Syncing onto episode fifty-eight, ‘Battle Faction Heroes’ over welcomed its stay as the once lightroom now singed in only darkness. Finding maple bar wrappers strung across the small carpet floor, we each sat tiredly on the couch–almost sharing it as a sleeping spot with how tucked back we were.

DEREL: You…you think it's time to go to bed..?

Turning her head–Chris looked at the clock.

CHRIS: Look for yourself, does one AM feel like enough?

I scoffed, then as a responsible teenager–I reluctantly got up from the couch before picking up the wrappers and chip bags that littered the floor.

Lazily throwing them into the nearby trash bin–I again looked at the clock on the wall.

One O one AM.

Gazing tiredly at my backpack and jacket that hung, I was just about to go get them before I was stopped by Chris’ voice.

CHRIS: Oh. You gonna go home?

I turned to look at her neutrally–not having the energy to keep up my act.

DEREL: Y-Yeah..why?

Chris just looked down with an understanding disappointment.

CHRIS: O-Oh..alright.

Knowing the tone in her voice–I was easily manipulated to ask her what she wanted.

DEREL: (Sigh)...What do you need?

Without speech. Without a single word–she just gestured to me to sit next to her, as if she was a little kid. Reluctantly–I huffed one last breath before moving back onto the couch.

Sitting next to her, we sat in silence for what felt like minutes.

DEREL: Seriously, are you that lonely without me?

Chris still didn’t speak, only sat still in the darkness.

Click. Click. Click.

With seconds passing, the room was silent.

CHRIS: My sister…

She then suddenly spoke.

CHRIS: ..She's out of the country.

Looking at her sympathetically–I realized how much Chris tried holding in her loneliness. At that point I had no right to look at her with an understanding eye, as to my own parents–however distant they were; they still provided shelter and food for me to live on a daily basis. As for Chris though–she was utterly alone, in a big house–on the outskirts of town.

Coming in close–I shouldered a hug with a heart.

DEREL: I…I understand. Then is it alright if I use one of your pillows?

Chris only gazed at me familiarly, and even though it was too dark for me to see her expression–I knew what kind of expression she made. It was the same one from back then; from our childhood.

CHRIS: Yeah, yeah–now can you get off me? I can’t breathe.

DEREL: Aha..! Right.

Sarcastically cracking jokes at one AM in the morning–I was able to sleep peacefully as the night finally came to a close.

Clink!

The tapping of glass awoke me from my drowsy state.

VOICE: Haha! Jeremy I love what you did to the place!

JEREMY(DAD): Hahah..! Well thank you Ford, I appreciate your kind words. But really–it was all thanks to Kyla and my son, Derel.

FORD: Derel? Hah! I haven’t seen him since five thanksgivings ago! How's the lad?

With a neutral expression, my father said.

JEREMY(DAD): Well, he’s been good–staying on top of his grades. Or at least from what he told me.

FORD: Heh, kids are just like that I suppose.

Chuckling a little, my father took a sip of his drink before adding towards the conversation.

Laying on the couch–the bright lights of the party disrupted my beckoned call for a good night's rest.

VOICE: Hey! You look tired.

A kid's voice shook me awake.

DEREL: H-Huh..? Uh, oh..Cal–what is it?

Knowing my little cousin wanted to play some games–I begrudgingly knew what his full intention was.

CALISTER(CAL): Can I play some games on your computer? It’ll only be for five minutes I swear..!

Making a face of skepticism–I gave the brat my phone.

DEREL: Hm. I have some games on here that's just as good.

Rejecting it with a knowing face–he looked more impatient.

CALISTER(CAL): Aw..! Please uncle Derel?

Purposely annoying me with the title of “uncle” I smiled grudgingly at the kid.

DEREL: Hey. I’m not even that old–plus I’m only twelve years older than you–not twenty.

Now with an “I’m over it” expression–Cal just looked at my mother.

CALISTER(CAL): Fine..! I’ll just go tell aunt Kyla that you thought I was annoying.

Being even more annoyed with the brat, I realized he was already a master manipulator.

DEREL: Why you..!

Without realizing it the brat scampered off.

Giving him a swift chase–I finally caught him before holding him in my arms.

DEREL: I’m gonna give you a count to five–drop the allegations or you’ll get the execution; without any mercy..!

Knowing what’s coming Cal just looked frightened before exclaiming.

CALISTER(CAL): O-Oh! Please uncle Derel! I-It was just a joke..!

Going in for the kill–I looked at the kid with striking intent.

DEREL: Nah!

As I scrubbed the sides of his torso–he laughed harshly.

Eternally laughing, the echoes reverberated throughout the house–even shaking the windows that grew with frost.

Falling onto the floor, he was zapped of energy.

DEREL: Like I said–without mercy.

With exaggerated breath–Cal just looked at me grudgingly

CALISTER(CAL): I-I’m telling mom..!

Smirking with a cruel smile–I just stood tall with confidence.

DEREL: Yeah? And tell her what? I tickled you to death?

With a sinister smile–he cruelly said.

CALISTER(CAL): (Heavy breathing) I’ll..throw up

Catching a slight seriousness I quickly dropped my playful attitude.

DEREL: Fine, see if I care. If you’re willing to go back home without cake.

Catching himself–Cal quickly realized his mistake.

CALISTER(CAL): O-Oh..! I-I’m sorry uncle-err, I mean brother Derel..

Smiling at my victory–I shortly said.

DEREL: Good–it looks like someone finally learned their manners.

KYLA(MOM): Derel? Come honey–it's time to eat.

DEREL:O-Oh, yeah mom–I’ll be right there.

Turning back towards Cal–I only looked victoriously as I left him to lay exhausted.

Hoorah!

With the clinking of glasses, the cheers of my aunts and uncles surprised me with how carefree they all were.

UNCLE A: Thank you Jeremy, for this wonderful meal..!

Laughing a little–my father Jeremy just humbly accepted his compliment.

JEREMY(DAD): Heheh…! Thank you uncle Hops, I do appreciate your choice to come. As well as to everyone who showed up for this great event..!

Raising his glass–we all followed suit.

Eating and eventually finishing my plate–I hopped over towards the kitchen to wash my dish.

Ding Dong!

Then the sudden doorbell grabbed everyone's attention.

DEREL: I got it!

Walking towards the door–it's cold handle shuddered my goosebumps as I flung it open.

DEREL: Ah..! Chris! What’re you doing here?

Finding her in her fabric coat–her furred hoodie didn’t distract me from her weak smile.

CHRIS: Oh. Hey Derel–Just stopping by to see how you were doing, since the funeral ended a bit early–

Looking all around–her eyes gazed from the decorative chandeliers to the strung up celebratory strings that hung a red and green combo.

DEREL: Ah..um, those–yeah you know Christmas stuff. Oh! Hey uh, well since you’re here you should join us.

Trying to gesture her in, Chris only rejected my invitation with a shaking head.

CHRIS: N-No, I really didn’t want to bother you. I was just hoping you’d have some time.

Slightly understanding what she meant–I looked back at the party–then at her. Finally planting my eyes firmly at her, I fully understood.

DEREL: Yeah, I’ll be out in a minute.

As I left the front door–I headed towards my room to grab some warm clothes before putting on some socks. Backtracking downstairs my mother spotted me.

KYLA(MOM): Oh. Derel honey? Are you going somewhere?

I looked back with a sweet smile.

DEREL: Ah, yeah–just thought it’d be nice to hang out with friends. Since the party is coming to an end you know?

Nodding with an understanding smile my mother soon exclaimed.

KYLA(MOM): Please, be home by eight okay?

Nodding with a look of confirmation I swiftly headed out of the door.

DEREL: Alright–sorry to keep you waiting, so you wanted to talk?

Chris just walked beside me–giving me a certain look, though not actually answering herself.

CHRIS: Well, yeah–I guess so, I just needed someone to walk with me.

Crunching the snow beneath our feet, the streets were bleached with limited grays and whites.

Exhaling each fogging breath–I just stare at Chris, her face covered by the falling snow and furred hood.

CHRIS: Hey, Derel?

She suddenly asked.

CHRIS: Why…why did you show up yesterday?

Taking in her sudden words–I then thought about it for a moment.

DEREL: Why? Hm. Well I guess it's because.

DEREL: Because it just felt right.

Turning back at Chris–she stopped a good distance away from me.

Her face–covered by the tips of her hair. She soon looked up with a somber expression.

CHRIS: You’re…just like him.

Confused by what she meant–I suddenly said.

DEREL: What..?

Wiping her face–she then sniffed the air with her reddening nose.

CHRIS: A-Ah ignore that, it's just some old memories biting back, it’s fine.

Huffing a cloudy breath–I then answered.

DEREL: Is it though? Hiding your sadness from the world?

Hesitating to say another word–to this day I regret the fact that it was so damn cliche.

DEREL: Hiding from me?

Without even the chirping of those mockingbirds–the tips of my fingers grew colder as I looked down at the slush of snow against the mud.

There was a wave of silence. Only a wave of silence.

CHRIS: . . . .

DEREL: …Tell me Chris..

I stuttered a bit on my words. On what I was gonna say.

DEREL: If, if I die tomorrow. If I die a week from now.

DEREL: Are you just going to act like this, for the rest of your life? Even though it's not gonna bring me back?

Chris still stood silent. Now being unable to see her face–she looked as if she finally relented.

CHRIS: Then..what am I supposed to do..?

She tried mumbling it but with how silent the world seemed–I heard every word.

CHRIS: What the hell am I supposed to do?

CHRIS: I can’t just stop thinking about it..!

With her frustration clear–I can only stare and take it all in.

CHRIS: What the hell am I supposed to do!? I..I don’t have any..!

With one foot in front of the other–my destination was Chris.

CHRIS: –I don’t have anyone! I never did and never will..!

CHRIS: My deadbeat parents ran away..! My sister left me here alone! And the person I loved most–is gone..!

CHRIS: What the hell am I supposed to-!

Embracing her tightly–I can only guess the frustrated tears streaming down her face.

DEREL: We’ll get through it, if not the world–then you and me.

Without an ounce of immaturity. I can only comfort her with all of my earnest sympathy and empathy.

CHRIS: . . . .

We both stayed silent–for what seemed like minutes. We both just sat in the cold.

CHRIS: W-Why?

The silence exposed her whisper.

DEREL: . . .

DEREL: …Because, I…understand.

CHRIS: . . . .

CHRIS: You’re..such a beggar…