Right Next Door | Vinnie Hacker

05

It has been roughly 2 weeks since me and Vinnie decided on being 'civil.'

He still annoys me, and I still annoy him.

We still text here and there, but not much. He's over all the time anyway..

"Val!" I hear coming from downstairs.

"Ugh, I'm coming!" I say getting off my bed and walking downstairs.

"Vinnie and Eve are here." My mom says from the kitchen.

"Okay." I say walking over to the couch.

Vinnie flops down next to me,

"Hey." He says breaking the silence.

"Hi." I say giving him a soft smile.

"Hey, Val!" Evelyne says as she pulled me into a hug.

"Hey!" I say hugging back.

"Third-wheeling here!" Vinnie sarcastically says.

"Shut up weirdo." Eve says pulling away.

"Never." He says.

I sit back down and blow my cheeks in boredom.

"You look like a fish." Vinnie says laughing at me.

"I'm a cute fish though." I say quietly giggling.

"Nah, you're a weird fish." He says.

"Eh." I say shrugging my shoulders.

•••

Me, Eve and Vinnie were at their house in the backyard.

"I wanna swim." I say dipping my feet in the pool.

"Then swim." Vinnie says standing over me.

"I don't have my swimsuit on." I say using my hand to block the sun.

"Go get one?" He says.

"Eve, will you swim with me?" I say looking over at Evelyne.

"Okay." She says getting up to get a swimsuit.

"Aight, I'll be back." I say going to grab my own.

I wanted to wear a cute swimsuit, because summer's almost over and I hadn't had a chance to.

"This one!" I whisper to myself grabbing my favorite swimsuit.

It was a navy blue stringed bikini, covering the perfect amount of cheek. It matches my complexion perfectly and accentuated my eyes and hair beautifully.

I pulled a oversized t-shirt over me and slid on some flip flops before walking back over next door.

I head to their backyard to see Evelyne and Vinnie both in swimsuits.

I froze staring at Vinnie, for a long enough time for them to notice.

"Val?" Vinnie says confused.

"Uh, yes?" I say snapping out of it.

I had to admit, Vinnie shirtless, was hot. No, Valerie Rose Evans, keep it together.

"You froze for like 10 whole seconds." He laughs.

"Oh, uh. Sorry." I say walking over to the pool.

I dipped my feet in before sliding off the edge and into he pool completely.

I swam over to the steps and sat next to Vinnie.

I slowly kick my feet in the water looking down.

"You alright?" He says looking at me in confusion.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking." I say looking up a bit.

He looks away and Eve swims over.

"Val, when you say you're fine, that actually means you're dying inside. What's up?" Evelyne says in a comforting tone.

"Can I tell you alone?" I say looking up at her.

"Uh, I guess so?" She says getting out of the pool.

I follow her as we sit on the patio chairs surrounding the fire pit.

"Eh-uh. I don't really know what's wrong. I just feel like sad when around Vinnie." I mumble so Vinnie can't hear me.

Evelyne looks down.

"Val, what were you doing when you froze?" She says looking back at me.

"Uh.. I was staring at V-vinnie.." I say.

"Staring at him shirtless, right?" She says.

"Maybe.." I say picking at my nails.

"Val, you either like my brother, or you like my brother. You're probably sad because you think you can't be together." She says slightly giggling.

"What? No! Never." I say as my eyes widen.

"Keep telling yourself that. I bet you that will change." She says getting up before sliding back into the pool.

I can't like him.

I don't like him, right?

No, of course you don't, Valerie.