The Girls Next Door

Chapter Two

(Alyssia's POV)

The next week was hectic. Mom had us working our butts off, unpacking boxes, making our new house a home. I didn't mind it too much. It kept my mind off of the boy next door, and the reminder that school was starting in a few weeks. I would have to make new friends.

    "Aly!"

    A loud voice behind me caused me to just about jump out of my skin. Okay, so maybe it didn't keep my mind off of it after all. But at least it gave me something to do.

    "Jeez, Aislynn, why do you have to yell so loud?" I asked my sister, turning to face her. She rolled her eyes.

    "Well, I wasn't that loud the first three times." She snapped. I winced.    

    "Sorry, I was lost in thought."

    "Clearly."

    There was a beat of silence. "What did you need?" I asked her. Her eyebrows raised, as if she just remembered she had come in here to talk to me about something.

    "Oh yeah. I came to tell you that we're going to Drew's house."

    I just about choked on the air I was breathing.

    "What?"

    Aislynn rolled her eyes, strolling over to my bed and falling down on top of it. I didn't even bother to tell her to get up. She wouldn't.

    "Did I stutter? Here, I'll say it slower." She rolled over onto her stomach so she could give me a pointed look. "We. Are. Going. To. Drew's. House."

    I rolled my eyes, sitting down on my desk chair.

    "I heard you the first time. Why are we theoretically going to Drew's house?"

    "Not theoretically. We're going."

    "But why?"

    "Aly, were you even present for the conversation that happened three days ago?" She asked, giving me the 'Aislynn look', as I've so brilliantly named it.

    I actually was present for the conversation three days ago, when Drew ended up at our doorstep, bearing a gift of freshly baked lasagna his mother made for us. Apparently, after she found out we made them cookies, she wanted to give us a proper welcome to the neighborhood. So she not only sent her son to bring over food, but also a proposition. One I didn't think we were actually going to take up. Apparently Aislynn had other ideas.

    "I'll take that as a no. Okay, so three days ago, Drew came by with lasagna, and then offered to hang out with us this weekend at—."

    "At the pool in his backyard, I know." I finished for her. Aislynn gave me a fake smile.

    "Great, you were there, after all. Anyway, it's the weekend. And I'm bored. And hot. And it's summer. And we only have a few more weeks before school starts, and I need to enjoy it, because school is going to make me want to gouge my eyes out, guaranteed. So, grab a swimsuit, we're going."

    I rolled my eyes. "Did you even ask? Or did you just invite yourself over there?"

    "Of course I asked. First of all, he offered only a few days ago, and second, I texted him this morning."

    "You have his number?"

    "Of course. How else were we supposed to get in touch?"

    She had a point. How was it that my younger sister was so much better at this stuff than I am?