Last Christmas

Chapter 2

It's Not For Me To Say- Johnny Mathis

"Long time no see." My voice shakes. He looks me over and my stomach lurches.

"I didn't know you would be here." He responds.

"Why wouldn't I be at my best friends wedding. Why are you here?" He narrows his eyes.

  He narrows his eyes, "it's my best friends wedding." There's a beat of tense silence, our friends are staring at us while the guests chatter and socialize in the background.

"Well, I figured since you disappeared off the side of the earth, you wouldn't magically reappear like a fucking magic trick." I steady myself and walk past him, brushing against his shoulder. "Excuse me."

Once I get to the hallway, my nerves kick in. Why the hell is he showing up out of nowhere? I get Charlie and all of them are also his best friends but, still. He can't do this. I can't-

"Stella," I turn to see Holly next to me, a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry." She purses her lips, giving me her signature apology face.

"Why wouldn't you tell me it was him?" I cross my arms, my eyebrows scrunched together.

"I didn't want you to freak out," she pulls me closer, both hands on my shoulders. "Maybe this can be a chance for forgiveness, maybe by the end of this you guys will be on good terms. Don't you want that?"

Yes.

"No. I never wanted to speak to him again." Holly sighs and looks behind her.

"Just, please try? For me?" She turns away back into the room.

~~~

It's almost 10PM, and I've never been more exhausted. This is the first event of many I have to plan the next month, and I have to do it alongside the person that hurt me most in this world.

The walk back to my room consisted of overthinking, yawning, and debating leaving and just sending a card for the wedding.

I get to my door and unlock it, ready to knock out, until I see socks in the small front foyer. then a pair of boxers, then a jacket, and the last thing leading up to the bed was a pair of red Jordans.

"What the fuck!?" I hear a deep voice scream in front of me. I look up and see Jasper sitting on the bed, in his boxers, eating a can of pringles.

I scream.

"What are you doing in here!?" I cover my eyes, stumbling into a wall.

"This is my room! How did you get inside?!" I hear him shuffle around and assume he's got clothes on.

"This is my room. The best man room." I scoff.

"That's not even a thing. Get out." I point towards the door and he cracks a smile, laughter filling my ears. My eye twitches.

"No."

"Then I guess we'll have to go talk to Holly and Charlie about this."

"Guess so." he gives me a fake smile to which i return.

~~~

"Holly, please switch my room because I physically and mentally cannot be by him for extended periods of time and-"

"Charlie, help me out, dude, the last thing I need is to share a room with someone else. Please please please please switch her out-" we both immediately rant to Charlie and Holly, who look very unamused.

"No! Don't switch me out! Switch him!" I beg. Holly sighs and looks at Charlie, who has a knowing smile on his face.

"Sorry guys, front desk said no switching, too busy." She shrugs.

"Come on!" I stomp, "why can't we just share a room and Charlie and him can share one?"

"You're literally having a tantrum right now." Jasper grunts, I roll my eyes.

"I love you, Stella, but I don't love you that much. Goodnight, you two." She smiles and closes the door on us, leaving a very awkward silence.

"Um, I can sleep on the floor." I suggest, he turns and starts walking back to our room.

"I will." He says.

Once we make it back to our room, we pick up our clothes, organize our stuff, set up beds and talk about our room rules.

"No snoring or I will call security." He shakes his head.

"If you leave anything... you know- out, I will throw it away."

"Don't come within 5 feet of me."

"Don't ever wake me up before my alarm."

"And finally, don't talk about it." We make knowing eye contact, silently agreeing. "Matter of a fact, let's try not to talk at all." He nods.

"Talking is only allowed when completely necessary." I purse my lips.

"Glad to know we're on the same page." He ignores me and I settle into my bed. Not long after, he follows, laying down in his makeshift bed of extra sheets, towels, and pillows.

There's a nostalgic feeling in the air.

I ignore it, turning over and closing my eyes, skipping over the 'goodnight' bit. Probably for the best.