❛ SUPERMARKET FLOWERS ♪ ❜ - z. herron

forty-one: thank you for not making me fall.

"No fucking way." Emerson says, jumping up and down. "You're lying." She says, grabbing onto Zach's shoulders.

"Merry Christmas Em!" Jack says, holding her down, trying to steady her. In her palm reads a letter telling her that "You will be in the audience of the Zach sang show."

Right now, we are sitting in Jonah and Corbyn's living room, opening presents. We all decided to do an early Christmas since Em, Isa, and I fly home for Christmas. I rarely see Isa anymore. She's in the dorm one second, out of it the next. Catching that girl is a whirlwind, and I never can.

But alas, so far, Jonah's gotten a new espresso machine, Corbyn's received new lights for his room, Daniel got a new guitar, and Jack was gifted a new pair to add to his sneaker paradise. We all ended up getting Zach the same jewelry, so we promised him another gift, and I've gotten more vinyl than I can listen to in a lifetime. When the boys found out they would be on Zach sang again, it topped everyone else's gift, making it Emerson's absolute perfect gift.

"In January, we are going live with him." Corbyn explains, readjusting his beanie. "We can't have a bunch of people come, so just you and Kir."

"Wait, is Fran or something not coming? What about Naomi?" I ask. I hear Emerson sneer at the sound of Naomi's name, but she doesn't do much more.

"Naomi is out of town and Franny's busy so you're filling in the part." Zach says, sitting next to me.

"Oh how I love to be the second choice." I say, sipping from my cup.

"Wait, so that means I get to not only meet Zach but I get to meet Dan too." She says, the excitement not dying from her face.

"You already know a Dan. Well, kind of." Daniel says, pointing to himself.

"Yeah but you're not Dan Zolot, someone who I've been in love with for years."

"I take major offense." Daniel says, sitting down on the other side of me.

"Who would have thought Kira being mean to Zach on the subway would get me new shoes?" Jack says as he places them back neatly in the box. He sits down on the couch to the left of us, tucking his feet underneath him.

"I think about that all the time. What if "I'll be okay" didn't play on the shuffle?" I say, putting my cup down in my lap.

"Or Madison Miller." Jonah adds.

"EXACTLY." I nod.

"Personally, my life has not changed much." Emerson says, sitting on the floor in front of Jack, leaning against the couch.

"You're gonna meet your favorite radio host because of us." Corbyn says, confused.

"You are right about that one." Emerson points to him in acknowledgment, "You got me there."

"Do you guys even go back home for the holidays?" I ask, taking another sip. "Like we are flying home, what do you guys do?"

"Only Jonah does, Jack's family flies out to Hawaii. The rest of our families live out here so we spend it here." Daniel responses.

"Do you ever miss where you grew up?" Emerson asks, putting her feet together.

"I used to, but L.A.'s home now. Family's all out here, we've lived here for 4 years. Small stuff I miss but I wouldn't move back." Corbyn replies. "I miss the trails and stuff back home but, again what Corbyn said, L.A. is home." Daniel adds.