༄ THEY didn't see each other much the following weeks.

The day after the game, Sam had gone to watch practice, only to find out Minho wasn't there, and neither of his friends really knew why.

During PE, he hadn't been there either, so she ran alone. The next days, she had seen him, tried to contact him a few times, but he wasn't exactly... going with it. Gave gave short, cut answers.

So by the time it was December, her father had asked if Minho wanted to come over multiple times, because he appeared to like the boy so much, but Sam told him Minho was busy and when she asked Minho himself about it, the boy agreed on being busy. The PE project had been finished with an amazing grade, yet the teamwork got less through the weeks.

To make their relationship seem real after all, they sometimes walked around together or held hands after practice, but not once, they spoke comfortably like they had done in the past. Now it was all the formal stuff about nothing.

She'd asked him if he was okay, because his skin had been paler and bags stood around his eyes. He answered he was fine, as always. Yet the next day, during practice, he had ended up on the floor in pain again, and never, she managed to see the cause. She'd seen Thomas accidentally bump into him, but they couldn't throw him on the ground of pain... right?

Beside all that, her mom hadn't really bothered Sam anymore. Mary read her story and asked Sam about it, and she had just shrugged it off a bit. Her mom was too busy watching over two schools anyways.

And now, she was highlighting some words in her history books when suddenly, something got tossed in front of her face.

"Happy third of December." And he walked away again.

Well.

"Thanks," she mumbled, taking the sweater. A red one, with the white seven on the back: his basketball sweater.

But, she was happy enough with it. She had never gotten a boy's sweater before and the fact Minho knew about the third of December and even due their awkward status, still gave her one, was awesome.

"Girl, the shuck are you doing in the cold with— he gave you your sweater!" Thomas gasped, and sat down next to her. "Put it on!"

Sam chuckled at his reaction and put the sweater on. Unlike Minho being just a little taller than her, the sweater was still way too big. Warm, though it felt so weird to wear.

"Perfect." Thomas clapped in his hands. "It surprises me he even gave you one. I mean, he's been so zoned off these days."

"Right?" She agreed. "I don't understand. I mean... at the first game this season, what happened there— after that, he kind of, you know."

He nodded. "I know. I also know that every normal person has winter depression, so that might be it. Except, Minho's not a normal person."

A sigh left her mouth. "So even you don't know what's going on?"

"Sadly not." Thomas lowered his head. "Maybe we should leave him alone for a while. He doesn't like talking about his feelings anyways."

"That's exactly the problem, Thomas. He doesn't talk, and if our mindset is this, then things might only get worse. What about his parents?"

He shrugged. "They're often gone. Not sure where to, but Minho stays at school most of the weekends."

Sam rubbed her forehead. She couldn't deny that she had found her life a bit boring without Minho, and she was genuinely worried about him. If his parents didn't talk to him, the principal hated him, and his friends were people he didn't want to vent to, then she had no idea if he ever talked to someone.

"I'll attempt to talk to him soon," she decided.

"Okay." Thomas gave her a small smile. "Also, Newt's so clueless. He doesn't understand my gesture of giving him a sweater."

That caused her to laugh. "But he'll like it, trust me. By the way, when are you gonna ask him out?"

His face turned bright red. "Shh!" He whisper-yelled. "Not everyone here has to know! How do you know?"

"Because it's obvious! You're in love with him, he's in love with you. Come on, Thomas!" She patted him on the shoulder.

"Maybe," he decided firmly. "And oh my god it's almost Christmas! What're you doing for Christmas?"

"Not sure. I guess dinner with my family, like always. I get presents if I'm lucky." She exhaled. "You?"

"Well, I happen to go on a ski trip with the basketball team, but I'm sure you wouldn't be in to hear more about that..." He grinned so mysteriously it made Sam chuckle.

She scoffed. "Nah, I'm not interested at all."

They stared at each other for a while.

"Fuck's sake, you gotta tell me everything."
"Oh my god, you totally gotta come with us."

They threw their heads back, laughing.
"Okay, so, it's skiing with our team, and we're allowed to invite whoever we want. So obviously Newt is coming with us, and no doubt that Sonya, Teresa, Brenda, and Harriet will join too. Your brother must be going, and just the whole team, basically. Please come with us! I need more of..." He paused. Frowned. "I'm not sure about your ship name yet."

Sam smiled, even at that last comment. "I'll ask. I'm sure I'm allowed to. If not, I'll bury myself in your suitcase."

Thomas nodded approvingly. "Sounds perfect. So that's settled! Now, I don't know if you want a cold or why else you're studying outside, but come on. Wait, I'm supposed to meet up with someone today. Who again?" He grabbed his phone. Mumbled some stuff. "Ah, Gally! You wanna come too? Better than having winter depression. We're getting hot chocolate."

Well, she wasn't gonna refuse that offer.

❤︎︎

Sam removed some whipped cream off her nose. "So how long have you guys known each other? Since you joined this school?"

The place they sat in was cozy. A fire place burned in the corner, sparks coming off it. Christmas lights shined through the cafe and a giant tree full of shiny baubles stood in the middle.

Sam, Gally, and Thomas sat at a small, wooden table. Mugs were steaming in front of them, and the smell of that chocolate was just pure pleasure.

"We actually met in kindergarten. Our friendship developed out of broken bones."

"...what?"

"He stole my car. This little yellow taxi," Gally explained.

"So that asshole broke my beautiful three-year-old nose."

"You got surgery, and you should thank me for that! Your nose looks awesome right now. They brought some shape in it."

"My nose has always been flawless!" Thomas defended. "Oh, and he also cracked my fingers."

"Because you liked throwing a ball in my face at PE! Sixth grade, black eyes during the school picture."

"I broke his nose back," Thomas said triumphantly. "And my hair was ruined at the school picture because he decided to give me a haircut."

"I don't think we ever weren't hurt at school pictures." Gally took a sip of his drink while Sam could only laugh.

Once she managed to stop smiling, she finished her hot chocolate. "So you're both going on that ski trip?"

"Ski trip?" Gally raised an eyebrow. "I don't know who told you that, but it's not a ski trip. It's just... we booked a small house in the mountains. With snow, of course."

"Newt said it was a ski trip!" Thomas slammed his hand on the table. "Ah, come on! I was just getting excited."

Gally rolled his eyes. "You were gonna roll off the mountain anyway."

"True," he muttered. "Sam's gonna join, by the way. Now that we're talking about it, we should divide the rooms."

Before Sam knew it, Gally had lain a piece of paper down on the table. "Who's with who?"

"Well, obviously we gotta discuss this with the others too, but just put me with Newt already."

Sam buried her head in her hands, yet chuckled.

"I guess Sonya and Harriet. Me and Fry. Alby and Jeff. Brenda and Teresa? Sam and Minho?"

She nearly choked on nothing. Right, she was still fake dating him. Kind of forgot about that. "Uh, if he agrees, yeah." She nodded.

No, no, no. Not if he agreed. Just no room sharing at all! Because she was well aware that it was always one bed. Al-shuckin'-ways. And she did not feel like that cliche thing to happen.

"I'll text the others. Ask if they agree," Thomas mumbled, taking his phone as Gally did too.

Min ❤️

Hey
How are you?
I'm probably joining the Christmas trip too, if you don't mind.

I'm good, wbu?
Sounds nice, genuinely. Something to look forward to

I'm great, thanks. And yeah, it's awesome! But Thomas and Gally decided we might have to share a room and I kind of agreed as long as you did too.

Sure.

Wait, really?

I mean, it's not like I've been in touch a lot lately, and it's weird as fuck if I end up sleeping in the same room as another girl, and you another boy.

True. Perhaps we should bang against the wall at night.

And jump on the bed, obviously.

Scream

Throw sheets around

Certainly. Gotta make it seem real, of course!!

So real. They're gonna believe it immediately. Just know that I'm not gonna pretend to be one of your book men.

💔

"Good girl" what the actual fuck?

Well, I'd run away if someone tells me that in real life, so I'd also recommend not doing that.
Anyway, Thomas is getting impatient. I've got to go. Will you be okay?

Always
See ya

Byee

❤︎︎

"Hey, dad." Sam held her phone against her ear. "Yeah, hi. I'm good, thanks. You?"

"Good too. Should I be worried because of this random call?" His laugh on the other side.

"I actually got an invitation to a trip. During Christmas. I'm sure Jeff told you about it already. It's for the basketball team, but they're kind of inviting the whole group. Can I go?"

"Of course. Less presents for me to buy." He chuckled. "I'll give you the same money as I gave Jeff, alright?"

"Thank you!" She almost made a little jump, yet still, she was afraid her mom would interfere. "I'll see you soon, dad."