He Came Through the Window

Part 15

[The song is about a little boy who died of cancer, but I still think it works very well with this chapter. This chapter is longer than they normally are, but yeah, enjoy!]

(Still Holland's Perspective)

My mom and I didn't talk much after that day. She started eating again, but she still appeared to be losing weight. She spent most of her time in her bedroom, door shut and latched tightly. She hardly ever turned the TV or radio on, letting uncomfortable silence consume the apartment. The sky showed signs of incoming snow, painting itself grey and gloomy, as it often was during that time of year. But it didn't snow, which only served to dampen our moods even more.

I spent Wednesday afternoon, November 7, with my older cousins while Aunt Heather kept Mom company. I was desperate to get out of that apartment, even just for a few hours. We toured Manhattan, pushing through hordes of tourists with cameras hanging down from their necks and a twinkle in their awe-struck eyes. I cursed every time one of them bumped into us, glowering in their direction each time.

"Lighten up!" Hailey, one of the twenty-year-old twins, chirped, shaking my shoulders playfully. "This place is awesome!"

I shrugged, cracking a bit of a smile. "I guess I've lived here too long to think so." I stuffed my hands in the pockets of my black trenchcoat, breathing in the crisp, early afternoon air. "I just wish it would snow already."

Hailey snorted a bit. "You should come back to Seattle then. It's snowing there."

"Lucky," I mumbled, looking behind us at Hailey's siblings. Olivia, the other twin, was walking between her brothers, giggling gleefully at something David, the oldest, said. Liam, the twenty-two-year-old, was more reserved, stuffing his hands in his pockets and simply surveying the surroundings. 

"So," Hailey continued, flipping her long, wavy hair behind her shoulder. It was a caramel shade, identical to Olivia's, and all four siblings had matching, massive hazel eyes. Hailey was blowing on her hands before she continued talking. "my mom tells me you have a girlfriend."

I chuckled a bit and raised an eyebrow at her. "Oh, really?"

"Come on!" She nudged me playfully, and even though she was a tiny girl, her fist against my arm left a mark. "What's her name? What's she look like? How old is she?"

"Would you shut up?" I was laughing, but not really form amusement. "Her name's Ayden, and her birthday's in a couple weeks. She'll be eighteen."

Hailey's soft face lit up as she nudged me once more. "What's she look like? I'm sure she's pretty."

I grinned satisfactorily for the first time in days as I pulled my phone from my pocket. I pulled up Ayden's contact picture, feeling the stirring flutters in my stomach and the heat in my cheeks when I looked at her picture. She wwere sprawled across my bed, her in my lap and toying with my guitar. My hands were placed over hers, directing them which notes to play. I had taken the picture over the summer, zooming in closer on Ayden than myself. Her long, brown hair was tied up in a high ponytail, dark brown eyes twinkling against the phone flash.

Hailey beamed mischeviously, snatching my phone from my palm and studying the photo. "She's beautiful, Holland. Don't let her go, okay?"

I nodded, taking my phone back and picking up my pace so she would follow. "Okay."

We walked in silence until we reached an intersection, and I flinched at the feeling of hands wrapping around my shoulders. I turned abruptly, noticing David grinning at me, flipping his blonde, nearly shoulder-length hair back.

"Whatcha talking about back there?" He pried, slightly looking up at me. He was a few inches shorter than me, standing around five feet, eleven inches. His hazel eyes danced playfully as he looked at me.