Tantrum

Ch. 24 Confrontation

*** Spencer's POV ***

"I don't think I can do this." Gwen stops our progress toward the school building by halting in her tracks.

"Gwen, I can't back out now. I'm kind of the main feature." I gently remind her. She tries to release my hand but I hold on firmly.

"This just brings back a lot of bad memories. I wasn't okay back then." Her voice trembles a bit so I stop and turn to face her. She stares past me at the entrance.

"Gwen." I call her name gently to coax her attention to me. She grumbles and meets my eyes. I see her relax a tiny bit. "If last year didn't happen, we would have never met."

She sighs and goes to open her pretty polished mouth. I hold up a gloved hand. She swallows her response as I continue. "And you might not have gotten the help that you needed. Look at how far you've come and be proud, baby."

She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath in and out. When she opens her eyes again, I see the clarity in them. "You're right. You're always right."

"You can keep praising me like that." I encourage.

She rolls her eyes and I can tell she's past whatever anxiety she was wrestling with. She smirks at me. "Don't tell me that Santa has a praise kink?"

"Better than a reindeer kink, yeah?" I joke.

She tries to hide her smile as I clasp our gloved hands together and walked into the school where Gwen's downfall began a year ago. I wasn't placating her by pointing out how far she has come. She's healthier and happier and it feels good to know that I helped her get to this point.

We are greeted eagerly by the new PTA President, a short Vietnamese woman. She was so thrilled when she called to confirm Mason's "dad's" willingness to step into some big black boots. Gwen and I quickly clarified that I wasn't Mason's dad but I was willing to help out. Then she did the most amazing thing and asked if Gwen would be joining me.

Gwen was caught off guard. "I...uh...I don't think I'm allowed. You're new. No one told you."

"I was a member of the PTA and trust me, we all know what went down. And now Chad is gone. Problem solved." The new president acknowledged.

Gwen finally agreed but it took some coaxing and a request for alternative costuming. The new president agreed and now Gwen looks confident and comfortable in an ugly Christmas sweater dress she found God knows where. I am sporting the Santa suit, my face already itching from the beard.

We are shown to our station. Gwen keeps smoothing her hands down her dress nervously. "Miss Cringle..."

"Don't call me that." She swats at me.

"Gwennie..." I coo.

"Ugh, what am I doing here, Spencer? What if I embarrass Mason? What if some of the parents recognize me?" She groans while pacing.

"Babe, it'll be fine." I assure her.

She looks at me with wide worried eyes. "How do you know?"

"I just do." And sure enough the event goes off without a hitch. The younger grades come through earlier. As much as Gwen swears that she isn't a fan of little kids, I love watching her interact. She doesn't baby them and they seem to appreciate that.