Alicia

By the look of it, everyone in town had signed up for the Winter Grove Games. The town square, cleared of booths, was densely packed with people. Alicia and Sterling waited for the others at the crowd's edge beneath the massive tree that twinkled in green.

"I'm sorry," Alicia said, looking up at her friend. He was looking even grumpier than usual. "I really am."

"You can keep saying it," Sterling grumbled, "but it's not going to change the fact that we're already here."

Alicia sighed. "I know, and it's my fault. I'm really, really..."

"Sorry," Sterling finished for her, letting out a breath that curled out in clouds. "I know."

He closed his eyes briefly, as though he was trying to master himself before they snapped open again, and he rounded on her.

"What were you even thinking, Alicia? One second you're mocking this whole thing, the next you're volunteering for it!"

"I don't even know," Alicia said with a wince. "Zeke was being such a jerk, and I just wanted to get back at him, punish him, and—"

Sterling's sour facade fell away. "And yet we're the ones being punished."

"Yeah," Alicia said. "It was stupid, I know. I'm really..."

Sterling raised his gloved hand to stop her. "Don't you dare say it."

"Fine," Alicia said, finally cracking a smile. "You could leave, you know."

Sterling eyed her. "You could too."

But Alicia just shook her head. "No I can't."

She had gotten herself into this mess. The least she could do was see it through.

"And neither can I," Sterling said. "Celeste would be disappointed."

"If you really didn't want to stay, she would understand," Alicia offered.

"Exactly," Sterling said with a knowing smile. "She would understand, because she's good like that, and that's exactly why I don't want to disappoint her."

"Neither do I," Alicia muttered to herself.

"You're lucky I'd do anything for Celeste," Sterling said. "But you're going to have to make up for dragging me into this somehow."

"Of course. What do you want?"

"I don't know... I'll think of something."

From afar, as though she had been summoned, Celeste's voice rang out. "ALICIA! STERLING!"

Alicia and Sterling looked over.

Celeste, her parents, and Zeke headed their way. Celeste rushed forward to hug Alicia and pull Sterling into a quick kiss. Alicia hadn't had a chance to say it, but she agreed with Sterling.

She didn't want to disappoint Celeste either.

As her parents and Zeke caught up, Alicia noticed that Zeke was expressionless, like he was trying to detach from the whole thing.

"How are you?" she asked, tentatively

Zeke didn't even look at her. "Fine."

Alicia noticed his mom shot a look at him. Zeke just shook his head before clearing his throat.

"Sterling," Zeke started.

Sterling looked at him, his face blank with shock. Celeste looked on, her eyes narrowing, her body tensing in anticipation...

"Y-Yeah?" Sterling asked.

"I just wanted to say that I am sorry for how I spoke to you last night," Zeke said. His voice was monotone. "I hope we can put this whole thing behind us and start out on a better foot."

It took Sterling a second to process it. He blinked a few times before he replied. "I... I'd like that."

Zeke held out his hand, and Sterling took it. Alicia had to look at Celeste to see if her eyes were playing tricks on her, but Celeste looked just as shocked.

It was really happening.

Herb clapped at the sight. "Now, isn't that nice?"

"The true meaning of Christmas," his wife agreed. "Good will towards our fellow man."

Zeke didn't respond; he just kept staring off into space with a blank look.

Hope flooded through Alicia, and she couldn't stop a smile from spreading across her face. With Zeke being so cordial, there was a chance for them yet!

If only they could keep this good thing going...

The speakers crackled to life. The Mayor had climbed onto a stage at the other edge of the crowd and was waving a mic around. "What a turnout! Thank you all for joining us for our first Winter Grove Games! Today is our Fruitcake Fling. Now we'll be playing in heats, so please head to the sign-up table with your partner so you know which heat you're scheduled for. Now, if you have questions..."

"Partner?" Celeste asked, confused. "I thought the poster said 'fun for the whole family' not just part of it."

Fortunately, her dad was armed with a brochure that had all the details, and he was reading through it. "Well, look around," he said without glancing up. "Families come in all shapes and sizes, and it wouldn't be fair if it were eight against three."

Alicia did as he said and looked around. He was right. All kinds of families had turned out for the games—extended families from as many as twelve, some couples, and a few single parents. The larger families were already splintering into smaller groups, with each kid getting paired with a parent, older sibling, or grandparent.

"I guess that makes sense," Alicia said.

Herb nodded in agreement. "So, we'll break into teams of two and compete against each other. Won't that be fun? A little healthy competition is a good way to get rid of some aggression..."

"Do we get to choose our teams?" Lydia asked, taking her husband's arm. "If we do, I choose you, my love!"

"I believe we do," Herb laughed. "And I choose you, too, my love. As always."

As Herb and Lydia grinned at each other, something dawned on Alicia. With this new structure, it was very possible that Zeke and Sterling wouldn't spend any time together at all.

She turned and spotted Sterling and Celeste already leaning close together. She had to think of something fast—

Alicia threw herself between them, lacing her arm with Celeste's and pulling her away.

"I call Celeste for my partner!" she cried.

"Huh?" Celeste muttered. "But I was going to partner with Sterling—"

Sterling already realized what Alicia was doing.

"Alicia..." he warned.

"Oh, please be my partner!" Alicia said to Celeste. "I haven't gotten to spend any time with you lately."

Celeste looked confused. "What are you talking about? You're my roommate. We live together. I see you everyday—"

"B-But you've been so busy!" Alicia interjected before pulling Celeste closer to whisper in her ear. "Trust me on this, Cee."

Celeste only looked more confused, but she nodded.

Alicia glanced at Sterling, who was glaring daggers at her once again. But when Celeste caught his eye, he softened immediately. If Celeste wanted it, Sterling would give it to her.

Meanwhile, Zeke still looked like he was a thousand miles away. Sterling took a deep breath and turned to him.

"Guess it's you and me, buddy," Sterling said, trying his best to be friendly.

"I guess it is," Zeke said, his voice flat.

"It'll be fun!" Alicia offered. "We can face off, girls against guys!"

"Oh, I think that's a great idea," Lydia piped in and shot another significant look at her son. "And a great way to get to know someone, too."

Zeke just looked annoyed, though not enough to put up a fight. "Oh yeah. It's going to be just great."

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