Sterling

As Sterling approached Celeste and her ex, he caught snippets of their conversation.

"Who was that guy?" the guy demanded. He got closer and closer to Celeste while she shrank back. "I haven't seen him before. Was he just some stranger, or were you...?"

Celeste straightened up, her green eyes blazing. "Excuse me? What does it matter to you? You're the one who asked for this stupid 'break,' Jared!" She hooked her fingers around the word.

The guy, Jared, scoffed. "Well, I didn't think you'd move on so quickly—"

That was it—Sterling's limit. He didn't tolerate people talking to women like that. He strode forward and came up behind the both of them, looming over Jared.

"What's going on here?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Jared spun around, and his eyes practically bugged out of his head when he saw Sterling standing there. Bartending wasn't the only work Sterling picked up—he'd also moonlighted as a bouncer from time to time. He knew how to intimidate.

"You've got to be kidding me," Jared muttered, his eyes darting between Sterling and Celeste. "What is he doing here?"

Sterling stepped in between him and Celeste, shielding her with his body.

"Jared, just forget it," Celeste muttered from behind him. She was back to folding in on herself. She had gone pink again and was shielding her face like she was reliving their encounter from last night.

"What is he to you, Cee?"

"Please, just—"

"Jared?"

Sterling turned towards the new voice and found the little blonde from last night standing at the edge of the diner counter. She was eyeing the three of them with raised eyebrows, but as soon she made sense of the scene—glancing between Celeste and Jared—she grinned.

This girl was trouble.

"There you are," she said, her voice going sing-song. "The group is sitting over here, Jarey."

Jarey? Sterling wanted to gag.

When Jared didn't make a move, the girl just giggled, reached out, and grabbed his hand—

Next to him, Celeste bristled at the sight of it. Her eyes got that strange hardness he'd seen last night, right before she...

Wait. Oh no... Not this again.

Celeste grabbed hold of his arm and nestled in close like she was his girlfriend or something. Sterling wanted to shake her off—he did not want to get involved in this any more than he already was—but that would've been mean, especially in front of her ex and his new girlfriend.

He could pretend for a few minutes to help Celeste save face. Besides, he'd be out of Winter Grove by the new year...

"So, who's this?" Celeste said, still clinging to him. Her voice was all high and sweet as she stared daggers at her ex. "Aren't you going to introduce us, Jared?"

Jared just stood there, mouth gaping like he was in shock or something.

The girl didn't hesitate. She pulled Jared close and snuggled up to him. "I'm Rebecca," she said, smiling brightly. "I've heard so much about you... Cecelia, was it?"

"No, it's Cel—" Jared began, finally finding his voice.

"It's Celeste," Sterling corrected. After all, that's what a good boyfriend would do.

Celeste shot him a quick look of thanks.

"Oopsie," Rebecca giggled like it was all an innocent mistake. "So, Celeste, are you going to the Christmas Tree Festival tonight?"

Celeste tightened her grip on Sterling's arm, and he fought a wince. "I-I don't know...."

"We're going," Rebecca continued, barely listening to Celeste's answer. "Jared said he had plans, but they fell through so... Lucky me!" She giggled and snuggled in closer.

Sterling could feel Celeste trembling next to him, her shaking echoing up his arm. He guessed that she had been the plans that fell through. Poor girl...

"What a coincidence! My plans fell through, too," Celeste said, though her voice shook ever so slightly, "but now Sterling's taking me to the festival."

What?!

He looked down at her. That was a step too far. There was no way he was going to let himself get dragged to a festival—especially a Christmas one. He opened his mouth to object—

But as she looked back at him, he saw the panic in her striking green eyes.

He kept his mouth shut.

"Oh, great! Then I guess we'll see you there!" Rebecca cheered. "But the others are waiting for us, Jarey, so... Come on!"

Jared just looked stunned as she dragged him away... right past Alicia.

Alicia watched them go and then turned to the two of them, still standing so close. Her eyebrows slowly raised. Almost immediately, Celeste leapt back from Sterling as if he had tased her.

"I think I lost my appetite," Alicia said, looking after Jared and Rebecca

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"I'm so sorry!" Celeste said for what felt like the millionth time. She was trailing after Sterling as they made their way through the wintery streets, Alicia leading the way. "I'm so, so, so sorry! I didn't know why I said that!"

Sterling just took a long drink from his coffee. At least the coffee was good—unlike this whole situation. Alicia was no help, of course. She was focused on trying to stifle her laughter, but she wasn't doing a very good job.

He pinched at the bridge of his nose. He had a killer headache coming on, even though he didn't even drink last night.

"That girl showed up, and she just started rubbing it in," Celeste continued babbling, waving her hands around, "and Jared was just standing there, and so I... I..."

Alicia looked back over her shoulder. "So you told them Sterling was taking you to the Christmas Tree Festival?" she finished for her friend, a giggle escaping.

Celeste groaned and let her head hang. "I panicked! I just wanted that girl to shut up! She was all—" she mocked the girl's high, sugary voice, "—'his plans fell through' and I wanted to just... Ugh!" She threw her arms into the air.

Sterling just scoffed at how ridiculous it all was. Between the over-the-top holiday cheer and now this, Winter Grove was turning out to be his own personal nightmare.

"What was I supposed to say, though?" Celeste continued, her voice dwindling as her shoulders sank further down. "I couldn't admit the truth. 'Oh, don't worry, Jared, we're not together! I just kissed Sterling because I thought it'd make you jealous! Now run off and enjoy the festival with your new girlfriend and I'll stay home and be sad and alone for all of Christmas!' Yeah, that'd be much less humiliating."

"Wait, I'm confused," Sterling said, speaking for the first time in blocks, "won't it be more humiliating when they're looking for us at the Festival and we don't show up?"

Alicia shot him a look like that had been the exact wrong thing to say.

Celeste's face went white. "Oh my god. I hadn't even thought of that. I hadn't even thought of that! If we don't go, they'll suspect something's up, right? I'll look like a total—"

Sterling hurried to fix it. "Maybe I'm wrong, maybe no one will notice...."

"This is Winter Grove—people will notice," Celeste muttered. Then her face brightened as if she had just been struck by an idea. "Wait... What if you actually come to the Christmas Tree Festival with me?"

"What?" he sputtered, aghast.

"Not for real!" she quickly corrected. "Not a real date. It would just be for an appearance, just to be seen, so no one starts asking questions!"

Sterling just stared at her. He didn't know what to say. "Uh..."

But reality quickly caught up with Celeste, and her face fell again. "Oh my god, of course not. Of course not! What was I thinking? Of course you'd say no!"

"I didn't say—"

"Forget what I said. It was stupid of me to ask. I'll... I'll figure something else out, like, maybe transfer to another university, or leave the country, or change my name...."

"You will do no such thing!" Alicia said, turning around. She was stepping in at last.

Celeste's eyes were wild with desperation. "But how am I going to show my face after—"

"It's going to be fine," Alicia said, her voice nice and slow and calm. She put her hands on Celeste's shoulders. "You're just tired and hungover. You're not thinking clearly."

Celeste didn't look convinced. "But—"

"Cee, you need to breathe before you pop a blood vessel or something," Alicia said, squeezing Celeste's shoulders. "Don't worry. I'll help you figure something out, okay? It's going to be fine."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," Alicia said. "But you need to chill out. Why don't you head home and recover while I finish walking Sterling back to Olly's place?"

"O-Okay," Celeste agreed. She was finally calming down.

"On my way back I'll stop by that bakery on Mirth Street and pick us up some cinnamon buns for breakfast. You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

Celeste nodded and even managed a smile. "Yeah, I would."

"Great. Then I'll drop Sterling off, go get them, and see you back at the apartment. Alright?"

"Alright," Celeste said, almost dazed.

Alicia nudged Celeste. "Off you go, then. I'll see you soon."

Celeste did as she was told, heading off in the opposite direction—then she paused, and she turned around, her green eyes flashed to Sterling. "I'm sorry. Again." She managed a little wave before turning back and walking away.

Sterling waited until she was out of earshot before turning to Alicia. "Is she always like that?"

"No, she's not." Alicia sighed and shook her head. "She's usually so... level-headed. She always has a plan, but...."

"That breakup really threw her for a loop, huh?" Sterling said, sipping at his coffee.

"It really did, poor girl," Alicia said. She sounded worried. "She's been so impulsive and making all sorts of rash decisions." She turned to him and gave him a little smirk. "Though I guess you know that."

"Oh, do I..." Sterling grimaced as he thought of the kiss. It hadn't been bad, as far as kisses went, but as far as he was concerned, that was the end of his involvement. He didn't want to get dragged any further into any of these games. "I can't imagine what was going through her head."

"Heartbreak makes you do crazy things," Alicia said with a sigh. "But truth be told, I'm a little worried about Celeste. More than a little. I hate leaving her like this. She's already a total mess, and now she's going to be alone for the holidays...."

"Too bad," Sterling agreed. He knew how hard it could be to spend Christmas on your own. He was used to it now, of course, but he had to admit it had taken him a while to build up his defences. But this was whole new territory for someone like Celeste. He felt bad for her...

But what could he do? This wasn't his problem. He barely knew the girl.

"But at least Olly said he'd keep an eye on her," he reminded Alicia.

Alicia clicked her tongue, unsatisfied. "Olly was kind to offer, but he's so busy with the holiday rush I don't know how he'll even manage it. She needs someone to keep a close eye on her...."

Then her eyes sparked to life as if something had just occurred to her. She turned to stare at him as a smile spread across her face.

He took an involuntary step back. He didn't like that look in her eyes...

"Sterling," she said. "I have a favor to ask...."

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