Lighter

s e v e n

but how can i miss you so much
when you're right h e r e . . .

⚡️⚡️⚡️

Nearly three weeks in, and it felt like I had been in school for months. Summer break was just a distant memory now, something that I had to think hard about to recall. Too many hazy nights bound by smoke and muffled laughter. Languid days in my dad's office, sheltered from sunshine until I could break free and do whatever I wanted.

Not that the rest of my days wouldn't consist of that, but it was always so different when it wasn't summertime in Tatum Hills. Hours seemed to last longer, people seemed to be more alive. The season had something on me, and I couldn't quite put my finger on why.

After a mundane lecture from my Climate Change professor, I realized how long it had been since I had one of those nights. The kind where I just let everything go and sat in absolute bliss with the most important people to me. I was barely out of the room when I whipped my phone out and texted Tommy, the sound of my teacher shouting whatever homework we had due for next week somewhere far behind me.

My message, very direct and to the point, said that Cheyenne and I were coming up to visit for the weekend. Since it was Thursday and I was done classes until Monday, I figured we could leave sometime tomorrow. He welcomed the idea, telling me what time he'd be free and even if he wasn't, that Kurt or the other roommate would most likely be around to let us in. With that plan in mind, I headed to my car in the lot and left.

It took me a little longer to get home, due to random midday traffic that tends to pop out of nowhere as the weekend nears. Whereas it would usually take me about thirty minutes, it took me closer to an hour. I didn't mind as much though, because my dad took my car to the shop a couple of weeks ago and finally, I had air conditioning again. Fall might be in full swing, but that doesn't mean we don't get a sweltering day here and there.

Cheyenne's car was out front of my house when I got there, then I saw my dad's car in the driveway too. Glancing at the clock, it was about that time when Haleigh should be home from school. Most days, I have to pick her up, but occasionally my dad will call it a day at work a little early and go get her. I try to tell him that it's not a big deal for me to get her, but I think he feels a little bad about how much responsibility he puts on me.

Like I said, I don't mind. The trait comes with a dysfunctional family – I'm meant to take on a bigger role in the house than I should have at twenty years old.

I shut my car off once I parked behind my dad's and got out, sauntering up to the front door. The sound of mixed voices was the first thing I noticed when I walked inside, and I went to the kitchen to see who they belonged to. Though I could have guessed that Cheyenne, Haleigh, and my dad would all be sitting there.

"Hey," Haleigh smiled at me from where she was sitting beside Cheyenne at the table, who offered me a cheeky grin too.

"Hi sweets," my dad chimed in, leaning a hip against the counter top. I rolled my eyes with a smile at the nickname, a reference to both my childhood and my mom. She used to call me that all the time because I wouldn't eat dinner. I always wanted to skip right to dessert. He says it sparingly, but it never fails to lighten my mood.

"What's up, guys?" I breathed as I took a seat across from my sister.

"Not much. How was class?" Cheyenne asked me.

"Boring as hell," I muttered. My dad let out a disapproving sigh, shaking his head. "Well Dad, how would you like to sit there for two hours, listening to your professor go on and on about her ex-husband when she's supposed to be teaching us about why the climate is changing?"