6Tristan looked outside the Hollingsworths' French doors and admired the picturesque image of the snow falling on the ground. Usually he would be sharing the view with his fiancé's arms wrapped around him, but it was hardly the time for that. It was the mayor's annual Christmas party and Miles was much too busy entertaining various guests. Tristan had to smile when he heard his lover's familiar deep laugh from across the room. After a couple years of family therapy, Miles was in a good place with his father. And even though that meant attending stuffy events targeted for businessmen and political figures, so be it. After all, he was going to have him all to himself next week when they host their first New Year's Eve party in their apartment for their friends.
He was just about to join Miles when a familiar head of dark curls caught his attention. She was wearing the latest design from a reputable fashion designer based in Rome, and he broke into a smile when he recognized who she was. Picking up two flutes of sparking water, he made his way to the young woman whose outfit definitely fit the scenery while her face couldn't hide her boredom.
"What's a pretty lady like yourself doing unescorted?" asked Tristan as he handed her a glass.
She looked at him suspiciously but accepted the drink.
"Sorry to burst your bubble but I'm–"
"Into girls. I know."
"That's some gay-dar you've got there."
"Nah, not really. We went to Degrassi together. But I don't blame you for not recognizing me."
She gave Tristan a hard look, but nothing clicked until he decided to give her a clue.
"Sigh! I don't even know how to find someone to have a crush on!"
Fiona took the time to study his grinning face and when it hit her, her eyes bulged out and she propelled herself forward to give him a hug.
"Button? Oh my gosh, Tristan! Look at you! You changed so much. Not quite the cute little kid that I went to Degrassi with. You look fantastic."
"Aww, thanks. So what brings you to this party?"
"My father received an invite to the mayor's soirée on account of his status as a diplomat. We were supposed to come together, actually. But at the last minute he was called away to New York. Not exactly how I expected my Christmas in Toronto to turn out."
"So why did you still come?"
"Oh, to scope out the mayor's eldest son."
"Really? What did you want to find out in particular?"
"Well, I never met him, but he went to the same boarding school that I did after I left. Stories about him were legendary. Did you hear about how he kissed fifty girls? After all this talk about this skirt-chaser I want to see where he ended up. My bet is he's wilder than Prince Harry but he's smart enough to keep himself out of the tabloids."
At this point Tristan was hiding a smile behind his hand. He didn't dare speak, fearing that his laughter would be uncontrollable if he let his guard down for a moment.
"Sorry, look at me babbling away about some mysterious playboy. He's probably romancing some naïve little thing as we speak. Tell me about you! Did you end up find your "zzt?"
Tristan beamed.
"Yes, I did actually. And it went down pretty much the same way you and Imogen predicted it."
"You mean that plan where you find someone with a common interest and then you become best friends? Lucky. I wished that it worked everytime for me."
"Oh? There was someone else after Imogen?"
"Try before. Oddly enough we both had my brother in common, and we did eventually become best friends. Never anything more, though."
"Why not?"
"Because she's straight?"
It was that precise moment that Miles came from behind to wrap his arms around Tristan while he dropped a kiss on his neck and squeezed him tightly.
"You shouldn't let something like that stop you from trying."
Fiona laughed and held out her hand.
"Hi, I'm Fiona. You must be Tristan's boyfriend."
"Fiancé, actually," he corrected while leaning forward to take her hand.
"Oh, congratulations!"
"Thanks," laughed Tristan. "This is Miles. Hollingsworth. The Third."
Fiona gave him a quizzical look and Tristan watched with amusement while he could practically see the wheels spinning in her head as she put two and two together.
"So," he continued nonchalantly. "Did you and your friend stay in touch?"
"No. The breakup with my brother drove her away. I have no idea what Holly J is up to now."
Tristan felt Miles perking up from behind him.
"How long are you in town for?", he asked.
"Oh, a couple more weeks. Why?"
"You should come to our New Year's Eve party next week."
"Sure, sounds like fun."
"I hope you don't mind cats. We've got five of them at home."
"I'm not allergic, but as long as you don't make me cat-sit, we're good."
She hugged the two boys goodbye and the moment she slipped out of sight Tristan promptly turned around.
"Spill, Hollingsworth. What exactly are you cooking up?"
A familiar gleam sparkled in Miles' eyes and a knowing smile twitched at the corners of his mouth.
"My dad just hired a new employee to run his youth division who's also a Degrassi alumni."
"So?"
"Her name is Holly J."
"No. You don't think it's the same…"
"Come on. Do you think anyone else who graduated from our school also goes by that name?"
"Okay, fine. But how are we going to get her to come too?"
"Just leave that part to me."
