For Christmas, I FaceTimed with Mom and Mason. They spent the first two weeks after Dad at aunt Nicole's place. But returned home eventually, although Mom has been hinting, she wants to change the house. I can't blame her though.

I can't begin to imagine how hard it must be for both of them to be alone in that apartment. Even after my continuous suggestions to move to my flat, for at least the time Melody is back at her parents, they didn't agree.

I couldn't bring myself to visit them. I'm sure seeing Dad's empty armchair would have sent me spiraling down the little progress I've managed to make. I hope Mason and Mom understand me.

I gaze at the window as the snow falls heavier. So much has changed from last years' New Year's night. Alex, Everly, Olivia, Nathan, me, and few others drank our asses off halfway through the evening. Then we had to undergo the excruciating process of sobering up before heading to Times Square for the countdown.

Afterward, we headed to a club danced well past midnight, even then didn't stop. Hitting Nathan's dad's hotel and using the pools, continuing to be young and free almost till dawn. The next day I went to San Francisco to meet my parents and prepare myself for the grand party they were hosting. Mason proposed to his girlfriend, Caroline, that night.

Now Everly is having a baby with Alex. Caroline dumped Mason and Dad is no more. Such a shitty little world we have.

I had never spent a Christmas or New Year alone, but I suppose there's a first to everything.

I sigh and turn up the volume of the rom-com I'm watching, struggling and failing to focus on it. Stupid Netflix.

Ugh, I want ice cream.

I pause the movie and decide to start another one, then change my mind and go through my phone. A text from Mom, one from Nathan, and the third one is obviously from Brian. Not having anything better to do, I open my email, deciding to delete the ones I don't need any more along with the ads.

But the first mail, standing atop the rest, with the familiar address grips my attention right away and my heart pounds in my chest as I tab on it.

From: S P.Wright

Hope you're doing well. I've attached a few books I thought might be helpful once you start your research again. Don't take things too hard, we have plenty of time. If you needed to talk to someone, feel free to contact me, my number's at the bottom of the email.

Happy holidays, hope you have a good NY's eve

Take care.

Sincerely, Spencer P. Wright

My heart swells and I sit upright, the fuzzy blanket falls to my lap as I reread the email. Warmth floods me and I bite down my growing smile. Immediately, I copy his phone number and add him to my contact list. Unsure of whether he'll check his email tonight or not, I decide to text him instead.

Nerves jittering and giggling like a high school girl whose crush has noticed her, I resist the urge to start pacing the room as I type the message.

'Thank you. Hope you have a great holiday too.

Gracie M. Stewart'

I send the text and drop the phone next to me on the couch. A sigh escapes from me as I lean my head to the backrest and stare at the ceiling.

A minute later my phone pings and I retrieve it quickly. With a burst of excitement, I read the new message.

'Honestly I wasn't expecting you'd check your email. Shouldn't you be spending quality family time?

And how have you been holding up?'

Butterflies flutter in my chest, as the words play in his voice in my head. The concern makes my chest tighten with a pleasant feeling. I type down my reply.

'Not really, I'm home... alone. And I've been doing good or as good as anyone in place can do. Shouldn't you be spending your night doing anything other than sending emails and replying to texts?'

With a smile, I send the message and place the phone beside me to stop myself from staring at it like a maniac, waiting for an answer.

But not a moment later, my phone's ringtone goes off. Startled, I jump and pick the phone, my eyes widening when I see the caller ID, I answer it right away.

"As flattered as I am with this phone call, I'm pretty sure you have better things to do, so don't let me get in your way," I say, instead of greeting him.

Spencer chuckles, and I can't help but smile. "You're not getting in my way... so how are you?" I sense the smile fading from his voice, giving place to concern.

I sigh and gaze at the window. "I don't know. It's the first time I'm not doing anything special... and it's the first without Dad... and he's been gone for a month but it feels so much longer and shorter than that at the same time." I groan. "I'm ruining your night, I'm sorry." I rub my face, closing my eyes.

"Not at all. In fact, I was worried about you." Soft shuffling sounds come from his end and that's when I realize, his end is too quiet.

"Where are you?" I sit up straight.

"Home... anyway, why didn't you go to your family, it could have helped."

I frown, nibbling my bottom lip. "No, I don't think I could've stood to see Dad's empty spot constantly." Inhaling sharply, I pull the blanket over myself. "But what are you doing? Who stays home alone on New Year's Eve?"

"Me. And what better place than my apartment. I'll have the perfect view of the fireworks."

I giggle. "Yeah, privileges of living in the middle of the sky."

He chuckles.

"But no offense, that's really boring," I add.

"None taken. I like the way it is. Maybe I enjoy my boring life and methods of living."

"That just sounds sad."

"Says the girl who's at home herself too."

I roll my eyes. "Touché, but at least I'm a self-aware sad soul. Watching crappy romcoms and being miserable for not having ice cream it's a huge change for me, so can't really say I'd be counted as boring."

"What a tough situation. How are you even getting through the night without ice cream?"

"Hey! Make fun of yourself." I roll my eyes, but his laughter makes me smile anyway. I like this playful side of him... a lot. "Do not underestimate the importance of ice cream in life."

Chuckling he says, "Last time I checked no one was going after ice cream in snowy days."

I gasp. "What! No way. Oh my gosh, your life has gone to waste," I exclaim and tell him how once Everly Olivia and I were freezing our asses off because we were snapping some cool pictures for our social media accounts and then ended up eating ice cream under the snowfall.

From their our discussion moves in the direction of him telling me how I could've gotten sick while I brush him off, claiming life has to be filled with these sorts of moments to become life.

We talk for a few more minutes until he says, "Well, I don't want to keep you from your crappy rom-com watching marathon."

I laugh. "Thanks for calling."

"Anytime. Happy new year again."

"Same."

And we hang up. For long moments I gaze at the phone with a smile that refuses to leave my face.

I shake my head and sigh, placing my phone on the coffee table and pull up the cozy blanket and choose a movie.

It starts, but once again I have trouble focusing on it, my mind keeps drifting back to Spencer Wright.

It's not fair he's my professor and I have to trick him into letting me take the credit for the Reimann hypothesis. I wish we had met under different circumstances, like in one of the glamourous parties my parents' friends used to throw.

For an impossible moment, my mind nears the dangerous rabbit hole of imagining the situation if that were the case, what would have happened. But I immediately shut it down and lock it away, no use thinking about impossible alternatives.

Almost halfway through the story, the doorbell rings, making me jump from my spot.

My heart hammering and my thoughts racing, considering all the possibilities from a serial killer knocking on my door to kidnappers, I tiptoe to the door.

From the peephole, I see the other side, and my heart rate picks up, beating faster than I ever thought possible but for an entirely different reason the second I see the dark hair neatly combed back.

With wide eyes and mouth agape in astonishment, I open the door.  

∞ ∞ ∞

Sooo...  I think you guys know who has shown up, right? XD

Anyywaayyy, actually I'm in a really good mood today despite forcing myself through the hell of binge-reading the twilight saga (I mean c'mon everyone has read that goddamn series for reasons mystery to me, I couldn't just not read it, so yeah :,) ). But the reason for my fantastic mood is, first of all, today was the last day of my summer term's classes (yayy). [but it's a short yay 'cause my finals start on Monday :,))]

And the second reason is, after being tortured by Bella Swan for the past 24hrs, I open this app and this very story of mine has crossed 6k reads!!!!! Oh my gosh, I really don't know how to thank you guys. You're the BEST!

I hope you're enjoying this story as much as I'm enjoying writing it (and I really hope Gracie doesn't turn out to be insufferable for you guys, fingers crossed)

Next chapter will hopefully be up tomorrow

Stay safe, lots of love, happy reading <33