A Stamford Christmas Carol pt 5

((Just a note: I know Deb isn't dead, but she looks like the right girl for the job to me. I dunno why, but her appearance says "fairy" to me)))

"Fine." She waved her hand and they arrived at a party in a large apartment in Boston. "This looks like fun. Lots of beer, wine, people in ties kissing each others behinds. Kinda makes me sad I never went to college. Wait...no...it doesn't." she shrugged. "There you are. The girls seem to like you."

"Hey Paul. I got some mistletoe in my coat pocket in the bedroom. Care to see it?" A tall blonde smiled at him.

"Nah, that's okay. I got someone back home. Christmas isn't the best time to cheat on people." He smirked. "Call me in March, though. If your free."

"Sure, sweetie."

"Who's that guy there? The one about to talk to you?"

Paul looked closer. "Mitch, he was on a few of my sports teams. He was my best friend. Died in a car accident." He answered. "Just after this New Years."

"PAULY! What's up buddy? Have a beer. I just saw you turn down Kim Laney. You have some serious issues if you said no to her. She's so hot."

"If you want her, go get her. I'm not interested. How many have you had?" He tried to get his drunk friend's attention.

"Huh? Shit, I lost count at 5. How many did you have? Like, 1? You need to loosed up more." Mitch slurred and handed him another beer.

"No, I'm fine. I should probably go. I have to see my family later and it's a long drive. Take care, pal."

"Whatever man. Merry Christmas." Mitch leaned over and puked into a bucket beside the couch.

"Now tell me, cause I missed college, so I don't know. Is this really better than seeing your family at Christmas? You'd rather hang out at a frat party with a bunch of drunken rich kids than see your baby sister?" Debra asked.

"It wasn't like that. You don't understand anything about it, so don't pretend you do. When you come from…when you have money, you have to keep an image and…"

"An image? Some image, Paul. I have one more thing to show you." Before he could protest, they appeared in a cold warehouse with a shifty looking ring in the center surrounded by equally shifty workout equipment.

"Why are we here? This place is a dump."

"This dump is where Hunter started and Paul disappeared." Debra replied as she sat with him on a weight bench.

"It's late Paul. We should get out of here before they lock us in. I have a surprise for you at home."

"Just 10 more minutes, then we can get some dinner and go home." He yelled across the room and continued lifting with his own reflection in a wall mirror.

"Sure. I'm just gonna talk to Sean over here, then." She nodded and walked into a side office. "Hey, are you going to New York tonight?"

"Yeah, as soon as he's done and I can lock up. You should come with me. It's gonna be great." He smiled.

"What? No, I have plans."

"What plans, Joanie? Watching him watch himself? I know you get along, but you can do better. I have a friend named Vinny."

"Vinny? What's he look like?" She chuckled.

"He's only 5 feet 4 and he smells like salami, but he's got a great sense of humor."

"You're insane!" She laughed and pushed him back playfully. "I'm 6 feet tall! He would feel and look ridiculous beside me!"

Trips could see his younger self lifting the weights, but he had stopped. All his attention was on the window to the office. "She looks good. I haven't seen her smile like that in years."

Younger Paul dropped the weight he was carrying and picked up his bag. "Hey, time to go. You wanna eat, right?" The pair in the office nodded and followed him out. "See ya' next week Sean."

"Yeah, have a Merry Christmas. Bye Joanie." He walked off to his car.

"Bye. He's going to New York to see his family. He offered for us to come along." She shrugged.

Debra waved her hand and they appeared in the backseat of the Toyota Paul was driving. They watched the other pair enter the car and slam the doors shut. "You're in a bad mood tonight, Trips." Debra chuckled.

"He doesn't want us to come along." Paul answered and drove the car from the lot quickly.

"What do you mean? He just asked me in the office if we would come with him to…"

"He asked YOU! Not me, Joanie. He flirts with you constantly and it makes me sick. He doesn't want to be my friend, he can't stand me. He just wants you." Paul growled.

"That's not true. You have been friends longer than you have both known me. I'm not gonna come between that."

"Then why do you flirt back?"

"I do not. That's an awful thing to say on Christmas." She was getting very upset.

"I don't want you to talk to him anymore when I'm not around. I don't trust him. If he tries anything, I'll break his arm." He threatened.

"Pull over! Stop the car, right now!" Even though they were in the middle of nowhere in Massachusetts, he stopped. "Listen to me, I am a grown woman and I can do what I please! When you and I first met, we were just friends for a long time. In that time, I also hung out with Sean and we slept together, just as friends, nothing more. He is my friend just as much as you are, and I care about you both. But don't you start acting like I'm some weak little girl who can't handle herself."

The clouds of steam from Paul's breath clouded the air in the freezing car as he listened and grew more angry by the second. "You slept with him? You slept with Sean and you never told me? GET OUT OF MY CAR!"

"How am I gonna get home?"

"I DON'T CARE! CALL SEAN! NOW GET THE HELL OUT!" He opened the door and nearly pushed her out physically before speeding off down the dark road.

"That's it. I have seen enough. Take me home right now! Back to 2004 to my own house in Greenwich where I can drink my rum and sleep in my recliner!"

"FINE! God, you're the most stubborn man I have ever seen." She waved her hand and disappeared.

To be continued...please review :P