Most college students go home every chance they get. They long for the comfort of home, the home cooked meals, and the memories of good times. Me on the other hand, I would prefer my college life in sunny Florida over a week spent in South Carolina during Christmas. I have no reason to go home. There is nothing there for me anymore. There is a reason I left my home in the first place.
As much as I hated to go home for the holidays, my parents made a good point. If I didn't spend my Christmas vacation with them, then my college tuition didn't get paid.
I dreaded the whole month of December. I didn't want to travel to South Carolina, especially if it was snowing. I didn't want to see my family, my friends, and I especially didn't want to see Brandon. I have nothing more to say to them.
There is a long story behind my dislike for my home town. I grew up in Greer, South Carolina. It was a small town; everyone knew everyone. Secrets were not safe; they were open for public viewing. Worst of all...no love life stayed behind closed doors. Your business was an open book, and believe me, people loved to read about it.
I had two best friends all through elementary school, junior high school, and high school. Willow and Brandon. They were there when I needed comfort. They had my back in every argument. They were my rock; strong and steady. When I needed advice or just wanted to have fun, they were always available.
Even though Brandon was a long time friend of mine, I couldn't stop myself from falling in love with him. After our awkward years together, I came to realize that I would never find another person to even come close to being even remotely like him. Once puberty had come and gone was when I realized that I loved him. The way I explained it to my mother was: He was the only guy on the planet that understood me. I could do anything, say anything, and be myself around him without his judgment. He knew things about me that I would never tell anyone else as long as I live. His looks weren't bad on the eyes either. To me he was gorgeous! He had soft sun kissed blonde hair, with big brown eyes that would melt your heart. His smile was one that would knock you on your feet.
To get down to the knitty gritty, and let you in on my ultimate reason for leaving my home, I should probably tell you what had happened. Right after graduation all three of us, Willow, Brandon, and I were hanging out at my house. Brandon had left the room to get something to drink and Willow scooted closer to me with eyes that told an untold secret. I had no idea that she was about to tell me the worst news I could possibly hear.
"I have to tell you something." Willow whispered softly. She scooted even closer.
"What?" I asked eagerly. I didn't think that what she had to say would tear my world apart. It had never crossed my mind.
"I slept with Brandon on prom night." Her eyes were full of sorrow, touched with a little bit of remorse.
"What!" My heart broke into a million tiny pieces. She knew exactly how I felt about him, and how I had waited so long for him to make a move. That was one secret I never shared with him, "How could you?!"
"It just happened."
Before we could get deeper into the conversation Brandon had walked back into the room. I didn't want him to know how I felt about the situation, nor did I want him to know that I knew about his night with Willow. It should have been my night.
After that night I have not talked to either of them. I let things be. I got my acceptance letter to the University of Florida, and two weeks later I left home. I hoped I would never have to look back. I even tried getting my parents to move to Florida. It just wasn't happening. It has been two years since I left, and if it were up to me, I would never go back.
I decided to wait until the day before Christmas Eve to leave. That was the longest, most horrible drive of my life! It took me longer than I had expected to reach my parents' house. I sat in my car, parked outside their house for close to an hour.
"Just suck it up. It's only for a few days. Besides, no one knows you're here." I whispered to myself. I took a deep breath, grabbed my bags, and started up the snowed over walkway, "Just great."
"Oh honey!" My mom screamed as she engulfed me in her bear hug before I even reached the door, "I've missed you so much!"
"Missed you too mom." I hugged her back.
"Oh Mike, grab her things." She handed my bags to my dad and led me into the warm house, "Sweetie, you haven't been eating! Look at you! You're skin and bones!" She said looking me over in every direction.
"No mom, it's called diet and exercise." I rolled my eyes.
"You know, men like women with meat on their bones." Dad chimed in.
"No one needs to put in their two cents." I was getting aggravated. I was happy with my figure. I had worked hard for it. No one wanted me in high school, I was chunky. So when I got to college and saw amazing looking girls in bikinis I decided I was going to look like that too.
That was the worst conversation I had ever had with my parents. So I had lost a few pounds, 40 to be exact, I was happy with myself.
When dinner was done, and the dishes washed, my mom and dad turned in for the night. I sat on the couch admiring the decorations my mother put up graciously every year. The tall full tree was lined with lights, garland, and ornaments. The smell of cinnamon sugar filled the air, and the fire place was burning bright. I always imagined Brandon and I experiencing our first time in front of the fire place. That idea was long gone.
* * *
Christmas Eve was hectic. My mom was busy baking her sweets; popping them into my mouth every chance she got. My dad fussed with wrapping paper, and the dog tore it up as fast as my dad could wrap. I helped with a few things here and there, but my not wanting to be there was well known.
"I invited Willow and Brandon over to see you! You looked like you could use some cheering up!" My mom smiled at the good deed she thought she had made. She held that smirk on her face as she rolled out the dough for the pumpkin pie.
"MOM! You didn't!" I was furious. I couldn't blame her for not knowing the truth, but I could blame her for trying.
"Don't be silly, they are your best friends."
