monopoly and properly kissed.

“Did you know, in Tenerife on New Year’s Eve, when it gets to midnight you have to eat a grape every time a bell rings, and if you eat them all by the last one you have good luck for the year? I’m pretty sure it works. Aside from being stuck back here, this year’s been fucking lucky.”

“So I take it that you’re not thrilled to see my handsome face, huh?”

“You’re right, it’s my fault for forgetting that my so called best friend tries to give me alcohol poisoning every year”, Hadley retorted, playfully rolling her eyes at her best friend. “That’s a really sweet offer but you know I’m too stubborn to accept that from you”.

“You call it alcohol poisoning, I call it a gamble with my organs. I think I’ve been hanging around Delta Psi too much.” Ezra said with a shrug. “Too bad, I’m still going to do it. Argue all you want.”

Arden immediately felt guilty. She had only been joking but she had obviously put her foot in her mouth. “Shit, sorry. That was a crappy attempt at a joke”, she was quick to apologize. “So I guess that means that you and RJ are still together, then?”

Ezra waved it out dismissively. “Nah, don’t worry about it.” He told her. If anything, his choices were the reason he was in this mess currently. “Yup, we’re making it work the best we can. I’ve got a long way to go before she can trust me again, but I’m just happy that she’s still willing to give me a chance, so I’m not going to squander this any further.” 

;; “I am craving the hell out for a burger right now. Fancy joining me to Fat boys?” She asked. “Man, it’s like the name taunts you for wanting a burger!”

“That all depends... are you paying?”

Ryan simply smiled in response as she continued to make room for Ezra. She glanced around, only then realizing just how packed the library was. “I’m okay,” she told him. “It’s almost Christmas and I love Christmas.” Ryan gushed. “Do you celebrate?” She cocked her head to the side. “I think the life and times of Ezra are a heck of a lot more fascinating. What’ve you been up to?”

Ezra placed his laptop on the table, not planning to open it at the moment as it had Netflix on one of the tabs, and he didn’t need that distraction. “I think I’m probably the only one in this dump that doesn’t care much for Christmas.” Ezra mused. “When I was religious, I didn’t. But now that I’m not, I still don’t. So nothing’s really changed much. RJ’s pretty stoked for it, though so she decorated my place a little.” He explained. “Besides smoking, working, going to class, and trying to fix my relationship with RJ, my hands have been pretty tied lately. How about you?”

RJ was feeling at different odds but her mind was completely distracted from her studies. She was a master at running away from her problems by now. But as much as these two had such a complicated history, they always seemed to be fighting for each other. The brunette had never felt a love like this–regardless of how toxic or not. But Ezra was it for her. Even though her brain was logically telling her to escape, that she was going to get hurt once again. She couldn’t help but think about all the time she’d caused him rain. As he intertwined their fingers, she smiled a little, trying to hold back a few tears. ‘I love you too more than you will ever know, but it’s just..I understand that you mad at me..but why? I can’t wrapped my mind around. Everybody tells me to run, yet I’m here..I’m so conflicted..but all I think is about how much I’m crazy about you. ’

Ezra knew that he’d fucked up; and that he could never come back from what he’d done. He knew RJ was too good for him and deserved better, but he wasn’t going to let her go if he there was even the slightest chance that they could make this work. He hated himself for making her ever question her worth, and he would remind her every day just how much she meant to him. “RJ, I love you so much, okay? I can’t even put it into words. I know you’ve got people telling you to leave me, and that you deserve better –– and they’re right, you should and do. But I’ll do anything you want me to do to make this work.” He told her honestly, his tone desperate and pleading. “I was stupid –– I am stupid for what I did. I’ll apologize until the end of time to make this right, even though I know it won’t. I was just so upset with you that I made a stupid decision, and I shouldn’t have done that. I shouldn’t have even thought it. I was only thinking of my pain in that moment that I hadn’t even thought of how it would affect you. I’m so, so sorry... but I understand if you want me to leave you alone.”

“Actually, I should correct myself. It’s not the best idea because I think we both know that involves the two of us naked but one of us is keeps throwing a spanner in the works by never being single”, Noah jokingly complained. “The idea that I have right now has the potential to be the second best idea… let’s get really high and go ride that new roller coaster that they keep advertising as being the fastest in the state”.

“I guess we still have our fantasies to keep us occupied, so there’s that. Maybe one day in our thirties, we’ll run into each other and rock each others’ worlds.” Ezra joked back. “You’re saying everything that my little ol’ heart wants to hear. Let’s do it. Wanna hotbox in my car? And before you question me –– yes, I can drive not sober.” 

“This is at least 50% your fault! The reason I didn’t have a vice grip on my phone is because someone mixed our pre-Christmas cocktails so bloody strong that I got completely wasted!”

“I do this every year, Hads. By now, you shouldn’t be surprised that I take it the extra mile.” Ezra said with a grin. “But hey, if it makes you feel better, I’ll buy you a new phone. Don’t even bother putting it in rice.”

“You’ve never complained about my flexibility before now, Radford”, Arden reminded him, raising her eyebrows suggestively as she smirked at him; making it clear what she was implying.

“You’re right, I haven’t.” Ezra nodded tentatively. “But I’m deep in the dog house right now thanks to my shenanigans; even thinking about another woman makes me feel like there’ll be hell to pay. Maybe in some alternate reality we could relive the past, hm?”

“I just came up with the best idea ever…or the worst idea ever…either way, it’s an idea and we won’t know if it’s a good one or a bad one until we try it”.

“Then I guess we have no choice but to do it, then?”

“Hey, that’s not fair!” Arden exclaimed in defense of herself. “As long as everything is exactly the way that I want it to be, I can totally be flexible”.

“You have a very warped definition of ‘flexible’, Arden.”

“Does anyone know how to fix phones? I may have dropped mine somewhere a phone should never be dropped… today really isn’t my day”.

“A vice grip on your phone is always needed when you’re in the bathroom, Had. I thought you knew that.”

Her brown eyes looked into his, and she felt a small twindle of that spark that used to be there still burning. Yet like a small candle, there was a small flame that remained. RJ wanted to talk to him, but her mouth had gone dry. Instead of trying to focus on him, she tried to pay attention to her Geology book. Alas, Ezra was RJ’s weak spot and she couldn’t help but feel her stomach get butterflies at his comment. He was her kryptonite. ‘I miss you too..’, she trailed off lightly, debating to whether or not to touch him. Slowly but surely, her hands reached out to touch his in an affectionate manner.