Fix You ~Completed~

Act Twenty

Despite my insistence that I would be perfectly fine walking home in the below freezing temperatures, the guys just weren't having it. "You are itty bitty! No insulation, Clem. None. Did you know it takes only ten minutes for a person's skin to freeze in negative forty temperatures?" Gale had sighed while dragging me out to the car, Eddie trailing behind us with a grin the size of Texas on his face.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Ale, it's not even negative ten!"

"Besides the point! We are not letting you freeze to death. We love you." Gale ran up to Eddie's truck, popping the passenger door open for me. I shook my head, insisting that he sat up front because it made the most sense since he'd be riding all the way home with Eddie. "Such a stubborn child you are, Clem!"

After we were all seated in the car and Eddie had started the heater, two boxes were tossed my way. I blinked in surprise and held them up for closer inspection. Little dancing penguins in Santa hats waved up at me from some wrapping paper.

When I looked up, I found both of my friends turned around and grinning at me. "What's this?" I asked shyly, feeling flustered at the very thought of what this could be. Boxes disguised in wrapping paper. Christmas presents? They got me something?

"Well, we were talking and," Gale started, gesturing for me to open the gifts, "no offense, but your hoodie has seen better days."

I carefully peeled at some of the wrapping paper, unable to get myself to finish the job. "Guys, I didn't get you anything," I explained sheepishly, looking down. Kyla would never give me money to buy my friends gifts. It was moments like those that I really wished I had my own job. I could buy anything I wanted then. "I can't accept this..."

"Dude, it's no take backs!" Eddie informed me, shaking a very long finger in my face. I turned to Gale. "Seriously, Clem, we don't care if you got us presents. We bought you stuff because we wanted to, not because we expected anything in return. Open them! We want to see your face when you do."

I looked down, admiring the paper. It was hard to tee myself up to be ready to ruin that, but I somehow managed. Inside the first box was the softest looking, ocean blue hoodie. I pulled it out of the box and examined it, startled at how pretty it was. I never thought clothes were pretty. "Guys," I breathed out in shock. It was two sizes too large, just the way I liked my clothes. How did they know me so well?

"We just think you'd look really nice in brighter colors. That song I sang earlier was supposed to be kind of a joke leading up to that. I think blue would actually look really nice on you," Eddie explained, rubbing his shoulder with a laugh. "Not that the grey you usually have looks bad. You probably don't look bad in anything."

"What Eddie means is," Gale chuckled, throwing his friend a look, "you deserve some more color in your life. Less black and grey, more green and blue."

I bit back a small cry that made its way into my throat. "You two," I sighed, nodding, "are too good for me."

Ale waved me off, his face open. "Yeah right! Open the other one."

Inside was a similar hoodie, only this one was green and had text across the chest. WORLD'S GREATEST EFFING FRIEND.

That was the bit that really broke me.

"Jesus! You two..." I stammered, holding the hand that was clutching the green hoodie over my mouth to muffle my cries. The sound of a car door slamming didn't even register with me until Eddie was beside me and pushing me into his chest. I wrapped my arms around his neck, still gripping that wonderful hoodie, and I cried against him like a child. "I love you. I love both of you. I love you both so much it hurts me."

"Sh," Eddie shook his head, both hands on my back, and I felt myself soften at his gentle voice. "We love you too, Clemmy. We got you these hoodies because we love you and we want you to be happy."

"I am happy!" I promised, and I really meant that. I was so happy. "T-these are happy tears!"

"Aw, Lem," Gale whispered, reaching back through the seats to pat my arm. I took his hand and squeezed it while I still clung to Eddie, letting my new hoodie fall onto the seat behind him.

Eventually, Eddie got back in the driver's chair and drove me home. I collected my newest possessions and idled a bit before I decided to leave. My cheeks flushed, I snaked in between the front chairs to give each of my friends a kiss on the cheek. It was an in-the-moment decision and I felt weird about it the second my lips touched their skin, but neither of them looked bothered. "Merry Christmas, guys. I'll see you soon," I said, even though they'd be gone until the day before New Year's Eve. Guess they really liked their families.

"Merry Christmas, Lem. Stay safe!" Gale pleaded, playfully poking me in the shoulder as I went to move away.

Eddie nodded, his face not quite as joyful as his ginger counterpart. "Merry Christmas. Call us if you need anything, Clemmy. Okay?"

I promised I would and, after flashing them each a huge smile, I finally jumped out of the car and into the cold winter wonderland that was flying around us. The biting freeze didn't even bother me. I felt so warm everywhere and nothing could ice that away.