Temporary Bliss [boyxboy]

36: Spread the Cheer

Finn

When I woke up the next morning, I realized that I was no longer angry. Sure, I still didn't understand what the hell Caleb was going on about, but I decided that I didn't really have the right to tell him who to like.
And while we were extraordinarily good at being mad at each other, I didn't like it - especially when it was almost Christmas and I just wanted to have a good time.
So I decided to go apologize.

Traipsing down the stairs, I saw the brunette boy sitting on the couch, staring at his phone. I plopped down next to him and took a deep breath:

"Look, Caleb... I'm sorry," I said sincerely, having to suppress a chuckle at the surprise on my best friend's face.

He turned toward me, "What?"

"Uh... I said I'm sorry. I thought about what you said yesterday and as stupid as I think some of the things you said are, I have to respect them. Because it's your thing and... you need to know what works for you."

Caleb stared at me for a few seconds, a dumbfounded look on his face, before he spoke up: "Okay. Yeah. Thanks, I guess. What's that mean, though? For us?"

I grimaced, because I knew exactly that I was about to give into Caleb and his charming smile, and his general Caleb-ness again.

"I guess we could... keep this "arrangement" going for now. But can we make it a little more relaxed? Concerning other people, I mean? Because it just confuses me when it's a mix between being together and not being together. I can't do that."

"Fine," said Caleb hesitantly, but he was smiling at me. And that seemed to be that.

"You know what I like about us lately?" I inquired.

"Hm?"

"That we don't hold grudges and all that anymore. We talk about stuff and we get over it. That's progress, don't you think?"

My best friend nodded and pulled me into a very unexpected hug.

"I don't want Christmas ruined, alright? Let's just have fun and stop fighting."

I simply hummed in agreement. I was glad that we could at least agree on one thing - we were just going to get along. It was all I wanted.

---

"Yeah, no... Okay. No, I get it. It's fine, don't worry, I have Caleb and Matt and Danny. Yes, I will. Okay. Bye, love you too. Bye."

I hung up the call with a sigh and set the phone down.

"Mom?" Caleb questioned and I nodded.

"Yeah," I confirmed, "She's visiting my aunt and uncle in El Paso for Christmas, so I guess I'm staying."

"Would it be very selfish of me to say that I'm a little glad?" my best friend joked, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Yes it would."

"Well, in that case - I'm sorry but I'm still glad," chuckled the brunette boy, getting up from his seat at the dining table, "So that means we can go get a Christmas tree now."

"Really?!"

"Uh, yeah. Duh," said Caleb, "What's Christmas without a Christmas tree?"

---

It was later that evening when the beautiful Christmas tree sat in the lounge, decorated tastefully, when Caleb sat down next to me on the couch.
I half expected him to be pissy again - his mood was a little difficult to decipher sometimes - but he turned toward me and gave me a small smile.