I left the hideout with a stack of books in my arms, wandering through the garden when I caught sight of a familiar face. There, in a university sweater, was a guy who, strangely enough, was tearing bread into pieces and helping an elderly lady feed the pigeons. His unmistakable golden hair gave him away instantly, and I couldn't help but smirk as I approached.

"Community service, Beaumont?" I teased, crossing my arms as I raised an eyebrow. "Since when are you this... nice?"

He looked over and rolled his eyes, clearly unbothered. "Can't a guy just help out?" He paused, watching my expression with a hint of amusement. "And here I thought we'd moved past this whole 'enemies' thing."

I shrugged. "I thought about it again, and honestly? I don't see us as friends."

He nodded, still holding my gaze with that unreadable expression of his, waiting for me to continue.

"We're better off as enemies," I said, grinning, fully expecting him to push back.

But he just smirked, looking down at me with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Enemies it is, then."

Just as I turned to walk away, he called after me, "So where are you off to?"

"Good question," I admitted with a laugh. "I'm done studying, but... I'm not exactly ready to go back."

"Trust me, Pierce," he said, his grin widening. "I've got a place in mind."

"Oh, I definitely don't trust you," I shot back, but my curiosity got the better of me, and before I knew it, I found myself following him.

He led me to a cozy little book café nearby, the kind of place tucked away just enough to feel like a secret. The café was perfect-shelves of books lined every wall, and there were quiet little nooks for reading or getting lost in thought. We both picked out some comics, but soon enough, we were leaning in close, sharing mine because the one he chose was, quite frankly, terrible.

As we settled into our corner, I held up my comic and smirked at Alex. "Are you sure you don't want to switch? I mean, yours looks painfully boring."

He tilted his head, eyeing the one I'd picked. "You think you're doing any better, Pierce? I've got taste."

I raised an eyebrow. "Really? Because I saw you grab that history-of-stamps book first."

He gave me a wounded look, which only made me laugh harder. "Clearly, you underestimate me," he replied, leaning back and crossing his arms in mock offense.

"Oh, I don't underestimate you, Beaumont," I shot back, flipping a page dramatically. "I just know you're the type who probably finds tax codes riveting."

"Very funny." He moved closer, peering over my shoulder. "Let's see this 'masterpiece' of yours, then."

I held it up with a grin, and he squinted at the colorful panel. "Okay, I'll admit-that's actually pretty funny." He laughed, and for a second, we were both caught in a fit of giggles that made a few people glance over at us. He leaned closer, pointing to a ridiculous scene. "Now that is something I'd pay to see you do."

I elbowed him. "Watch it. You couldn't handle my comic book skills."

"Oh, please. I could totally keep up with you in the comic world," he teased, nudging me back.

"Is that so?" I challenged, narrowing my eyes. "You couldn't handle the chaos for two seconds."

"Try me, Pierce," he said, with that cocky smirk that was almost infuriatingly charming.

"You know, this whole 'trying to be cool and mysterious' thing really doesn't suit you," I teased.

"'Cool and mysterious'? I think you're projecting," he replied with a grin. "Or maybe... it's your 'enemy' bias kicking in?"

"Very funny, Beaumont," I muttered, trying not to smile. "You just keep thinking that."

I glanced at Alex with a sly smile. "So... no Rose Fenwick today? I thought you'd be off planning your wedding by now."

He snorted, rolling his eyes. "Right, because that's all I do in my free time, Pierce. Plot my future with Rose Fenwick."

I leaned in, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, come on, Beaumont. Aren't you just a little excited about your 'perfect match'? The whole school's buzzing about it, you know."

He folded his arms, pretending to look thoughtful. "You seem pretty interested in this, Evelyn. Should I be flattered?"

I rolled my eyes. "Hardly. It's just... hard to imagine you with someone like her. You're way too... intense for a life of tabloids and perfect smiles."

He chuckled, clearly enjoying this. "And what life do you picture for me, then?"

"Hmm." I pretended to consider, leaning back. "Definitely not the fairytale prince. More like the... misunderstood villain."

He grinned, nodding in mock agreement. "I can work with that. But answer me this: why are you so curious about my so-called 'future wife'? Afraid I'll disappear into the world of tabloids forever?"

"Oh, I wouldn't miss you," I said with a smirk. "Just... don't let Rose down easy on my account."

He let out a laugh, leaning closer. "And here I thought we were finally friends, Pierce. But it turns out you're still hung up on the idea of us as enemies."

"Maybe it's more fun that way," I replied, matching his tone.

His gaze softened, his voice dropping just a bit. "Fun or not, you're still the one here with me."

That last line lingered in the air between us, catching me off guard for a second. I shrugged, attempting to cover up the way my heart was suddenly racing. "Well, I guess even villains need decent company."

Alex just laughed, shaking his head. "Touché, Pierce."

After our comic reading session, I found myself standing at a crossroads. I should have headed back to my dorm, but for some reason, I didn't want to leave Alex just yet. Maybe it was the way he always managed to find fun in the most unexpected places. Or perhaps it was simply that it was Saturday, winter was in full swing, and Christmas was just around the corner. The campus felt empty, as if everyone had hopped on their private jets to shop for the holidays.

"Hey, what do you want to do now?" Alex asked, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

I shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe go back?"

"Boring! It's a Saturday. How about a movie?" he suggested, grinning.

I tilted my head, intrigued. "What kind of movie?"

"The cinema is showing some classic holiday films," he replied, as if he were revealing a grand secret.

I raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess-Home Alone?"

"Absolutely! It's a holiday staple," he replied, puffing up his chest like he'd just announced the greatest news in the world.

I groaned, crossing my arms. "Not that one again! I'm so sick of it!"

He feigned shock, placing a hand over his heart. "How can you say that? It's a masterpiece of comedic genius!"

"More like a tired old cliché," I countered. "I've watched it a million times! It's predictable."

"What's wrong with a little predictability? It's comforting!" he shot back, a playful smirk on his face.

"Comforting?" I laughed. "You're making it sound like a warm blanket. I'd rather watch The Grinch!"

"Ew, no! Too much singing," he protested, shaking his head vehemently.

"Just admit you can't handle the musical number!" I teased, grinning at his pained expression.

He rolled his eyes dramatically. "I can handle it; I just don't want to torture myself!"

"Then what do you want?" I asked, crossing my arms, thoroughly enjoying this little game of back and forth.

"Okay, okay," he said, holding up his hands in surrender. "How about A Christmas Carol?"

"Boring!" I replied, my nose crinkling in disdain. "It's too... old-fashioned."

"Fine, you pick!" he said, throwing his hands up in defeat. "What do you want to watch then?"

I thought for a moment, then a light bulb went off in my head. "What about The Nightmare Before Christmas?"

His face brightened instantly. "Now that's a classic! It has everything-spooky, fun, and catchy songs! You've got a deal!"

"Yes!" I exclaimed, fist-pumping the air. "I can't believe we finally agreed on something."

"Don't get used to it," he quipped, trying to sound nonchalant, but I could see the hint of a smile creeping onto his lips.

As we made our way to the concession stand, I couldn't help but feel a giddy thrill. "Okay, let's get some snacks. I'll take popcorn!"

"I'll grab the drinks," he replied, his eyes darting around as if he was on a secret mission.

I grabbed a tub of popcorn from the machine and turned to see him struggling with the cups. "You okay over there?" I asked, laughing a little at his predicament.

"Just fine!" he insisted, trying to balance two cups precariously. "What could possibly go wrong?"

"Everything," I replied, shaking my head. "Here, let me help." I took one of the cups from him, and as our hands brushed, I felt a strange spark.

"Thanks," he said, a hint of embarrassment creeping into his voice. "I'm not usually this clumsy."

"Maybe you should stick to movies and leave the juggling to the professionals," I teased, nudging him playfully with my shoulder.

We finally got our snacks and made our way to the theater. As we settled into our seats, I couldn't help but steal glances at him. "So, what's your favorite part of the movie?" I asked, trying to break the ice.

"I love the music," he replied, his eyes lighting up. "It's so catchy unlike Grinch! What about you?" I couldn't help but roll my eyes

"I'm a sucker for the visuals," I said, leaning back. "The animation is just so unique. Plus, Jack is such a great character."

"Jack is a bit of a drama queen, though," he joked. "I mean, come on, he's always so over-the-top!"

I laughed, nudging him again. "At least he's entertaining! Better than some of the bland characters in other movies."

"True," he conceded, leaning in slightly. "You've got a point there."

As the lights dimmed and the movie started, I found myself feeling more comfortable next to him than I ever expected.

As the movie began, the opening scenes of The Nightmare Before Christmas filled the screen, and I leaned back in my seat, momentarily lost in the colorful animation. The music kicked in, and I could feel Alex's presence beside me, a steady, warm force that made the experience even more enjoyable.

"Just wait until the 'This is Halloween' song," I said, my eyes sparkling with excitement. "It's the best part!"

"I'll be the judge of that," he replied, crossing his arms with a smirk. "But I'm sure it won't change my mind about musical numbers."

I laughed, shaking my head. "You're impossible!"

As the movie unfolded, I noticed how relaxed he seemed. Maybe he wasn't just the serious guy I had always thought he was. When the first song ended, I turned to him, nudging him again. "See? Isn't it amazing?"

He rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his smile. "Okay, fine. It's not terrible."

"Admit it; you're loving it!" I pressed, unable to suppress my grin.

"Maybe I am," he confessed, leaning back and pretending to look nonchalant. "But don't let it get to your head. I still think Home Alone is better."

"Not a chance," I shot back, playfully glaring at him.

The film continued, and we found ourselves getting lost in the story, laughing and commenting on the characters' antics. As Jack Skellington made his grand entrance, I leaned over, whispering, "He's kind of like the cool kid who doesn't know he's cool."

"Totally! And then he just goes and messes everything up," Alex added, chuckling. "Reminds me of someone I know."

"Very funny," I replied, rolling my eyes. "At least I don't kidnap Christmas!"

Midway through, the theater was filled with our laughter and chatter. I leaned in closer, hoping to catch his reaction to a particularly funny moment. "Look at him! He's about to crash the holiday party. Classic Jack."

"I mean, who needs permission, right?" he shot back. "Let's just waltz into someone else's holiday and take over!"

At that moment, someone a few rows back shushed us. I couldn't help but giggle. "We're just being enthusiastic fans!" I whispered loudly.

"Exactly! Who can blame us?" Alex replied, grinning. "I mean, how often do you get to see a pumpkin king in action?"

"Not enough," I admitted, still stifling my laughter. "We're practically cultural critics here."

The movie continued, and with every song and scene change, our conversation flowed easily. I found myself enjoying his company more than I ever expected.