SAM

"So..." Griffin's voice echoed, bouncing around the bathroom and smacking Sam in the face. "The guy you were trying to make jealous was Ned Flowers?"

Sam groaned, rubbing his face and wishing he could manually erase the last few hours and he really wished Griffin would stop giggling about it. His life wasn't meant ot be someone else's comedy special. This was a tragedy. Not a comedy.

"Because you were jealous of me?"

"I don't remember asking for a therapy session. Especially, not from you." Sam looked up at the speckled ceiling. "Why did you even agree to come tonight, if you already had a date?"

"I was helping a friend. Maggie sent a picture of you and you looked good."

"Did you at least let Ned down gently?" Sam asked, pulling out his phone and wondering if Ned has texted him at all.

The beat of silence was too long for Sam's liking. He busted through the door, looking horrified at Griffin and his casual pose, leaning against one of the porcelain sinks like it was funny, like this was the best game ever.

Sam's eyes widened. "You told Ned, right? You cancelled on him, right?"

Griffin shrugged a little. "I guess, I forgot. Whoops."

"Whoops?" Sam gawked and took a step forward. "Whoops?! You stand a guy up and all you have to say is whoops? What's your damage?" He checked the time and his stomach dropped. "It's been an hour and he's just sitting there, waiting on you."

Griffin had the nerve to roll his eyes. "Oh, please, who would stay an hour after someone's supposed to meet you there?"

"Ned!" Sam shouted, hands out in desperation. "Ned Flowers would stay because what if you do show up? And he's not there? He'd feel terrible because news flash asshole! Some people have a heart."

Griffin laughed all by himself. "We went from making-out to you calling me an asshole fast. Usually, someone has to talk to me at least a week before we get there."

Sam couldn't take it anymore. A burst of heat ripped through Sam's chest right to his head, until he was seeing red. "You have to call him."

Griffin snorted. Unmoving. "No way. That sounds painful and awkward and I won't do it."

His jaw tight, Sam took a breath. "You- you have to—!"

"I don't have to do anything."

"But—but you'll see him later. At gym, right?"

"I'm not taking gym next semester. You're his friend. You should tell him. Oh," Griffin said as the corners of his mouth twisted. "But you can't, because then you have to explain how you figured it out."

Sam Hayes had officially caught fire. "Fuck you."

"Oh, don't be mad," Griffin said and reached for Sam's arm as he was exiting the bathroom, but knew better than to purposely singe himself and let his hand dropped. "Come on. If you stay mad, everyone's gonna bust my balls. Can't you just let it go? I didn't even know you or Ned or your whole weird thing."

"Th-that shouldn't matter. Ned's a human person that deserves at least, a text. And..." Sam thought his jaw was gonna break, he was tightening it so much. "Maybe my sister shouldn't even be friends with someone like you."

"Sam," Griffin called after him. "Chill a little. You know, we could actually be a great thing."

"A great thing? I don't- I don't want a thing to do with you!"

"Sam!"

Almost running his sister over, Margaret came hurtling at Sam like she was about to destroy the dinosaurs. "Maggie, what's–" Sam flushed again, suddenly super aware of his messed-up hair, his half-untucked shirt, and loosened tie. He didn't leave the bathroom the same at all.

"Sam, Ned's here."

Sam's heart plummeted to his toes. "He's what?"

"See you later, Sam," Griffin announced and teleported away. Fuming, Sam reached out to grab him and yank him back, Margaret grabbed his arm to keep the attention on her.

"Sam, tell Ned to get out of here before his drunk ass embarrasses us."

Sam blinked at his sister. This must be a fever dream caught on by fumes in the bathroom. "But... Ned's never had a drop of alcohol in his life. Are you sure it's Ned?"

"I know what Ned Flowers looks like, Sam."

"Okay, okay," Sam finally surrendered to his sister as she grabbed his wrist and dragged him across the gymnasium floor and a horrible realization took Sam by surprise. This was the same gymnasium where Griffin asked Ned out. The irony was so strong, Sam felt nauseous, like powerful ocean waves had finally come to take him out to sea.

There were too many people here for Sam to have a mental breakdown. As his mother always said, psychiatric breaks should be saved for when they get home.

"SAM!"

Sam straightened, sucking in a breath that snugged on the way up his chest. His face immediately flushed red hot. At least the whole room was bathed in red and green to hide his embarrassment, but more importantly to hide his shame.

Crashing into the room, not only Ned, but Indie and Lena walked into the gym like hotdogs in red velvet cake. Good most of the time, but not in Sam's cake. Ned ran right into one of the Christmas trees and it almost crashed into the floor before they all caught it and tried jimmying it back into place. Unlike usual, they didn't seem bothered to be stared at or to be at the center of attention. Then, Ned's eyes landed on Sam and his entire being brightened, his face pulling into a grin and he dashed over.

"Sam!" Ned called his name again. His floppy hair was a bit of a mess and he was catching his breath. His cheeks pinched pink and green eyes glassy.

What on earth was going on?

"Ned, what are you doing here?" Sam asked, catching himself before asking about his date and what happened with that because it felt too much like a lie and Sam was tired of lying today. It wouldn't be a harmless white lie. This lie would aim to kill.

"Sam!" Ned came running like a puppy returning to its master but stopped. His running faded to a slow walk as he looked Sam up and down. Sam's insides squirmed. He could tell, couldn't he? He could just take one look at him and know what he was just up to. Sam wanted to die.

"Wow," Ned said, breathlessly. "I've... I've never seen you in a suit. You look..." he cleared his throat, bathed in the same red glow, but now Sam wished it would disappear. "You look amazing."

"Oh?" Sam picked up his tie just to let it fall. A small party broke out in his heart. His red blood cells were shooting off confetti cannons and jumping into swimming pools. This was becoming the most confusing day in his life: the best, the absolute worst, and something more. "It's um nothing. Um, what are you doing here?"

"I did it! I did it! Look!"

Confused, Sam was too busy trying to get a look at Ned's face and his appearance to find anywhere where his best friend was hurt. If the inside hurt was bleeding into the outside. "I don't understand. What did you..." Sam was at a loss of words as Ned pulled a small lawn gnome from his backpack.

But it wasn't just any lawn gnome.

This lawn gnome had a pair of sunglasses super glued to his face.

This was The Gregor.

Sam's jaw unhinged, dropped, and crashed onto the confetti covered dance floor. "Is that..." His voice came out small and strained. "Is that really The Gregor?" He held his hands up, wavering in the air with the want to touch it, but unsure if he could.

"What do you think?" Ned just grinned brighter and presenting it to Sam like a favor given to a white knight at the renaissance fair. The Gregor was just like he remembered from his childhood. The sunglasses were less shiny than he pictured and his red hat and grey shoes were a little scuffed. He was also heavier than Sam thought... more real and concrete inside his hands. This was hard to believe.

"Ned Flowers!" Margaret hollered as she caught back up with Sam. "I don't know what you're planning, but you're not going to ruin tonight for me—holy shit!"

Margaret pressed herself against Sam's shoulder, nearly shoving her nose against the little gnome. "That's not real." She laughed, pulling herself back up. "There's no- no way!"

"It's real, Maggie!" Indie held their hands up in victory. "Everyone bask in our awesomeness!"

"We're heroes." Lena held up two peace signs and started finger-gunning the crowd, confirming that they were definitely tipsy (with the exception of Indie, who seemed to be acting like their usual self).

A horde of people had begun to form around them and Sam felt like he was put on center stage. Swallowing, Sam wiped his hands on his pants and held The Gregor. He shook his head. "I feel like I'm dreaming. How did you get him? And where? And—I have so many questions, but let's get out of here first. Let's talk outside."

He touched Ned's arm, trying to maneuver them towards the exit.

"Wait, Sam," Ned said and grabbed Sam back. "I have to talk to you."

"Yes, you can tell me, but let's go outside first."

"Step right up!" Indie announced. "You can rub The Gregor for five bucks a pop!"

The crowd started humming with chatter and wonder. Some people even started taking video and pictures of The Gregor.

People were talking, "Who's that guy?"

"Is that really The Gregor?"

"I've never seen it up close."

"Ned!" Ned announced with his arms out. "I, Ned Flowers has successfully obtained The Gregor!"

"Put this away," Sam insisted, putting The Gregor back into Ned's arms. "We're not doing this here. Outside. Now. Guys!"

"What's the big deal?" Lena asked.

"Nothing—"

"Whoa."

Ned's laughter faded. His whole face twisted away from joy to pure confusion. The back of Sam's neck hair stood. He turned slowly to find Griffin, covering his mouth to hide his snickering.

"Okay," he said to Sam who was ready to die. "I'm really happy with my decisions tonight."

"Hey, you," Ned said, pointing right at Griffin. "You. You—what are you doing here?"

Griffin shrugged. Unbothered as a spider in the corner of the room. Too intimidating to attack. Too high to reach. "Just enjoying the Holidays."

"But you—you were supposed to meet up with me."

"Yeah, about that I changed my mind and obviously for good reason." He snorted and it hit Ned like a shove. He was drawn back and Sam immediately tried pushing him back towards the exit. Ned didn't budge. Griffin and him just walked closer to each other and it felt like all the walls were caving in around Sam.

"You look crazy," Griffin continued to mock Ned. "I really did a number on you, huh?"

"You're not allowed to laugh at me. You're the asshole. You should feel bad. You should apologize."

"Should I? That's news to me. I'm totally fine. You're the only one bothered by it."

"Who is this guy?" Lena asked, trying hard to focus.

"Yeah, Sam," Griffin said, his mouth curling wickedly. "Tell them who I am."

"You know who this is?" Ned asked.

"Um." Sam's brows furrowed. "We just met."

"This is the guy that stood me up," Ned announced to the group and Lena gawked.

"What?" Margaret gasped. "Oh, no!" She went sheet white and Sam wished for once that his sister would keep her big mouth shut. "I've made a horrible mistake."

"What? Why?" Ned asked.

The tension was getting thicker. It was getting harder to breathe. The lights were too bright. The music too loud. And everyone was too close. Griffin rested his elbow on Sam's shoulder, tilting his head so he'd touch Sam's poof of curls. "Sam, you wanna tell them, or should I?"

"Get off him."

Ned knocked Griffin's arm off Sam and gave the guy a quick shove. Griffin brightened as if this was the exact reaction he wanted and he took a step towards Ned, ready to break something open, but Sam jumped in-between them. He put his hands on them both and kept them back. "Stop it. We are not fighting at the choir charity Christmas Party."

"You're a bad person," Ned told Griffin, who just laughed more.

"A bad person you seemed to like enough."

"Stop it! Griffin," Sam snapped. "Go away."

Raising his hands like two white flags, Griffin started to walk away. He smiled teasingly at Ned but turned his gaze on Sam to give him a wink. Ned bucked at him again and Sam put both his hands on Ned's shoulder to hold him back. A slew of questions came pouring out of everyone.

"Was that really the guy?" was Lena.

Maggie jumped in "Where did The Gregor come from?"

"Sam, how did you meet?" was Indie.

It all just became a wall of noise, but none of it matter. Everything just turned into noise when he looked at Ned and the hurt in his eyes. They just stood there, unable to stay anything. Sam just shook his head, sickened by the thought Griffin and him almost got into a fist fight that Ned could've gotten hurt. Sam didn't like that something happened tonight that he didn't know about, that didn't include him.

Then, a teacher appeared out of nowhere as if from the floor, parting the crowd with crossed arms and a glare like a threat. She read English teacher by the chain on her glasses and her ability to not mince words. "Get out. All of you. Party's over."

"Yeah," Margaret said, matching the teacher from head to toe. "I can't believe you guys."

"All of you." The teacher sighed.

Margaret gawked and suddenly, Sam had to usher everyone out the gymnasium like a shepherd to baby sheep. Sighing, he glanced back at the party one last time when someone's fingers slipped between his and pulled. Sam snapped his eyes down to find Ned's and his own hand perfectly connected. His hand was cold, but soft and Sam's face warmed again.

He couldn't utter a single word for five whole minutes. 

AUTHOR'S NOTE

In this house, we like drama. 

And so the boys have reunited (in the school parking lot)! Now the question is: will Ned tell Sam his feelings with The Gregor as his good luck charm? Has Ned wildly changed like he thought he would? And where are the cheerleaders? Do you think the girls will be able to hunt them down? 

All comments are appreciated, printed, and put on my fridge. And if you like this book, don't forget to add it to your library to better keep up with updates. A vote would be cool too ~