Alex tugged the sleeves on his suit down a little more and exhaled a deep breath. Had it not been for Jack's nagging, he wouldn't have even bothered to get dressed and show up tonight.


After Leigh rejected him entirely, he made his way to the local bar to drown his sorrows. Five beers in, he couldn't take the shards of his heart anymore and had to call Jack to comfort him. His best friend held him as he cried, talked shit about said girl and offered him kind words about how it'd get better in time. Alex didn't believe a second of it, but he needed something to cling to.


He just couldn't understand how he had the love of his life only hours ago and now she didn't love him anymore.


It wasn't fair because it didn't make any sense. He'd never loved someone so much bofore in his life, yet she gets to decide when that comes to an end? Even so, he knew his love for her would go on until it ruined him. Being without her felt like death, only there was no peace, no sudden feeling that he'd lived a good life and he was ready to let it go.


Letting out a small growl, Alex opened the door, only to be greeted by laughter and the smell of freshly baked cookies. He scrunched his nose to the joy and pushed his way through all of the happy faces, until he found a glass of wine that no one had claimed.


You'd think it'd be easier, what with the party being at his own house, but there were constant reminders of Leigh everywhere. The time they made-out on the couch all night, the food fight they had in the kitchen, the time she caught a stomach virus and he held her hair back in the bathroom. Tears were brimming his eyes again, but he blinked them back and ventured into the living room.


It would only be a matter of time before people started asking questions.


Trying not to be noticed, Alex inched his way to the Christmas tree. He stared at the lights, remembering how cute Leigh was as she tried to get them perfectly on every branch, or the way he had to hold her up so she could place the star on the tip. He let his eyes trail to the bottom, where a few gifts here and there were scattered.


But something caught his attention.


The ring was there, in the velvet box, all by itself off to the side.


Leigh had also taken the gift she worked so hard to find for him.

I look under the tree, but there’s nothing to see, 'cause it’s a broken heart that you’re giving me.


His stomach flipped, forcing him to move away from the group and find his way to the stairs. He climbed them with a heavy heart, his wine sloshing around the glass in his hands. Stumbling against the wall, he bit his lip to avoid the flow of tears. That's when a pile of bags and boxes caught his attention. And so did she.


"Leigh?"


"Alex," she breathed, running a hand through her hair. "I-I didn't expect you to come tonight."
"It is my party," Alex murmured, "and it's Christmas."


Leigh didn't speak, she just continued to avert her gaze from him. It was pretty obvious what was happening, anyway. She was packing her things to leave. His proposal of a life together was her chance to say goodbye.


And fuck, did that hurt.


"If I had known it'd be the end of us, I never would have asked."


"You shouldn't think like that. Honestly, you should be glad this happened early enough for you to find the right girl."


"The right girl? Don't fucking give me that shit, Lee. We're perfect for each other and you know it."


"Yeah, maybe. But when you ask a girl to marry you, you want her to agree, not pack her things. This alone proves we weren't meant to be, can't you see that?"


"Love should be enough, Leigh."


"But it's not, Alex."


I can’t figure you out, is this what Christmas is all about? 'Cause it’s a broken heart that you’re giving me.


He'd heard enough. It was as if, suddenly, all of the bad things he was feeling were turned into rage. Pure anger for the girl he'd poured his heart into over the last year. The girl that made him believe they were happy, perfectly, in love. All she did was use him, make him think this is what they both wanted for the rest of their lives.


Standing up quickly, Alex chugged the rest of his wine and let his glass fall to the floor. He didn't even care that he'd have to clean the stain from the few drops left later. His feet carried him down the stairs, all the way to the living room. His fingers wrapped around the velvet box under the tree and he rushed to the door.


With everything he had left in him, Alex chucked the box across the road. He heard it smack into the fresh snow and he could only hope the earth would swallow it whole. Falling to his knees, Alex let out a soft groan. That was it. That was the end of it.


"Alex?" A small voice called to him, making his heart sink further. "What happened?"


"She's leaving, Jack," Alex sighed, feeling the cold snow hit his knees through the fabric of his pants. "We're over."


"Do you wanna talk about it?"


"No."


Jack nodded his head, even though Alex couldn't see him, and plopped down on the cold ground beside his friend. His hands made their way to Alex's back where he gave his shoulder a soft squeeze. There was nothing he could do, or say, to make it better. But he knew Alex would recover with time and he'd realize just how much he's really worth.


I don’t wanna talk, I’m sick of all this talking. A broken heart wrapped up in a box, there's tear drops in my stocking. I hate Christmas parties.

Notes

See, I told you it was crap. But at least it was short!
I'm seriously sorry beyond words.
But I love you guys. So the end. <3.