All along the backyard, the giant trees billowed in the wind. She stared out the window, her fingers drumming against the table, eyes lost in some other universe. Dev had been this way since she arrived in Michigan. Just being there felt odd. To know that this would someday be a permanent home for her sent bile climbing up her throat.

She didn't completely reject the idea when it was first presented to her. But the more she found out about it, the less it appealed to her. New people, new school, new everything. She hated change more than she hated being miserably stagnant, enough to convince her that she'd be fine right where she was. But according to her mother, Dev had no choice. It was either that or find someone else to live with. She would be lying if she said that she hand't considered it.

Her Aunt Lindy wasn't helping either. She stared at her silently, always with a knowing glint in her eye and a subtle smile that twisted up at the left corner of her mouth. It was both comforting and unsettling. "Quit brooding," she said finally, hands crossed patiently on the table.

Dev sat straight up in her seat and shifted uncomfortably. "I'm not brooding. I'm thinking."

"Well whatever it is, stop doing it. You're frowning. That'll give you wrinkles, you know."

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't find it in her to laugh. Her eyebrows remained knitted together and the scowl she was wearing only grew.

"Look, I know the news of your moving here is difficult for you to grasp. But this is winter break! By all means, enjoy it!"

Dev sighed and slumped back in her chair, defeated. "I honestly don't think anything could take my mind off of the move."

Her aunt arched an eyebrow, smile twisting into a grin. Her eyes widened with the promise of excitement. "That sounds like a challenge."

"Everything sounds like a challenge to you," she rebutted. It was true: paintball, cake decorating, chinchilla portrait painting. You name it, and she'd trash-talk you so harshly that you'd let her win just to make it stop.

"Why don't you go on a walk with me?" Aunt Lidny's blue orbs gleamed.

"It's seven p.m. on a winter night in Michigan. Do you want to bring the flashlights and snow gear or should I?"

"Good point." She stared up at the ceiling for a moment. "I could help you unpack."

"That's the last thing I want to do right now. I'll just—" She took a deep breath, standing up and distancing herself gradually from the table. "I'll just go find Casey."

Casey, her twin brother, was the biggest pain-in-the-butt sibling a person could ever have. He couldn't go one day without reminding Dev that he was two minutes older than her, and that—by some unknown decree—made him the "cool one." To be honest, she didn't care, but the triumphant look he wore on his face when he said it was enough to make her blood boil.

"Casey!" She called as she walked slowly up the stairs, hand gliding over the railing. When he didn't respond, she quickened her footsteps. That always annoyed him.

"What?" He replied back. His voice was ringing with annoyance.

"I came to ask you what you were doing." She turned the corner into the second guest bedroom. Before she could even see what he was doing, she was hit with a smell so pungent she thought it might evaporate whatever working braincells she had left. Dev threw her arm up over her nose in disgust. "Ugh! What died in here?"

He was sat down on his bed, lacing up his snow boots. "What do you mean?"

She let out an annoyed growl. "What do you mean what do I mean?" Dev picked through a pile of clothes in the corner, fingers clenched tightly over her nose. "Have you washed any of your clothes?"

"We're supposed to wash them? I thought Aunt Lindy did that." He stood and reached for his jacket, turning to leave the room.

She grumbled angrily under her breath. "Where are you going?" 

"Out. With my friends. Not that it's any of your business."

She rolled her eyes, glancing out the window. "Isn't it a little late to be leaving? It's nearly dark."

"It's nearly dark," he imitated mockingly, his voice squeaky and high-pitched.

"I'm just saying Aunt Lindy's gonna stop you," she called to him as he left the room, feet thumping against the stairs. Idiot.

Dev followed suit, making her way back downstairs. She had almost made it to the kitchen when she heard someone shout.

"Where do you think you're going?" It was Aunt Lindy.

"I'm going out with my friends. I'll be fine," said Casey, though his plea didn't sound very convincing.

She resisted the urge to press herself against the wall and remained in the kitchen, leaning tentatively over the counter. Her aunt made a doubtful noise. "I've never met those boys. And it's almost dark. You're not going out."

"But Aunt Lindy—"

"No buts, except yours inside!" She turned around, then stopped as her eyes landed on Dev. "Hey, Dev."

She felt herself shrink back into the kitchen, hiding frantically behind the fridge's open door. No, no, no, no, no. She was not going out tonight. No. Way.

"I might be able to make one exception. If Dev goes with you, you can hang out with your friends."

"Why does she have to go with me?"

"Because I trust her to make responsible decisions. You on the other hand . . ." She shook her head. "Dev goes with you or it's no deal."

She felt herself slump over. Her brother was looking at her with pleading eyes, though she knew that if she agreed his gratitude wouldn't last long. She let out a heavy, steeling breath. His friends weren't really the type she liked to hang out with, but it wasn't like she had anything better to do. "Fine. But you owe me."

•••••

       It was always colder at night. Why did her brother have to go out at night? Why couldn't he do anything during the day, when it didn't feel like Antarctica? She shivered and pulled her jacket closer to her.

"Hey, Dev? Can I ask you a favor?"

She felt her shoulder slump, anticipating a harsh insult. "Depends on what it is," she said with a glare.

"Please don't embarrass me."

And then he continued walking, leaving her shocked and completely frozen behind him.

There it was. She didn't know why, but it had hurt more than usual. He was such a hypocrite. Dev bit her lip, frustrated, but couldn't find the strength to swallow the retort clawing it's way up her throat. "Don't worry. I'll be sure to tell everyone how you still sleep with a Mickey Mouse nightlight and wet the bed."

"I don't do either of those things," he sneered, clearly threatened.

"They don't know that."

His glare only grew, forehead wrinkling from the intensity. She felt quite satisfied to see the arrogant grin fall off his face.

"You're cruel."

"You're stupid."

At that, not another word was said. The walking proved helpful in warming her up, and by the time they'd met at a restaurant four blocks away, the cold was no longer an issue.

Dev had to admit she was surprised. She had already seen most of Casey's friends before, though she'd never spoken to them. When they saw her, it seemed as though they all perked up a little.

"Hey, guys," said Casey. He slid into the booth and she reluctantly followed suit. Each of the boys eyed her curiously.

"You gonna tell us who this is?" Asked the boy on the far right, Lukas, motioning to her. A few rogue strands of dark hair fell onto his forehead, hazel eyes glowing in the rose-colored sunlight that shone through the diner window. She couldn't help but be entranced by them as they surveyed the room.

"This is my sister, Dev," Casey said. "Hands off. All of you."

"There's no way you two are related," said Ryan, a boy with strawberry blond hair and piercing blue eyes. She remembered him from the very beginning of their winter excursions in Michigan.

"Unfortunately," Dev began, turning to her brother. "We are."

"So when are we going?" Ryan glanced nervously down at his phone screen.

"Going where?" She asked.

The boys exchanged surprised glances.  Luke sat up straight in his corner of the booth. "Dude, you didn't tell her?"

"Tell me what?" She turned to face her brother, anger pigmenting her cheeks bright red.

He let out a scared laugh. "Don't get mad, sis. I just knew you wouldn't come if I told you."

She kicked him under the table. He flinched. "What is wrong with you?"

She saw the boys snicker. "Just calm down," he placated. "It's not that bad." That's what his mouth said, but his grimace told her something completely different.

"If that's true, why don't you say what it is?"

"Because it's a surprise?"

She kicked him under the table again.

"We're going to the woods to explore an abandoned house," Lukas interjected, then added at Casey's angry glare, "What? You weren't gonna tell her."

They ordered food and ate quickly. Excitement buzzed through the air, so thick it was almost tangible. But for her, it was an entirely different feeling. She wasn't excited at all. In fact, she was dreading going to that old house. A sick feeling had settled in her gut, and about halfway through her burger, she decided that it would simply be best not to eat anything more. Slowly, with odd looks from the others, she slid her plate away from her.

By the time they had made it outside, everyone was talking and laughing about how much fun they were going to have. Dev, on the other hand, was still gawking at what she'd allowed herself to get dragged into. I'm living a life of crime, she thought. My only Christmas present is going to be a parole officer.

With a sigh she followed the boys down the sidewalk, knowing that trespassing would be just the beginning of their troubles. The sick sensation in the pit of her stomach still hadn't settled, and it was only driving her anxiety higher. Something told her it would be that way for quite a while.