December 2nd
Taryn pulled her scarf tightly around her face as she made her way towards the storage closet at the end of the hall. The heater had broken in the hallway and it was about as cold in there as it was outside. The hall was where her tree was located and as much as she didn't like Christmas, she couldn't not put up a tree. It just wasn't right in her mind.
As she began backing up, sliding the box along with her she felt herself run into someone behind her. Turning around she smiled and looked down. "You're stalking me now, aren't you?"
Mike just smiled and walked over to the other side of the box, pushing slightly. "Need help?" He asked ignoring her statement.
"I could use some, yes." She nodded and then began backing up again. When they reached her apartment she herself and they moved the box in front of the window. Mike then began taking the branches out and examining them.
"You have a fake Christmas tree?" He asked in a funny yet disgusted tone.
"Yeah, I mean, when I was a kid we had real ones but my dad always got them. It's not like I'm some muscle woman that can get a real one all by myself you know." She laughed.
"Well then, in that case, I offer you my help. As long as you keep this thing out of your apartment. It's a disgrace to Christmas, I'm telling you."
"It's a deal." Taryn laughed as she watched Mike throw the artificial branches back into the box and kick it to the side.
"Well, then off we go." He smiled and buttoned his coat, pulling out gloves and a scarf for himself.
"Well now, aren't you just a classy boy, what with your wonderful scarf and those nifty gloves." Taryn giggled as they made their way out of her apartment and outside.
"It's cold out Miss Taryn. And besides that, I am pretty classy, if I do say so myself." The two then shared a laugh as they walked towards Taryn's car.
"So, where do you suppose we get this tree? I'm willing to bet that all of the decent ones are covered in snow."
"It snowed once, and it was like, two inches." Mike laughed, "They're not all covered, trust me." Taryn just nodded and sat comfortably in the passengers seat as she watched Mike out of the corner of her eye, 'Funeral Masses For William Jennings' by Socratic playing softly in the background.
"And how much is this going to cost, exactly?" Taryn questioned and she walked through the tree lot, following Mike closely.
"Not a lot. Maybe thirty, thirty- five." He muttered as he inspected the trees.
"Thirty- five dollars for a tree. Joy." She laughed.
"Ah!" He yelled, causing Taryn to jump back a little, "this one's perfect."
She looked at the one he was pointing to and smiled. It was perfect. It wasn't rotting and it was pretty full, a amazing color green. Mike had done good. "I like it."
"You better." He smiled and then looked around for some help. "Excuse me," he asked a man with a pair of carharts as he walked by, "can you tie this to the car for us?"
The man smiled and nodded, walking off to get some rope. The two then led him to the car and before they knew it, they were paid and on the road.
"I really appreciate you doing this for me. I mean, you don't even know me." Taryn smiled and glimpsed over at him, a smug smile spread across his face as he drove steadily down the road, one had on the wheel and the other resting on the door.
"Not a problem. That's what friends do, you know?" He smiled and Taryn knew what that smile meant.
It was the smile that people gave when they knew what they just said was an unknown fact to the other person until that moment. She just smiled back and settled into her seat once more.
"Trees are a pain in the ass." Mike grumbled as he tried untangling the lights for what seemed like the fifteenth time.
"What happened to the mood you were in before? When we got here you were all for putting up this tree." Taryn laughed as she tried to untangle her own mess of lights.
"That was before I realized I hate the lights part."
"Lights are what make a tree, Mike." Taryn laughed as he threw the tangled bunch onto the floor.
"How about coffee?" He stated now picking his head up off the chair he was leaning on and smiling. "What do you say?"
"Well, will coffee get you motivated to help me finish this?" Mike nodded fiercely and Taryn chuckled. "All right then, coffee's good."
Mike stood up and held his hands out to help Taryn up. She grabbed them and he pulled her up quickly. They then put on their winter gear and were on their way outside. Just as they stepped out the apartment building a light snow started falling and Taryn smiled.
"I hate the snow." She smiled and looked up. "It's so cold."
"You don't look like you hate it." Mike laughed.
"Well, I do. I only like it when it's falling. When it's actually on the ground, I absolutely hate it." She said, still smiling.
"Oh, I see." He laughed slightly and then turned into the coffee shop, holding the door open for Taryn as she walked in.
I know what you're getting at.
Been there, done that.
:]
