Last minute shopping

 

"You're not gonna be the Grinch this year, are you?" Nonnie gave Tristan the eye. Of course, he paid her no mind, but yawned and went for the coffee.

"I really haven't thought about any Christmas shopping." He shrugged and sipped the steaming black coffee. He looked back at her, "Why are you here anyway, have a sleepover with Weezer or something?"

"We're not that cozy," She looked at him blankly. "I'm just here to get a ride to the mall with him for a little last-minute shopping." She said he was in the shower.

"The mall?" He drew a scowl that looked as if he was shocked. He laughed. "People still do those kinds of things?"

"You really should at least get your sister something." She crossed her arms.

"Do we have to go there? Look, it's all better to keep it simple and quiet, and be a no show," He told her as his heavy bangs fell in his face.

"But then people will worry about you, wonder if..if.." she wouldn't say. But what if he was actually suicidal. Tristan knew she wanted to say it.

He looked at her as if she'd lost it. "Look, I am working on this paper. It's  just shit, but it's a paper and I'm getting it done." He yawned again.

"I bet you haven't even been sleeping," she looked at him a bit sadly.

"I have to." He winced hard.

"Finish your coffee, have some oatmeal. You're coming with us. You're going to buy presents, even if it's at the Dollar Tree." She could be fierce when she wanted to be. And she knew Tristan needed company.

"I don't know why we had to invite him," Weezer said later while the three of them were out window shopping in the warm mall while it was freezing cold and pretty much a gray winter wonderland outside.

"Stop," She took his hand and pulled him back. "You're a good roommate and this is what good roommates do."

"Oh really," he was still being a bit of a baby about this ordeal, but he was the one with the car. "You know, he needs rides and he needs to buy gifts too."

"All I've seen him do is look at knives and buy a soft serve," Weezer shrugged.

"You're not supposed to be watching him," she told him.

"Well, we don't want to lose him," he looked at her.

"See, you are a good roommate," Nonnie pointed to the cheese and sausage store. "I bet they have samples." 

When they stepped into the little store of shelves of cheese and sausage, there was Pan and Rox already trying samples.

"Fancy meeting you here," Weezer said ever so brightly. He smiled, glad to see they were still together. He wasn't so sure how things would be after Thanksgiving for them. He knew Roxanne had been so sad, but she was smiling now. Even her hair color had changed. What was it about those two.

"Oh, we might get a cheese board for my Mom," Roxanne said they'd just got back from the Animal shelter. They were fostering a momma cat and a liter of kittens. "We might end up with one of them." She sighed. "But I'm thinking with our schedule and finances, fostering might be all we can do."

She was serious about the matter. Weezer only nodded and looked to Nonnie as if maybe she could think what to say.

"Oh, I want to see them," her smile was open as if maybe she could possibly take a kitten. 

He looked at her a little funny. He didn't even know she liked cats.

Tristan scowled when he looked down at the text from his so-called colleague, Brandi. No way did he want to end up with her at Christmas. She was always wanting him to do something. Oh, she was a nag. She might have looked pretty, but he knew she was like a teacher who just wanted him to do more.

"Why so glum?" The girl with the pink hair asked as she was looking through the vinyl collection at the used record store.

It startled him. "Oh, it's..it's nothing."

She pulled out an LP of the the Sex Pistols. It was his dad's favorite album. Of course, his dad still had a record player.

"Are you going to buy that?" He asked.

"I've never heard of them," she shrugged.

"Oh, my dad thinks they are the kings of punk." Tristan nodded.

"Punk? You like punk music."

"Old school," he had to admit.

"Old school?" She winced. Before he knew it he was showing her all sorts of cool music that his dad loved like The Clash and Siouxsie and the Banshees. It was kind of funny, the only connection they had was music. But at least Magz was free for the holidays. At least, he could bring someone to the party. But then again, he probably wasn't invited.