next update: Saturday

Coming up next..... Chapter 38: Varoeldur
A much awaited confrontation with a Crimson.

#SavageMeWP