somewhere mistoletoe lingers

Crosby wasn't so sure just where he stood with Daisy, lately. She wasn't exactly forthcoming in what ever had happened. Was he the only one still bothered that she'd dropped out for a little while, there?

"What happened, exactly?" He got her cornered down at the campus coffee shop. It was just by chance that he saw her chatting it up with Josie. Finally, she was in a good mood, until he changed it.

"Just forget it, will you." She closed her eyes softly as if she had.

"Well, its kind of hard when your Dad makes me think I'm responsible for you." He knew it now. Her Dad expected him to one day marry her and be her keeper. It was funny, how her parents over looked the fact that he had a girlfriend, and Daisy had never ever been interested in him. Frankly, he was tired of being the big brother that he was expected to be.

"I'm fine. OK. Just don't worry." She at least didn't seem quite so sad now. Maybe she was actually seeing someone new. Hopefully, it wasn't the someone who had made her so blue. "Besides, I'm there for Dad. That's all that matters." She was straight lipped.

"You, heard from your Mom?" Crosby watched his marshmellows in his hot chocolate. He was sure now he'd asked the wrong question.

She shook her head, no.

"He's just quiet." She shrugged about her dad.

"Hey, they liked to fuss." He smiled remembering their arguments on how to make egg rolls to what to watch on TV.

"But they always made up." Her fingers warmed around the mug of coffee she was sipping.

He knew it hurt. Her family was always together. Until now.

"So what do you want for Christmas?" He asked, doing his best to change the subject.

"Nothing." She looked so sad.

"You were so happy talking to Josie. I'm sorry." He hadn't meant to upset her. "Are you sure you're, OK?"

"I think so. Sometimes, anyway." She gritted a smile as if she would somehow go on. "But I'm not expecting a big Christmas. Although, I might ask someone to the Christmas formal."

"Yeah, maybe we can all go together." Crosby liked that idea, even if he would have to dress up.

"Maybe." She winced a smile. "Just not sure I can actually see Hansen in a suit and tie."

"Aw..so there is somebody." Crosby smirked.

"We're just friends." She told him.