“Thursday, December 25th, 2014”

Griffin, Wade, and Theo exchange Christmas gifts. Wade opens his first. He gets a dark comedy novel from Griffin and a set of ties from Theo. Theo goes next. He gets an illustrated cocktail recipe book from Wade since he’ll be going off to college soon. He then opens Griffin’s gift, a custom-made Batman action figure with Theo’s face instead of Bruce Wayne’s. It’s based on a joke from Halloween when Griffin said Theo was Batman.

Wade’s gift to Griffin is remarkably thoughtful: a pieced-together portrait of Griffin and Theo’s faces combined. Griffin hugs Wade. Theo’s gift is a set, or “compulsion,” of four gryphon figurines that can be fastened to clothing with magnets. Theo asks if he won Christmas for giving the best gifts. Griffin says that Theo and Wade both did, but he’s lying. He feels he won Christmas by getting the best gifts.

“Wednesday, December 31st, 2014"

Griffin thinks about how he and Theo came together the way they did. He compares it to being caught in an exhilarating storm. Griffin and Theo spend New Year’s Eve at Griffin’s apartment, where Griffin’s parents are hosting their friends. Griffin and Theo sneak away to Griffin’s room with some champagne.