merry christmas.. at least to lauren and big red

"where are we going?" lauren asked big red. "it's all a suprise, lauren. relax," big red told her. he gripped the steering wheel and looked at her out of the corner of his eye. she took a deep breath. "i'm just kind of worried if this is going to be appropriate," she said quickly. "lauren, really? you think i'd take advantage of the fact that it's christmas and i get to hang out with you alone and try and seduce you. that'd kind of ruin my chances of ever hanging out with you alone again, right?" he asked. "yeah, i guess," lauren said. "i'm not going to do anything, okay? i just want to give you your present." big red never looked away from the road.

big red slowed to a stop. "lake caroline?" lauren asked. "yeah, it's really nice when it's decorated for christmas. plus, there's a gazebo. that's where we're going actually," he said. he got out of the truck and lauren opened her door before he could come around and open it for her. "i was going to get that for you," he said. "i know. i can get it though," she said smiling. "lauren," big red said stopping, "i'm not trying to hit on you when i open the door for you. i'm just trying to be nice, you know?" lauren closed her eyes. she knew. she just didn't like how that affected her. she'd rather if he were doing it to be making a move. that'd give her a reason not to be enjoying this. "i know, big red. i really don't think you're making a move on me. can we just get to the gazebo, please?" she asked. big red looked around, "yeah." for the first time, lauren looked around. the lake had a bridge coming from the gazebo that was decorated with so many christmas lights it was blinding. "wow. it really is.. nice here," lauren said. big red smiled and nodded, "i told you. god, it's the most beautiful thing in the world." lauren could feel the peacefullness the lake held. she suddenly wasn't so nervous. "it really is." "come on, let's get to the gazebo. your present's in there." big red almost grabbed her hand then he played it off by waving her on to the spot. they walked over to the gazebo and then entered through the open arc. "i don't see any gift," lauren said. "well, duh. i'm not just going to have it right out in the open," big red said. he walked through a curtain. "close your eyes," he told her. he carried the present out behind his back just in case lauren hadn't closed her eyes. she had though. he pulled it from behind his back. "open," he said. she tore into the wrapping paper.

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"i love it!" she said. big red's face broke into a smile. "really?" "of course. how much was this?" she asked. "around fifty bucks," he said. "wow, it's really great," she said. "that's not all," big red said. "what? that's totally enough," she told him. "too bad, because that's not all i got you." "what else is it?" she asked. he pulled a wrapped package out of his pocket. it was too big to be a ring. "open it," he told her. she tore into it again.

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"big red, this is all too much," she said. "just accept it. i'm sure you got me stuff just as expensive," he said. she smiled. "it was only thirty dollars by the way. it's smells really good too." "thank you," she said. she hugged him. "so, now it's my turn," he said. "shit. i left the present in the truck," she said. she got up to go. "hurry back," he told her. she was back in less than five minutes with a big gift bag. "i really hope you like it, but if you don't i have the receipt," she said.

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"lauren, i love it. this is probably way more than all of mine put together," he said. "it was sixty dollars," she said. "it's really great though. i love it. that's still too much," he said. lauren rolled her eyes. "you, little mister, spent eighty-five dollars on me. that's what i call too much," she said. "no, it's not. you deserve it. it's not like i buy you stuff all the time. plus, i'm not really hurting for money or anything," he said. "i really like the purse and the perfume and i'm very glad you like the hoodie." "i love the hoodie," he said. she smiled, "so, what's up with your anger towards me?" "let's go sit on the bridge," he said. "okay," she said. he led her out of the gazebo and they sat on the bridge, their feet dangling in the water. "it's kind of weird, probably. i hope i don't ruin the light mood or anything," he said. "you're not going to ruin anything," she told him. "okay. lauren, you know how in relationships it's bad when one person cares a lot more about the other person than they do about them?" big red asked. lauren nodded and looked down at the water. "that's how our relationship is. i know you probably don't think i'm serious all the time when i say it, but i really do love you." lauren started to kick her feet nervously. "i believe you when you say it," she said. "well, i guess the reason that there's some anger is because while i'm stuck still loving you, you've moved on. you're perfectly happy with brandon and that's great. i'm happy for you, but i also kind of wish i was over you too," he said. "you're not over me?" lauren asked. "no," big red said shaking his head. "wow, really?" she asked. "yep, really. you're just kind of hard to forget about. i regret not telling you how i felt when we were together. i was just scared. you know i'm not good at talking about these kinds of things. it's hard. i know i have to tell you this, though. lauren, you mean a lot to me. you're always going to have me here. it might not be in a relationship, but i'm always you're friend," big red finished. lauren didn't say anything. "i'm speechless, big red. i never had any idea you felt this way," she finally said. "yeah, i know. i don't really want to let on around you boyfriend, who's also one of my really good friends, by the way," he said. lauren laughed, "i'm glad you told me." "me too," he said. lauren looked down. "i don't want things to be awkward. nothing's different, okay? i'm still just big red." "yeah," lauren said smiling but she knew that things were different. he smiled, "good." "what time is it?" lauren asked. "about 11:30," he said. she nodded. "do you want me to take you home?" he asked thinking that was the only reason she would have asked the time. "uhm, no. not this second, at least. i just want to sit her for a little while." "okay," he said. "i need to go get some stuff, uhm, situated in the gazebo." "i'll be out here," lauren said. "alright," he said getting up and walking alone across the bridge.