The Devil In Disguise

New Beginnings and Lingering Feelings

The courtyard was alive with the holiday spirit as students wandered around, laughing and chatting in the glow of Christmas lights strung along the trees. It was the last day before Christmas break, and a fresh layer of snow blanketed the ground, muffling footsteps and adding a serene beauty to the bustling high school campus. Gianina pulled her scarf tighter, watching her breath form small clouds in the cold air as she joined her friends by the benches, grateful for a brief moment of calm amid the past months of fear and uncertainty.

Cal, standing with his hands stuffed in his pockets, was laughing at something Marcus had said, his face relaxed and animated in a way Gianina hadn't seen since Jordan's death. He cracked a few jokes, drawing laughter from the group, his usual teasing tone adding a lightness that lifted everyone's spirits.

"Come on, Marcus, you really think you're going to pull off that sweater at the Christmas party?" Cal ribbed, chuckling as he nudged Marcus. "I'm just saying, Rudolph sweaters went out of style, like, twenty years ago."

Marcus laughed, rolling his eyes. "What, you don't think I can rock a classic?" He ran over to Gianina before she could even blink and picked her up kissing her and spinning her before walking her over to Cal.

"Not sure anyone can 'rock' that much red and green," Cal replied after Marcus sat Gianina back down, grinning. "But hey, maybe it'll at least get GG here to notice you," he added, glancing at Gianina with a playful smirk.

She couldn't help but smile, her cheeks flushing slightly as she tried to brush it off. "Don't listen to him, Marcus," she said with a laugh. "I think you'd look great in Rudolph red."

Cal shot her a mischievous look. "I guess we'll see, then. I bet GG's just saying that to be nice," he teased, giving her a nudge that felt oddly... familiar, even a little flirty. She tried to shrug it off, but something about Cal's tone made her wonder, if only for a moment, if he was teasing her for a reason.

Before she could respond, Mary cleared her throat, drawing everyone's attention. She and Rufus had been exchanging glances throughout the conversation, as if trying to gather the courage to share something. Gianina raised an eyebrow, sensing that something was up.

"Actually, there's something Rufus and I wanted to tell you guys," Mary began, her cheeks turning pink as she glanced around the group. "We... well, we've kind of started seeing each other."

There was a moment of silence as everyone processed her words. Then Marcus let out a low whistle, grinning. "Well, it's about time! I mean, you two have been practically joined at the hip lately."

Rufus gave a sheepish smile, shrugging. "Yeah, I guess we weren't exactly subtle, huh?"

Cal raised his eyebrows, his usual smirk softening as he looked at them. "So that's why you two have been sneaking off together," he teased. "You know, we were starting to think you were plotting something."

Everyone laughed, but Gianina felt a pang of concern for Mary. She knew how much Jamie's death had affected her, and though she was happy to see her friend smiling again, a part of her worried about Mary diving into a new relationship so soon. She waited for a lull in the conversation, then turned to Mary, her voice soft.

"Are you sure about this?" she asked gently, her gaze steady. "I just want to make sure you're okay, that this is what you really want."

Mary hesitated, her smile fading as she met Gianina's gaze. "I know it might seem... fast," she admitted. "And I still miss Jamie, of course. But being with Rufus feels different. It's not about replacing anyone; it's about moving forward, finding something good again."

Rufus reached for Mary's hand, his expression earnest as he spoke. "We both know what we've lost, and we're not trying to ignore that. But being there for each other... it's helped. And we're just taking it slow, day by day."

Gianina studied them both, searching their faces for any sign of doubt or hesitation, but all she saw was sincerity. With a small smile, she nodded, feeling a mix of relief and gratitude for her friends' happiness. "I'm glad you two found each other," she said softly. "Just... take care of each other, okay?"

Mary gave her a grateful smile, squeezing her hand. "Thanks, GG. I promise, we're not rushing into anything."

As they returned to their playful banter, Cal kept up his usual jokes, but every now and then, Gianina caught him looking at her, his gaze lingering just a little longer than usual. She felt a strange flutter in her stomach, an awareness of him that made her feel slightly off-balance. She couldn't tell if he was just being friendly or if there was something more behind the way he looked at her.

They were mid-conversation when Mary spoke up again, flipping her red hair over her shoulder with a playful grin. "Oh, by the way, I'll be spending Christmas with my family in Scotland this year. I wanted to tell you guys sooner, but it's been kind of up in the air."

Gianina's heart sank a little, the reality of Mary's absence during the holidays settling over her. They'd been through so much together, and now, with Mary leaving for Scotland, the group would feel even smaller. She forced herself to smile, hiding her disappointment as she nodded.

"That sounds amazing," she said, trying to sound enthusiastic. "Scotland for Christmas? You'll have to send us pictures."

Mary nodded, her eyes bright with excitement. "I will. But I'm going to miss you guys so much. I wish I could bring you all with me."

Cal grinned, throwing an arm around Mary's shoulders. "You're going to have to bring us back some authentic Scottish snacks. Don't come back without some shortbread."

Everyone laughed, but Gianina's mind was already wandering. With Mary gone, it would just be her, Cal, Rufus, and Marcus for Christmas. She wasn't sure how she felt about it, especially with the killer's threats still lingering in her mind. Spending the holidays together would mean more time alone with Cal and Marcus, a thought that left her feeling both comforted and uneasy.

After a few more jokes and laughs, the group began to scatter, heading to their next classes. Cal lingered behind with Gianina, his usual smirk softening into a genuine smile as he looked at her.

"Looks like we're going to have to entertain each other over the holidays," he said, his tone light, but his gaze lingering a little longer than she expected.

Gianina felt a strange flutter in her stomach, a mix of anticipation and unease. She forced a smile, brushing off the feeling as she nodded. "I guess so. We'll have to make the best of it."

As they walked down the hallway together, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was shifting between them, a subtle undercurrent that made her question the killer's taunts about Cal's feelings. She'd brushed off the idea before, but now, with his teasing looks and lingering glances, she found herself wondering if there was a kernel of truth in those words.

When they reached her locker, he gave her a small smile, his gaze warm. "Well, if you ever need a Christmas movie marathon partner, you know where to find me."

She chuckled, trying to keep her tone light. "I'll keep that in mind. I could use someone to suffer through all the cheesy holiday movies with."

He laughed, nudging her playfully. "Careful what you wish for, GG. I happen to be an expert in cheesy holiday movies."

As he walked away, Gianina couldn't help but smile, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. It was a fleeting moment, a small reprieve from the dark clouds that had hung over them for so long. And though she still had her doubts, her fears, she allowed herself to savor the moment, to believe, if only for a second, that things could be okay again.

But as the hallway emptied and she headed to her next class, the killer's last message lingered in her mind, a shadow of doubt that refused to fade.