Unhappy Holidays (Kakumaoh)
Quote:
"Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose..."
Even with headphones on Anne could still hear the other girls from her floor singing Christmas carols and other songs. It seemed everyone was enjoying the various small parties going on, or the larger gathering in the central common room put on by the school, punch and pastries provided as a gift (though alcohol was strictly forbidden). Yet in room 418 the seasonal spirit failed to make an impact, save perhaps a twinge of annoyance at the volume of the merrymaking.
Indeed, the room's dark haired occupant sat alone at her desk trying to drown out the singing with music on her iPod, half-heartedly attempting to get ahead in her course work. It wasn't that she hadn't been invited to any of the parties (the invitation to the common room gathering was slipped under every door), she just didn't feel very...festive. She never did this time of year. Perhaps it was the lack of a family to celebrate with, or the crippling fear she felt of socializing with others, a necessity for most during the holidays. Likely something of both.
"Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" wound to a finish, only to be almost immediately replaced by "Frosty the Snowman". Anne sighed and turned off her iPod, closed her books and took off her headphones. Stretching as she rose from her desk, she shuffled to the window and looked out over the night shadowed grounds. Pools of shifting light and moving shadow speckled the ground, evidence that the festivities were in swing all over the dorm building, yet more singing drifting up and down from the windows around hers.
I just want some peace and quiet... she mused, leaning against the window frame. Maybe she could get away with sneaking out of the dorms tonight? After all, the staff were likely having their own party, or busy keeping an eye on the students'. She turned away from the window and sidled to her closet, digging out a light jacket to wear against the chill that had permeated the night air these last few days (someone had said it was even supposed to snow soon) before turning to pull on a pair of jeans over her simple white panties. Her overlarge night-shirt was discarded, revealing a similar bra, before she tugged a long sleeved shirt on, the cotton dyed alternating bands of black and white. Knee high white socks and her worn in sneakers covered her feet, and she was ready to go.
She peeked out of her door before shuffling out, locking it behind her. No one paid her any attention as she made her way to the elevator, and she let out a soft sigh of relief as the doors closed. Her fingers rose to absently comb out her long, straight hair, making sure the grown out bangs covered the scarred right side of her face and her blind eye. She hesitated as the doors opened on the ground floor, peeking out once more to make sure no faculty members were in the lobby. Seeing no one she quickly shuffled to the doors and stepped out into the chill night air.
Her jacket quickly found its way over her arms, her hands diving into her pockets as she looked back up at the twin towers of the dorm building. With all of the lights shining through the windows, they almost seemed like Christmas trees... Shaking her head sadly, Anne turned away and ambled along the path towards the school grounds, careful to skip over the cracks in the pavement. Without really thinking about it, her feet took her towards the opposite side of the campus, in the direction of the mountain looming over the grounds.