It's Roman's first Christmas at home since he went to military school. Shiv isn't there, to his delight and disappointment. She's spending Christmas and New Year in England with their mother. Connor isn't there either, he's with his mother's side of the family, so it's just Roman, his father and Kendall. Also Frank, for some reason, has joined them for Christmas Eve.
"His wife kicked him out," Kendall explains to Roman in a whisper. "Dad says we have to be nice to him."
They settle at the dinner table, where the chef has prepared a light meal ahead of the big day.
"How is school going?" Fuckface Frank asks Roman.
"It's great." Roman takes a small mouthful of smoked salmon. "I still get banged in the showers a lot, but I'm getting used to it."
"That's a joke, right, Rome?" says Kendall, looking at him anxiously. He might well feel guilty, he's the reason Roman was packed off to military school to begin with.
"Yeah, it's a joke." Roman swallows. "They just beat me up a little. It's fine."
"Maybe it'll toughen you up," says Logan. "Getting beat up never did me any harm." Roman mimes playing a violin.
Roman excuses himself early and goes to lie on his bed. He falls asleep in his clothes and when he wakes it's hours later, though still not midnight. He remembers how he and Shiv used to wait up for Santa until morning. Shiv would always swear she could hear sleigh bells in the distance.
He thinks he can hear noises now, so he gets up to look out of the window. He can see a light in the sky. It's coming from Kendall's old treehouse.
It's cold when he steps outside, but he doesn't bother going to fetch a coat. He can smell weed coming from the treehouse when he approaches.
"Oh, hey." Kendall looks like a guilty child caught with his hand in the cookie jar when Roman starts climbing up to join him.
"Don't worry, I won't tell. Just give me some." Kendall hesitates, then holds out the joint to Roman.
Roman takes a deep drag as he sits down next to his brother, then immediately starts coughing and spluttering.
"Smooth." Kendall takes the joint back. "Couldn't sleep?"
"Actually, I was asleep, till you woke me up with your treehouse rave."
"Sorry. I'm glad you're here, actually." Kendall looks like he wants to say something. "Do people really beat you up at military school?"
Roman thinks about having his head covered with a pillowcase as a group of boys dragged him out into the hall and took turns punching him. "It's just hazing. No big deal. Plus they're jealous, 'cause I shit more money than they'll make in a lifetime."
"I never wanted you to get sent away, you know." Kendall looks at him earnestly. "That was all Dad."
"I know." Roman nods. "Dad wanted to toughen me up. He thinks I'm a wuss."
"You're not a wuss." Kendall holds out the joint again. Roman takes a brief puff and returns it.
"I'm thinking of trying to get expelled," he says.
"Yeah?" Kendall nods. "How?"
"Maybe I'll offer the dean sexual favours in return for expulsion."
"Then he'll definitely want to keep you."
"Dammit, I knew there was a flaw in the plan."
Kendall pats Roman's knee. "I missed you, man."
He can't muster a sarcastic rejoinder. "Yeah, I missed you too."
"I kind of wish we were in England, with Shiv," Kendall says. "We could sneak into that pub where they don't check anyone for ID."
Something occurs to Roman and he looks at his watch. "Hey, it's midnight. Happy birthday."
"Thanks, Rome. Merry Christmas." Kendall stubs out his joint.
Roman stares out into the night sky. He'll be going back to school in a couple of weeks. "Yeah," he says heavily. "Merry Christmas."