The wide, brown storied houses meant that Jacquie and Kyran had entered Maize's neighborhood. Jacquie had only been there once before, at Maize's party last year. Her house sprawled out like packages of white boxes on a large dark green lawn. Bright windows were aglow with red and green Christmas lights, looking much more elegant wrapped around trimmings and sidings than the tacky ones in her neighborhood. It may not have been a “real” mansion like Maize had once told her, but it might as well have been.

Jacquie turned to Kyran as Jules drove up the long driveway, expecting him ogling the bright decorations with childlike wonder. His head leaned against the car window, his chest rising and falling in slumber.

Fantastic, Jacquie thought observing his sleeping figure. She’d bored him to sleep. To be fair, they hadn’t talked since Kyran arrived on her doorstep that evening, wearing his coat and busted sneakers. “Ready to leave?” he’d asked.

“How’d you find my address?” Jacquie replied. She didn’t remember telling him where to meet each other when they met in the mall.

“I got Johnathan to tell me,” he said quickly.

Jacquie nodded, taking him to the car where Jules slept behind the wheel waiting to take them away. None of them uttered a word for the whole ride, only the melodies of Prince and Beyonce kept the ride from being unbearable. Still, Jacquie had wanted Kyran to talk to her. About anything. His family, the weather, the migration patterns of Monarch butterflies. It was the whole point of asking him to go with her. And yet here she was, alone in her thoughts with her reflection staring back in twinkling shades of green, red and white.

"Get out you party animals,” Jules said, cutting off the music and thrusting Jacquie into chilly silence.

“I’m gonna miss your witty sarcasm for the next two hours,” Jacquie teased.

Jules barked a short laugh before jerking her finger to Kyran. “Don’t forget to take Prince Charming with you.”

“Don’t you mean Sleeping Beauty?” Jacquie asked while nudging Kyran with her elbow.

“I know what I said.”

Kyran jolted awake and whipped his hands towards Jacquie defensively. He spent a moment or two observing her wide-eyed face before settling his hands down and placing them at his sides. "So, we’re here?" he asked with a yawn. Jacquie nodded. Kyran switched his gaze to the dazzling exterior of Maize's estate, taking it in with awe.

They got out of the car and Jacquie heaved her gift from its reserved spot in the passenger seat. It was heavy…really heavy. Both Jules and Kyran offered to take it for her, but she told them no. She needed to bring it herself.

Jacquie gave her best smile, but that was also being pulled down by the weight of the plant on her. Kyran rang the doorbell for her and as they waited for someone to answer he questioned, "Are you sure you don't want me to hold that?"

"Mmhnn," she shook. This was her gift, and everyone had to know that she bought it. They would ask what was in the giant box, and Jacquie would be able to say she brought it. And then she’d be able to maneuver her way into their conversations and then get recognition. And conversations are the first step to friendship, and one step closer to life brimming with self-fulfillment and happiness. She was such a rose-tinted life sprawling before her as she rocked back and forth on her heels.

The door opened and soft holiday music wafted from inside. A girl their age was on the other side, blonde hair swept to one side across her shoulder. She wore a chic mulberry sweater and jeans with snowflakes sewn on in patches. Her sky-blue eyes trained on them, she smiled as earnestly and festively as anyone could have in the history of for-e-ver and chirped, "Welcome to my party!"

Jacquie smiled, instantly warmed by Maize's hospitality. If there was anything this girl was, it was nice. Getting to know and befriend everyone well enough to get them to come to a party of yours was no small task. Yet Maize could do it, taking down hundreds of names, related hobbies and events in her head and still managing to keep it all together with a genuine grin.

"Who's this?" Maize asked throwing her question toward Kyran.

"Ah, I am Kyran," he said as they stepped further into the thrumming Christmas tunes.

"He’s new in town," Jacquie added.

"Great!" she added with a blindingly radiant smile. "Welcome to Saberon, Kyran, and I hope you really like it here," Maize beamed, the whites of her teeth likely visible from space. She whipped towards Jacquie. "Do you want me to take that?" she asked pointing to the boxed plant, which had slowly began feeling heavier the longer Jacquie held it.

Maize didn't wait for a response and heaved it out of Jacquie's arms with a grunt. "Okay, wow, a lot heavier than I expected," she said, now doubting if this was a good idea. She spoke quickly, rushing out her sentences in a long breath. "Uh, I'll take this to where the rest of the presents are, Jacquie you can take Kyran to the living room and eat some punch or whatever." Maize trodded out of the room as quickly as possible, leaving Kyran and Jacquie in the foyer by themselves.

Jacquie led Kyran into the left wing of the large house. She saw him marveling at the high creme colored walls, all patterned by the flashing Christmas lights that had been strung up on the inside as well. The wooden chestnut floors made their footsteps echo and Kyran took it all in, his eyes wide in curiosity. The tune of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas grew louder until they turned a corner and were in the living room. A bunch of people Jacquie recognized from school, and they were laughing and talking happily. A light machine created swirling white orbs along the red and brown patterned walls. A food table was spread out with cookies and little catering sandwiches, and of course, a bowl of bright, sugary fruit punch.

"So what do we do now?" Kyran asked.

"We could just sit and talk like they do in the movies.”

“What movies?”

Jacquie looked at Kyran with thinly veiled bewilderment. “Practically every movie that features a party with young teenagers. Have you never seen one?”

Kyran gave a sharp chuckle, “Never got around to it. I liked the silent films better.”

“Really?” she asked, “Those ancient ones with the guy in the thick mustache?”

“There are others—like the guy with the thin mustache and the guy with no mustache.”

“Very funny,” Jacquie smiled.

“I know nobody really cares about them now,” he said, “but I think they have charm and compelling stories if you watch for long enough.”

“Like old people.”

Jacquie’s and Kyran’s heads whipped to the left to face the interruption. His tall frame and soup broth eyes were familiar to Jacquie, and then she realized this was the same guy who worked at Dirty Hands that one morning—Erik. Jacquie didn’t have a clue what he was doing at this party, since she’d never seen him around school before, and he seemed way too relaxed around a full throng of strangers.

Erik looked at the two of them, expecting a response. Kyran cupped his pointer and thumb into his chin and nodded slowly, “Sure, I guess that can also apply to old people.”

“See, you get it. Old people may be disregarded a lot because of their outdated opinions or whatnot, but there are so many things you can learn just from listening to them. I was talking to this one sweet, old lady—Mrs. Cunningham—about getting stuck on the highway with my mom and she starts telling me about how her car broke down in the middle of Arizona when she was travelling on Route 66. Now, it was dark and the desert was real scary with some coyotes just prowling behind a outcrop. And—I don’t think I’ll ever forget this part—she said —"

"I'm going to get some punch," Jacquie announced, now feeling awkward with Erik’s brazen insertion into the conversation between her and Kyran.

The food table had been out for at least an hour or two, but all the snacks were consistently replenished as if no one had eaten at all. That seems to be one perk of going to a rich person’s party. At least she’d be able to be silent and awkward by herself instead of in front of Kyran.

"Hey Jacquie.”

"Oh, Johnathan, hi!" Jacquie chirped. She was wondering when he’d arrive. He was dressed a little fancier than what she’d normally seen him in, looking quite well in a long-sleeved polo and slacks.

"Yeah hi," he said, demeanor dreadfully glum amid the cheery din of holiday music.

"What’s up?"

"Ariel hasn’t shown up yet,” he sighed, nerves settling into the air. “She asked to show up so she wouldn’t feel weird. And then she told me that she would be coming later with a friend, but that was almost an hour ago." Johnathan looked down at his empty cup of punch. His voice pitched lower and said, "Wouldn’t have come to this boring party if she hadn’t asked.” He gazed past Jacquie toward the fireplace where Erik was still yakking off Kyran’s ear. “I see you came with Kyran.

"Yeah, so?” Jacquie questioned.

"I just, didn’t know you guys were close, is all. I mean, he’s only been around, like 3 weeks and that’s a really short amount of time to get attached to someone."

“I’m not that attached to Kyran,” Jacquie said. “You’re right I don’t know him that well, but I’m trying to. Or I was, until that guy over there interrupted us,” she pointed in Erik’s direction. “I think he’s funny and interesting, and that’s someone I want to be friends with.”

“Friends, yeah,” Johnathan snorted vehemently.

“Yeah, friends. What’s wrong with that?” she asked.

Johnathan’s face slowly turned into a shade similar to the punch as he struggled to get out a full sentence. "No, I don't… You see I… Look, I, umm…" He stopped trying and shut his lips together tightly, not quite looking Jacquie in the eyes but just above her. And then something unsure dawned on her, like a flickering candle in the distant dark.

"I think you're jealous."

"What? No, that's not—” He paused before starting with, “Well…"

"Well? Well, is it too bad to see me try for once at making a new friend? To say stuff past 'Excuse me', 'Have a good day', 'Can i borrow that'? It’s so hard to find someone I can talk to, someone who I feel natural around. And I’ve tried. I’ve tried talking to the same people I think I have a chance with, and guess what? It doesn’t work! They never stick around long enough to the point where we make plans to hang out or talk about anything more personally emotional and deep than the amount of homework we get. But you do. It’s not much, but I’ve seen it. You talk with Ariel and me and even Riordan sometimes. You have actual friends outside of me, Johnathan. I only have you. And while you are a really great friend," she slowed, "you can’t be my everything and you never can be!"

Johnathan stared at Jacquie, mimicking her own slack-jawed expression.  Conversations in the room slowed to a halt, leaving the two of them in a stiffening silence.

"I’m sorry," she muttered softly.

Johnathan stayed silent.

"I mean, it's true but..." she trailed.

Johnathan wouldn't look at her.

"That's not how I wanted that to come out."

"Sure," he croaked at last. Johnathan downed the last of his punch before hurling his empty cup at the trash. He snatched a mini ham sandwich from the tray beside him and stuffed it into his mouth, storming out of the room.

Oh no.

She watched him shove past Ariel—who had finally arrived to the spectacle —and stomp out of the room. Ariel sidled closer to Erik and whispered to him, “What’s going on?”

“She yelled at him,” he replied, pointing at Jacquie and adding one more pair of eyes staring at her. Jacquie made a dash for the door to try and find Johnathan but was stopped by someone grabbing her shoulder.

“I wouldn’t go after him.” Erik looked down at her with a horribly pitied look.

“Yeah, and what do you know about him?” she told him off.

“Nothing. But I think he’s in good need of a solid stress eating right now.”

Jacquie rolled her eyes. A real character here, wow. Ariel punched Erik’s his arm and berated him. “Don’t give advice when you know nothing, Richard.” She turned to Jacquie and said, “But maybe he’s right. I’ve seen Johnathan when he gets into one of his… moods, and I do think he needs some time alone.”

Jacquie couldn’t believe this. “No, he doesn’t.” She whipped between Erik and Ariel. “You’ve never met this guy and you just ‘have a feeling’ that he’s gonna need to eat away his feelings in a ham sandwich? And I doubt you fully know him either! Neither of grew up with him, swapping cookies at lunch since the first grade and I bet you couldn’t understand him the way I do.” She paused, trying to let the frustration simmer down inside her. With one cold breath, she said, “I’m his best friend and I need to go and apologize to him right now before I’ve really screw up everything,” she finished, running down the hallway to find Johnathan.