Private Finished Rose are red and I don't like you..

Christmas time was here and Live didn't know how much more she could take of the cheer. Half of her classrooms had been decorated with lights and trees. The hallways were strung with lights and people were just all kinds of festive. Even creatures who weren't from Earth seemed to be getting into the holiday spirit. It made Live want to throw up.

However, it wasn't just the lights and cheer that were really getting to Live today, no. There was a very specific reason Live was so livid today and she was carrying it across campus with her.

Live had received a package this morning. She had been shocked to receive a package in the first place but what she had found inside had shocked her even more. It was a journal. A really nice journal with a rose on it. It even smelled like roses. The pages were blank and the aesthetic of the old cover and handmade feel was everything Live wanted in a journal. It was basically the same as a journal she had finished just a year or so ago, which had been Live's favorite but she had never been able to find or make another quite like it.

It had even come with a strange critique note about winters and new beginnings. It sounded like some kind of pep talk...

Live exited the academic building, her eyes narrowed and scanning the crowds of students gathering around to chat after a long day of classes. Most of them were headed home or off to some after school activity but Live wouldn't be joining any of them. She still had detention to attend for the next few hours. Yeah...a few as in three or more. She had been extremely late for school, as with most days, but today she had a reason for the extra hour of tardiness. She would also be a bit late for detention. She had someone she needed to talk to.

Live's eyes stopped as she spotted Shay Rosales. Immediately she started walking towards her, the journal clutched in her right hand by her side. Her and Shay weren't really friends and Live had never just walked up to Shay and started a conversation but there was a first time for everything.

"Hey." She said, stopping a few feet from the girl, her expression and eyes dead as usual but with a little extra moodiness.

@Foxy

Shay's response made Live feel even more upset. Then again, Shay could have said literally anything and it would have made Live more upset because she was looking for something to lose her shit over right now.

"What's up..?" She echoed, her eyes narrowing at the girl. Shay was a few years younger than her but that didn't stop Live from treating her the same as anyone else who ticked her off.

"You know exactly what is up Miss Rosales.." She seemed to hiss the words at the girl as she held out the sketchbook she had clutched at her side.

Live's gut reaction was the throw the book at Shay's face and curse her out for sending her a fucking Christmas present. However, she realized that a bit more tact may be required in this particular situation.

"I got it in the mail this morning. Came with a little note about hope through the cold winter months. Real heart warming shit.. And, to top it off..." She pulled the book back to herself, holding it up to her nose as she took a deep inhale "Ah! Smells like roses..."

Her eyes narrowed as she hissed, "..Miss Rosales." She wasn't backing down until she got what she wanted.

Well, that was easier than expected. From what Live knew of Shay, she would have expected the girl to put up a bigger fight before admitting to sending the journal. She paused for a moment, just staring, trying to look intimidating or something while she figured out exactly how to proceed next.

"Well, you shouldn't have. And.. I don't say that in the cliche way. I mean, you literally shouldn't have. I don't think I have the words to express to you how pissed off I am that you did this Shay. You had no right to..."

She let out a heavy breathe, doing her best to not give away too many emotions, "Please. Just take it back and we will pretend this never happened."

@Foxy

There was a myriad of reasons why Live didn't like people getting her gifts. Most of it dealt with a strong desire to not rely on anyone while another good bit dealt with pain from her past. But, she wasn't about the disclose that information to Shay in the middle of the school courtyard.

Live was tuning out most of what Shay was saying, preparing her response, when the word "friend" left the younger girl's lips. Her eyes narrowed, burning into the girl for a long moment before her gaze broke slightly, her brain seemed to come to some kind of decision about how to handle the situation that didn't involve throwing things and most likely ending up with more detention.

"I never sought you out as a friend," Live replied bluntly. "But, if that is really what you want, fine. I quit. I'll keep the journal. Heck, I'll even use it. But don't go thinking you have proven something about me or whatever.

Live bent down a bit so she was looking directly into Shay's eyes, "And just so we are super clear. I will make us even. Don't think you can get me a present and not receive something in return."

And without waiting for her response, Live turned and headed off. If Shay had anything else she wanted to say, she would need to chase Live down now.

@Foxy