"It's..." I trail off as I enter, taking in the boring, bland room.

"Exactly like the one in the mansion?" He finishes for me, smirking.

"Yeah." I agree, grabbing hold of the closet doors and pulling them open.

"I don't spend much time here." He remarks.

"Clearly." I giggle at the empty closet, two tops hanging up in one corner.

"I have a better time at college." He shrugs and I turn back to face him.

"It's only down the road."

"It gives me the space I need." He points out and I smile, collapsing down onto the edge of the bed and taking a sip of the champagne. It's bubbly as anything and I nearly choke, but the flavor is... champagne. I can't tell any difference between this and the cheap alternatives that Elle and I buy.

"Your parents seem lovely." I smile as he takes a sip out of his own glass.

"They always do to outsiders." He replies quietly and I shake my head. "They have to keep up appearances."

"You could have worse parents."

"I guess." He nods before glancing over at me as I attempt to take another sip, "Do you like that?"

"The champagne?" I ask, glancing down at the glass.

"Yes."

"I... I think I do." I mumble and he laughs.

"Hold on." He says, placing his glass down before leaving the room, allowing me to gather my thoughts. I glance around once more at the bland room, not even a football poster up in this one. It could easily be mistaken for a guest room, a spare bedroom that no-one ever uses. There's nothing here whatsoever to tie Brett to this room.

Standing up I glance out of the window to see two skyscraper buildings that stand next to this one, their windows glinting in the sun, towering menacingly over the city below.

"This should make it better." Brett exclaims and I turn to see him walk back in, a carton of orange juice in his hand. I watch as he stalks over, grabbing hold of my hand to steady it before pouring some into the glass. I feel myself freeze at the small amount of contact, my heart beginning to thump louder. Fuck sake, why can't I react like a normal, functioning human when he's around?

"Th-thanks."

"It's tradition." He grins at me and I can't help the smile that makes its way across my face. "I can't imagine my mother would be that impressed though so let's keep this between us." He comments, stepping back and shutting the door. Great. That makes not jumping his bones a lot harder.

"I'll just have to drink it before we leave this room." I retort, taking a large gulp. I am baffled that he remembers, that he even listened to my ramblings. Maybe Brett isn't as bad as I think?

"Anyway, how's college going for you?" He asks, sitting back down on the bed, patting the empty space next to him. I roll my eyes before joining him on the bed and telling him about all my assignments and exams that are coming up.

The time flies as we sit there, laughing as we chat, drinking our mimosas as we joke around. I've forgotten how easy it is to talk to Brett, how free flowing the conversation is. He tells me that Chris flunked his first year of college and is now retaking, Ben is flying through university with top grades, Ellis is spending most of his time partying. He asks of Zara and Becky and I tell him how they are, both of us laughing at how Zara and Sam ended up going off to Italy together, giving into their attraction after so long.

Standing up from the bed he places his empty glass on the table next to the door before walking around towards me.

"Here..." He smiles, reaching out for my empty glass.

"No, let me!" I object at the same time, unfurling my legs and placing them on the floor in order to place my glass on the table with his. In my haste I trip over my own feet, flying forward as I lose my balance, heading straight for the floor.

Brett's strong arms wrap around me, before grabbing hold of the glass that has slipped out of my fingers, effectively saving both me and the priceless champagne flute. He pulls me flush against his body and he stands me back up on my feet, placing the glass on the table behind him without looking away from my face.

"Are you okay?" He asks, his voice husky. I nod mutely, speechless at the electric feeling of his arm on my waist, pulling me safely into him and holding me steady. I crave the way his touch makes me feel every second of the day, and now that I'm here, alone in his bedroom, I feel myself pucker my lips as I lean up on tiptoes towards his face, no other thoughts in my head. He seems lost in his cravings too, his eyes zeroing in on my lips, lowering his face to meet mine. I feel the fuzz of excitement as soon as his lips meet mine, the butterflies in my stomach going wild from the feeling of Brett against me.

"Dinner!" Olivia's voice echoes down the hall and we immediately spring apart, him turning around and grabbing hold of the glasses as I run a hand through my hair, flicking it back over my shoulders and away from my face. My lips are still tingling and I curse myself internally. Forget it Savannah. You have a boyfriend.

"You ready?" He asks, smiling softly.

"Yes." I nod, sending him a reassuring smile before we leave the room, walking down the hall back towards the entrance way. At the last second he turns left, holding the door open for me as we enter a large dining room, complete with a golden fruit bowl as a centerpiece.

"Brett!" A sudden exclamation comes from beside us and I turn just in time to see the small brunette girl throw herself into Brett's arms.

"Alice!" He exclaims as he picks her up, whirling her around once before placing her back down on the floor, "Alice, this is Savannah." He smiles over at me and I hesitantly pick up a hand, waving at the little girl with ocean blue eyes to match her brother.

"Hi! Are you his girlfriend?"

"Oh, no!" I object quickly as Brett's eyes cloud over with an emotion that I can't recognize.

"That's shame. You're real pretty." Alice shrugs and I can't help but grin at the girl, her brunette hair pinned up away from her face.

"Thank you." I reply, "You're pretty too." I advise her and she beams.

"Alice, sit down please." Olivia exclaims, walking into the room, her green pencil dress hugging her slim figure. "Savannah, please make yourself comfortable over here." She gestures to the seat across the table and I quickly make my way around, sitting down on the allocated seat. Alice and Brett settle down across from me as Olivia seats herself at one end of the table. George is the last one to join, sweeping in and taking up the head of the table, silence blanketing the room.

The maids immediately saunter in, plates of gourmet food placed in front of us as others top up our glasses with wine. The family stay quiet the whole time and I bite my lip at the awkwardness of the situation. It doesn't feel like a family meal, it feels like a formal occasion, and I am certainly not dressed appropriately in my jeans and woolly blue jumper. As the room quickly clears of their staff the family pick up their cutlery and begin to dig in without so much as a 'dig in'. Brett shoots me a smile, confirming that I can start eating and I quickly delve in, already famished after my tiny chocolate muffin for breakfast.

"So Savannah, tell us about yourself." Olivia exclaims and I grimace at my plate as I hastily try to swallow the potato. What the hell do I even tell them?

"I... I'm majoring in English I think." I say, shooting her a quick smile.

"Interesting." She observes, nodding at me.

"Yes, I love to read." I exclaim.

"Are you going to be a publisher?" George asks and I turn to face him instead.

"Oh, I... I don't think so."

"Author?" He presses and I swallow, the nerves beginning to grow in my stomach once more.

"I'm not very good at putting words down on paper, I prefer to just read other peoples work." I reply, attempting to keep my tone light. Is it a crime to not know what you want to do after college?

"Hmmm." He mumbles, turning back to his meal. I take another small bite of potato.

"And where are your family this Christmas?" Olivia asks.

"My sister is away on a training course. She wants to be a midwife."

"And your other family?" She asks and I shake my head.

"We only have my Aunt." I explain and see Brett grimace, "She lives in Europe."

"I see."

"Have you been to Europe?" Alice pipes up, smiling across the table at me.

"Unfortunately not." I say to her, "I would love to though."

"I went to Paris a few months ago and the Eiffel Tower is such a big climb. I was so worn out by the time I got to the top!" She babbles.

"I bet the view was good though." I grin.

"It was very high up." Alice retorts, stabbing her fork through a piece of meat.

"The view is incredible." Brett confirms, smiling across the table at me. There's something about his smile, an emotion that I can't quite put my finger on, but I am unable to pull my eyes away, the seeming joy on his face infectious as I smile back.

"Well it's full of tourists these days, far too busy to enjoy it." Olivia argues, "The restaurant is the best part, halfway up. You book a table, it's lovely." She continues, Brett and I still staring at each other.

"The Sinclairs pulled out of the deal this morning." George announces and Brett's expression finally falters, falling back down to look at his plate.

"Darling! No work please." Olivia moans and George hushes her.

"It'll only take a second." He snaps, "Brett should know."

"Two minutes." Olivia warns, raising her eyebrows. I see Alice roll her eyes and can't help the amused grin that appears on my face, lowering my head to hide it behind my curtain of hair.

"That's a big loss for the company next year." George continues as I pick up my wine, taking a quick sip. "That'll be three hundred million dollars lost in the first quarter." My eyes widen at the amount and the wine slides down my throat the wrong way causing me to immediately choke, coughing on the liquid.

As soon as I've recovered I look up to see the entire family staring at me, Brett with a slightly amused smile as his Father looks at me disapprovingly.

"Sorry." I mutter, looking back down at my food.

Just great.

*~*~*

Brett drops me off at the dorm rooms just after ten in the evening. It took a good half hour to convince both him and his Mom that I'd be alright back here, despite being on my own. I used the excuse of Elle ringing me at some point as a way of leaving, Brett finally giving in, knowing how much I want to speak with my sister.

"Are you sure you'll be okay here by yourself?" He asks, staring up at the dark, foreboding building and I shrug.

"I'll survive." I smile, "You didn't have to come, I think Billy had that sorted." I gesture towards the driver in the car.

"I had to make sure you got back safely."

"Did you think Billy was going to murder me?"

"You never know." He grins before taking a step back. "Thank you for coming today."

"Thank you for inviting me." I reply, "I... I think I needed some company today." I admit and he nods."

"I know you did." He smiles, shoving his hands into the pockets of his navy coat. I smile back, touched by the thoughtfulness of him today. The sudden thought of Haydon rushes through my mind and I realize that the care and attention Brett's giving me has been clouding my judgement.

"I appreciate it." I nod, the smile slipping from my face. "But I think we need to try and stay away from each other. I owe it to Haydon." I manage as the smile slowly falls from his face. I turn away quickly, before I can change my mind and throw myself into his arms, begging him to kiss me.

Shoving the door of the dorm building open I throw myself into the cold nightmare and groan.

How did I end up in a love triangle anyway? Oh right, because you're a fucking idiot who can't make up her mind.

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Happy Christmas to anyone who reads this in December! The best time of the year! (My birthday is around there so I may be bias but oh well... 🎂🎄)

Team Haydon or Team Brett?

Comment, vote, enjoy 💙

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