Right Next Door | Vinnie Hacker

02

I woke up to screaming and chatter coming from downstairs.

"Ugh, what time is it?" I say before checking the clock on my phone.

"1:47?" I say shocked.

"I slept that late?" I sigh.

I walk over to open my curtains.

I sigh before turning around to make my bed.

I yawn as I get dressed and walk downstairs.

I roll my eyes seeing Vinnie.

"Vinnie, just because you live next door doesn't mean you get to come over every day." I say going over to the fridge.

"Yes, it does." He says walking over to me.

"Go away, you smell." I say trying to reach the top cabinet to get a glass.

"I can't reach." I scoff.

"Yeah, cause you're short." He says opening the cabinet with ease.

"Shut up. Not everyone is 6 feet. At least I don't have to duck under some doorways." I say jumping up onto the counter to reach.

"At least I don't need a stool to get a bowl." He says pushing me off the counter as the glass broke.

"Vinnie! That's my grandmother's glass. She's dead you know?" I say kicking his shin.

"Vera! Come help me pick this up!" I yell.

"What is it?" My sister, Veralyn walks into the kitchen.

"Vinnie broke Nana's glass." I say clenching my jaw.

"You bitch!" She yells smacking his arm.

"How was I supposed to know?" He says walking out of the kitchen.

"How did he break it anyway?" She says getting the dust pan.

"Pushing me off the counter when I was trying to reach the cabinet." I say kneeling down to help clean.

"Mace, go tell mom the glass broke." Veralyn looks back at Macie watching YouTube on her phone.

"What glass?" She asks confused.

"Nana's special one." She replies.

"Oh, it broke? How?" She says furrowing her eyebrows.

"Yes, Vinnie broke it. Now go tell her." Veralyn says finishing up cleaning the mess.

Macie turns off her phone and went to go tell her.

"Mom's not going to be happy." I say shaking my head.

"Nope, but since it's Vinnie, she won't yell at him. She will yell at you." She says dumping the dust pan into the garbage.

"Yeah, I know.." I sigh.

I walk into the living room and sit on the couch and that's when I hear..

"MY MOTHER'S GLASS IS BROKEN?"

That's not good..

"Valerie, Veralyn. Come here!" My mom yells.

"Coming.." We say in unison.

"Who broke it and how did it happen?" She says sternly.

"Vinnie did, he pushed me off the counter when I was holding it." I say slightly scared.

"Veralyn, is this true?" She says turning her attention to Vera.

"Well, I didn't witness it, but Vinnie never denied it!" She replies.

"Well okay then. You are free to leave.." She says calming down.

We both let out a sigh of relief before walking back into the kitchen.

"You're lucky she doesn't yell at you." I scoff looking at Vinnie.

He rolls his eyes before turning back around.

"He's so.. Ignorant." I say sitting on the couch.

"I know, he has been since well, forever." Vera says taking a seat next to me.

"I wish we weren't neighbors, it's like he lives here." I say leaning back on the couch.

"Almost, he's always here." She says looking back at him.

"Kids, Hannah and I are going shopping. Don't cause a ruckus!" My mom says before leaving.

"If only our mom's weren't so close." Veralyn says watching our mom leave the house.

"More time to bully Valerie!" Vinnie mumbles before his sister, Evelyne stops him.

"No, more time to not bully Ria, and to be nice to her!" Eve says grabbing his arm.

"You're no fun, you're like my mom, except 2 years younger than me!" He says before walking towards the living room.

"No, I'm protecting Val." She says following him.

He sits down next to me and I scoot father from him and closer to Vera.

He moves closer and I smack his chest.

"Stop." I say standing up to move to a different part of the couch.

"What the fuck is your problem?" He says.

"You. You've been a annoyance since I was born." I scoff.

"Remember when you pushed me into the pool when I was wearing brand new clothes?" He says.

"Yeah, that was funny as hell." I laugh.

"Remember when you dropped me into the pool and I almost drowned?" I say crossing my arms.

"I wish you did." He mumbles.

"Vincent!" Eve yells.

"What?" He says acting surprised.

"You know what you said!" She says slapping him.

"Ow, fuck off." He says pushing her.

"Stop!" I yell running to my room.

"I'm tired of him! I'm sick of it!" I say slightly crying.

"All he cares about is himself, no one else!" I yell.

"Val?" I hear from outside my door.

"No." I say locking my door.

"It's me, Eve?" She says worried.

"Is Vinnie there?" I say unlocking my door.

"Go away, Vinnie!" I hear her whisper.

I hear stomps down the stairs assuming it was him and I open the door.

"Are you okay?" Eve says pulling me into a hug.

"Y-yes." I say resting my chin on her shoulder.

"He just doesn't know when to stop." I say sniffling.

"I know.." She says rubbing my back.