All I Need For Yule Is You

Chapter 2

A/N- Spoiler: It gets worse.

Any hopes that Oliver had been a figment of his imagination the previous evening dissipated the next the afternoon when he opened the stall, careful not to knock the various decorative wreaths over (the crowds would start filling in from today after all).

And there stood Oliver, behind the pretty counter of the most delicious smelling and looking pastries and cakes. He had another infuriatingly cute sweater on, his hair mussed and wavy and all that, his earphones on as he swiped at his cell, while something steaming rested in a cup next to him.

He and Gabi took their spot behind their own bedraggled counter. Mark had taken Hadrien out for a tour of the entire field, and Ana had gone for a smoke. Of something.

Given his position, there was nowhere else to look. Other than Oliver and his pastries. Sam spotted different bits of chocolate and butterscotch and red velvet, between glazed scones and cream pies and bagels. His eyesight was somehow sharpened by his annoyance. He gave up trying to look away and turned his glare to Oliver. It wouldn't matter: not that the other boy could see him. Not while scrolling through his Instagram feed.

Gabi nervously cleared her throat. "I feel like I'm missing something here."

"What?" Sam didn't bother looking over at her, he was a bit preoccupied at the moment.

"About why you hate Oliver."

"Hate is a strong word." Sam muttered.

Gabi remained quiet, but raised her judgy brow.

"I simply dislike him." Was what Sam settled on.

"Stop squishing the cat," She warned, and sure enough, it was his bad habit to use the cat as some sort of a stress ball. He had enough scratches on his hands to prove it. He loosened his grip on the adopted tabby. "But what's there to dislike? He's super cute. And single. And an openly out dude, just like you."

"It's not the same thing, you know?" Sam bristled. "Him being out and me being out. Being rich and privileged versus being mixed and well, magic." He'd had his fair share of disdainful looks and comments two summers back.

"Fair point, but that isn't reason enough for dislike. You sure that is the word you're looking for?" Gabi re-visited, twisting a braid between her fingers like she was waiting for him to realise something.

Which Sam did. "No, it's not that. It's actually the fact that- remember when he came out, months after me, and I was already getting those looks and I wanted to be supportive and so I had walked up to him, in the cafeteria, and-"

"And you said that you were proud of him and that it was quite a brave thing to do and that you were there if he needed help?" Gabi completed, having heard of the incident quite a few times.

"Yes, exactly." Sam ignored her dead-pan tone. "And I was trying to be friendly. And all he did was look mildly blank and nod. Twice. I have seen Hadrien look more enthusiastic about Brussel sprouts."

"Maybe he was having a hard time as well? Maybe he was getting those looks too. It was pretty new to him after all, " Gabi countered.

"No! I mean, look at him!" Both turned towards the boy, and Sam was mildly horrified to see Oliver looking their way. Sam's own heart stuttered, while the other boy quickly looked away. It wouldn't matter. No way their conversation could be heard all the way over there.

"You were saying?" Gabi prompted after a while.

Right.

"I mean, look at him." Sam lowered his voice some more to be safe.