Aspen & Laia

Chapter Three - Laia

Laia watched intently as he made his way down the Bennetts' driveway and towards his truck. It was a nice truck she thought to herself.

A big Ford F-150 that was a molten grey shade, with shiny black alloys and windows you could hardly see through.

He must be from a rich family she thought to herself.

It made sense though, almost everybody on this street was well to do in some way.

I mean, he kind of looked like he was from a decent family. He was quite good-looking in some way; she silently admired his serious expression and his dark wispy hair.

And he was tall. Like really tall. she guessed maybe at least 6ft 2, maybe even taller?

He had the build of an athlete, maybe a footballer and before she realised, Laia had imagined out his life without even having exchanged a single word with him.

She watched him, almost in a trance, as he glanced down at the 'For Sale' sign that was previously a constant reminder of the fact that the Bennetts had moved out and then immediately his gaze shot over at Laia, or at least in her direction.

She acted almost impulsively and jumped away from the blinds and swore to herself as they moved. She knew he knew that she was watching.

Fuck!

She hoped that this wasn't her new neighbour, and if he was, she wished that he had never seen that. But deep down she knew he did.

She listened silently as she lay on the floor underneath the window, her heart and her heavy breathing being the only thing she could hear. Laia slowed her down her breathing so she could listen for movement. Had he left already?

She silenced her beating heart and slowed down her breathing and she could hear his car door open and then close.

The engine rolled over as he turned the ignition and she waited for the sound of him driving away before she could get up from off of the floor. But she couldn't hear it. She knew exactly what to listen for and she just couldn't hear it.

She was waiting to hear the snow crunch beneath the tires and waiting for distance between herself and the sound of the colossal engine. But nothing. "Was he just sitting in his car?" she thought to herself.

She listened even closer.

"What are you doing?"

A voice broke the silence. It was Koah.

Laia jumped and bumped her head on the way up.

Ray and Koah were stood there with identical puzzled looks on their face. They must have just come home and Laia didn't even hear them coming in.

Fuck!

Does that mean that they saw him leave? Or worse! Did he see them?

Laia jumped off from the floor and brushed off her jeans and fixed her hair and smiled weakly at her brother and her dad. They were still confused, and she was convinced they thought she was crazy.

"I was just..." Laia began before she heard the snow crunch and an engine disappear into the distance.

"You were just what?" Koah asked as he walked towards the window. He parted the blind and looked over to his dad. "Huh. Seems like he's gone, Dad. Wonder who he was?"

Before Ray could answer, Laia interjected and gently pushed both her Dad and her brother towards the kitchen.

"Let's eat you guys! You must be starving!" Laia exclaimed desperately trying to change the conversation. It worked, both Ray and Koah were expressing their hunger and trying to recall their last meal.