The Write Match // Bill Hader

Seventeen

It's finally starting to feel like Christmas in the city, and this is the first time in a long time that it's felt like Christmas to me. Bill is leaving today to go home for the holidays, and I won't see him again until after Christmas. I'm staying in the city and spending Christmas alone, like always.

We're standing at the terminal, and he tightens his grip on his bag that's thrown over his shoulder. He looks to me with warm eyes and I roll mine.

"Let's not make this all sentimental and act like we're never going to see each other again." I say and he laughs.

"Leave it up to you to ruin the moment." He says and puts his bag on the airport floor. "Come here." He says, and I stay put. "I'm not letting you walk away from me without a hug, not a chance." He opens his arms up and pulls me into a hug and I hug him, against my will. It looks like I don't want it, but really, I do. He puts a hand on the back of my head, and the other wraps around me.

"This is dumb." I mumble into his chest, and he laughs, stepping back.

"Saying bye to each other is dumb? I think someone is going to miss me." He says, and I glare at him.

"No, I'm excited to have some time to myself. It's dumb because it's just a few days, this is not goodbye." I roll my eyes, and I take a step back from him.

"Fine, whatever you say. I'll see you in a few days." He tells me, looking at the terminal and I nod.

"See you." I smile and start walking away.

"Wow, no smartass comment?" He asks, causing me to turn around.

"No, I couldn't let you have that last little bit of pleasure before you left." I tell him, a smile coming to his face. That smile.

I'm not going to miss him; this is how things will be when I break things off and both of our lives go back to normal. I'll finally get to spend time in my apartment again. I'll get to sleep in my bed, with my pillows and warm blankets. I turn back around, half expecting him to still be standing there, but he's not and I feel a pit in my stomach.

I walk down the cold street alone, something I haven't done in a long time. I go into a bar, seeing a group of friends huddled in the corner. I hear the first squeal, and see the petite, red head come into view as Janelle sees me.

Janelle is my very best friend; we were college roommates and she helped me when things got bad with Adam. She was there for me when no one else was.

"Oh, I missed you so much." She runs up and hugs me, and I hug her back without thinking. "Did Meredith Elliot just hug me? Everything alright?" She asks, and I let out a small laugh.

"I'm perfectly fine, I'm just happy to be seeing you guys again. Where are Sean and Ronnie?" I ask, and she pulls me to the table.

"You have to tell us everything, about SNL, about the celebrities, about the cast." She says, and she doesn't stop until Sean cuts her off.

"She just got here, let her breath, Janelle." He says.

"Hi Sean." I smile and he gives me a quick hug.

"Let's get a few drinks and you can tell us everything. Is that, okay?" Sean asks me, and then looks to Janelle and Ronnie. They both nod, then look at me.

"I'm up for a drink." I smile, and Ronnie shakes her head.

"You're never up for a drink." She laughs, and I shrug.

"Things are different now." I tell her.

The bar we're at is nice, nicer than some of the places I've been at since working at SNL, and it makes me wonder why I never went out before now, why I hardly know anything about the bars and New York's hottest clubs.