Summer's Winter

Chapter 1 - Anise

When my family heard that a new family moved next to my house in Kansas during the summer before sophomore year, that was the first time I discovered a sense of unexplainable urge. I didn't know what was the urge.

 The house next to mine has been uninhabited for two years. The house was in bad shape and the vines sprawled up the walls. One day, construction workers patched it up nicely and installed a pool. I felt so happy about that house because it looks very nice now. I hate pools so if I convert my backyard into something,  my backyard into a tennis/ basketball court. I watched through the bay window as the red truck passed by my house and stopped at the ugly new house. Yeah, it sounds creepy of me, but I was curious as to who lives there now. 

 I have been making a good impression in this town so I hope to make the new family happy in this neighborhood. I watch my neighbors help the parents bring furniture to the house. What a kind offer of them. Maybe I should try that. 

I put on a shirt and shorts before I head outside to see the huge haul truck that carried the new neighbors' furniture. I walked closer to the house and saw my neighbor, Raul, talking to the new parents. Next to the new parents was a teen like me. Oh boy, when I tell you there's a guy that looks around my age, the sun suddenly becomes brighter. Ten times brighter. I wouldn't have to deal with the kids in the neighborhood by myself! 

There's something unusual about this boy though. He looks like someone froze his face so he doesn't move a muscle. He is handsome, has a stoic expression, very tall like 6'2, slender but has visible muscles, he has a nice chiseled chin, and he has ash blonde hair. He was covering up in a hoodie in the middle of summer. Like Jesus, we need to get you changed because you are not aware that it isn't winter in Kansas.

 The boy then stared coldly at me with his piercing silver eyes. I could have sworn that is his personality for the rest of his life. He looked, acted, and dressed like winter. I figured out that making an impression on these neighbors would be difficult. I smiled it off and tapped Raul on the shoulder. 

"Hey, Raul helping the neighbor out?" I said with a bright smile. 

"Yeah! Ah, great, more hands to bring furniture in" Raul said and patted me on the shoulders. 

I noticed the parents, the mom gave a small smile and the dad gave a big smile. I went closer to them and gave out my hand to shake. The dad grabbed my hand and we shook firmly. 

"Welcome to the neighborhood, I'm Anise," I said with a smile. 

I want to make sure they are welcome in this neighborhood. 

"Oh thank you, we are the Falters." The dad said with a smile. 

I think I would get along with the dad very well, the son and mom is cold as ice. 

"I am Victor, this is my wife Amy, and my son Tucker." The dad said with a smile and introduced the wife and his son. 

When he said his son's name, I never looked so fast at a person in my life. He combs his ash blonde hair back. I put my attention back to the family as a whole. 

"Nice to meet you," Amy said with a warmer smile this time.  

She gave me a loose hug and kissed me on my left cheek and then my right cheek. I know she kisses me like that because it's a greeting which is probably normal in their culture and I have to respect that. 

"Tucker, say hi," Amy said with a small smile and placed her hand on Tucker's back. 

He was forced to come over to me. He didn't say anything. He looked deep down into my face with a blank expression and his silver eyes coldly stared at me a bit longer. 

"Hi Tucker," I said with a small smile.

 He is making me vulnerable. I feel like flowers blooming. I don't know why I am feeling this way. I feel like the swimming pools during summer when they get overheated by the sun but suddenly ice is poured into me making me a bit chilly. Not like the temperature or the chilly feeling that was down my spine but, it was the chilliness that cooled me down and made me vulnerable. Way too weak and vulnerable. 

"Hi," Tucker said in a deep, monotone, and stoic voice. 

The moment he moved his lips, I felt that the sun was getting more hotter and radiant. Every color in my eyes pops with bold colors.  His glance is making it cooler though. I shook the chills off of me. I look at him with a small smile for a moment. 

"We are going to move the boxes, how about you two get along?" Victor said with a smile.

His wife and he went closer to the haul truck. I look into his silver eyes. He is interesting for sure. He doesn't lock eyes with me though he seems to be in his world. Maybe Winter Wonderland? I realized it wasn't funny in my head. 

"Where are you guys from?" I said with a smile to ease this weird silence. 

"Missouri," Tucker said coldly.

Then this time he looked right at me. I'm considering if I should leave him alone now. There are more things I want to learn about him. 

"Do you miss it?" I said with a smile.

He didn't answer this time and unlocked eye contact with me. Maybe he just doesn't want to talk about it. I walked closer to the parents got in the truck and took some things out. Weirdly enough they have a good sense of décor. What the hell are they doing as a job, I want to know. I looked at Tucker again and he grabbed a box and carried it effortlessly. I wipe the sweat off my face and head home after a dozen of boxes.  

I unlocked my front door, swung the door open, had a cup of water, and showered. What, I felt super groggy after that hard work. I ran towards my bed and plopped on my bed. I lay on my back and looked up at the ceiling. I was transfixed. He gave me the chills, I sat up and scooted my neck against the pillow, I collapsed my body into that pillow and then closed my eyes. Tucker, Tucker, Tucker, all I can hear is Tucker. Why am I feeling this way? I open my eyes and fathom the fact that the new guy is making me weak, and I am sort of hoping I get to see him again. 

My mom came home from work and I could hear the garage opening, my mom is a venture capitalist and a flower store manager. She can make enough for me and her to live in this house.  I have no dad, he left before I was even born. He drinks and smokes more than he cared about my mom having me. Sucks to suck I guess. I still think I am happy in my life, my mom works super hard and spoils me rotten. My mom likes to be called mother. I don't know why but I would like to be called mother too when I grow up. 

"Mother," I said as I rushed downstairs.

"You kept the house tidy, nice job," My mom said with a smile. 

"Yes mother, like you said," I said with a smile. 

"I'll cook you dinner, do you want to watch or help" my mom said with a smile.

"I can help cook," I said. 

We gathered ingredients and then placed the food on the dining table. It was me and her there eating together. 

"How's the new neighbors?" Mother said. 

"I think they are getting along in this neighborhood," I said while shoving a spoonful of salmon into my mouth. 

"Great," she said. 

I washed the dishes. My mom was superstitious about the dishwasher. I guess it is an Asian way of saving money on bills. I don't question my mother though. I know she knows best. As a Vietnamese, my mom brought some American lifestyle into our house. She wants me to have the best of both worlds. 

I finished washing the dishes and then I washed myself in the shower. In the shower, I thought much about Tucker.  Tucker, Tucker, Tucker, oh my mind is filled with him. He makes me giddy. I closed my eyes and imagined his stoic face staring down at me with those piercing eyes. I hope we meet again.