#SquadGoals

He's like a Ginger Justin Bieber

Riley and I sit down next to each other, the first at the table. I see Rilee coming up. He immediately sits down next to me. I smile, a feeling of excitement in my chest. I turn to Riley. Her expression reads slightly sad.
"You still upset about what I said about Xander?" I ask. She shakes her head.
"No, I don't really think he saw me." she looks down.
"What's wrong?" I ask. I see her look at Rilee.
"Nothing."
Before the silence gets too unnerving, Alayah and Iko join us.
"Hey, nerds," Iko says.
Rilee and I both say our greetings simultaneously:
"Hey!"
"I hate you."
"Rude," Riley 2 says, a tinge of annoyment in her voice.
Rilee 1 shrugs. "Honestly is good, right?"
Alayah says loudly: "Empathy, Rilee." I laugh.
"Yeah," I say, "I just told Riley 2 that Aislinn and Johnny broke up."
Alayah gasps. "Oh, no!" She says sarcastically. "Shocking!"
"We called it," Iko says.
"Oh, but also, Riley also has a huge crush on... guess who."
"Dr. Ming," Rilee says.
"EW. NO. STOP. NOT FUNNY." Riley whines.
"No! Xander," I say. Everyone at the table makes an 'ooooooooo' noise.
"Shut up, he might hear," Riley says. I laugh.
"We have some new possible couples on our hands, Iko," Alayah says. She shakes her eyebrows at me. I feel a blush creep on my cheeks.
"Ooh, who??" Rilee asks excitedly.
"No one we're telling you about," Alayah says, laughing. Rilee crosses his arms.
"Whatever, I didn't even care, anyway," Rilee groans. I frown and look at Alayah. She smirks at me and I smile back.
"You'll find out soon enough," Iko says. I gasp.
"Do you know??" Riley asks immediately. Iko looks up from his phone.
"I know all."
"Can you tell me?" Rilee 1 asks. Iko shrugs, looking back at his phone.
"If you pay me."
"Pay-" Rilee shakes his head, "-You want me to pay you? Dude, you know I'm broke. I spent all my money on that present for..." He hushes his voice. Alayah raises an eyebrow, and even Iko looks up from his phone, eyes wide.
"On a present for me," Iko says quickly. "We're actually in love? If you didn't know?"
"Yup!" Rilee says. "Totally and madly in love. That's why I bought Iko here, a present."
"What the heck are you boys hiding?" Alayah asks.
"Yeah? Like, we all know you think Sebbie's the cutest, I mean-"
"That bowl haircut." I blurt out. Everyone stares at me. I cower down.
"WHAT? He looks like a ginger Justin Bieber! It just needed to be said."
"He does," Iko agrees, seemingly happy the topic on the present has moved on. Yet, I'm still curious. Who could he have bought a present for? Another girl? A strange tinge of jealously pulls at my thoughts.
Don't be ridiculous, a voice in my head tells me. He wouldn't buy you a gift.
"Don't worry guys," Riley 2 says, "we all know the present's for me."
Rilee 1 sighs. "Just let me text you later, k R?"
Riley just nods her head, slightly shocked.
"Okay, well we have to head out," Alayah says. I nod.
"See you!" Riley says. I wave.
"Bye!"

***

Weeks pass. It's been the longest that Aislinn has been without a boyfriend. According to Shea.
And the first time Alayah hasn't failed her Geometry test.
And the first time Iko gets off his phone. He showed me his penny board he got for Christmas.
And the first time I hang out with Rilee outside of school.

During that time, Rilee and I talk about Christmas. And cats. And our favorite bands. And I've never felt more happy.

And we walk around my neighborhood, and to the local stores, and Rilee makes fun of the Santa that rings the bell outside the grocery store. It's at that time that it starts snowing, and I put my hands over my ears. It's also at that time that Rilee takes his hat of his head, places it over my ears, and takes my hands away from my seemingly frost-bitten ears, and places them into his hands instead.

I look to him, and see his windburned cheeks and nose, slightly pink. And his hair, with white specks of snow. And his dorky grin that could make even the saddest person smile.
I finally receive the answer to the question that's been at the back of my mind for weeks:
Who did Rilee buy that present for?

Can you make a guess?