Angie took another fry and chewed on it, her eyes fixed on Christine and the way the bridge of her nose creased in disgust. "Come on, stop looking at me as if I'm eating a newborn."

"I just don't know how you can eat that," Christine's amber gaze sailed to Angie's half-eaten burger. "It's so gross and fattening."

"You're the one who suggested we come to a burger restaurant," Angie pointed out, waving another fry in her friend's direction.

"For a drink." Christine sighed and waved her hand as if to dismiss the subject. "Anyway, your body, your choice."

"Come on, it's not like I eat fast food every day. And I'll have a hard time getting fat with all the working out I do." She had put on weight, but it was mostly muscle, so she wasn't bothered.

Getting fat was a foreign concept to her anyway, seeing as she'd always eaten very little. Even now, most of the money she was making and wasn't spending on school or rent, she sent home to her family. Her dream was that in a few years she'd have enough to buy them a house outside Tucson so that her siblings could go to better schools.

"That is true. You've all buffed up considerably." Christine admired her own skinny arms as she said this. "But it certainly suits certain people."

Angie grinned. She totally agreed. "You mean Sam?"

"I mean he was always fit, but now..." Christine returned the grin. "He looks amazing."

Angie couldn't agree more. Well, not about Sam, but about Tom who had buffed up even more over the course of the months he spent eating properly. It was new and amazing how much they were changing.

Christine suddenly frowned and looked away. Angie frowned too, not sure why her mood had dropped out of the blue.

"What's up?"

"It's just..." Christine bit her lower lip, her gaze lost out the window. "Sam is... I'm a little afraid of losing him."

"Huh?" Angie dropped the fry she was holding. It fell on the white tabletop, leaving a greasy stain behind. "Where did that come from?"

"I saw him with Lisa," Christine said miserably. "They seemed very close."

"Christine, they've been friends for years. Of course they're close."

"Lisa is in love with him."

Angie bit her tongue, keeping in her impulse to deny it. Over the past few months, she'd noticed it too. She wasn't sure love was the right word, but Lisa's feelings were clearly more than platonic. And it broke Angie's heart because she liked Lisa. She was smart, friendly, funny and really did seem to know and care about Sam. Not that Christine didn't, but the two were so different.

Never in a million years would Angie have guessed Christine was the least bit insecure about... well, anything. She was a walking goddess.

"And he's too nice to shoot her down," she continued in a mournful tone. "And I just... I'm not sure how into me he actually is."

"Christine, are you kidding? He was all over you just a few hours ago."

"Not really. He's nowhere nearly as interested as Tom is in you."

Heat crept up Angie's cheeks. "Sam and Tom are different." Tom was raw and physical. Sam was a lot more cerebral and sweet. But it was so obvious that he was head over heels for Christine.

"Yeah, I know, but sometimes I wish they were more alike. I'd like Sam to be more passional, more raw." She looked away, her fists clenched.

A raw and passional Sam. Angie couldn't see it. It was like asking Jerry to suddenly be all physical. It sort of got her wondering who exactly Christine was so in love with.

"Don't get me wrong," Christine added, as though Angie's doubt showed on her face. "I like that he's so sweet and clumsy. It was part of what drew me to him. But he's never even kissed me."

"Um, what? I've actually seen you guys kissing more than once."

"Yes, he does kiss me back. But he never actually initiated it, you know?" Christine's gaze focused on the window again. "It makes me feel like I'm overbearing and he just answers so I won't bitch to him about it."

"Come on, now you're just splitting hairs," Angie mumbled. "Who keeps count of those things?"

But now that she stopped to think about it, Tom took charge most of the time and she actually had to push him back before his hands started going all over the place. Yes, she could remember times when she'd kissed him first, but he took the lead the next moment.

"I know it's probably silly, but I'm starting to appreciate Jerry's no PDA rule."

Angie was getting whiplash from how contradictory Christine's reasoning seemed to be. "Didn't you just say that--?"

"It's get overbearing looking at the rest of you," Christine continued. "Especially Kyle and Kay. Honestly, sometimes he gets a look that could set any girl on fire."

"Wha--?"

"And Jimmy's no better. When he gets that weird focus, it's like he's made out of flames. Honestly, it's like him and Jerry aren't even twins."

"How do you even notice those things?" Angie asked, shocked.

Christine shrugged. "They just stand out. I'm surprised you haven't noticed."

To be completely honest, Angie was so wrapped up in her own romance with Tom, she didn't care how other people looked at each other. She only cared how he looked at her. And how she loved that he'd given up on the sunglasses completely while around her.

"Anyway, can we go now? The subject just turned depressing," Christine said.

Angie nodded and abandoned her food. The moment they stepped outside of the restaurant she froze. There was a thin sheet of white on the sidewalk.

"Snow!" she yelled.

Her eyes rose to the sky and enjoyed the large flakes falling on her cheeks. It was so cold and wet at the same time. She fought the impulse to laugh and throw her arms out.

"Yes, snow," Christine said with a smile. "That's what happens in winter. It's almost December."

"I grew up in Arizona. I've never seen snow." She crouched and scooped out a handful. It was so crunchy, there wasn't even something to compare it to.

Christine started laughing. "Honestly, Angie, your innocence is delighting. I've never had a friend like you."

"Really?" Angie rose, dropping the smalls snowball. The affection in Christine's smile startled her a little.

"Yeah. You're not toxic at all. You're just honest and caring. I'm really happy we met. I think you're the only true friend I've ever had."

Angie smiled back, a wave of affection for Christine filling her chest. It was true that they didn't see eye to eye on a lot of things, but in the end, they were both always honest with each other and Christine was pretty protective of her in front of other people. It was a new sort of friendship for her as well.

"Maybe it's the fact that we're dating twin brothers," Christine continued, starting down the street, "but I feel like I have this bond with it. It's probably crazy."

"Maybe just a little," Angie said with a grin, falling into step with her. "Good thing that even if they're identical, they're really hard to confuse."

"Agreed. The sunglasses and the scar help a lot."

Angie tensed at the mention of Tom's scar, but Christine had a point. It did serve to tell them apart. So did the scars Tom had on his back, but Christine hadn't seen those. And if Tom wasn't touchy about it, she had no reason to be either. They just reminded her of the fact that her boyfriend had been tortured.

"I can't wait for Christmas," Christine said, stopping in front of a jewelry display. "I'm curious if I should be dropping hints already." She eyed what appeared to be a necklace composed of beady diamonds.

Angie wondered if it was real, but seeing the part of town they were in, most likely. "Wouldn't be caught dead wearing that."

"That's only for special occasions," Christine said with a laugh. "Imagine how good it would look with a long black dress with a plunging neckline and spaghetti straps." She clasped her hands together and sighed.

Angie walked on, trying to suppress her smile. Christine was a real piece of work. Angie was convinced she wasn't with Sam for his money, but that didn't mean she wasn't enjoying having a rich boyfriend. They walked on, Christine window shopping, Angie watching her amused. But she wasn't one to shop, so soon her eyes drifted towards the street.

The traffic was mild in that part of town, but finding a parking space was hard, so Angie was actually glad they'd taken a cab. Maybe they could find another one, because she wanted to go home. A black van pulled right next to them, in a no parking zone. She watched it, bored, wondering what group of shopper will come out of that one.

The side door slid open and four men in ski masks scrambled out. Angie's muscles immediately tensed, but they pushed past her and went straight for Christine. She let out a scream when two men grabbed her arms.

Angie instinctively charged at the two, punching one of them in the side. His heavy winter jacket made her hit a lot more inneffective than it should've been. He turned towards her and aimed a punch at her face. Angie ducked, casting a glance over her shoulder. Another one of them had come behind her and she lowered into a crouch and scurried away on all fours. The two charged at her. She dropped on her back and kicked one of them in the stomach, sending him tumbling against the wall of the nearest shop.

The other one didn't even have time to bend over and try to grab her before she rolled into a crouch and tripped him.

"Angie!"

She turned around. The remaining two men had grabbed Christine around the middle and were dragging her towards the black van.

"Angie, don't let them take me away!" Christine shrieked, kicking her high heel boots to no avail.

For a moment, the world froze as Angie did the math. She could escape. These men were a bunch of bumbling idiots. But even so, there was no way she could fend four of them off at the same time. So it was either her or Christine. And there was no way Angie was letting Christine get kidnapped, be alone with what she was sure were Snitch Gravel's goons. Because Christine couldn't handle it. Angie could, just like she'd done before.

So she charged and Christine and wrapped her arms around her middle. She didn't put up a fight when hands wrapped around her arms, nor when she was shoved forward into the dark van. If they wanted Christine, they would get her as well.

❄❄❄

I'm late updating, but I'm pretty sure no one noticed 😅

So yes... I warned you things won't stay nice and quiet for long. Who do you think are the men? Is Angie right and they're Snitch Gravel's or maybe someone wants Christine for another reason?

I'm also curious how you feel about Christine and Angie and their friendship.

Thanks so much for reading. Stay tuned for the aftermath 😁

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