The bus crossed a sign for "Merryview Summer Festival" as I looked out of the window. The traces of busy city highway roads had been long gone as the deep forests on both sides came into view. The sign had confirmed me that it wouldn't be long before I reached my destination. I tore off my eyes from the window and shifted it on my companion to realize she was still very soundly asleep.

I really couldn't blame her for sleeping through majority of the journey. I knew Miss Iris stayed up late working on her novels. So it was quite understandable that she couldn't get much sleep as we left for Merryview pretty early in the morning.

I shifted my hand from the armrest and reached for my phone in my back pocket. The phone brightened up and displayed my lock screen. I couldn't stop myself from letting out a sigh noticing the lack of notifications. Of course there wouldn't be any messages. What else did I expect? It would be a rather miracle if any of them actually realized I was gone in in the next 2 months that I was going to stay in Merryview.

I sank into my seat feeling the tiredness of the journey finally sink in. If anyone even asked me just a few weeks ago, "Leah, how would you want to spend the summer?" my answer would most definitely not be something which could've resulted into this bus journey to my mothers home town. 

It's almost funny in a way; 2 years ago I rushed out of home on a rainy day because of an argument I had with my father.He had always distanced me from my mom's childhood. So despite my pleading and demanding, he still chose to stand against my wish of visiting merryview. But in these 2 years that strong will had died along with whatever remained of the good relationship me and my father once had.

I still couldn't wrap my head around the fact that he actually agreed with my grandmother's proposal on sending me to my mother's childhood home Crystalwood Estate for almost 2 months. I wasn't thrilled with the idea much since it felt like my dad was running away from me, again.

I wanted answers, which my dad never gave. Was that the reason he was sending me away for 2 months? Cause I had left him with no option but to face me? A faint headache started to surface and I squeezed my eyes shut.

The only reason I had agreed on going on this unwanted vacation was, despite the number of times I had said no to my grandmother, she held my hands looking me straight in the eyes and said, "You need this Leah. Please, this one time"

How am I suppose to say no to that?

Even just 2 years ago I would've been beyond happy to have the chance to go to the place filled with my mother's memories, the place she grew up. Since, the last time I visited that place was when I was barely one. Don't get me wrong, I was still really happy to visit Merryview. It actually felt like something was finally happening that made me feel anything else but suffocated.

 But tho I was happy, the answers I wanted wouldn't be in the small little town where I was headed. What I wanted was in the city, back home, where my father was.

I opened my eyes and turned to the window once again. The sky was filled with orange clouds that floated around like an army of cotton candies. The trees on both sides zoomed by as the afternoon sun illuminated a golden shade on them. From the corner of my eyes I saw a shade of purple slowly making its way into the sweet orange sky. I glanced down at my watch to see it was past 6. It was slowly getting dark.

I turned away from the window hearing shuffling coming from my left. I turned around to see Miss Iris who was rubbing her eyes, still yawning.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty"

"Ah geez you flatter me. Also it's not morning"

"It most definitely is, for you that is" I chuckled

" Cut me some slack will you?" she grumbled. "So where are we at the moment?"

"Near the bus stand I think"

"So we're here huh" she leaned back and started putting the scattered things all over her seat back into her bag.

"So it is  true that writers are messy" I asked with a teasing smile and she pouted.

She put all her belongings into her bag and sighed

"I hate bus journeys"

"Oh come on, you slept through most of it"

" Didn't make me like the trip any more though. But sorry, were you bored?"

"Not really. Besides it was very amusing to see your sleeping face" I answered flashing an innocent smile. This got me a not so friendly push on the shoulder and I snickered

"Anyways, all jokes aside-

"Oooh we are getting serious" I said cracking a smile

"Oh my God can you not tease me for once ?" she asked making jazz movements with her hands

I laughed, " being serious is not my cup of tea"

"Being gloomy is?"

"touché"

" But Leah" she lowered her voice placing her hand over mine

"hmm?" I asked searching her face for the reason of her tone change.

It felt like for a moment she wanted to ask me something but decided against it. In the end she just gave me a small smile.

"Nothing, excited?"

"Maybe?" I replied giving her a smile back

When the bus stopped at the bus stand not many passengers came down with us. Fresh air hit my face the moment I stepped down. I immediately recognized the smell of forest mixed with the air. We didn't get much of that back in the busy city. The bus stop was small but pretty. From the benches to the roof everything was made of wood and there was Ivy everywhere. It was pretty in a messy kind of way. I liked this place.

Miss Iris wore the bag around her back and turned to me, "Let's go Leah"

"Yeah sure" I replied glancing at the bus stand one last time and walked behind her.

Slowly, we walked alongside each other carrying our luggage on a grey concrete sidewalk. The whole side way was almost completely covered with fallen leaves.

"Doesn't this place get swept?" I asked looking at her

"Maybe the town people are like me, messy" she smiled and I nodded

"But it's fun in a way" I said walking in front of her jumping a bit with every step. The fallen leaves crumbled under my feet. It felt nice to do something like this after a long time.

"What did the poor leaves do to you?" I heard her ask with an amused tone from behind me.

"Nothing~" I replied with a stretch. Besides, you're stepping on them too."

"At least I am not jumping on them" I heard her defend jokingly.

For a while we walked in silence while I was being no less enthusiastic about murdering dead leaves. I stopped on my track when I heard her call from behind.

"Leah"

"Hmm?" I asked turning on my heels to face her.

She looked at me in silence before speaking up,

"You look  a bit happier right now, you know. It's been a long time since I have seen you like this." She said with a faint smile that didn't reach her eyes.

I bit my lips and looked down on my shoes. I probably made her worried again

"Miss Iris"

-"Hmm?"

"If you keep standing there I am going to leave you behind"

Hearing this she sighed and let out a laugh. "You never change do you? Besides where were you planning on going? You don't know the way around here" 

"Then if I got lost it would have been your fault"

"You're impossible"

"He he"

-"Don't 'He he' me"

After 15 minutes of walking the house came into view. Miss Iris opened the wooden gate and walked into the front yard. I stopped and looked at the house in front of me. It looked exactly how I had seen in the pictures. It felt time hadn't passed at all on the house

"Leah, aren't you coming in?" I heard Miss Iris ask standing in front of the house. I walked along the pathway to the house mesmerized by the colourful pebbles it was made of.

"It was your mother's idea" she spoke up as if reading my mind and I couldn't fight a small smile creeping into my face.

I walked to the door and waited for her to open it. Before I could get inside the house Miss Iris reached for my hand. Standing infront of the doorway she gleamed, "Welcome home"

I stood there dumbfounded not knowing what to say. Something so ordinary, so normal. But I still had to fight the tears that threatened to come out. In the end I managed to give a smile.

"Thank you, that's not something I get to hear" I replied with a low voice

"Better get used to it then"

[part one]

A/N
Hello there beautiful reader. Thank you reading part 1 of Chapter One. I hope you enjoyed it. Fill colour into the small little star if you wish. Till the next update
Toodles
Love all of you
Colour~