Better than twilight (I'll come up with a better name later I promise)

Chapter 1: A stranger invites me on a totally normal wholesome family vacation

'Twas spring, as it always has been. I was walking past the dull houses, that for some god-forsaken reason my neighbors decided to paint an ugly beige color. My hair and the sky had one thing in common, blue. And before you ask, no there are not clouds floating around my head. I paused to look at a maple tree that was not infested with mice, rats, or any other such rodents.

That Saturday a girl named Tea, after a beverage some people enjoy at various times during the day, not tea as in gossip. She ran up to me while I stood watching her get closer and closer from the spot on the sidewalk I was on. Her hair stuck out every which way in the fashion of a tumbleweed struck by lightning. It was tumbleweed colored too, with some strands being almost blonde and others dark brown. On her face were hundreds of freckles like a bunch of miniscule birthmarks, as one has. 

 Anyways, as I was saying, she ran up to me shouting "Roanes!" Which is my name, yes. She said it repeatedly, until I finally said "well?" I tapped my foot impatiently, waiting for the conversation to be over so I could resume my walk. "You're Roanes." She spoke. To which I replied, "I suppose I am," which is true. "It's nice to meet you." She said while shaking my hand a little too firmly. She was holding on for too long, so I pulled my hand away. Her hands were clammy too, awkward. "I'm Tea" She introduces herself. "I know who you are." I say while making direct unwavering eye contact. I'm more of an observer. I've seen her around school, and I guess I just remembered her from there. After I break eye contact, we exchange necessary pleasantries, blah blah blah. Then she promptly offered "would you like a free vacation?" And who could say no to that? Besides, I got shit else to do.

So that's how I wound up at Uncle Gary's Alpine Lodge. Who is Gary? Absolutely no idea, but I'll get to spend my time relaxing in the spa while Tea and her family do tourist activities and make snow men. (Waste of a winter break if you ask me.) Although I will say, it doesn't snow much where I'm from, it just gets sad and gray. So perhaps I will do some frolicking and get some frostbite for a holly jolly Christmas present.

Tea explained to me later that she was supposed to bring a friend on the trip, but they bailed at the last minute, and her parents were going to make her pay for the extra room because she got a two person one and whatnot. It's complicated. So, she invited me for some reason. (She told me I looked like I needed a vacation.) So, me a random stranger that she's never spoken a word to before is obviously the best choice. (I'll take it!)

Uncle Gary's Alpine Lodge is a giant hotel in the middle of the snowy mountains, so I would say that "lodge" is an understatement to say the least. I made sure to pack extra socks to ward off the previously mentioned frostbite.

Tea came to pick me up a few days later, before Christmas. I told my parents I was having a "Christmas sleepover" and they bought it. They were happy to be rid of me since they were throwing a giant Christmas party at our house and thought I'd be in the way. I answer the knocking at the door and follow Tea down the driveway to a refurbished vintage hippie van, with what seemed to be most of her extended family stashed within. I cram me and my suitcase in (I left extra room for those free soaps) somehow managing to find an empty seat and I reassure Tea that "Yes my parents are fine with it they just didn't want to come to the door." 

 Her family is a jolly lot, the inside of the refurbished van is huge and there's some mini wind chimes hung from the ceiling that jingle cheerfully every time we hit a bump. We spent the duration of the car ride playing eye-spy with her younger siblings and cousins and singing old sea chanties with her extended family. Many of whom I learned are sailors home for the holidays. I make some meaningless small talk as the van progresses deeper into the mountains. It gets colder outside because the icy sheets of rain have turned into gentle falling snow. Out the window I can see the snow covering the towering pine trees like a blanket. If blankets were cold and made of frost from the sky.