Wednesday, December 21st

106.)

"Spending the holidays with your mystery girl?" Becky asked, entirely rhetorically. But when Blossom answered, it actually made her eyes light up.

"No, she's got her own family stuff."

"Really? Well if you're not doing anything–"

"I'm going home to see my dad on Friday."

Ah, the ephemeral nature of Becky's elation. She frowned, but the frown turned into a pout. As far as she was concerned, family was always going to take priority. It was an inevitability. It was Blossom's new friend that Becky didn't like.

"I think I'm staying here, honestly," Becky sighed. "My dad is in Germany, and mom's doing that thing where she just wants to bitch about my dad. My brother's staying at school, so I have a pretty good out."

"I love that for you; there's going to be a lot of lonely horny people on campus during the break, Becks."

Lonely horny people who didn't want a one-night encounter to become a relationship, Blossom should have clarified. Sad sex was pretty good sex, either way.

"I'm sorry your Mom's being such a bitch; that's the worst. Did you get her a Christmas gift, at least? Take the high road?"

"I'm sending her chocolates," Becky shrugged. "I basically have a standing order with a company near my parents' place. Birthday, Mother's Day, Christmas... always send a box of chocolates to my mom."

"And your dad?"

"Next time I see him I'll ask how he likes the model airplane I got him. He'll say he loved it. Just like the snowglobe last year. And the wireless mouse before that. I don't actually give him these things, by the way. He just assumes I did and assumes he was too busy to open it. It's a system I learned to exploit years ago."

For such a sad story, Becky sure didn't seem to care that much.

"You know, Becks, I used to think it would have been nice to have two parents growing up, but now I'm just not so sure." Blossom laughed, a little bit bitterly, a little bit defeatedly, but recovered her mood pretty quick.

"I still don't know what to get Weekend Girl for Christmas. I was thinking about an iPad because she likes to write, but I think she'd think I was just flaunting money like a snooty little rich girl. But like, I legit think it's a good gift."

"That's a lot of money," Becky pouted. "Maybe get her a nice pen or something?"

"What is she, a contract lawyer?"

"I. Have. No. Idea." Becky punctuated each word with irritation. But if getting frustrated with Blossom for her weekend trysts was a sticking point for Becky, the two would have stopped being friends months ago. "I don't think writing is good gift-giving information. What else does she like?"

"She likes to bake; she's super good at it. But I also kind of don't want to encourage it, because she uses it as a coping mechanism in some pretty extreme ways. And she writes. Oh! I could take her clothes shopping, maybe? Do the whole makeover thing? But I also think she's pretty gorgeous just the way she is and I don't want her thinking I don't think that."

Blossom puffed out her cheeks and then sighed like a deflating balloon. This was hard!

"Cookbook?" Becky offered, because she really was trying to be a good friend to Blossom.

"I mean, we have the internet..." Blossom countered.

"One of those... mixing... bowl things?" Becky did a motion with her hands to convey her point.

"I've got one at the beach house..."

"Beach house?" Becky tilted her head.

"It's where we hang out on the weekends."

"Wait wait wait wait," Becky waved her hands, "so you spend every weekend with this girl, at a beach house even though it's winter, and you've got appliances together? Blossom, babe, this is full domestication. This is like you're married to this girl."

Blossom rolled her eyes so hard she was worried the tendons in her eyes might snap, and she topped her own previous-best sigh.

"It's not like that, Becks. She just can't really be herself at home."

"And by be herself you mean be gay with one of the hottest babes on the campus?"

Blossom gave her a sharp look. Becky knew she was riling Blossom up, but she felt like she was riling herself up in the process. So she took a breath and let it go.

"Fine, fine. Well, I dunno. If you're not fucking, then what does she get out of spending all weekend with you? Maybe there's a good gift idea in there somewhere."

"Oh Becks, why didn't I think of that? Here you go Weekend Girl, here's one coupon good for one fuck with Blossom Brixley. Coupon has no actual value because Blossom Brixley fucks pretty freely, but it's the thought that counts, right?"

Blossom was never above ownership of her sexual proclivities.

"That's not what I meant," Becky groaned. "I mean, there's some other reason she spends all this time with you right? Is she just super lonely? Get her a digital picture frame or something. Or is she just tired of her parents? Then get her some noise canceling headphones. Like, use your head for something other than giving it."

"You know if there was a Yelp for giving head, I'll be five stars, baby. Don't be mad because you're a 3.8."

She grinned, but the back and forth here wasn't getting her any closer to an answer when it came to a gift. Amy didn't write by hand, so a cute notebook was no good. She had a laptop, so that was out. An iPad seemed like a good idea, but Becky was probably right in that it was too expensive a Christmas gift. To be honest, if she'd thought about it further in advance, she might have ordered something from one of the cute ABDL clothing stores, but she didn't think anyone would be able to get it to her in time.

"Ugh, why am I such a bad gift giver!"

"One of your many quirks some might consider a flaw," Becky laughed. Then, since it was on topic: "I have something for you actually. Since you're leaving Friday."

"Nooooo Becks, I haven't gotten you a gift yet, either! Don't do this to me!"

For some people, it may have seemed like a lack of gratitude, but Becky and Blossom knew each other better than that. Blossom was just stressed.

"You don't have to get me a gift," Becky smiled. "Gift giving is about giving, right? Not getting." Becky got up from her seat at the dining table in the sorority house. Many of the girls had already left for the holidays, and it was easy to find alone time with Blossom. When she came back, she had a big box with a big bow. She set it down between her and her best friend.

Blossom bit her lip as she opened the gift box. Becky was a notoriously good gift giver, despite her uselessness at helping Blossom find something for Amy. If Blossom had let her know Amy, she would no doubt have had a thousand great ideas, but the circles had to be maintained. Didn’t they? As she peeled apart the ribbon and opened the box, Blossom’s eyes went wide.

"Holy shit, Becks! You got me a fucking Selkie Dress?!"

She was elated! To be fair, it wasn't her usual style, but every dress they made was objectively gorgeous, and Blossom had always wanted to own one.

…besides the fact, they definitely had little appeal to boot!

"Thank you SO much!"

"You've been on that site more than our school website," Becky laughed. She was beaming, absolutely and overwhelmingly proud of herself. "I know this one's a little bright, but all their stuff is so flouncy. I couldn't see them as everyday dresses, or even formal ones. So I thought this fantastical vibe might fit... well, I dunno. Special events or something?"

"I love it, Becks!"

Blossom leaped up, careful to set the box aside, and wrapped her arms around her best friend in a tight hug.

"You are so amazing!"

"I know it," Becky joked, hugging her best friend tightly. It felt like she so rarely got time with Blossom anymore, that the past week together - with the house so empty - was really nice. Even if Blossom wasn't staying for Christmas, Becky was happy with what she could get. She was always so permissive when it came to compromise. She truly was compatible with Blossom Brixley.

"I'll get you something. I will, I promise, I just have to figure out how I'm going to match up to this," she laughed, gesturing to the gorgeous dress. "I can't wait, I have to try it on."

"That's the response I was hoping for," Becky grinned. Even if they couldn't spend the holidays together, Becky and Blossom would have tonight.