Unpleasantness [Hart]

Family? He wanted to talk to her about family? They shared common ground in that regard, neither of them hat really fit into the Kenney-Pruitte mold. She wasn't her mother's daughter, or tried actively to be, and he knew exactly what his sister was like.

"No. They aren't my family. You are. And you didn't even stand up for a proper gingerbread house. Store bought and homemade? It should always be homemade. I've had it up to here, her hand chopped the air in front of her nose, "with store bought Christmas things. The cookies were fun to ice, the tree awesome to decorate, but they're intruding." Usurpers. The promise of the Nutcracker was a tempting one, but her plans were already going up in flames.

Like so many other things.

"It's not fair. I wanted a Christmas with you. Just you and Ouch." Even as she said it, Jess knew she couldn't have her uncle kick his roommate and the other girl out just so she could have him to herself. But when it came right down to it, Jess was spoiled, and very used to getting what she wanted. One way or the other. Even if it was the wrong way. Like the conversation. It was alone time with Unk.

The look that passed across his face was not lost on Jess. She knew that look. Had seen it many times on both of her parents. For different reasons. She was being a brat, and she knew it. Was fully aware of it. But it was what it was.

"I don't like her." Sulk. Lots of sulk. It was unattractive, and unfortunate, but Jess wasn't an adult. She wasn't even 16.

"Just us?" She knew, or hoped, he would follow the bounce of her mind. It was a shame there weren't houses that played Christmas music to moving lights the same way there were the Halloween houses did. "Please?"

A flash of video slammed into Jess' mind and her hand went immediately to her temple. Yay migraine. But she'd been wrong about the houses not synching up to music the same way the Halloween houses did. That was pretty cool, she had to admit, but still.

"No, I don't think Ouch would like the car ride. He hates the harness and leash I got him while in California." Jess didn't want to be the mature one. She didn't want to take the high road. She wanted her first Christmas with just her Uncle to be just that. Harmony was ruining everything. And she didn't want to indulge anyone. The girl was tried and true usurper.

Thank God they weren't roommates.

Harmony hadn't even seemed interested in gingerbread houses at all, so what did it matter. She could have just sat there while Jess and Hart did a proper one. But Jess didn't say as much. She didn't want to fight with her uncle, she just wanted to be with him. To hang out. And have fun.

Her Unk was trying. He really was, and Jess felt a little bad for making a fuss, but she had felt betrayed when he didn't immediately take her side. He was her Uncle, not Harmony's. His suggestions were reasonable, but Jess was already in a mood and reasonableness wasn't something she was exactly receptive to.

"Fine." Sulky teen answer. "Whatever. Let's just go back in before things get more awkward." The situation wasn't resolved as far as Jess was concerned, but she'd let it drop for now. One of the bigger problems with Jess was that she held onto things. Hard. Grudges were second nature for the teen, and she seemed to hoard them. Harmony had already tweaked her in the wrong direction and this was just another several points against her.

"I need cocoa. I'll be in in a minute."

Sulk. Sulk. Sulk.