Disclaimer: I'm done doing disclaimers. Ha.

This is my first ANB fic! Who'd a thunk?! It's a shorty. I definitely didn't see this one coming, but there we have it. Out of nowhere, I got this idea from a song I heard on the radio, and ATWF had another good, seasonal prompt still going on, so I thought 'eh, screw it.' And here we are.

Thanks for reading! :D

The static from her sweater sent her hair nearly up on end, and it crackled as she gathered it and spun it around. Anchoring it into a high ponytail, she let the pin straight locks go and slumped against the back of her sofa with a shuddered sigh.

In a few hours, the streetlamps would turn on, and the feather-light snow on the paths would be laden with dozens of footprints from winter boots marching up the steep hill. Friends, family, and couples out to watch the sky for the annual Starry Night Festival. It was a beautiful event. The cold would be melted away in hot chocolate and snuggles, and the end of the year would be celebrated with love.

Rio wasn't going to go out this year. She was too cynical. Where last year she had been able to gape in awe at the heavenly blanket above like everybody else, this time around, all she could see were cold pinpricks of hollow light. What was so special about tramping out in the slush and ice to freeze your ass off looking at the same sky that was out there every other night?

She looked away from the window, drawing her legs up underneath her. Rio held her chilled toes and considered putting on a second pair of socks. Her eyes automatically went to the corner of the room. If she wasn't staring out the window, her bitterness was usually centered in that direction instead. The acoustic guitar propped up there was starting to collect dust. At first, it gave her hope that things would work themselves out since he hadn't come back for it yet, but it had been ten days since she'd even seen him. It was about time for her to make the trip and hand it back herself. It was over.

"Do I have to spell it out for you?"

That was already ten days ago… It wasn't a mystery how it started. She goaded him. It was his own stubborn fault though. If he wasn't such a pig-headed jerk, they wouldn't be in this mess in the first place.

Rio reluctantly recalled their biggest fight yet, as if she hadn't replayed it over in her mind time and time again since it happened. Reassuring herself she was right, and Neil was in the wrong.

She got up and headed to her kitchen counter. She popped open the lid off of the tub and scooped out an eyeballed measurement of grounds. She dumped it in the waiting filter and switched on the machine, adding in the water late.

It was just after Harmony Day. As it was the gift-giving season for the girls in town, Rio had big plans for her boyfriend. Neil wasn't a fan of sweets, so Rio planned on taking him on a wild goose chase throughout the day, dropping hints that the food he found most detestable – chocolate cake of all things – was going to be waiting for him at the end of their trip. It was all in good, teasing fun. She would lead him around town, treat him to his favorite drink, and when they got to her house, he'd find a brand new guitar case waiting with a full, home-cooked dinner courtesy of the rancher herself. She knew he was surly and never liked going out, but just this once, she knew even he couldn't resist. Or so she had thought.

They never went out. They never did anything for Harmony Day. Because he all but told her to piss off since he had work to do. So she did. And her day was spent without him. And she had a mighty fine time without him, too. The day after was when they fought about it. Like he had a right.

"No, you don't give a damn!"

Rio watched as the maker sputtered and hot coffee pooled in the bottom of the pot. The relaxing scent curled in tantalizing swirls of steam. She leaned against the counter with her arms crossed, her leg bouncing impatiently.

She couldn't believe the things he said to her. The accusations he made. He was petty and senselessly jealous and inconsiderate. She was better off without a guy like him.

The coffee maker fizzed to a stop, and Rio spun around to retrieve a mug from the cupboard. She pulled open the door and stood on her tiptoes, choosing a blue porcelain mug with a chip in the handle and knocking the door closed again. She poured herself a full cup; black, how she liked it. Rio inhaled deeply and took a tentative sip and found it scalding. Recoiling, she blew on the surface and tried it again.

"You just like the attention."

Rio grit her teeth at the burn on her tongue. She angrily turned and dumped her fresh mug of coffee into the sink, making it slosh around the basin and spin down the drain in waste. She spat at it for good measure, turning on the faucet and rinsing out her mug.

She did everything for Neil. All he cared about was his job. Like she wasn't busy, too? The nerve!

Harmony Day was her wake up call. It was the last time she was going to let him cancel on her, dash her hopes again, blow her off. Rio was always doing her best, doing everything for their relationship. Since they began dating in summer, she had planned all of their dates and outings and hangouts. He would never initiate anything. It was always her job to make sure they even spoke to one another. She busted her ass trying to make him happy, and all it ever got her was a lecture on who she was allowed to hang out with when he was too busy ignoring her.

"Asshole…" she muttered at her sink, glaring at the dark drain.

That was right. She was glad they fought. It ended this exhausting game of trying to make him open up to her. It only hurt because it was forcing her to spend this holiday all alone. And that was embarrassing. That was the only reason.

She looked up past her counter and found the open hole of the guitar staring back at her. It made Rio feel guilty for her harsh thoughts despite her anger. That instrument used to make her heart feel so light. Neil was so good at playing guitar. He was an introverted guy, so he'd never play at the music festivals in town or anything, but Rio always tried to convince him to. But she secretly loved that he only played in front of her. She could still hear that rhythmic, earthy strum as she sprawled on the couch with her eyes shut above where he'd sit on the floor. She'd play with his hair, and he'd pretend he didn't like it, but he'd get comfortable and lean into her anyways. Rio could lay like that for hours after a long day. No special event or big plan necessary…

But he ruined that. He threw it away. He took her for granted.

Rio was confident Neil would see just how much she'd done, and he'd miss her for it. Miss her more than she'd think about him at any rate. Of that, she was sure. Positive. Completely.

She went back to her sofa and looked out the window, her legs feeling stiff as she stood there. Just as promised, the first groups were gathering on the main street in the dusk. Kids jumping up and down in excitement, buzzed on the sugar-loaded hot cocoa from the restaurant.

Neil would be sorry. He'd see it soon enough. The only problem Rio need to be concerned with was just how she was going to turn him away when he came crawling back to her.

Right.

She couldn't sit still. Grabbing her coat and the doorknob at the same time, Rio stepped out into the cold evening air. She was going for a walk.