I walked down to her house, Christmas lights where still up, but not on. I walked up on the steps and it made the same squeaking noise as it did four years ago. I knocked on the door and a tall, skinny, girl with long brown hair and blue eyes opened the door. She looked at me for a few seconds then spoke.
"If you're looking for Steven he isn't here,' she said.
"I never did like your brother," I said looking at her.
"Who…who are you," she asked, not sure if she should be talking to me.
"You had liked Chris and I had liked Gordie, we where going to build our own tree house, but then they finally let us up," I explained.
"O my god….Ali," she said coming out of her house and hugging me. "You look so…so…"
"Different," I laughed hugging her back.
"How are you," she asked letting me go.
"Could be better….how about you," I asked.
"Ok…things changed a lot,' she said.
"Like What,"
"Well….mother died a year after you left, but that isn't a surprise to you, because you knew she would from the caner. I haven't talked to the boys' since the day you left and never came back. Well until today." She said.
"Well you want to go see them," I said, "I am sure Chris is dieing to see you."
"Sure," she said as we started our long walk back to Vern's house.
"So…how's life been treating you," she asked. I looked at her for a while, then looked in front of me.
"I was raped last year…"
"O my god, your boyfriend," she asked.
"No, four boys,' I explained.
"They got what they deserved right,' she asked.
"Yea Tyler beat them up," I laughed.
We walked down the road, and saw all the Christmas lights up. Christmas was over five days ago, but the lights where all up. Two more weeks and school would start again.
"I almost forgot how it looks during Christmas," I said.
"We had so much snow. I love the snow," she laughed, and I laughed along with her. We finally came to Vern's house.
"Ready," I asked.
"Ready…"
We walked into the house and I could hear the boys running around beating each other up.
"Hey get off me Teddy," Vern yelled.
"Flinched…you flinched," I heard Teddy yell.
"That's so old Teddy," Gordie yelled. Then I heard a crash and a table fell to the ground.
"O great, my moms favorite lamp" Vern yelled.
"They still act like they did four years ago," Mel laughed.
"Hey Chris….someone here wants to see you," I yelled through the house.
"Yea who," he laughed as he walked into the living room. He stopped dead in his tracks and looked at Mel.
"Mel," he yelled and ran over to her. He gave her a big hug.
"Nice to see you to," Mel laughed as he let go.
"How come you never came by," he asked, as Tyler, Gina, Vern, Gordie and Teddy entered the living room.
"Thought I wasn't welcome," she said.
"Your always welcome, so are you Ali," he said when he noticed the sad look on my face. I didn't like Chris like that, but it made me sad knowing no one cared like that for me anymore.
"So what should we all do tonight," I asked
"Let's rent a movie…." Vern said.
Ten minutes later Vern came back with a movie. We all sat in his family room. Chris, Mel and Gina on the big couch. Gordie and I on the two seater. Vern in the chair, and Tyler and Teddy on the floor and the movie began….
`Cause even her smile
Looks like a frown
She's seen her share of devils
In this angel town