Saturday
I watched the trees pass by in the car as Auntie drove to her house. Everything was covered in white, and it was beautiful. The trees glistened serenely, weighed down by the snow and ice. The sun reflected over the icy ground to turn it into a blinding mass. The beauty of it made my breath catch in my throat.
"How do you like Sutton Coldfield so far?" Oliver asked me. I looked at him and smiled. He was sitting next to me in the back and James was sitting in the passenger seat. I'll never get used to these cars...
"I like it. Maybe I should come here more often," I replied. And that was the truth. If it was this pretty in the winter, I wondered what it looked like in the summer. Colorful and warm, alive and welcoming, perhaps?
"I hope you do. We like your company," James complemented. Oliver nodded and I smiled yet again. I turned back to the window to see Auntie turn onto a quiet street.
"Hey, maybe we can show you around. We know some places you may like."
"Alright, I suppose, but it's kind of late," I moaned looking at the clock. It said three. "I want to unpack a little first."
"I guess it won't be today then because it'll snow soon," Auntie interjected. It was starting to snow again. "You're really going to like my house, Venna; I put together a room for you." She turned onto another quiet street. Then she pulled into a driveway. Thank god too, my legs were starting to cramp up. I stretched and looked up at the house. It was cream-colored and it stood out a little under the snow. It looked huge, and it even had a patio in the back. We took our luggage into the house and I dropped everything down. Wow.
To my right was a living room and it had a high ceiling and everything essential to call the room a living room. To my left was the kitchen and dining room. The kitchen was huge too. Down the hall seemed to be a sunroom with a pool in the back.
"Wow, it's huge!" I squealed in awe. Auntie just smiled and walked into the kitchen. I went upstairs to check it out. The closest room was the computer room and my jaw dropped as I looked in. A very expensive looking computer sat on a desk alongside a flat-screen hanging on the wall. There was a couch in the middle of the room and a comfy looking chair in the corner next to a bookcase. There was a stereo on the floor too. Wow, again.
"Yeah, that's how I was when I first saw it," Oliver empathized, coming to my elbow, "still amazes me." I smiled at him then turned into a red room on the other side of the hall. It had a big canopy bed - red of course - dresser, and closet, bedside table with an alarm clock on it and a cream carpet and maroon walls. It was wonderful!
"This is my room!" I announced, turning to Oliver. He nodded and I walked into a blue room: blue bed, dresser, closet, walls, carpet, and table. The next was Auntie's: all earthy colors. She had some pictures of us on her table. The bathroom was next: a huge tub, shower next to it, sink and toilet. It was all retro looking, you know, black and white. I walked back down the stairs, eyes lit up with excitement.
"Auntie, I love your house," I told her, hugging her, "thank you for inviting me to see you." And to think I thought myself to be miserable here…
"You're very welcome." She returned the hug and started getting things out; I guess she was making spaghetti for supper.
"Hey, Oliver, I tried calling mom and there was no answer. I think she's at her sister's..." James said as Oliver walked into the room.
"We won't be able to get in our house." Oliver groaned, slumping into a chair.
"Huh? How come? You lost your keys?" I asked, sitting down too. They looked at each other then James sighed.
"I'll tell her," Oliver began, "We did have spare keys, but a hardcore fan found them one day. She got into our house and stole a pair of James' underwear. Since we were traveling around we wouldn't be home too often," Oliver answered my quizzical look.
"Oh, I feel bad for you James." I looked at him funny.
"You can stay with us until your mother comes back," Auntie offered, looking at me. James and Oliver also looked at me.
"What? It's not my place to answer for you. But anyway, want to go swimming in a bit? After I unpack that is," I asked to them. I thought we should do something fun before we go to bed.
"Sure," they answered together. I pulled my cargo up the stairs and into my room. I unpacked my eight t-shirts, eight pairs of pants, socks, undies, two bras, two skirts with matching shirts, and a pretty dress. Also my bathing suit, scarf hat and gloves, just in case. I put everything in their respective places then changed into my camouflage bathing suit. I threw my shirt back on, opening the door at the same time. James was standing there looking down.
"What's up?" I asked looking at his expression.
"Oliver takes forever to change," he answered.
"Really, well maybe he-" Just then Oliver came out, wearing camouflage trunks. "Hey, we match," I said holding up my shirt to show him.
"Cool, come on, let's go." He led us down the stairs and to the pool. I took my shirt off and threw it aside. There was a diving board so I ran to it, like I used to when I was a little girl. I clapped and giggled in excitement. Oliver snickered and James was testing out the water.
"For my first trick..." I announced, putting my arms out. I walked to the back of the diving board, then ran, jumped, and did a perfect flip.
"Whoo!" I exclaimed after I came back up, "I haven't done that in forever!" They both clapped and I swam to them, sitting in the stairs. "Come on, we're supposed to be swimming, not standing there like sissies," I teased. I splashed James and he looked murderous.
"You're going to pay for that!" And he jumped in and splashed me. Big deal; I was already wet. I jumped on him anyways. The only thing I didn't expect was him to catch me.
"I caught you," he smirked mischievously, walking to the deep end of the pool. He pulled me under, and we both came up sputtering. Oliver was still on the stairs.
"Come on Ol! Is it okay if I call you that?" I asked. He nodded so that's good. I swam over to him and he quickly got away from me. "Come on! It's not cold."
"Maybe I don't want to get entirely wet." I was about to jump him, but James got to him first. He tried to pick him up, but Oliver held on to him, so I pushed both of them in.
After an hour of swimming, and what I thought was the best spaghetti ever, we all were just sitting and talking at the table, our plates empty and our stomachs full.
"I'm glad you're staying, I could use the company that's around my age," I told to James and Oliver.
"No problem," James said.
"Our pleasure," Oliver added.
"The spaghetti was extremely good Auntie," I complemented. She simply smiled at me and then we helped with the plates. By the time we finished, it was eight and I was tired.
"Someone looks like they're about to fall asleep," James said, grinning as he said it. I gave him a 'ha-ha-don't-look-at-me-like-that look, and he smirked harder.
"Yeah, I'm going to go to bed, Auntie, good night." I hugged her and went up the stairs. All of a sudden I heard, "Yeah I'm tired too. Night, Mrs. Davis." Oliver was behind me in seconds. I walked into my room and he followed.
"What? Coming to tuck me in?" I asked, pulling down the covers and jumping in.
"If you want me to, I will." I didn't even ask or tell him to, but he did. And not only that, but he kissed my forehead too. Soon after, I was sleeping peacefully.