Monsters University - Truth behind the ROR frat

BONUS Christmas Chapter

The fire was warm in the quiet ROR house. Everything was silent, even the snow falling outside was hushed.

Joey was wrapped in a large red blanket, watching the fire in front of her.

Johnny emerged from the kitchen with 2 cups of hot chocolate.

"Your drink, Ma'am," He laughed, setting the cups on the coffee table. He sat down next to her.

She opened her blanket and wrapped it around his shoulders. She leaned on her side, half laying on his chest.

He pulled the blanket around the both of them, his hand resting on her side. She sighed, nuzzling into his neck.

"This is nice," She mumbled, Johnny gave a small chuckle.

"Yeah?" It was whispered against her head, he pressed a quick kiss on her forehead.

"It's quiet and peaceful," Her brow furrowed for a moment. "Where are the guys anyway?"

"Mmm, don't know, they won't be back for another 3 hours," He said simply.

"But classes are over for the year,"

"They aren't in class, I brided them to leave for the night so we could stay here alone,"

They laughed softly.

"Javi must have thrown a fit,"

"Oh he did," Johnny smiled wide, "stomping his feet, throwing things, dude was a mad man,"

After another laugh, they were silent. Enjoying each other's company, Johnny slowly started to move his hand along her back.

"I have something for you," He said after a while, he leaned forward, and grabbed a box under the coffee table.

Joey had to sit up so she wouldn't fall over. He handed her the box, she put it on her lap. It was wrapped in red paper with a gold bow.

She opened it, moving the tissue paper and laughing softly.

It was a ROR letterman jacket with soft red fabric and yellow arms. She pulled it out of the box, noticing it said Kingsley on the front above a small pocket.

"Oh, this is so nice, is it my official ROR jacket?" She asked with a smile, Johnny nodded, taking the empty box and paper and moving it.

"Yes, we all chipped in. Flip it over,"

She turned the jacket and a picture was printed on the back. It was the picture of them right before summer break, all hanging out in the ROR's backyard.

"I love it," She threw her arms around him, pulling him in close.

"I knew you would, I figured you wouldn't like jewelry and stuff like that," He said, she pulled away from the hug, eye brow raised.

"Javi told you that, didn't he?"

"What? No!" Johnny looked away with a forced laugh. "Okay, fine I asked him, but I just wanted to be sure,"

She laughed, patting his shoulder, laying the jacket over the couch. She leaned back against him, pulling them to lay down next to each other. He resumed rubbing her back.

"I think this is our best Christmas together," Johnny mumbled.

"This is our first Christmas together," Joey corrected with a giggle.

"No, last year we hung out at the hospital," He said matter-of-factly.

"We did, didn't we?" Joey glanced around them, "Crazy to think how much has changed since then,"

"You know, last year, I almost pulled a mistletoe kiss on you," Johnny smiled.

"You did not," Joey gasped, looking up at him.

"I was so close, I had it in my arms, but instead of yelling at me to get out of the way of the coffee maker, you went straight outside."

Joey laughed, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Why would you do that?" She was cackling at this point.

"Because I wanted to kiss you! Obviously! And I didn't know if you felt the same way, so I thought it was smart,"

Joey laughed harder at him.

"Yeah if you had pulled that then, you would have gotten slapped,"

"What about now?"

"Hmm?" She knew what he meant, but she wanted to hear him say it. She made an inquisitive hum at his question.

"Let's say, hypothetically, I had mistletoe on me....would you kiss me?"

"Definitely not," Joey tried to hide her smile, looking away from him.

"Uh huh," He said unconvinced.

"Why would you kiss me if you can't even tolerate me?" She mocked, turning away from him fully, reaching for her hot chocolate.

Johnny gasped beside her, it took everything in her to not laugh. She set the mug down.

"Using my own words against me," He faked hurt, sadly lowering his eyes.

"This could all be changed, if you said a certain phrase," Joey said in a sing-song voice.

"Oh, I get it," He cleared his throat, sitting up and turning her to gave him. He gently held her hands. "Josephine, my darling, there's something I need to tell you,"

He paused, building the dramatic effect. His hand came up and cupped the side of her face.

"I tolerate you,"

It took everything in her to not roll her eyes.

"I tolerate you a lot actually," Johnny continued. "Do you tolerate me?"

"I don't know about tolerate, but there is a word that does describe it," Joey smiled, leaning into his hand. "Love,"

"Hmm, I'm afraid I don't know that word, could you put it in a sentence?" Johnny smiled wide.

"Johnny Worthington III, I love you," Joey felt her face heat up, both their smiles grew wide.

"I love you too," He whispered, leaning in and kissing her.

They spent the rest of the night, mumbling softly to each other, sneaking kisses, and snuggling close to the fire.