SAM

Staring up at the former house of Gregory Hines, Sam took a deep breath. The length of the day was finally weighing on him. He was dizzy with exhaustion. The brief car ride over nearly sucked him into a nap like quicksand, something that only became harder to avoid the more he struggled.

If he thought Ned could do it, Sam might've asked Ned to carry him across the lawn. It didn't help that once Lena and Ned reunited, they hadn't stopped talking to each other. Ned regaled the parts of the night she missed while Lena explained that she had been able to keep up on social media.

Ned's eyes sparkled at a drowsy Sam.

"We're famous," he said.

"We're fucked," Sam argued.

Maybe Sam could've gotten away with a power nap, but Jason needed directions. Back at the Christmas Walk, Sam and Ned were running for Lena's car. He knew Ned had betrayed the cheerleaders with that wallet stunt. Ned didn't need a wallet. He didn't have a license, let alone a permit, and he didn't have any cash or cards. The only money Ned received was from the odd babysitting job and that money disappeared fast.

Sam knew about the coupon wallet.

Always strapped on cash, Ned relied on promos, special offers, and punch cards to go out. When the time came, Sam knew their first date would be at minimum half taken care of by an ad sent to Ned's dad in the mail. Sam might be embarrassed if Ned wasn't so cute. If he wasn't so proud of his savings.

Back at the Christmas Walk, Sam had gotten the text from Lena that they had arrived to save them, so they could make their exit before it all blew up in their faces when Sam had to make a full stop.

A patch of lights secured every little bit of his attention. He said, totally out of breath. "Oh my god."

"What?" Ned twisted around, still trying to run. He didn't hide his anxiousness to keep running, his hands pulling at Sam's arm. "What? What's wrong?"

"I know these lights..." Sam looked up at a tree where snowflakes hung and swayed. He locked eyes on the sign in front. "Greg's mom didn't work at the Christmas Walk. Vanessa didn't remember it right. She donated to the walk."

In front of the same house now, Sam remembered the way his mother actually complimented the old tree in front of the house. How this was what taste looked like, not like those Flowers across the street.

Jason did what he did best.

He knocked on the front door. Quickly, a girl opened it, dressed in an ugly Christmas Sweater. "Hey, what's up?" She was all smiles, brighter and shinier than half the lights outside. The way the actual ornaments on that swayed somewhat hypnotized Sam. "Welcome! Welcome! Come in..." She motioned them. "Where's your gift?"

"Our gift?" Ned asked, still hobbling as he followed.

This girl's tune changed. She turned slowly. "That was like the one rule to come. You have to bring a gift for White Elephant."

"Uh..." Searching for an excuse or a gift, Ned and the rest looked through their pockets and Ned reached for his backpack, but quickly realized it was gone. Groaning, Ned muttered, "My mom is going to kill me." He said as if he was just realizing it. "I just got that bag last year."

"How about that?" The girl said, pointing to The Gregor in Ned's arms. She was squinting, her face a mess of expression, like she was blurry to even us. With a snort, she wagged her finger at the gnome. "It looks just like The Gregor. What a great gag gift."

"Um, yeah, totally not actually The Gregor," Ned said, his words jumbling out like an obvious lie. "That'd be crazy—"

Lena elbowed him. "She gets it."

Whirling around, the girl threw her hand towards a large table in the middle of the entryway. It was already covered in all kinds of gifts, both expertly wrapped and thrown into a bag. "You can the little guy there. I'm sure we can find an extra box or something."

"But um..." Ned gripped the gnome tighter.

"When are we opening presents?" Sam spoke up, nabbing The Gregor from Ned.

"In like an hour."

"Awesome." Sam plastered on a smile and grabbed Ned's hand, leading the group to the table. He put The Gregor in-between two tall gifts to hide him from view. "Hey, is there a First-Aid kit anywhere?"

"Mmm." the girl nodded during a sip. She pointed up. "First bathroom on your right. All the drinks are in the kitchen, but don't let Audrey's parents know there's vodka in the punch." She motioned them to follow and while in the kitchen, everyone grabbed water, but Sam rummaged through the freezer until he found a pack of chopped frozen vegetables.

"Put this on your face," Sam told Ned, who grimaced.

"But it's cold."

"It's good for you."

Resigned to it, Ned slapped the bag over his black eye with the same grimace. He turned to the group. "We need to find out where Gregory Mom's living."

"And we have an hour," Sam reminded them.

"I'll go talk to Audrey," Jason offered.

"I'll try to find an adult," Lena said.

"Maybe Audrey has an older sibling that we can ask about Greg?" Ned offered, glancing at Sam.

Sam shook his head. "No. We're going to find something to wrap your ankle. Now."

"Yes, sir." Ned nodded, following Sam's call. They walked up the stairs and just like the girl said, the bathroom was the first door on the right. It was a long skinny guest bathroom with two counters and plenty of drawers. Sam started rifling through everything, learning the owners had a terrible bath bomb buying habit. Eventually, through the make-up cases and random toiletries and heat tools, he found an old dusty box with bandages and wraps just like he wanted with a couple of bottles of expired medicine.

"Sit on the counter," Sam instructed and pointed to the toilet. "Hike your foot up there and I'll wrap it." He took a seat on the lip of the tub, waiting for Ned to carefully take his shoe off.

Ned grunted, flinching at moving his ankle any kind of way.

"Does it hurt?" Sam asked, his chest all twisted and wrong. He shouldn't feel guilty. It's not up to him to keep Ned out of trouble and danger, but it still didn't feel good.

"I mean, yeah," Ned said and Sam tried not to laugh, but it escaped anyway. Ned quirked his head. "What?"

"It's just funny that most people would probably try to sugarcoat it."

"I'm not most people," Ned said, which Sam could never argue with. "I don't like lying to you."

"But you have?" Sam teased him and Ned flushed to the tips of his ears. It was amazing to watch. It made Sam hoped this lasted forever. "I'm kidding."

"I know."

Finishing up the wrap around Ned's ankle, Sam picked through the other stuff in the dusty box. He grabbed some Neosporin and got up, stepping right up to Ned on the counter. "Sorry if this stings," Sam warned, putting a little of the medicine on his finger and gently pressing it to the side of Ned's mouth.

He tried focusing on the treatment, but Ned was right there and staring at him. Staring at him the same way he'd done before they made out in Matt's neighborhood. It was a signature look. Sam would recognize it from a mile away and also, a few inches from his face.

"So..." Sam broke the silence, his heart beating louder than his words. "If I asked you what you were thinking, would you tell me?"

Ned smiled, the heat in his eyes crackling. "I was just counting all the times we've kissed."

Sam's hand stopped. "What?"

"I don't know." Ned grinned wider and moved the first-aid kit out of the way. He put his arms around Sam's waist, holding him there and Sam's gut reaction was to hold his breath. "That's just the kind of stuff I think about when it comes to you."

Trying to hold back a completely cheesy and stupid smile, Sam rested his hands on Ned's shoulders. "Okay, what number did you come up with?"

"Six."

Sam laughed. "Six? There's not that many times."

Ned sat up eagerly like he knew the answer and could show his work. "We kissed earlier at the Christmas Walk, at the school, twice by the golfcart—"

"And the one at my house," Sam finished, his body suddenly having a strange reaction to that day three years earlier. His skin flushed, his chest clenched, and his brain was screaming. "B-but that's only five." He tried catching his breath, his chest too tight for his lungs to inflate.

"We kissed twice."

Sam looked away because he couldn't focus inside the dark pool of Ned's eyes. Searching through his memories, he recalled that hot summer day and Ned leaning in for a kiss. He smiled when he remembered the way they paused before kissing again. The Sam today reached up with his hand, dragging it up Ned's hair. He hummed. "Six if you count pauses."

"Is it not a separate kiss?" Ned posed back, pulling Sam even closer.

"You tell me."

Sam met Ned the rest of the way, leaning up against the counter. He dragged his mouth up Ned's lips as they parted and Ned's grip tightened. Sam wrapped himself up in the embrace, realizing that close wasn't close enough. He wanted to wear Ned like a sweater. He wanted to be wrapped up in his arms that were softer and warmer than any blanket. 

He might feel more embarrassed if Sam hadn't spent his whole life so crazy about Ned. He might feel a bit more shame, if he hadn't already been so desperate to kiss him his whole life. The way Ned counted kisses was the same way Sam burned the feeling of Ned's touch into his memories, along with the way Ned moved, his looks, and the taste of him because it was important. You remembered important things. Things that mattered. Ned mattered. 

"Seven," Ned said, slightly breathless and Sam shook his head.

"We're still on seven."

He went back in to continue the kiss, pressing one over Ned's smile when there was a knock on the door.

"Hey, hey is anyone in here—"

The door swung open and everyone froze. Sam's heart unsnapped from the threads and veins keeping it up and plummeted into his feet. Griffin Thomas, like the goddamn boogeyman, appeared at the door with his eyes wide and mouth agape.

With a snort, Griffin quickly slapped his hand over his mouth.

"What are you doing here?" Sam snapped, quickly getting out of Ned's way, so he could put his shoe back on.

Griffin sputtered another laugh and shook his head. "I'm sorry. You guys didn't lock—lock the door." He snickered more and Sam curled his fists at his sides. He was burning a fire engine red, his skin suffering from third degree burns. Griffin Thomas was like a walking housefire and came to obliterate everything.

"What is so fucking funny?" Sam asked.

"It's just...." Griffin swallowed, pulling himself together. "Come on Sam. It's funny! I mean unless you really just like making out in bathrooms."

All the blood in Sam's body ran ice cold and he stopped breathing all together. Once, when he was in middle school gym class, he was running laps outside when the edges of his visions went splotchy and black, eating away at everything as what felt like ice water rushed down his neck. Sam stumbled and passed out, landing hard on his side.

Sam Hayes was going to pass out.

"I don't mean to yuck your yum dude." Griffin raised his hands. "But twice in one night is comical. At least you two look like you're finally getting along nicely. Congrats."

"Shut up—" Sam spit. He couldn't even look at Ned.

"What?" Griffin repeated, genuinely looking confused when it hit him as Ned hopped off the counter. Everything was falling apart too fast and Sam didn't have time to catch the facts before they fell. "Oh? You didn't tell him—"

"Griffin!"

Griffin raised his hands again. "Listen, Ned, if makes you feel better, we were only making out because he was depressed about you."

On the verge of a complete mental break down, Sam took a deep breath and tried to contain the vat of tears wishing to escape. He snapped around at Ned and whatever he was going to say disappeared from his mind. Ned Flowers looked mad.

And Ned Flowers had never looked that mad before.

#

NED

Something inside of Ned snapped.

He barged at Griffin, making the guy back out of the bathroom. Griffin's back hit the wall just as Ned grabbed the front of his shirt. "I'm so sick of you, man!" He shook Griffin, warning him. "Stop making fun of Sam, right now. Just because you're a sad prick, doesn't mean you're allowed to tear Sam down."

"I wasn't—" Griffin tried to pipe up, but Ned has had it with this guy.

He knocked Griffin in the mouth and a wave of gasps rushed through the hallway. Griffin's ass hit the ground and Ned held him upby his collar again. He shook Griffin because obviously Ned was making himself clear. "You can't talk to people like that! And you're especially not gonna talk to Sam like that, you hear me? He deserves your respect, asshole."

With one last push, Ned let Griffin go and turned to Sam. "Are you okay?"

Sam stood frozen at the door, staring up at Ned totally gobsmacked. Ned's face caught on fire. "Oh, uh sorry. Um, that was too much, right? I'm sorry."

"You don't..." Sam's nose flared and Ned panicked, seeing how hard Sam was trying not to cry. "You're not mad at me?"

"What?" Ned straightened. He came to Sam's side, gently taking his arms. "Why would I be mad at you? You didn't do anything wrong."

"But!" Sam fought, the only one fighting. "But you got stood up by Griffin because of me! He went on a date with me instead and that's why—"

"Well, that's not your fault." Ned pointed at Griffin, who resembled less of a person and more like a squashed bug. He had to fix his glasses and was touching his cheek with a wince. "It's his fault. Now, are you alright?"

Sam worked up a wobbly smile and nodded.

"Okay." Ned whispered and rubbed Sam's cheeks to wipe away some of the misery, until Sam was smiling again. He kissed Sam gently, quick, and so he'd know that no matter what he did in the past, Ned was still going to want to kiss him. "That makes eight."

"Nine if you count pauses," Sam joked and it was like light shined across Ned's skin.

"Wow."

Turning, Ned caught Indie, Lena, and Jason arriving at the top steps. Indie blinked at the scene. "Looks like the gang's all here." Indie wandered over to Griffin as Ned realized Indie had gone through quite the wardrobe change. Indie grabbed Griffin's chin and gave him a once over with a furrowed brow. "That looks like it hurts. Did you deserve it?"

Griffin rolled his eyes. "Maybe."

From the ground, he looked up at Ned and Sam. "I really wasn't trying to be an asshole. I thought it was funny in like a funny way. Not in like a..." He shook his head. "Not in like a derogatory way, I guess."

"Sounds like you deserved it," Indie commented, which earned them a withering look from Griffin.

"Why can't you ever be on my side?"

"I'm so confused," Lena said.

"Me too," Ned agreed.

"Are you friends?" Sam asked.

"It's complicated—" Indie said like they were going to explain, when the group heard clapping from downstairs and the music was cut. Over the hush of chatter, the girl from earlier spoke up.

"Alright! Everyone gather for the White Elephant!"

Whipping up his phone, Ned saw that barely even twenty minutes went by. He started running for the downstairs with the group trailing behind, but Ned suddenly stopped, which caused someone to headbutt his back and he slipped off his step. With a yelp, Ned slid down the rest of the steps and ended up on the floor, which was fine because he couldn't sink any lower.

The table with all the presents was cleared off.

The Gregor was gone. 

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Looks like the whole gang is officially back together! Including Griffin. Writing this whole chapter took forever nut it brought me so much satisfaction. Hopefully you liked it! Haha

Sooooooo??? What did you think? I'm sure no one's surprised they fumbled The Gregor again, but what about Griffin appearing? Did anyone expect him to catch them kissing? Or for the boys to even interact again? With Indie and Griffin back, who will Ned and Sam run into next???

See you next week!