Fall Killer

An entire six-month advance warning that during mid-autumn there would be a small family get-together at our angel of a grandmother's pumpkin farm and yet you could hear the ensue of chaos of my mother trying to wrangle my brother back into his room to wear something 'respectable.' I had been ready an hour ago and waiting on the steps of the house just waiting for the rest of the family to actually be ready.

"For once actually look like you have a home!" Our mother shouted through the house, the clinking of keys being heard from her direction. Finally, we're leaving I thought to myself, standing from my spot and stretching my back. My mother stomped through the house, the click of her boots being heard from a mile away as she walked through the front door. Placing a soft hand on my shoulder, she led the both of us towards the car which was followed by the slamming of a door behind us and fast feet catching up.

Not even a few minutes into being in the car my brother spoke up from the back seat. "Why does Y/n  get to wear hoodies and I can't?" Damon complained, having been forced to wear a shirt and jeans whilst I wore a casual Raiders hoodie and camo cargos. "Because I make it look presentable and you look like an eshay," I retorted, turning to stare back at Damon before the ensue of mocking faces were made.

"Can you two be civil for two bloody minutes?! We haven't even left the driveway before you two are at each other's throats!" Our mother chimed in, dramatically throwing her hands up before slamming them on the steering wheel. My brother and I almost instantly rolled our eyes.

Once my mum finally started the car and began to leave the driveway I put my headphones on, listening to the start-up sound that I had frankly gotten sick of which was followed by the sound of the Bluetooth headphones connecting to my phone. I swiped through my phone lazily to Spotify, opening the app and pressing play on some Pierce the Veil, leaning my face against the seatbelt and looking out the window. I let my mind run wild with various scenarios with the music blasting in his ears.

The quiet drive through the small town was peaceful, the entire town was littered with beautiful orange leaves. The drive through the mountains was nothing short of beautiful too, the trees stood high and the roads were covered in orange and crunchy leaves. The trees were bare but the woods were thick enough to make the lack of leaves look natural and not out of place. The farmland grew larger the deeper you drove through the countryside mountains, the sight of sheep and cattle scattered throughout the paddocks.

Soon our mother turned the car down a rocky road, slowing the car down to avoid flinging the rocks up onto the windshield. I paused my music and sat up straight, preparing myself to get out. Mum led us down further on the road, the car entering a little dip within the hills, a valley. Smack planted in the middle was my grandma's house, surrounded by pumpkins of various sizes. Once the car came to a full stop, a symphony of unbuckling belts was heard. It was hard not to notice the various cars parked right in front of my Nan's house, including my uncles which made me audibly groan.

Damon and I followed our mum like ducklings towards the front door, letting her do the polite three-tap knock on the door. We waited for a few moments before hearing our Grandma softly excuse herself to open the door.

"Oh my goodness! Hi sweetheart," Our grandmama answered cheerfully, wrapping her arms around our mum and rubbing her back. For an old woman of seventy, she was quite spry and full of life (note the pumpkins surrounding us.)

Once she let go of my mum she turned herself to Damon, giving the 'baby' a soft hug, kissing his cheek. Damon was a dick but not to our grandma, being the sweetest he could be and accepting his fate of a hug and kiss.

"You've gotten so tall!" Our grandma commented, making me smile and laugh. "Thank you, Nan," I giggled, hugging her too, also feeling her rub and pat my back.

"Come in! Your aunt and uncle are here. So are your cousins!" Nan ushered us inside, wanting us to come in and see our relatives. My smile faded at the mention of my relatives. The best part of this gathering was already over if I had to see my uncle.

Not even a second from walking in the door we were greeted by our aunt and uncle. "Y/n! How are you? Have you lost weight?" Brad asked as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders, forcing me into a hug. I sighed softly, tensing up at the hug. "No, I haven't," I mumbled, doing my best to be peaceful.

"Really? You seem thinner," Brad commented, his arm wrapping around my waist and hand on my hip.

"I'm not," I grumbled, gritting my teeth as I did my best to be civil at my grandmama's house. I could feel each time he moved and adjusted his hand, making my body tense beyond belief.

Brad finally let go of me when Damon came into view, stepping out from behind my brother. "Oh, Damon! You're so much taller than the last time I saw you!" Brad let go of my waist, throwing his hands up in the air as he stepped to my brother, wrapping my brother in a hug. He leant his stubbled chin against the top of my brother's head, making me cringe for him.

"Yeah, I had a growth spurt..." Damon answered awkwardly, barely patting Brad on the back so as not to seem rude. Once Brad finally let go, his arm still slung around his shoulders, Damon and I exchanged glances. Our eyes were strained, both of us holding awkward smiles in a silent acknowledgement of our uncle's creepiness. Of all things, we were civil around this topic.

"Me and Damon are gonna go talk to Jenny and Mitch..." I spoke up, putting my arm around Damon and led him towards the lounge room, practically saving my brother from Brad so he didn't have to suffer.

Our cousins were already chatting on the couch, trying to escape the adults and questions of 'How's school?'

"Oh hey Y/n! Didn't expect you to show up," Jenny greeted, reaching her hand out to dab me up which I reciprocated. "I wouldn't be if I didn't want free food," I half-heartedly joked. I moved to dab Mitch up as well, just as a greeting whilst he and Damon began to chat it up.

I plopped down on the couch next to Jenny, arms crossed over my stomach. "Well fair, I didn't wanna come but my mum made me," Jenny complained, rolling her eyes like any typical teenager.

A few more minutes of this typical catch-up chat was interrupted by my Nan calling from the kitchen. "Kids, lunch is almost done. Can you set the table?" She called out, the sound of an oven opening could be heard before the warm smell of pasta wafted through the house.

"Damon go do it," I waved my brother off, calling the responsibility off from me to him.