Chapter Title: (34) Defeat-02

"-Secret Santa." Marley looked up from her shoes, knocked out of her stupor and into what the girls were talking about that Monday morning. "Secret Santa?" She echoed quietly. "Yup. Conner announced it during dinner at the mess hall a couple days ago," Bree explained, rubbing her bare hands together. "Can we choose not to participate?" Marley pleaded, earning a sharp look from all five girls in the circle. "Okay Mrs. The Grinch Stole Christmas, might as well knock the tree down on decorating day and vacuum up our hopes and dreams." Kelly whacked Sarah in the arm for her typical dramatics, rolling her eyes. "It's a twenty dollar gift, Marley. You can buy candy or something if you're uncertain," her best friend pointed out from beside her, nudging her with her elbow. Marley's stomach clenched with unease, turning her head to lock eyes with Gabby's green ones for a small, indiscernible second. Long enough for her to figure it out. "Oh, I mean come on, Marley. Tha