Chapter 34: Blizzard

--about three weeks later--

~June's POV~ Don't you just hate it when you do a lot of hard work and in the end you find out it was all for nothing?

I hate it too.

Because that's exactly what happened to me.

All the hard work myself and the rest of the Dance Committee did for the Christmas Gala practically went to waste.

Why, you ask?

Because there ended up being no Christmas Gala at all.

Again, why, you ask?

Because the day it was supposed to happen, we got snowed in by a huge blizzard--the weather man even said it might be the biggest blizzard Japan's ever seen.

What fortunate timing...

Of course, Sayaka called me and said we were rescheduling the Gala for somewhere after New Years.

So, instead of it being a Christmas Gala, it'll be more of a New Years Gala instead, although we won't be changing the name.

Fortunately, however, the blizzard lasted all throughout the rest of the semester which meant we were all now officially on winter break.

Also, fortunately, that meant we got to miss mid-term exams, even though it was clear they, along with the Christmas Gala, would be held off only until we all got back from break. The blizzard should be over by then.

At least it gave us all more time to study.

"Junebug!"

I turned from my spot at the bay window to see my brother Jesse standing on a step ladder against our Christmas tree. "Can you get me the star to put on top?"

I looked to the side and saw that the tree topper was laying on one of the TV trays. I stood, grabbed it, and handed it to Jesse.

He took it with a smile. "Thanks." He stood tall on the step ladder as he placed it on top of the tree, completing the decorating.

Jesse got off the step ladder. "Ladies and gentlemen, this tree has officially been Jessified!" he said, his arms making a big gesture.

I rolled my eyes and chuckled. Christmas with my family is always... interesting.

"Sure, Jesse," Erin said as she hung her special hockey-stick-shaped ornament. "Whatever you say."

I had already hung my special gymnastics ornament that was in the shape of a gymnast doing a flip.

"So," Jesse hummed as he took a step back, admiring the tree. "June, how are you and your boyfriend~?"

I froze. So did Erin.

"Uh, Jesse, you know Leo isn't my boyfriend anymore..." I said.

"Yeah, bro, so keep your mouth shut." Erin snapped at him.

Jesse glared at her. "No, dumbass, I wasn't talking about that bastard Leo! I'm glad he's gone from your lives! If you don't remember correctly, I almost drove down to Hope's Peak to beat the shit out of him, and I would've too if you guys hadn't taken away my car keys," he said, and I remembered that well. "I'm talking about your new boyfriend! Byakuya."

I felt my hands tighten and start to sweat as I also felt heat creeping up my cheeks. "W-What are you talking about...?"

Jesse rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on, Junebug. Anyone with half a brain can see you too still have those feelings of insane love towards each other! Even after all these years! Surprise surprise... NOT!" He snickered.

I glared at him. "Look, I get that I liked Byakuya--"

"That's a big, fat understatement." Jesse said.

"--back then but... that was years ago. And we just got our friendship put back together. I don't want to rush into anything new. Besides, Byakuya never felt the same way. He only ever saw me as a friend. Also, I don't like him like that anymore." I said.

Liar, liar, pants on fire.

I heard Erin snort.

I looked at her. "Excuse me?"

Erin's eyes widened before she looked away. "N-Nothing... I just had a tickle in the back of my throat, that's all..." she said.

Okay then...

Suddenly, I felt a buzz in my pocket. Then music was heard.

I pulled out my phone.

I was getting a FaceTime request from Byakuya.

Wait... how did he even get my FaceTime? I never gave it to him...

I noticed Jesse was peering over my shoulder. "Oooh~! It looks like your boyfriend is FaceTiming you~! You should answer."

I shot my brother another glare. "Jesse, bite me." I snapped.

Jesse held his hands up in defense. "Okay, okay, okay... Message received..." he mumbled.

After that, I took my phone to my room and shut the door before I made sure I locked it too.

Then, I answered Byakuya.

His face popped up on my phone's screen, smiling. "Hello, June." he said.

I smiled back. "Hey, Byakuya," I said. "Also, how do you have my FaceTime?"

Byakuya smirked. "I have my resources."

I chuckled.

"Where are you?" he asked.

"In my room. At home. We're snowed in. I'm guessing you are too?"

Byakuya groaned. "Bingo," he said. "I have nothing else to do, so... here I am."

"Aren't you getting ready for Christmas? It's coming up soon, you know."

Byakuya looked down. "No. I'm not. My parents are on business in Australia right now and won't be back until after New Years and when we're all back in school. So, I guess I won't be having a Christmas this year."

"What?" I asked, immediately feeling sorry for him. "Byakuya, I'm sorry. I didn't know. I'd ask you to spend Christmas with my family, but..."

"We're snowed in," Byakuya finished for me. "It's okay. It's fine."

I sighed. "Okay. I'm disappointed; I mean, I had a present for you and everything."

Byakuya's eyebrows shot up. "You... you got me a present...?"

I nodded. "Yeah, of course."

Byakuya scratched the back of his neck. "Well, I feel like a jerk... mainly because I didn't get you anything... I guess I forgot."

I shrugged. "It's okay. I almost forgot myself. I mean, it was Jesse who reminded me."

"Really? If I remember correctly, Jesse isn't the type of person that usually has a sharp memory..."

I giggled. "Yeah, you remember correctly."

"How come he remembered this time?"

I blushed as I remembered how Jesse had reminded me. "Uh... well... he just did, I guess..."

Jesse had reminded me by saying I should get Byakuya a ring for Christmas and ask him to marry me...

Of course, I wasn't going to tell Byakuya that. Some things are really better left unsaid.

This being one of them.

"Hm... Alright then," Byakuya said. "Anyhow, I guess I'll get to make up for not getting you a gift when you and Erin's birthday rolls around."

"Um... Byakuya?"

"Yes?"

"Erin and I's birthday was a little over a month ago... In fact, it was the day you saved me from Leo."

"Huh. I guess I forgot. Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was too busy watching you beat the crap out of Leo to think about my birthday or anything else, really."

Byakuya nodded. "That makes sense."

"Yep."

Five seconds of awkward silence passed.

"So... I'm guessing I should give you your gift when school is back in session...?" I said.

"Yes, that'd be great." Byakuya said.

More awkward silence.

"Hey, Byakuya! Who ya' talkin' to???"

Byakuya's head suddenly shot up before he groaned.

"Byakuya, who was that?" I asked.

Byakuya had an annoyed look on his face. "Takahiro. He came to spend Christmas with me even though I never really asked him to."

I suddenly saw Takahiro's face appear on the screen. His eyes widened. "Woah, cous', you're talkin' to that hot chick that you're madly in lo--"

"Wow, would you look at the time," Byakuya said. "Sorry, June, I've got to go. See you at school! Merry Christmas!"

Byakuya went offline and just like that our discussion was over.

Well. That wasn't weird at all...

I leaned back in my chair and sighed. This was Christmas break, which meant we were halfway through the school year. Already, so much has happened--I got a boyfriend. I broke up with said boyfriend. Byakuya and I became friends again. I made a bunch of new friends at Hope's Peak. I also realized my feelings for Byakuya are still in tact.

Woo-hoo. That means I get to go through another friendship with him not noticing me...!

What fun.

Well, at least I have him as a friend again... I guess that's better than nothing.

Still.

I wish he liked me the way I liked him; I wish the feeling was mutual.

However, no matter how much I wish or dream, it doesn't change the facts.

Byakuya and I are never going to happen.

Merry Christmas to me.