I ruffled the back of my own hair, trying to maximize it's volume. The crispy, autumn air brushed my nearly-bare shoulders and sent a vaguely familiar shiver down my spine. It was Thanksgiving break, and today marked my fourth month without him. I didn't mind being alone so much. It was kind of refreshing actually. Everyone had been clinging to me in concern, since I came back earlier than expected this Summer. You see, the original plan was for me to go on tour with my rockstar of a boyfriend, but things had changed so drastically.

 

   Moved on? I guess you could call it that. I had nothing to say to him. Closure? I didn't need any. I didn't need him, period.

 

    I tightened the scarf around my neck and fell back into a pile of leaves someone had raked up earlier. I looked up into the nude tree above me. One of the thicker branches made a eery similarity to his body. I pictured that same branch with straight, dark brown hair and his goofy smile. It's wasn't the same. 

 

I exhaled deeply before standing and brushing the leaves off my back side. I could smell pumpkin pie and I hustled in quickly knowing my brother would snatch it all up if they got the chance. Sure enough, he'd already dished themselves a hardy helping and was scarfing it down savagely. I cringed at how untamed he looked. My mother giggled at my screwed up gaze, as she passed me a plate.
"I'd hurry." She said, motioning to the him, who'd already taken another piece.

A vision came to mind. I knew if my father were still alive, he'd be right there with my brother, devouring the pie one slice at a time.

 

I excused myself to the backyard, before a tear cold roll down my cheek. I padded outside and over to the swing under the old oak tree, sat down and then kicked off. I got a whiff of the jasmine plant that lined the tree trunk, and then got a overpowering whiff of diesel gas. Curiously I peeked over the fence and immediately my heart sank.

 

At this point, I would've killed to see a semi-truck morphing into a man-eating transformer. But no such luck. The black and gold accented tour bus pulled into his driveway. My prodigal ex-boyfriend and a prime suspect in my father's murder was back.

 

____