𝔸𝕕𝕦𝕝𝕥 𝔻𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟 // Weston Koury

December

I unlocked the front door, shivering in the cold air. I'd just finished art class and gotten home, ready to make some instant noodles and collapse into my warm bed.
I blew into my cupped hands to try and warm them up as I walked upstairs two steps at a time, eager to get into the warmth of the flat.

I heard laughter as I got through the front door. I took off my trainers and jacket before heading through to the kitchen. As soon as I opened the door the sounds of laughter and talking became clear, and I saw everyone was in the kitchen together.

Weston looked up at me from his place on the couch, and smiled awkwardly. Kalynn, who was next to him, grinned at me and said "Anais! Good timing! Dinner's ready."

I looked over to see Sam taking a lasagna out of the oven, and Olivia turning down the stove frantically as the pan boiled over. She wiped her hands on her dark purple corduroy dungarees before taking the pan off the heat.

I sat down at the table. "Wow, thanks guys, this looks great."

"No problem at all," Sam said, putting the lasagna down in the middle of the table. "It's gonna be our last night all here as a flat this term, so thought we could all actually eat dinner together for once."

"What do you mean?" I said, hesitantly. Kalynn and Olivia sat down across from each-other at the table, having their own conversation.

"Well, Liv is going home tomorrow, you know, for christmas break." Sam said casually, sitting down next to me. "I'm heading back the next day, same for Weston and Kalynn I think."

"Yep, day after tomorrow we're headed back." Kalynn added.

Weston put a plate down infront of me, and I looked up at him as he did. We exchanged a quick smile. I opened my mouth to ask him if he'd sit next to me, but my brain stopped me from saying anything.
"Huh?" He said.
"Nothing." I replied, my eyes fixed on the graphic on his sweater instead of his face whilst I said it.

He put down the rest of the plates for everyone else, before sitting down opposite me and scooching his chair into the table. Sam put a piece of lasagna onto everyone's plates, all of us obviously eager to just start eating already.

Olivia leaned across to put the vegetables on our plates, including Sam's, even though he claimed not to want any.
"C'mon, don't be a baby, eat your veg." She told him as she piled the green beans onto his plate. "You'll live longer."
"I don't wanna live longer!" He insisted, "didn't consider that did you?" but he ate them anyway once we all started eating.

"This is so good, thanks, dude." Weston said sincerely, beaming at Sam with a little bit of food in his teeth. Kalynn snorted and he shot her a only-half-serious glare.

"I'm gonna miss you guys when you're home." I said, to everyone.

"You're just lucky you get to have a break from her." Weston replied, pointing his thumb at Kalynn, who flicked his ear in response.
"How dare you!" He gasped, putting a hand to his ear dramatically
"You're the one she'll have a nice break from," Kalynn retorted. "Following her around all the time like a puppy. An annoying one."
"No I don't! Besides, in what world are puppies annoying?"
"In the world where you're one!"

"GUYS!" Sam interrupted their sibling bickering. "Can we please not have a domestic at this meal that Olivia and I put all this work into?"

"Well thanks for this, guys. Anyways," Kalynn said between mouthfuls. "When are you going home for Christmas, Anais?"
"Oh, um," I replied. "I don't know yet."
"Your parents have gotta be eager to see you, right?" Olivia added, spooning more lasagna onto her plate. "Are they gonna come and pick you up, or..?"