OH CHRISTMAS TREE OH CHRISTMAS (DREE)

[darius jereme whitfield]

It was that time of year again, the time when people started to look into their hearts for the kindness they kept buried and act like they were decent people. When they over paid for items their loved ones wanted, not needed, and went around as if everything was so fucking perfect in the world and that this joyful time of the year would never end. Sure they were all spending time with loved ones, seeing as it was Christmas day, and the whole lot of them were the picture perfect family for the holidays.

Derek however wasn't buying what any of them were selling; staying at his place, alone, in Jacksonville with only the tiny kitten he'd gotten Bree for Christmas as company. It wasn't that he'd expected her to have stayed around just spend the day with him, but he wasn't happy about how she'd gone about it; waiting until she was out of town to call and tell him she'd decided to head home and was going to sneak back before he'd have even known she was gone.

The plan seemed rather perfect, and he wouldn't normally be so upset with her, but those damn girls who'd come into the garage a while ago and informed him of that stupid post. Staring at his open laptop he was still glaring at the words on the screen before him, trying to scare them into changing but knowing that would never work; in all honestly he wasn't sure why he'd felt the need to check out this stupid gossip blog, it wasn't the type of thing he normally did. But he had and now he'd wished he hadn't.

Emitting a low frustrated sigh he slid his hands roughly over his face, hoping that as he rose from the couch he'd find something to help him forget about that damn post; but as his fingers ran through his hair he knew it'd still be on the back of his mind. "God dammit!" If anyone came knocking on his door he'd probably be the real life Scrooge.
outfit

[aubrey rose jenkins]

lame outfit
Bree hated having to leave her family after a perfect couple of days, but she had told Derek that she'd be home on Christmas and she didn't want to let him down. Part of her felt like she'd let him down already by sneaking out of town, but she knew if she'd told him in person she might not have been able to leave. Things at home were great, her family and her had the best time while they were together, and as Bree got on the plane she wiped some tears from her eyes knowing she'd miss them before she was even off the ground.

When the plane was nearing Jacksonville she started to feel a little better, though of course she was still upset about leaving her family like that, but as she got off the plane and went to claim her luggage she tried not to think about having just left them. She'd see them again soon enough and today was all about making Derek understand why she did what she did. She got her luggage and in no time was in a cab going home, but when she got there she told the man to keep it running as she would only be inside for a few minutes.

Sure enough she came back running towards the cab and got in the back holding onto a present in her hands as she gave the man the address. Bree drummed her fingers along the wrapping paper as she looked out the window as buildings and people passed. It didn't take long to get to his house though, and soon she was paying him and getting out of the cab. She watched as the yellow vehicle drove off, and when it rounded the corner Bree started up the driveway until she was at his door. She held the present in one hand and knocked with the other.

She would have hoped he'd swing the door open and wrap his arms around her, but instead nobody answered the door as all was quiet. She looked and saw his mustang still here so he should have been here, so she knocked again a little louder.

[/blockquote][/justify]

[darius jereme whitfield]

Hearing the rapping at his front door Derek's head swiveled around in the direction, deciding he'd just ignore it and eventually the person would take the hint and leave him alone. For their sake it'd be the smart thing to do, unless they wanted all his anger focused on them then they should by all means keep knocking on his door. And they did, hearing the second knock he just stared at the door in disbelief; also thankful he'd get to yell at someone.

Storming over to the front door Derek felt like he was about to rip the door off it's hinges with how hard he tugged it open, glaring down at the poor soul. "And what the fuck do you want?" Blocking the doorway he planned to keep her out, shutting the door slightly so the space she had to sneak past was even smaller. "Aren't you suppose to be off with other people since I don't matter." he said rather bitterly.

He was sure she was going to pretend she didn't know what he was talking about, or think he was referring to her recent visit to see her family; he'd let her play dumb for a while, until his patience wore thin. Looking her over it was clear that this wasn't the welcome she'd thought she'd get when coming over, or if it was then he couldn't read that on her face. "Go ahead...try to explain it to me like I'm an idiot."

Derek had managed not to raise his voice yet, and to most people this might seem like a normal conversation but Aubrey should know better. This was just him gearing up for what was to come, trying to get her all worked up so she'd blurt out things as she often did when he frustrated her. Leaning in closer to her he rested his forearm on the door frame and propped himself up, ready for her to say whatever she had to say; making sure to keep some distance between them. "Any day now Jenkins,how about before New Years." She could take as long as she needed, he was just pushing her buttons.

[aubrey rose jenkins]

When he opened the door Bree had been confused, all this hostility and she hadn't even said hello, so she figured it had something to do with her disappearing to go spend some time home for the holidays. She honestly had no idea what he was talking about as her first thoughts were about her family. "You can't hold that against me," she shook her head defiantly, "they're my family."

He still wasn't making sense as she stared at him trying to figure out what exactly he was talking about. "What's there to explain, I went to visit my family. I love my family and haven't seen them in forever," she shook her head running a hand through her hair as she groaned. "What the fuck is your issue Derek?" His attitude was starting to wear off on her as she found herself going from happy to downright pissy. "I race back here on a fucking bus so I could get here in time just to be treated like this? I only go home for like a minute just to drop my things so I can come over here and you're telling me you don't matter? You're a fucking idiot."

When she heard him talk again she broke eye contact and wished that damn taxi would just circle the block and take her out of her misery. "You're going to have to tell me what the hell you're talking about because right now you're not making any sense. You know where I went, I didn't sneak off and go somewhere else, and when I got home I came right here. What is the problem?" She took a few deep breaths and calmed herself down closing her eyes for a minute to step away from the situation.

"If this is how you're going to act when I go through all this shit just to see you then whatever, i'm going to leave." She picked the present up so it was at eye level with him and then slammed it into his chest. It was a brand new leather covered journal that had the initials DW on it, beautiful really. "Merry Christmas."

[/blockquote][/justify]

[darius jereme whitfield]

"Of course I'm the fucking idiot here...because there's no way you did anything wrong." Derek made sure his words were dripping with sarcasm, if she wanted to pretend she didn't know what him so hot under the collar it did only make sense for her to throw the blame at him; as if he cared she'd gone home to see her family. He was ready stand his ground complacently and listen to her keep rambling on about how she didn't have any idea what it was he was going on about.

But as the present slammed into his chest and she threatened to leave his eyes rolled in annoyance and his own hands grabbed her wrists, keeping her hands pressed to his chest along with the gift in them. "You're not getting away that easily. I have to at least throw it in your face that your attempts to sneak around behind my back failed miserably." he hissed the words at her, as his face drew in closer to hers with every word he said. Turning on his heel he led her into the house, shutting the door behind them and instructed her to take a seat on the couch.

"You know I've never been one to like technology...hell I'm the first to smash it to bits when it doesn't act right." Derek's empty laughter filled the room as he pulled his laptop closer, some how he'd stepped away long enough for the screensaver to take over and now dance across the screen; that annoying display of colorful lights. "I mean imagine how much I laughed when someone told me I should see this for myself..." Moving his finger over the pad the post now showed on the screen again, his empty laughter once again ringing out.

Placing his laptop on her lap he got up and took a few steps away from the couch, "I don't know which I'm more disappointing; the fact that you were going to leave and not tell me, or the fact you called up your old lover boy instead of me." He waited for whatever explanation would surely come.

[aubrey rose jenkins]

"Oh yes, Derek, i'm so perfect and can never do anything wrong, perfect ol' me." Bree rolled her eyes shaking her head, this was a bad idea that she about to remove herself from. When he grabbed ahold of her wrists she pulled back defiantly, "let me go Derek, damnit let me go." When he spoke up about sneaking around his back she looked even more clueless. "Are you accusing me of cheating? Are you fucking kidding me? Let me go, now!"

Obviously he did not understand english because she was soon pulled into the house with the door closing behind her. "Damnit Derek," he finally let her go but instructed her to sit on the couch, and since she knew he wouldn't just let her walk back out she did as she was told. It was better to just ignore him than argue anymore.

Listening to him talk about technology made her even more confused, but instead of saying anything she just let him keep rambling as she leaned back against the couch. When he placed his laptop on her lap she looked down at the screen to see what he was so bent out of shape about. She read through the post that mentioned her and Preston at the bus station, and now it all started to make sense as she looked up at Derek. "You're kidding me, this is what you're mad about?"

She shut the laptop and put it on the coffee table infront of the couch. "You're getting pissed because I called a friend when I needed them?" She shook her head disappointed. "I did that before we even started to date so what the hell does it even matter? I'm sorry, I didn't realize I couldn't have any other friends other than you." She rolled her eyes crossing her arms defiantly infront of her as she stared off in another direction not even bothering to look at him. "I didn't tell you I was leaving because you didn't need to know. It's as simple as that."

[/blockquote][/justify]

[darius jereme whitfield]

A chuckle rolled up from the pit of his stomach and made itself known the silence that followed what she said, though there was nothing happy about the empty laughter he was emitting as he looked on at her in utter discontent; his eyes widening in madness as he took a step towards her. "If you think even for one second that I'm saying you can't have friends then you clearly aren't and have never listened to me Jenkins."

The level of his voice had risen but other than that he managed to keep himself rather composed, "You called him..." he spat the word out like it was poison, "...When he hasn't even been there for you for months, but I have." Pointing his chest he tried to get her to look at him, see the anger written on his face but gave up on that. "Clearly that doesn't matter at all. Fuck me right."

"No you know what fuck you. We were dating at the time even if you want to pretend we weren't...you had it in your head to leave and not tell me. What were you going to wait until three days later and ring me up, oh hey Derek I skipped town yeah I got you to like me and then I'm leaving you." He'd been holding his hand up by his ear like a phone but quickly turned and punched the wall before turning his back on her disgusted, going into the kitchen. "One of the reasons why I don't get in relationships, they'll either leave you or hurt you. Well that's both of them right there darlin."

Refusing to look at her he focused his attention on his reddened knuckles, noticing the first signs of bruising but to stubborn to get ice while she was there. "Like I said go see someone who matters. Like Adriani, since he's more important than your boy-" The word caught in his throat, not wanting to come out if she would leave him. Instead he'd stand in silence waiting for the slam of the door as she walked out, why would she stay?

[aubrey rose jenkins]

Her eyes caught sight of his a few times before she quickly threw her gaze elsewhere, but with each venomous word she brought her attention back to him. It was all slowly starting to make sense now that he was explaining himself. "You wouldn't understand." She shook her head as she caught his gaze again, this time her eyes lingering there for seconds longer than before. "You're just talking about these past few months, but think back to the last four years and then tell me who's been there for me the entire time. Oh right, you weren't, you were busy telling me to fuck off and get a fucking clue. Preston was there."

Bree laughed, sarcastically of course, liking how he knew so much when he wasn't even there. "Who said anything about leaving you?" He was just talking stupid now and she did not like it one bit. A jolt was sent through her body as she heard his hand connect with his wall, and as she forced herself to look up at him she saw him leaving the room. "I wasn't planning on leaving you Derek, and I sure as hell wasn't trying to hurt you, why do you have to be so damn sensitive?" She softened her voice for that last question hoping he didn't hear her. It'd end up just making things worse.

Hearing him choke on the word boyfriend felt like someone had sharpened a knife and struck her in the chest. Bree stood up as she started for the door not saying a word, but when she reached for the handle she stopped and turned to look at him in the kitchen. "You know what, fuck you Derek, don't try to twist around what I did to make you the bad fucking guy here." He dropped the F bomb so she might as well too. "You need to realize that not everything is about you so stop making it be! Preston was my friend long before we became an item, and I just wanted things to change and I didn't know how to fix them so-" she shrugged, probably not making any sense.

[/blockquote][/justify]

[darius jereme whitfield]

His eyes grew colder once she tried to hurt him with her words, a darkness filling them as they began to narrow to slits; never daring to leave her face and whenever she met there stare he hoped she felt the daggers he was staring at her. "Then go to fucking Preston! Since anything I've done doesn't even come close to comparing what he's done, because you still hold him up on this pedestal and would rather defend him then admit that for a second it was wrong of you to call him before me!" Shaking his head in disgust Derek was tempted to just tell her to leave, "You're a real piece of fucking work."

Catching what she'd said he'd turned on her and glared down at her, "Forgive me for not being a fucking asshole. Here let me try again." Bearing down on her he got right in her face, not caring even she looked at him as he spoke to her. "You leaving town was exactly the kind of bitch move I expected from you when you couldn't handle it. Just hop on a bus and run off without a fucking word...and to call the guy everyone in town knows you didn't date because of me, just go run off together and live happily ever after." He barked the words out, still glaring at her; the hatred he felt for everyone now surfacing.

Slamming his fist against the counter he didn't even care about the immense pay that now cursed through it, "I never said it was about me did I? Don't fucking answer that cause the answer is no!" He came out to look at her, anger and disgust written all over his face. "And you keep saying it's about Adriani...it's not!" Derek spat out the words as bluntly as he could, betting she still wouldn't get it. "You could've called Kayla or anyone else and the point would be it wasn't me! But you're right I only tell you to fuck off or not care so why call me?" Rolling his eyes he scoffed as he looked away from her, shaking his head slowly.

[aubrey rose jenkins]

When he got in her face Bree stood her ground glaring at him now after all the nasty things he was saying. He just didn't get it and she was going to have to spell it out for him wasn't she? "He was the reason I was leaving town, damnit, not you!" There, she gave him the reason that she was leaving town and he'd either have to take it or leave it.

When he told her to leave and go to Adriani she just groaned as she shrugged her shoulders and stepped back away from him. She looked down at the palms of her hand as if there was something written there that she could say and make this arguement go away. It helped when students had big tests in high school so why couldn't she cheat now. She took another step away from him and smacked her palms together looking behind her at the door.

"I'll leave if that's what you want me to do, but not before you know the real reason I called him, and I suggest you shut up and listen for once." she sighed as she started to rock back and forth on her heels feeling really awkward all of a sudden. "Preston and I were best friends throughout high school. Fuck Kayla, her and I were close but nowhere near as close as I was with him. We were supposed to get through anything and be there for one another," she sighed thinking back to the arguement that ruined it all, their friendship that is. Bree could feel her eyes watering but she refused to cry.

"He told me he loved me and I couldn't say the words back, and then I started feeling all these things for you and our relationship went to shit. We were supposed to be friends forever Derek, do you even know how much it fucking sucks to lose the one person you're supposed to be able to go to for anything? I couldn't handle it, this city just held so many bestie memories and I needed to clear my head. You weren't going to be able to help me, not that time, something just had to change."

[/blockquote][/justify]

[darius jereme whitfield]

"I'm certain that you leaving because of someone else is worse not better." Of that he was absolutely positive, it had seemed the dumbest thing she could blurt out. That she was leaving because of some of guy, since all Derek could figure was because he wasn't in her life; yeah that didn't help her at all in this situation and he was ready to just go hunt down the man and kick his ass.

Instead of looking at her he stared down at his feet, leaning against the wall, it wasn't easy to just shut up and let her say what she had to but bit his tongue each time his mouth wanted to pop open; the copper taste causing him to silence himself once again. The lull that fell over them after she finished didn't help to cool him down any, he still was ready to hit someone. "You know what Jenkins I know exactly how that feels because it happened to me, unlike you I wasn't given the choice to run from my problems just to keep them in my life. So now I don't have them...but yeah I don't understand."

"I don't care what you do. Since it doesn't matter what I want." Sounding rather calm he pushed off the wall, his fingers idly rubbing the parts of his hand he'd slammed into things. He watched them instead of looking at her. "Sounds like you regret not giving you a Preston a shot, so here's your chance walk out the door and leave me alone." Bringing his eyes up to meet hers they were indifferent, it was the point where he didn't care if she stayed or went. "I won't fight for you if you still want someone else, and before you say I'm crazy and not listening I listened. Maybe you need to listen to yourself...cause that's what it sounded like."

"Doubt you'd care that much if I walked out of your life. Only been it for a few months anyway." Looking down at his hand once more he felt rather worthless, but he'd known he wasn't good enough for her.

[aubrey rose jenkins]

Bree listened to him as he went on about how he'd been like her losing a friend because he couldn't run from his problems. "Why couldn't you? What's holding you here not giving you a chance to make up with whoever it is you're talking about?" If he had missed his friend as much as Bree missed having Preston around she had to feel bad for him. "If you ever went back to Salem I wouldn't piss and moan about it. I'd just hope you had enough want to come back and not stay there."

Bree had enough and if she'd left she only knew it'd be a matter of time before she came back missing Derek. "It does matter what you want. You're so mad that I called Preston that night instead of you, but what you don't understand is because I did that I stayed around. I was able to fix something so I wouldn't have to run away from it." Bree had been proud that she'd done that, but now she was beginning to see that it wasn't the smartest idea. "No matter what I do or say you're going to be pissed. You have it in your brain that i'm just looking for things to do that'd end our relationship, but you have it all wrong."

Hearing him accuse her of feeling bad about not giving her and Preston a chance had her staring at him in disbelief. "I don't regret that at all." She shook her head as she couldn't believe what he was saying right now. "I want to be with you. Preston asked me and I said no and pushed him out the door before. You ask and we sleep together and I say yes. Doesn't that make it obvious who I want?"

Bree wasn't sure what she was supposed to do now after all was said and done, but she knew she couldn't just leave when he was through talking. "Derek, stop, you're not going to walk out of my life. I'm not going to let you, so just shut up and fucking drop this. I like you and that's it. End of story, we're together, nothings going to change, got it?"

[/blockquote][/justify][/b]

[darius jereme whitfield]

"Not that it's your business but we don't have to make up, just only talk in letters and the occasional phone call." Thinking about his best friend, and his cousin, back home in Salem he did miss them both but he didn't plan to go back to that town unless he had to. It'd just be nice to have them both around instead of speaking through letters or on phone calls. But in the silence that fallowed he was done with the subject and if she didn't get that then she'd keep asking questions and not recieving answers.

Scoffing his gaze rose up from his hand to hers, "Like I said you wouldn't care if I walked out of your life." Turning away from her he went into the kitchen, finally willing to give in and ice his hand; it'd be a bitch to work on cars with a bruised hand, that might possibly be swollen. At least if he got some ice on it now that seemed less likely. Getting one of the dishrags that was hung on sink he got some ice from the freezer and filled the rag with a handful for a makeshift ice pack.

Holding it to his hand Derek made his way out of the kitchen and down the hall to his room, not looking back at her as he entered his room. Falling on top of his bed he watched the little fur ball laying there bounce up then land back on the bed next to him, a faint smile on his lips as he watched the kitten move closer. "Yeah Merry fucking Christmas." Looking at the blue bow around his neck he debated if he should get up and give her the kitten or not; even if he was upset it had been her present, and if he didn't give it to her he knew he'd keep the little rascal himself.

Sighing Derek rubbed his good hand over his face, peeking through his fingers when he felt the soft fur brush against his hand. "Hey Jenkins if you're still here come here!" He barked it out as a command but it wasn't meant as one, he wasn't even sure if she was still there or not.

[aubrey rose jenkins]

Her heart was racing as she let the argument get her heated up, but she knew with Derek she'd never win so she had to drop it. It was hard to do as she shrugged her shoulders, "well that's where we're different. I could never settle for just letters or talking on the phone," Bree was too social and needed to be around and hang with her friends.

Bree wanted to continue to argue and tell him how much she did care and want him in her life, but as he turned and left her standing there she stayed silent. If she told him she'd care and that it would matter if he left he'd refuse to believe her anyway. She stood there feeling very awkward knowing that he no longer wanted her there, but if she left she thought she'd end up making matters worse so she stood in limbo.

She expected him to say something when he came out of the kitchen but instead he walked past her and continued to another room. She figured it'd been his bedroom though honestly she wouldn't know because she'd never been that far in his house. Having him leave her in the room meant their confrontation was done, so there was nothing for her to do than leave and go home. It was what he wanted all along so now he was getting it.

Bree looked over at the couch where the present she'd brought him sat after he brought the laptop over, so the last thing she'd do before leaving was pick it up and at least put it on the table for him when he came back out. That did not take long as she put the present neatly on the table for him to see. She sighed unsure if she should say goodbye or not, but figuring not she started for the door and opened it.

Hearing her name being called she sighed dropping her forehead against the door wanting to scream, but she shut the door and walked down the hall in the direction he'd went. When she got to the door she turned to look in the room and saw him and the kitten. "New roommate?"

[/justify][/size]

[darius jereme whitfield]

Derek slowly let his hand fall from his face, his hazel eyes remained fixated on the little creature next to him. Even as he heard Aubrey's footfalls coming closer he didn't look over at the door. Slowly shaking his head in response to her question; he moved the rag filled with ice from his hand and set it on the bed before scooping up the kitten in his arms, a ghost of a smile on his face as the little thing meowed.

Getting up off the bed he went over to her and held him out for her to take, "New roommate for you." He waited for her to take the kitten, hoping she wouldn't try to refuse the gift and give him more of a reason to keep the little guy. Before any words of protest could come from her lips, if any did, he sighed before continuing on. "Even if I'm being an asshole he is still one of your Christmas presents, so you have to take him...well you can leave him here but I'd keep him as my own if you do."

With the weight of the kitten no longer in his arms, his eyes still locked on the little guy now in her arms, Derek slid his hands into his pocket pockets. Overly tempted to take back the kitten, so he turned and went back into his room; going over to the desk littered with papers and journals, his writing space though it wasn't limited to this area. He just left this the messiest, thankfully it was easy to pick out the envelope he'd left propped against the lamp with Bree's name scrawled across it in his neat cursive.

Envelope in hand he turned on his heel and went back over to her, holding out it out for her to take. Inside were to tickets to a Lakers game coming up, the only downside was she'd have to travel out of town to see it but he was sure she wouldn't mind it; it was her favorite team. "Merry Christmas." He tried to sound cheerful when saying it but it only came out as a light hearted attempt.