Just Between Us #Wattys2019

CHRISTMAS PARTY

DECEMBER TWENTY-FOURTH

Everest wore the cutest little red dress with big black buttons and white ruffles on the bottom. Naturally, a floppy triangular red hat with a golden bell hanging from its tip decorated her light hazel hair.

Finn wore a mini skirt that matched her corset-like top; both were lime green and contained red details. She also used striped knee socks and a hat like Everest's, but green.

Cleo and Rocky wore elf ears and matching ugly Christmas sweaters. Cleo had her hair up, cat-eye eyeliner, and knee-high boots; she looked not only like the proper girlfriend of a rock star, but like a rock star herself. Basically, Cleo was finally finding her voice through clothing, something she had struggled to do before. Looking at Cleo and being able to see her personality as soon as she stepped into a room was like a breath of fresh air to the group. They were proud of her and how much she had grown since the time she was dating Ivy.

Bennet spent Christmas Eve with her family, and her still-boyfriend, River. The rest of the group was united at Cleo's red-green-and-golden decorated house, including Felicity, Will, and Benjamin. The squad was all in one room, celebrating a holiday that was all about new beginnings and hope. It felt like fireworks and it felt like home, all at once.

"I love the house make-over, Cleo." Harley commented, looking around.

"Yeah," Everest agreed, "It looks like Christmas threw up in here."

Finn laughed, agreeing. "I'm in love black Santa. Very Paper Towns."

Cleo radiated with every new compliment, "Why, thank you. Really, I couldn't have done this without my dear boyfriend, Cornelius." She blinked at Rocky, teasing the boy.

He touched the tip of her nose, playing along, "Aww, babe!" He turned to us, "Out of all my current girlfriends, Cleopatra is definitely one of my favorites."

Everest brought her hands to her chest, acting emotional with the comment, "Such romance is beyond belief. What a lucky girl you are, dearest Alexander."

She rolled her eyes, chuckling. "Enough with the 'multiple girlfriends' joke, I beg of you. Ivy kind of ruined that punchline for me."

Rocky laughed and kissed her passionately, his hand rested on her cheek, and then leaned out, "Could Ivy do this?" He asked.

Cleo smiled, "Who's Ivy?", and they proceeded to kiss again.

The rest exchanged satisfied looks and walked away from the "make-out territory" that was Rocky and Cleo.

"It's crazy how good for each other they are." Benjamin whispered to Everest and Finn, who looked at each other instinctively remembering the times they felt the same way. It hurt them to realize that such a beautiful feeling was now just a fading memory; which meant it lied in the past.

They deviated their eyes from each other at the same time, afraid the other would discover their secrets by somehow reading into their thoughts.

Benjamin didn't notice any of that and continued to drink his soda with a hopeless romantic smile on his face.

"I have to, uhh—" Everest started.

"Yeah, me too." Finn agreed, and they both fled to opposite sides of the room. Benjamin looked at both of his sides realizing he was now standing alone in the middle of the living room, and just stood there wondering if it was something he had said.