"The rules are simple," Marcus says. "Teams of three or four. You have an hour and a half to decorate your gingerbread house in the most ridiculous, hideous, or bizarre way possible. Prize basket for the winners includes gift cards from local businesses, some cool tech accessories from our friends at TechWorld, and bragging rights for the year."
The teens are already gravitating toward the tables, some pairing up with friends, others looking shyer. The frat guys spread out, introducing themselves and joining various groups. I hang back, unsure where to go until Haru spots me and waves enthusiastically.
"Caleb! Come join our team!" he calls, pointing to the table where he's setting up with, of course, James.
A ripple of awkward silence spreads through the nearby frat brothers. James stiffens, looking like he might bolt. Haru glances between us, confusion dawning on his face as he picks up on the tension.
"Did I mistake something?" he asks innocently.
Drew swoops in with impressive speed. "Haru, I actually need your help with that thing we discussed. Remember, about the...international perspective?" He's clearly improvising, but it works.
"Oh! Of course," Haru says, still looking confused but allowing himself to be steered away after an apologetic glance at me.
I'm left standing awkwardly near James's table, and apparently, I don’t know what to do. I'm about to walk away when I feel a light tap on my arm.
"You can work with me if you want," a young voice says. "I don't have a partner."
A lanky teenager stands with a buzz cut and ear piercings on both sides. Their disinterest isn't even hidden well. Despite the offer, their posture screams, 'I don't actually care if you join me or not.'
"Sure."Finally, someone who doesn't know about the breakup."I'm Caleb."
"Alex," they reply with a shrug. "Let's grab a table before all the good candy's gone. Umm… Your shirt… It's almost funny."
The 'Resting Grinch Face' tee was worth wearing if it got me almost praise from the grouchy teenager.
Alex leads me to a table in the corner, as far from the center of activity as possible. We claim a gingerbread house kit and a few bags of candy before retreating to our island of mutual discomfort.
Tearing open the packaging, struggling for something to say, I come up with. "So. How long have you been staying here?"Idiot.
"Two months," Alex replies, focusing intently on sorting candy by colour. "You're the rich guy, right? James's boyfriend?"
The frosting package I'm trying to open nearly slips from my hands. "I'm not... we're not... anymore."
"Figured," they say with a knowing nod. "You've both got that 'recently dumped' vibe going."
"Is it that obvious?" My wince could be heard across the room.
"Only to other experts in emotional disaster." Alex tears open a bag of gumdrops with more force than necessary. "My parents kicked me out when they found my hormone blockers. Told me I could come back when I was 'normal' again."
The casual revelation of such trauma leaves me momentarily speechless. "That's... I'm sorry."
Alex shrugs again. "Whatever. Most of us here have similar stories. At least my sister still talks to me. Sneaks me texts when our parents aren't looking."
Glancing around the room with a new understanding. Every kid here has a story like Alex's. Every kid here has been rejected by the people who should love them most.
"My father tried to bribe James to break up with me. Seventy-five thousand dollars to walk away."
Alex pauses their candy sorting. "Damn. Did he take it?"
"No." Certain of this despite everything. "But my father made me believe he did. And I... I believed him without talking to James first."
"That was stupid," Alex says bluntly.
My laugh surprises me. Apparently, we're being brutally honest now." Yeah. It really was. I should have trusted James."
"I meant stupid he didn’t take the money but whatever… So why not apologize?"
"It's not that simple…" I start, then stop. "Actually, maybe it is. I've been too proud to try."
