Numbing degrees in fall and winter, my favorite thing, next to music and art that is. Just the chilling nights of fall and the sharp bites of cold winter brings, is enough warmth for me. Maybe it's because I'm fascinated with the colours of fall, the beautiful leafs swirling around my feet, or the winter snow that hardly ever came to my little warm town in the middle of nowhere. Maybe I'm just a weird girl who likes to sit out in negative degrees just because it gives me a thrill, a sense of bravery. Or maybe, that's just the only time the pain my thoughts give me are blocked out by the numbing weather.
Snapping out of my thoughts, I slowly drive up the drive way that currently snowed over, the house being covered in Christmas decorations. Usually when I visited my brother during this time of year, there would be nothing decorated except inside and even then it wouldn't be much.
"I really hope he didn't out and buy all this Christmas stuff just because I'm staying for a few years. Such a drag." Sighing, I got out of the car and started unpacking my stuff only to get tackled from behind.
"Halley! How ya' doing?! It's been forever! I've missed you so much!" After having my mini little heart attack a moment, I turn around to see a man with short brown wispy hair and a small beard going on. He looked like he was at least in his mid thirties he held a childish smile that said otherwise.
"You punk! You almost made me piss myself! Also, what's with all the Christmas stuff, huh?" Pointing at the lights strung around the house, he gave me a chuckle saying "Well, you know. It's Christmas time and I know how much you love the lights. Besides Seth let me have some leftover ones he found at his house."
"You didn't need to do that..." Turning to get the rest of the boxes and junk I brought with me I noticed most of it was already in the hands of Seth, who was running towards the door.
"I finally have all I need to take over the world! Mwahahaha!"
"Get back here, you ruffian!" I shout towards the tall man, chuckling and gathering more of my stuff.
"What is your dorky friend doing here anyways?" Kicking the door open and looking around for said dork, I saw no one around, but I sure did see a lot of Christmas decorations. Sighing I turn to Mark, my brother, to see him putting down all the boxes and luggage.
"Well, he heard you were coming and decided he wanted to come by tonight, so he wanted to come by and welcome you-"
"By taking my stuff and running off to nowhere?" Chuckling and shaking his head saying, "No, I told him to go bring your stuff up to the room you'll be staying in, once you got here. Also he's here because he was helping me put up Christmas lights."
"Oh." I say, staring blankly at all the family photos on the walls. Remembering every memory each one held each one better than the last. Then there was a few of my Brother Mark, our friend Seth and Seth's wife, Sandra. We had been friends with Seth for as long as I can remember. He'd be over at our house back then, just about every day, playing some sport or video games with us. Then the time came, when him and my brother moved out of the parents house, and went to go live their lives far away, Away from family matters, Away from the trouble town we lived in, Away from me.
"Hey! Earth to Halley! You in there?!" Snapping out of my thoughts, I turn to see Seth and Mark looking at me with worried looks. "Man, you zone out a lot. You think too much kid." Looking over at Seth, I give him my best grin. "Yeah, and you think too little."
"Why you-"
"Alright, alright. Come on Seth, Halley must be tired from her long trip here." Looking me over, I just give him a fake yawn and rub my eyes a bit, giving him the signal that 'Yeah, hey, I'm tired!'
"Besides, Sandra is probably wondering where you are. You did say you'd be back before 8'o. Well, it's 9:15 now." Jumping up from where he was, Seth bolted to the door while yelling out "Cya guys later!"
Picking up the boxes, Mark turned back towards me saying, "Well, these boxes aren't going to pick themselves up."
"Right." Picking up the rest of the load, I follow him up the stairs to an open door. "This will, be your room here. My bedroom is just down the hall. If you need anything, let me know. Really." Smiling at me after he set the boxes down, he brings me into another hug. "Ohhhhh! I'm sooooo happy to see you again! And now we're roommates again! This is going to be fun!" Laughing, I return the hug, making sure I get the point across that I'm happy to see him.
"Yeah, just like old times, huh?" Stepping back and letting me go, he comments, "Well, it looks like you have a lot to unpack." Looking over all my boxes and luggage, I realized that 'Yes. Yes, this is a lot of luggage that I'm going to have to unload myself probably.' My thoughts were confirmed when Mark said "Since, I know you got stuff to do, I'm gonna' leave you to it While I go and get some much needed groceries." Running out of the room, and down the stairs, all I hear is the lock of the door and the car starting up.
Sighing, I start to unpack everything.
"I'm surprised I'm already finished unpacking." Plopping down on the bed, I look around my new room. Posters, photos, wall scrolls, and pretty much anything else, were hanging on the wall. My bed pushed in the corner of the room, next to one of the two windows. A small desk sat in front of the second window, with my laptop and art folders strewn across it. My clothes neatly put away in my closet, for once. Then there was my bookshelf among bookshelves of mangas, art books, journals, old text books, poetry books, writing books, just so many books! Then I had my storybooks and fantasy books, the books that kept me up at night wondering what would happen next. Or the books that were told to me every night before bed, and my eyes would grow wide at the tales and mystery of each and every character told.
Getting up and walking over to the books, I pick up my favorite. 'The Tales of Winter', a giant leatherback book filled with many Christmas and winter based stories. Each story brought a smile to my face, and some would make me cry.
Walking back over to my bed with the book, I sit and begin to read the stories that I heard many times, on nights like these, long, long ago.