Gasping a chill in the air–the long day has only just begun. Knowing it was a Monday–I reluctantly cramped from my bed and headed towards the bathroom.

VOICE: Honey? Are you up yet?

Scratching my face in an up front appearance, I took no time to respond with a gesture.

DEREL: Yeah..!

As I opened the bathroom door–the creaking of its hinges always sparked a slight audience within my ears. With how my dad forgot to fix the issue–I was gonna have to tell him later about it.

DEREL: Of course…

Turning on the sink–I washed my face with a chilling discovery, with eight elongated legs–the creepy crawly crawled all over, from the bottom of the abyssal drain–to the foaming soap tray.

DEREL: A-Ah!

I then yelled out of pure terror before realizing it was only a daddy longlegs. Sighing in slight relief–I grabbed a piece of toilet paper before opening the window. 

Fleeing from my hands the creature leaped towards whatever new home that wasn’t a place to take a shit.

DEREL: Jesus..it's cold..!

Shutting it quickly, I finished up whatever morning routine stood in my way and walked towards the dinner table.

Clicking and screwing some sort of do-hickey, my fathers’ face looked more concerned about the innovation of his product than his morning meal.

DEREL: Dad, what the hell are you doing?

DAD: Language.

Without even looking at me he started to multi-task.

DAD: I’m working on a new finery of the holographic wristwatch, the deadline’s this Friday.

Nodding with an uncaring gest–I soon sat down to eat my bacon and eggs; as well as pancakes.

DEREL: Thanks mom, seriously your cooking’s the best.

MOM: Well, I’m just glad you enjoy it honey.

Pausing for a moment the house was silent, though only for a moment.

MOM: Oh! That’s right! Don’t you guys have a project for Mr. Lancy this week?

At this point I stopped chewing, knowing that if I’d revealed the truth–I’d probably get scolded as well as mark upon the disappointed faces of my parents.

DEREL: Oh..uhm, well..Chris and I..!

Making my decision–I had to throw Chris under the bus.

DEREL: Chris..kinda got sick, so we held it off until she got better..!

With an unconvincing brow, my parents looked skeptically–afore my mother told me a harsh reality.

MOM: Is that so? Then how is it that Chris has been able to show up to our doorsteps this morning?

Feigning confusion–I looked towards where my mother was looking, surely enough Chris sat on our couch readily–listening to some music on her phone.

DEREL: C-Chris..!? The hell you doing here?

DAD: Language.

Turning around, Chris’s nonchalant attitude only added to her tomboyish nature–feeling no concern over my reaction whatsoever.

CHRIS: Yo, thought I dropped by early–got tired of waiting for your ass in the cold.

MOM: Language you two!

DEREL: O-Oh…

Knowing the jig was up–I cautionaly looked towards my parents. With a look of troubled worry–my mother only put her hands to her hips. 

Putting his tools down for a moment my father spoke for my mother and himself.

DAD: Look–I know kids at your age can, somewhat, be a little lazy. But..knowing this is your semester one grade–don’t you think it's at least a little important to finish it off strong?

Hearing that line ever since the graduation ceremony of my elementary school, I extrovertedly paid no mind to it.

DEREL: Yeah..yeah, we’ll get it done..

Going back to their responsibilities, my parents–almost in an invisible sigh of relief, took turns watching our every move as we set off to school.

CHRIS: Thanks for backstabbing me back there, I appreciate it.

DEREL: Yeah no problem, I’ll do it again if I’m in a stupor.

In a sarcastic tone we both walked down the frosted street towards Vergrude High.

CHRIS: You ass..!

Playfully hitting me in the arm–I too chuckled at our cynicism.

DEREL: Hey, hate the game not the player.

As the sun rose above the clouds–dawn breaks the sombered blue.

CHRIS: Wow, can you believe that?

DEREL: Yeah, I definitely can.

Answering straightforwardly, my gaze stood upon Chris’s brightened face–giving me a warm sensation despite the coldish air.

DEREL: Look too long and you’ll go blind.

Walking past her, I again judge with a satirical attitude.

CHRIS: Hmph. Didn’t think you’d be one for smarts.

DEREL: You insulting me?

Chuckling again–Chris playfully hit my arm one more time.

DEREL: Okay! Okay! Stop! I’m gonna get bruises if you keep doing that. Wouldn’t want my parents to know who’s been my abuser.

As we chuckled all the way to school, the morning fled past as the noon fell quickly. Without even an ounce of hesitation I ran towards the door as soon as the bell tolled.

BRRIIINNG!

With all the students stuffing and packing their bags for the day–the entry doors flooded out with kids afar and wide. Waiting near the entrance–I looked for a certain someone before leaving. 

Seeing her silky chestnut hair–I couldn’t help but stare in awe of her beauty.

CHRIS: Who’re you peeping at?

DEREL: W-Woah! Chris!

Without an ounce of warning–her unprecedented assault nearly gave me a heart attack.

DEREL: Ah..Jesus, don’t spring on me like that..!

Chuckling cynically, she only grinned with doubled vigor.

CHRIS: It's that girl again right? From physics?

Without saying a word–I only looked around to avert her gaze.

CHRIS: Dude–it's obvious, just take the shot if you’re so interested.

Still staying silent–I eventually found the words that came to my mind.

DEREL: I-I can’t..at least, not yet anyway…

Chris–with a confused look only pondered why I’d refuse to ask the girl out.

CHRIS: Why can’t you? I mean–aren’t you like–second place on the track team? From the looks given to you–you’re tall, athletic and have sporty hair; you pretty much check all of the boxes.

Naming my ‘pros’ as if I were a subject in a laboratory, Chris’ encouragement seemed more like passive aggressive jabs at my ego.

DEREL: Ah..hah…well…

I stuttered for a moment before expressing my concern.

DEREL: She’s, she’s..

Gasping somewhat, she fakingley looked in shock.

CHRIS: No way..! Is she into other girls?

Shaking my head in confusion and denial, I soon quickly spoke.

DEREL: N-No, she’s..just into the guys on the football team.

Nodding her head, Chris’ understanding grew.

CHRIS: Ohh..I see, well good luck dude.

Having no support from my friend, I irksomely shook my head.

DEREL: Yeah..thanks.

With the bustling of buses eventually coming to a stop, the laughs of teenagers evidently settled on a quiet campus. Nothing but the sounds of the sky and fealty of the colden wind.

DEREL: Duagh..damn it's cold…

CHRIS: What’d you expect? This is the last week before–

Before finishing her sentence, Chris’ mind went elsewhere.

CHRIS: Oh. Uh..Derel…

Her quiet demeanor instantly meant something serious. I braced myself for whatever chaos would develop.

CHRIS: We forgot about the project…

Feigning an eyebrow, I looked with a conformational look before pulling an item from my backpack.

DEREL: Do you mean this?

Showing the sheet of paper–its map-like structure showed the recreation of seventeenth century America, when it was first colonized by the colonials.

CHRIS: W-What!? No way!

Coming close, Chris’s amazement at the map seemed somewhat shocking to me.

DEREL: What? I just had some extra freetime in gym, as well as physics, and national geographics…

CHRIS: Y-You’re insane, this was supposed to take us three weeks!

Scratching my head–my ego has never been better.

DEREL: Haha..! I was just bored, and Mr. Lancies class was a lunch away–so I just thought about it..

Seeing a slight spark in her eye, I slightly moved away before exclaiming.

DEREL: Hey! Hey! Don’t get too close–you’ll tear the!-

TSSH!

DEREL: ..Paper…

With now our project in half–we each held one on one hand.

CHRIS: O-Oh! Shit! I-I’m sorry Derel..I, I didn’t know..!

Hiding my shock–I only looked at Chris.

DEREL: N-Nah..it's alright…I guess I’ll just have some more free time tomorrow to draw it.

CHRIS: S-Seriously..I’m really, sorry…

Nodding my head with a smile–I only gestured home.

DEREL: Seriously, it's fine..I’ll–I’ll just head home.

Without a word, Chris only nodded her head before we went our separate ways.

Closing the door to the house–its empty departure from any semblance of life seemed liminal. The textures upon the walls, the decorative ceilings of chandeliers and tapping wires were all sounded and clear, though for some reason–I can’t stop thinking about my minor frustration.

Sighing a breath–I took in some air to calm myself before heading towards my room. Flinging my backpack onto the bed I swifty turned on my computer and started working on the project. Modeling and texturing each great mountain upon this great land. As I finished marking the details of trees and rivers–I settled my digital pen and stretched my limbs to release the cramped up stress.

DEREL: Ah..!

Feeling a chill running through my toes–I found the bases of my stomach crying out for food.

DEREL: God..what time is it?

Looking at the time, the lit screen of the computer showed; six-fifty eight.

DEREL: Hm..

Swinging the brunt of the door–I headed out of my room towards the kitchen. Finding some leftover lasagna from last night's dinner–I quickly shoved it into the microwave before ruthlessly pressing in the three digit code on its side.

DEREL: Lets see…two-minutes fifty?

Watching the judging light of the microwave–its staticy bygone era reflected my face with its once simple lifestyle. A lifestyle in which many great and talented people revolutionized the world through foreshadowed pain and scandalous greed.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

The microwave stopped, too soon was it realizing the ownership of my mind. And too soon did it tell me to focus on my own circumstances.

DEREL: Dah! Right..

Pressing the button–the release of the microwaves’ grip on my dinner wasn’t a battle to be proud of, but a battle for sure.

DEREL: Hm..still cold…

With the night coming to an end–I slept alone, my computer turned off for its own good and my phone–zapped of power; regaining its strength from the thin chip of a wireless and electronic device. Its dark dim blue hue illuminated the depressing room.

Struggling to fall asleep because of the cold–I got out of bed before heading towards the bathroom.

Urrk!

Its creepy hinges awoke an uncomfortable aroma throughout the halls.

DEREL: R-Right..forgot about that…

Turning on the lights–its bright flash fluttered my eyes to adjust. I shielded them for a while before looking into the mirror and then closing the door.

Lifting the toilet seat–the sounds of echoing water reverberated throughout the hallways–from the windows to the trees.

Awkwardly creeping down the stairs–I turned on the half lights before watching some rated movies on the thin screen of the TV.

MAN: I won’t ever forget you, I’ll always be proud of you no matter where you go.

(Sad Music syncs into the scene of a father leaving his son behind for war)

As the movie finishes–the sight of my eyes blurred from tiredness as I tried holding something back. Yawning to feign my own ignorance I finally found the will to sleep as I headed towards my bed for the night.

Rising in the early dusk, days flew by as fast as Christmas was arriving.

MOM: Oh! Honey? Can you take the turkey out of the garage?

DEREL: But–I’ve got school-

MOM: It should only be a minute–surely you’d be able to wait that long?

Huffing a breath of reluctancy–I headed towards the backdoor before putting on my slippers. Opening the garage door, the huge turkey sat in the back of a freezer–wrapped in all kinds of plastics and care; nonchalantly I shifted it harshly out of its resting place.

DEREL: I got the turkey–where should I put it?

MOM: Thank you Derel, just place it there.

Placing the large bird into the sink–its wraps still had some liquidy blood; this in which squealed me for a loop before I came back to my senses.

DEREL: D-Does it still have some blood?

MOM: Hm? No, it shouldn’t–the butcher said it was all clear and ready to go.

DEREL: Then what’s this?

Pointing at the wrap–my mother came closer to investigate.

MOM: Ah! That? It’s just water–don’t worry about it too much.

MOM: Is there something wrong about it?

With a concerned face–my mother just looked at me as if I found something distasteful.

DEREL: Oh! N-No! It’s all great, just curious is all..!

MOM: Oh, okay–that's great honey. But just make sure it doesn’t go too far–you’ve seen how your fathers’ ambition got the better of him.

Nodding my head somewhat somberly I only spoke words of an emptied promise.

DEREL: Right, thanks mom–I’ll make sure to keep it in check.

Visibly agreeing–my mother only looked at me caringly.

MOM: Good, now go eat your breakfast, you don’t want Chris to catch a fever waiting for you.

With a now knowing look–I sighed.

DEREL: Y-Yeah..right…

Locking the door behind me–my breath formed a body within the coldened air.

CHRIS: H-Hey..

Her voice was sound but her tone was stuttery

DEREL: Chris. Sorry to keep you waiting, did you get frostbite?

With my normal cynical tone–Chris half heartedly responded.

CHRIS: H-Hah, yeah–I can’t feel my..fingers.

Finding her certain tone unrelenting, I spoke up.

DEREL: Hey..something bothering you..?

Chris kept silent for a moment.

Though evidently she relented.

CHRIS: (Sigh)..Yeah…

She only replied soundly–as to not let anyone else overhear how she felt.

Chris, is a tomboy–despite her growing hair and her picky choice of clothes–she’s into giant robots and rocket dinosaurs as much as me.

And having known her since the dawn of elementary school, she’s not the type of person to show much of how she feels–despite the stereotypes around certain aspects of her personality.

CHRIS: D-Derel..do, do you mind not telling..anyone else about this..?

I nodded–not as a friend but as a brother.

Chris seemed hesitant–despite my willingness to comfort her; it seems her traumatic past still lingers over her head.

CHRIS: It’s..It’s about my grandfather…

I only kept quiet as we walked down the frosted street.

CHRIS: He..He suffered a stroke yesterday, and..

CAW! CACAW!

The crows listened in as well as I did.

CHRIS: His funeral..is this Eve.