Reseda, the gate, and me

Chapter 1

"No, Mom, I can't come with you to Maddy's parent-teacher conference. I'm going to a beach party tomorrow." You complained as you brushed your magazines under your bed after your mom had told you to clean your room.
"I hope Lou's gonna be there." Your mom replied as she leaned up against your doorframe. You sighed and slumped on your bed. She wasn't going to like this. The truth was your best friend Lou wasn't going - it was your friend Ali who had invited you, but your mom had never liked her. Maybe it was because her family was rich while yourself, your mom and dad and sister Maddy were cramped in a shabby apartment building.

"Oh don't tell me it's that Ali who's invited you." Your mom sighed irritably.
"Yeah, it is! And what of it, Mom?" You snapped.
"Did you see the look on her parents' faces when they came and picked her up from our place that one time? All they see in people is the money, not their personality."
"Ali's different, Mom!"
"Yeah well I don't trust her, y/n." Your mom groaned, before turning and walking out of your room.
"I'm still going to this party!" You followed your mom into the kitchen, "Why would you need me at Maddy's stupid parent-teacher conference anyway?" 
"Is Lou going to this party?" Your mom asked, completely ignoring your question.
"No mom, she's got the same view as you about Ali." You scoffed, before marching out of your apartment and slamming the door. 

You stomped your way down the stairs and headed for the front gate that lead into the apartment block. The old woman from the apartment below you was sat in her usual spot with her dog resting underneath her chair. She noticed you were annoyed about something.
"Mom ban you from the television again?" She asked.
"No," You began, still making your way towards the front gate, "But just once I'd like her to see what I see." As you turned you saw a woman coming towards you. She had brown curly hair and was holding a yellow basket containing some stuff.

"Do you need a hand with that, ma'am?" You asked.
"Oh no, I'm fine thank you." The woman replied with a smile, before turning her head towards the basically empty, green and moulding pool. Her face fell.
"I guess you're the new people in apartment 20. Sorry about the pool, it's been like that for years." You sighed, "I hate to disappoint you but the maintenance guy doesn't really do much for this place."
"Oh no, it's okay. But thank you for letting me know." She smiled as she made her way up the stairs and towards apartment 20. You turned, resumed being annoyed with your mom, and continued to head for the gate.

"Where you off to?" The old woman shouted from her chair as she lit a cigarette.
"I don't know." You replied, not turning around to face her, "Anywhere is better than - " 

Just at that moment there came a yell from the other side of the gate and it flung open. The heavy wooden gate came and hit you right in the face. 
"Ah!" You cried as the force sent you to the ground.
"Oh!" The person on the other side exclaimed. 
You sat on the ground for a moment with your head turned away, rubbing the side of your face where you'd been hit. 
"Are you okay?" The person asked, dropping all their stuff. 
"Yeah, yeah, don't worry about - " You began, but as you turned and looked up before you was the most gorgeous boy you'd ever seen. He had tanned skin, jet black hair, dark brown eyes - he was just perfection. He was holding his hand out to you to help you. You took it and he stood you up. 

"I'm so sorry," He began, "I... I didn't think you'd... I didn't - "
"Oh I'm alright." You interrupted and returned a warm smile - even though it wasn't okay. One; your face was throbbing. Two; he was so attractive it was taking all your strength not to physically die in front of him.

"So," You began nervously, "You must be the new people in apartment 20, huh?"
"Oh yeah, I guess so." He replied while looking around at the apartments.
"I'm y/n l/n from apartment 23." You held your hand out for him to shake. He shook it.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Daniel LaRusso." He smiled.
"Do you need help with that?" You asked pointing to Daniel's suitcase.
"No, no, I'm alright." He smiled as he reached for it.
"Oh come on, let me help you out." You quickly picked it up before he could. As you did every single muscle in your arm felt the strain.
"It's heavy." Daniel pointed out.
"I got muscles!" You joked, making him laugh as you started hauling the suitcase to apartment 20. He picked up his bike and began following you. 

"So where are you from, Daniel?" You asked as the two of you walked along.
"New Jersey." He replied.
"Wow, what are you doing out here?" 
"My mom got a job with some company out here." At that moment he caught sight of the pool. His face fell just like the woman before.

"Is this the only pool you guys got?" He asked, sounding disappointed.
"Yeah, that's it." You sighed. Just as you were about to lighten the situation a voice interrupted you.
"This place is a dump," The old woman groaned, "You should go back to where you came from."
You cringed. She really liked to say it how it was. He's gonna wanna move as soon as he gets in that front door, you thought to yourself. You would've loved to move - you hated your apartment. But your parents just couldn't afford it.

"Hey," You began as an idea sprang into your head to distract his thoughts from how terrible this place was, "Are you doing anything tomorrow?"
"Um, no, I guess nothing." Daniel answered as you helped him carry his bike up the stairs.
"I'm going to a beach party tomorrow. My friend Freddy from apartment 17 is going - most of my friends and his friends are too. Wanna come?" You offered. This could be your chance to get to know each other. So far, he'd been very sweet and you liked him a lot.

"Oh yeah sure, sounds great." He smiled.
"Great, I'll come and get you in the morning." You returned a smile.
"y/n! Mom wants you!" You heard Maddy yell from your apartment. You groaned.
"Sorry, I gotta go. Here's your suitcase." You handed Daniel his suitcase.
"Thanks for the help." He smiled at you again.
"No problem." You replied, before making your way round the corner to your apartment.

Maddy was standing outside the door. She could see by the look on your face you were happy about something.
"Why are you smiling like that?" Maddy smirked.
"Shush!" You whispered.
"It's the new boy in apartment 20, isn't it?" Maddy teased, "I saw you help him with his suitcase. Is he gonna be your new boyfriend?" She smirked while twirling her hair about. 
"No! Now get inside." You snapped, taking Maddy by the shoulder and heading inside.