Eddie had been putting off facing the Menagerie but with the opening finished and the project underway, he had no more excuses. Brendan had texted asking when he was going to show his face again, attempting to lure him with strawberry daiquiris. He could hardly refuse that, without it seeming like he was actively snubbing them. With an effort, Eddie pulled himself together and relaxed his facial muscles before letting himself into the apartment on the second floor.

Bren was the first to spot him, and when he did, he put a finger to his lips and then pointed at the couch, where Eddie could just see the edge of a fluffy white shock of hair peeking over. Eddie closed the door quietly and walked around the couch, observing Christian who was seraphically curled up there. When he met up with Bren at the kitchen, Bren said quietly;

“Rough day.”

Eddie glanced at Christian again then back at Bren. “And Madam and Jordy?”

Bren shrugged. “They said they had to go somewhere. They’ll be back in a few.” He smiled apologetically. “Sorry. We’ve been harassing you to come by and this isn’t much of a welcome.”

Eddie felt guilty relief. “No problem at all Bren Bear. I’ll come by when everyone is awake next time,” he said and got up to leave, coward that he was. But Brendan’s hand came to to stop him.

“No, come on, let’s just sit and have a coffee. I haven’t seen you outside of the Blue House in weeks.” Bren’s face was earnest, and Eddie almost decided to stay.

“And wake up the little angel?” Eddie said quietly, eyes indicating Christian. “I’d never forgive myself.”

Bren looked between Eddie and Christian, torn. “We could-“

But his words were cut off when Laurel came in, with Jordan in tow.

“Maybe next time, give a girl some warning.” She complained, dropping her bag beside the couch with a loud thump and Christian’s eyes snapped open. Both Eddie and Bren looked at her in exasperation.

“It wasn’t that far.” Jordan said, closing the door.

“If I have to walk for forty minutes round trip, it’s far. And I was already exhausted.” She said over her shoulder. “Oh, hello. The triumphant return.” She said when she saw Eddie and brushed past him to the kitchen.

“Oh dear, were you on the verge of forgetting what I looked like?” Eddie asked her acerbically.

“I tried really hard.”

“What are you complaining about so loudly?” Christian asked her grumpily, eyes blinking and head still leaning against the couch cushions.

“I forced her to walk to the café on Morningside Avenue.” Jordan told him, coming around and placing a white plastic bag on the coffee table, and sitting on the rest of the couch, since Christian didn’t take up much room.

“Why?” Christian asked, eyeing the bag curiously.

“Churros.” Laurel said. “He made me walk for churros.”

“The best churros,” Jordan said, already pulling a container out of the bag. “You have to try this. The lady who makes them, she fills them with Nutella and custard.”

Christian immediately sat up and Eddie grinned; snow-child had a very obvious sweet tooth.

“Aren’t athletes supposed to eat healthy?” Laurel said with amusement as Brendan got up to join in the feast. Jordan opened the containers and let them pick and choose.

Eddie looked at Laurel. “Who doesn’t love a churro?” he got up to get one of his own, but returned to the kitchen table.

Christian bit into one, holding his hand underneath to catch anything that fell. “These are amazing.”

Jordan indicated Christian and looked at Laurel. “See?”

“I don’t care if the pope likes them. You made me walk.” She replied.

“Then come over here and have a churro, and make it worth all the fuss.” Jordan said equably. How he managed to put up with her passive aggressive bitching day after day, Eddie was at a loss to understand. But Laurel did go sit on Jordan’s lap and took the proffered churro without further complaint.

Eddie was still sitting at the round table, watching the scene, and internally arguing with himself. Christian looked up at him and waved him over. When Eddie gave in and sat on the floor by Bren’s legs, his friend nudged him with a sneaker covered toe.

“Eddie, it’s weird when you aren’t talking.” He said affectionately.

Eddie knew it; he was usually the running entertainment.

“I must confess I am a little distracted tonight.”

“Is it because of Blue House?”

“Isn’t everything these days?” Laurel said. “Not that I’m complaining, but it’s taken over all our lives.”

“Things should slow down a bit now that it’s officially open and running.” Bren said.

“Yeah,” Chris added quietly. “Cress said two people already called in.”

This was news to Eddie. “Really? And then what?”

Christian looked at him in surprise. “I honestly thought you already knew? You usually know everything before the rest of us.”

The truth was that Cress and Richards had backed off a bit since Eddie had stormed off three days prior. Eddie wasn’t complaining, because he was still livid.

“Well, the actual business of the Blue House isn’t mine. I just help where I’m needed.” he said, smiling benevolently.

“More like direct the whole thing. Everyone knows that the whole thing would have flopped if you hadn’t started pulling rabbits out of hats.” Jordan said, still chewing.

Eddie bowed his head slightly. “I thank you for the compliment, good sir.”

“Oh please,” Laurel chimed in. “False modesty looks weird on you. You told us yourself that you’re brilliant at everything.”

“So I am. But I can still accept a compliment when it’s so very apropos.” Eddie replied, and Laurel smirked.

“I think I know why you’re distracted.” She said with a sly smile.

Eddie felt his insides twist. “Oh?”

“And I think it has something to do with Thanksgiving.”

The atmosphere changed, now slightly tense, though Laurel seemed unaffected.

“Thank you for killing the mood, Laurel. What would we do without you?” Bren said drily.

She was unapologetic. “I don’t see why it has to kill the mood. Thanksgiving should be fun. Don’t you think?”

“Laurel, let up.” Chris said softly, but Eddie could hear the uncertainty in his voice. Eddie saw that perhaps they had all been waiting for his input on the whole thing. But Eddie knew from the look in her eye that Laurel wasn’t going to wait for Eddie to break the ice. He sighed.

“I do believe,” he said after a pregnant pause. “It’s time for a round of Perspective.” Laurel gave him a shrewd look but humoured him.

After pink daiquiris had been poured and handed out and they all had their pens and book labels, Laurel took the lead without waiting for anyone to nominate her.

“What is Eddie’s real name?” she said pointedly. Eddie rolled his eyes; she had asked this question several times already, with no result. Everyone wrote something quickly down on their label and one by one stuck them to their foreheads, showing their answers.

“Eduardo.” Said Bren.

“Edward.” Said Christian

“Lancelot.” Said Jordan, making Eddie grin a little.

“Freddy.” Said Laurel.

Eddie wrote something on his own label, amazed his hand wasn’t shaking. Then he stuck it on his forehead. “Federico Valentino Rossi.”

They all looked at him in shock, because Eddie was playing outside the rules, but Eddie couldn’t bear with skating around it all night since he had come with the intention of revealing himself anyway. Laurel lost only seconds before she leapt off Jordan’s lap and fished her phone out of her bag, and typing away madly.

“That’s... a good name.” Christian said, uncertainly feeling his way forward. Eddie inclined his head silently, but was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“Hang on, Rossi sounds familiar.” Jordan mumbled. Laurel came back staring at her phone.

“Federico Rossi, son of Massimo Rossi…” she looked at Eddie eagerly awaiting confirmation, which he gave her with another silent nod. She was too caught up in the triumph of discovery to notice his deepening frown.

“Massimo Rossi.” Jordan said. “Like the jewellery store?”

Eddie clapped his hands but it wasn’t very energetic. “Give the boy a prize.”

Jordan’s jaw dropped. “You’re that Rossi…” but Eddie just arched his eyebrows and looked down, swirling his pink drink.

Laurel looked at him. “Who?”

Jordan was looking at Eddie with growing realisation. “Rossi Jewellery. My mother wears it. It’s…quality stuff.”

Eddie didn’t reply to that, he was watching the reactions. Chris wasn’t smiling anymore but his face seemed clouded. Bren was watching Eddie, and hadn’t said a thing, face inscrutable. Jordan was rubbing his mouth. Laurel was staring at her phone, eyes aglow with vicious accomplishment.

“Rossi jewellery... good grief, you’re rich.” She said, gaping at Eddie. “Mother; Francesca Rossi, father; Massimo Rossi, Sister; Angelina Fitzpatrick…”

“Oh, what a joy it is to live in the age of Google.” Eddie said.

“That’s where the money came from. You got them to sponsor us didn’t you?” Laurel cried. “Oh! That’s why you can study a million courses; you’re loaded!”

“Laurel,” Christian started.

“And that’s why you didn’t tell us your name. Because you didn’t want us to connect you.” she went on.

“Well done.” Eddie said flatly.

“Laurel.” Bren said, his voice warning.

“What?” she snapped at him. “It’s so stupid. What’s the problem with us knowing who he is?”

“Laurel, sometimes you need to learn when to shut the fuck up.” Bren told her angrily.

She looked slapped. “Woah, hey. What did I do?”

Bren gestured to Eddie. “Geez, you’re as dumb as a rock sometimes.”

Laurel looked at Eddie then, and Eddie tried for a cocky grin but it failed terribly. He took a deep drink instead.

“Oh.” She said.

“I think there is probably a really good reason why Eddie didn’t want us to know.” Christian said then.

Oh Chrissy, you have no idea, Eddie thought morosely.

Laurel looked embarrassed and petulant. “I just...I thought he did it just to piss me off.”

“Well, there was that too.” Eddie said now, smirking just a little. “You are really very entertaining when you can’t have your way.”

There was silence, all their churros and drinks forgotten. Eddie cleared his throat.

“Well now you know. And I do have something to add, if you’re all going to be flooding my house with your presences this thanksgiving.” He forced himself to look up, and put on a smile. “My parents are…a touch on the conservative side. They are socialites who prefer their world to fit inside a box. Don’t expect too much.”

“But they will feed you until you’re fat, with classic Italian hospitality, so bring your appetites.” He ended off, looking at them with false cheer. They were still uncertain.

“Eddie, if you would prefer us not to come…” said Christian softly.

Eddie laughed. “My mother would know I had something to do with it if you cancelled now. And besides, I’ve told her about all of you guys, and I send her pictures of the project every week. It would be rude to uninvite yourselves for anything less than a communicable disease at this point.”

No one seemed to know what to say then, since Eddie didn’t seem happy but he wasn’t asking them to back off. So, of course, it was left to Laurel to break the ice with a mallet.

“Guys, it’s gonna be great. It's only three days, well, more like two since you can’t count the first day spent driving.” She said. “Knock it off with the gloomy faces.”

Brendan was still annoyed with her. “Maybe if you had stopped for a second to just let it go…”

“It would have happened anyway.“ Eddie broke in, determinedly shaking off his melancholy. “When it comes to a party, they don’t need an excuse. You had better all bring your prettiest dresses.”

Laurel frowned. “I don’t have a dress.”

“Please note my complete and utter lack of surprise.” Eddie said.

“Why don’t you just lend me one of yours?” Laurel bit back.

“I would, but you would have to take it in, since you’re made in miniature.”

“I’m normal size-“Laurel started.

“You’re not babe.” Jordan said shaking his head. “You’re cute though. Petite.”

“Like a kitten.” Bren said,

“Or a bunny.” Chris added.

“Or a permanently angry pixie.” Eddie had to add, since he could see the heat rising in her cheeks.

She scowled at all of them “Fuck all of you.”

“Just me, please.” Jordan said, and they all laughed, except for the butt of the joke, who threw her hands in the air and stalked off to angrily open and close cupboards. Loudly.

“Babe,” Jordan said, trying to force contrition through his mirth. “I’m sorry.” He got up to follow her.

“Do we really need to dress up?” Brendan asked Eddie, looking worried.

“I doubt it. And if there is an occasion where you will need to, we can make a plan. You can borrow one of my suits, although your shoulders are wider than mine. But it can be tailored.”

“Trying to imagine you in a black and white suit…” Bren said.

“I’m flattered.” Eddie chuckled.

Bren sighed, hearing Jordan crooning apologies to soothe Laurel’s ruffled feathers. “Sorry about Laurel. Federico Valentino huh?”

“Do you like it? It sounds sort of dashing.” Eddie replied dismissively.

“It doesn’t really fit.” Christian said, still on the couch and taking a sip of his drink, which was still almost full.

“No?”

“Well, that time when we came to watch you dance, I can see the Valentino then.” Christian joked.

“Oh you mean that time when Bren graced us with the single most embarrassing dance lesson in history?” Eddie reminded, watching Brendan’s ears go red.

“That was my nightmare.” He said, voice haunted.

“It was beyond entertaining. Does Laurel still have the video?”

“You know she does.” Brendan grumbled.

“It was pretty bad.” Christian agreed.

“It was worse because you were there. Is there anything more ego-killing than embarrassing yourself in front of your crush? I wanted the ground to swallow me.” Brendan recounted, still cringing even though it had happened the previous year.

“You were cute. It was terrible, but you were cute.”

“You mean, he was cute because he was so terrible?” Eddie clarified.

“Yes.” Christian laughed, and Bren managed a chuckle, watching Christian laughing and his remembered embarrassment fading. Eddie caught the look between them, and finished his drink.

“Can we please get back to the game now? I need some good company and a slight buzzing in my head tonight.”

Christian’s laugh faded a little, and looked at Eddie. “Is it going to be that bad? If we come to your place?”

“Because we can decide not to come. If you want that.” Brendan added.

Eddie felt a swelling in his chest, touched the place where it felt the strongest, and it wasn’t an act

“Your loyalty is undeserved. I am undone.” Eddie said.

“If you’re crying about the lack of furniture again, I’m going to throw something at you.” Laurel said, coming back with two bowls of chips and setting them down.

“Speaking of-“ Eddie started.

“Anyway,” Laurel overrode him, “I nominate Brendan next…”