False smiles turn real chapter 1. new friends

When I was 5 I remember singing in front of my mum and dad. It was Christmas time, and mum always got the karaoke out. I would do my impression of all I want for Christmas is you. Mum had the video camera out, all teary eyed. While my dad cheered me on.

Now I was 16 years old and looking back at the years I were full of dreams and false hope that were far out of my reach. Mum said you can anything if you put your mind to it. But she was talking about jobs like being a doctor, or going to university. Or even passing your exams. Not singing.

So that dream went out of the window and I settled with singing in my own place.

Now though I sat on the sofa listening to the music channel and singing along to Beyonce's – crazy in love. I was home alone which I loved. I didn't get it very much since mum and dad divorced a year ago. Mum said since dad left, she wanted to keep us close.

Me and Sophie (my sister) know that mum and dad still love each other; they make it really complicated though. When they see each other the atmosphere is really awkward and uncomfortable. But they get on for us.

Sophie took a dislike to dad since the divorce; she refuses to come out with us and stares at him, a hard hating stare. When mum asked her why she did this, she just said she doesn't like dad hurting mum. She never really cared about anything except herself, shopping and boys. When she goes shopping she comes home with bags of make up, clothes and phones. All bought by her latest boyfriend. They fall for her looks.

Nan always says she looks like our mum when she was a teenager.

I went into the kitchen hunting for some food. All I found was Sunday's chicken left over from a roast. It still tasted great. Mum was going use the leftover chicken for a curry. But never actually got round to it. But most likely she couldn't be bothered; she hardly ever followed what she said. Which is probably why me and my sister get away with murder? She is a soft touch, and if she does punish us. It would last a day, and then she would let us off.

Mum was very ambitious she always knew what she wanted to do from a young age. She was in education all her life. Passed her exams, passed her college years. Getting a job at the local salon. (She worked there for 2 years with Sam's mum Lynn) until the boss was bankrupt and had to sell the business to someone else.

Mum was due back any time now; she would fill me in on all the details. I made the most of this time I had left by seeing what else was on the TV apart from music. I flicked through and eventually settled for the last deal or no deal before the summer break ( which was a little late seeing as it was half way through the holidays) I stared out the window. Looking for a car to pull up outside the house any time.

Earlier that day me and mum were on the sofa (Sophie hadn't got up yet) watching a removal van come down the street and turn onto the side street. We call it the posh area. The houses are so big, so we just assumed they were money makers. Posh and stuck up. Mum went down the road to investigate, leaving me alone with Jeremy Kyle. Rambling on about putting something on the end of it.

‘Hey I’m home'. Mum shouted from the hallway. I got ready for her detailed description of the new neighbours.

‘I’m in the living room.' I shouted back.

Mum walked in and flopped down on the sofa beside me. She looked knackered. Her long brown hair which was in a tight neat ponytail now was loose and flying round her face. She was all shiny. ‘Get me a drink would you please'? As I moved she put her feet up on the sofa taking her flip-flops off.

I gave her a glass of water. She muttered a thanks and gulped it down very quickly. I took the cup in the kitchen and helped myself to another piece of chicken. She was standing behind me.

'Amy don’t eat all the chicken’. She said closing the fridge door. ‘I’m making a curry sometime this week'.

I got out of the way of the fridge door as it closed with a click. I sat down at the kitchen table waiting for her to fill me in. it's surprising I had to wait this long. Normally she would be in the door and finished before she even sat down .I didn't really want to know anyway. Mum just looked at me expectingly. She was thinking the same as me, but she said it out loud instead.

‘Great minds think alike'. She said joining me at the table.

‘So what happened'. I finally asked. She was obviously expecting me to ask eventually. Knowing I would give in before she did.

‘Well I went round there, they were still unpacking everything from the van, honestly Amy there was a lot of furniture. Hundreds, of cream and white things. So I followed the men into the front yard. Which was bigger than our living room.' she took a breath then continued. ‘There was a woman who is about my age, with her husband and son. Who was about your age. The woman greeted me warmly.

Mrs Creat. But please call me Mandy'. Mum copied in a posh voice. She pulled a face at me.

' Anyway about an hour later when Mr Creat... please call me Andrew'. She copied in a deep rough voice this time. ' Had settled everything into the house and was outside playing golf. Anyway it turns out he buy businesses and sells them off to people. I got a tour round the house, Mandy showed me her yoga video's'. She laughed. A loud laugh. ' You should of seen me, making a right fool out of myself.' I was bored of her day already, but figured she wasn't even close to finished. I yawned suddenly. Mum got the hint. ' Anyway'. She concluded. ' They have a son who is your age, I gave Mandy our phone number, so if you and Adam want to talk then you can ask her for his number.'

Thank god she had finished. I really didn't care that Mandy had a front yard bigger than our living room. Or they had a son my age. I wasn't the kind of person to confidently go to the neighbour’s house and immediately make friends, unlike my mum who had many friends, but didn't go out with them any more, she loved a new face, new secrets and gossip. Her best friend is Sam's mum Lynn and his auntie Julie. They spend a lot of time together at their book club. Mum wanted me to join. But I said I would rather be bored all year round than listen to people’s opinions of the latest woman book.

I went back to the living room mum was already there in her pj's . Her hair was now loose and down. The hair tie was on the coffee table. She was watching her afternoon programs again. Weakest Link. She loved it. I don't know why, Anne Robinson was a twisted old bat,

She moved over for me. I sat down next to her. She looked me up and down again, suspicious that I have been at the chicken again.

'So, I take it from that look you gave me, that you don't want to meet Adam'. She started conversation.

' No not really'. I answered stubborn giving her the same look I gave her earlier. She ignored it.

' Well I think it would be nice for you to go out and meet other people, since Sam is on holiday. You can't stay in all summer and waste the lovely weather.'

She was right though. The weather was lovely today. Very hot hardly any breeze. The kind of weather I didn't really like. I preferred to be in my room on my own waiting for the weather to pass on.

' I don't want to meet new people, or make new friends, what’s wrong with my old friends?' I turned on her.

'Well your best friend is in America, you have been moaning around the house for a month now, it's making me feel terrible'. She gave me a stern look.

She always did this. The every other summer, when Sam ( my best friend) goes on holiday. I spend the 6 weeks wondering round the house bored. Visiting dad and running errands for mum.

' Anyway'. Mum started again. 'I want you to get some milk, the fresh air will do you good'. She handed me a two pound coin, and walking into the living room again. I stood in the kitchen for a minute. Hearing my mum on the phone. I walked past the door . Stopping to hear who she was talking to.

' Hi, Mandy. How are you settling in? Oh that's good, do you want to come down for dinner. ' Yeah all of you, OK then. Al right Mandy see you in a bit.'

I went out the door and down the street. So we were going to have a house warming party, it would be very awkward. No one knowing what to say. Mum obviously thought I was out of the house, she would never of done that if I was within ear shot. She was digging a big hole for herself, I was angry at her for doing that. She knew I didn't want to talk to Adam, even if he was good looking. I didn't care.