Bridge over troubled waters

16| Oh Christmas Tree

Corey

After what feels like forever I've been away from the city, we finally return home. It's almost December now and that's a big month for me. It's my birthday and Christmas and the new year too. There's so much to look forward to and I was excited to be in the city like this for it all. There's so much to do and so much to see and for someone like Bailey who is Christmas obsessed, this is her prime time. And it's my time to aid in any funny business she has planned because the holidays is for friends.

"What are you doing" I ask as we walk through Target. Her cart is full of Christmas stuff for both her and my place and usually I don't question it. I've been watching her throw random stuff in here for hours now. But she just picked up these horrid Christmas pajamas that weren't just her size, they were in my size too.

"I was thinking we can decorate our apartments then make awkward Christmas cards to send out" she claims.

My eyes go big as I slowly shake my head. "No. No way" I insist.

"Oh come on! We haven't have a ugly Christmas card since '99" she pouts.

"Was that the year I thought dying my hair blonde would make the guys on my team like me more" I ask.

"No. That was the year they accidentally switched our Christmas PJ's and didn't let you change before taking the picture" she reminds me.

"Ah yes, the Christmas Crisis of 1999, how could I forget" I mumble.

"Why didn't you change after the picture was taken" she questions and my cheeks burn.

"I was 15! I thought it was funny" I shake my head.

"Well I think this would be funny too" she claims as she throws the pajamas into the cart.

"Please no" I beg as I try to take them out.

"You put these back and I won't let you eat the cookies I leave out for Santa" she threatens.

"Fine! But I see every single email you send these pictures to" I threaten.

She does a victory dance in front of me and everyone else in the store and I laugh. People start to take notice and I beg her to stop. When she doesn't I wrap my arms around her so she couldn't move and she laughs loudly in my ear. "Are you done" I ask her.

"Done" she smiles big. 

So I let her go and we continue to shop. Once she buys literally every single Christmas thing she pointed to we head back to my place to get started on decorating. She said she would not come over if I didn't have at least a tree up so I give her that much. Anything else she sneaks in here I'm sure I'll take down as soon as she leaves.

So I put up the tree and she gets out the ornaments and lights. I let her hang up stockings because it was tradition to have at least that much up for the holidays. Meanwhile I try to figure out who made putting up a tree so damn difficult. It said easy to assemble on the box but I feel like I've been tricked.

"What's that" Bailey asks from across the room and I turn around.

My eyes go big when I see her pointing to the black jewelry box with a little bow on it. I swallow as she looks at it confused. "It's uh, it's for my... my mom. It's her Christmas gift" I stutter.

"I know you suck at giving gifts and all but isn't a Christmas gift supposed to be wrapped or in a bag or something" she questions.

I go over and grab it in case she decides to take a peak and see what she thinks I got my mom. "I haven't got a bag for it yet. I might get her something else so I haven't figured out the wrapping part" I try.

"Oh. Well can I see it" she asks.

"No" I reply way too quickly. "It's not done yet" I whimper.

"You have it but it's not done" she grills. Man she's determined to see this.

"No. It's a locket and I'm still waiting for the picture to come in" I say.

"Aww Corey that's so sweet. She's going to love it" she smiles.

At least now I know what I'm gonna get my mom for Christmas.

I stash the box in my room and come back out to help her with figuring out the tree. Once I conquer the worlds most confusing fake tree I put up the lights and she decorated it because she's the artist, this is her thing.

"What do you want for Christmas" she wonders as I sit on the floor next to the tree to get the tree skirt on.

"Nothing" I claim.

"Nope. That answer is unacceptable, try again" she demands.

"I don't know" I shrug. "I guess a lot of what I want can't be bought or put in a little box or bag" I say.

"Those are the best things, you know. The things you can't hold in your hands but you have to hold in your heart. But those aren't Christmas gifts, those are just real life gifts we get for trying hard. I want to know what the hell you want for Christmas and don't make it hard... please" she insists.

"Just get me a gift card or something" I try.

"Believe it or not I think you're worth more than a gift card" she teases.

"Sometimes" I joke.

"Sometimes" she agrees. I smile down at her as her big eyes look me over. "But our relationship isn't gift cards. It's thoughtful and meaningful and I want it to be that for you."

"Honestly," I start, "I didn't want anything more than what I got the moment you walk off that plane and into my arms."

She stops putting up ornaments as she looks up at me. A small smile fights it's way onto her face as she turns to face me. "You make the fact that you're impossible to shop so worth it" she accuses and I smile.

"I can't make it easy for you. Something in your life should be hard" I accuse.

"A lot about my life is hard. Especially when it comes to being here. I mean I'm a artist, of course I have pain and hardship as everyone else in this world does. But there's nothing hard about the decision to come here and be with you. I know that much for sure" she claims.

"For Christmas can we just be together, you and me" I ask.

"I would like that a lot" she smiles.