Don't Say You Love Me

Chapter 1: Stunned By His Smile

Asher leant against the tall, white wall of the new house, slowly paging through his book. From the corner of his eye, he saw the movers' ferrying boxes into the house; boxes and boxes, containing their whole lives.

This house felt like a mansion compared to their old apartment, as the car had approached passing by a number of luxurious homes, this particular one had seemed to tower over him. He knew it represented all his parents had achieved; how they could now buy a certain type of house and provide a certain type of life.

He knew they'd worked tirelessly, nights and days spent out or with heads chained over a keyboard, and this was the pay off. He was happier now, seeing them able to relax somewhat, seeing the smiles on their faces. But he couldn't help that this new life now felt... unfamiliar.

Waking him from his drifting thoughts a small pig-tailed head appeared in his vision. Clearly Sierra had had her fill of waddling around the movers "supervising" and had come to say hello, "Af! Af!". She flopped onto the grass next to him and he pulled her into his lap, she was only five years younger than him but she seemed so small. Three years old she was a like little mischievous puppy, always running around, curious to know everything.

The siblings shared that, a never-ending curiosity. Yet, Ash had learned to fulfill and express this curiosity in contained ways such as reading, while Sierra had grown with the luxury to explore and experience everything for herself. Ash didn't envy her though, he felt only pride for his lively little sister who brought joy to her surroundings, to see her discover something for the first time was as if seeing it through fresh eyes, innocent and inquisitive.

He held his current reading material in front of both of them as he read aloud, a simple adventure story many young boys enjoyed. Just as he reached the point where the hero was about to overcome his first hurdle he heard his mother call out, "Ash! Sierra!"

He pulled Sierra up as they strolled towards the front of the house, where he saw his mother standing with two other adults and three children, two boys and a girl.

Ash's mother pulled him to her side as she introduced them, "This is my eldest, Ash. And my youngest, Sierra. Ash, Sierra, these are the neighbours and their children, Theo, Iris and Rhys. Rhys is your age, Ash."

Ash looked at the boy across from him, he fidgeted in his place, seeming uncomfortable standing still for any moment of time. His eyes darted all around, he shuffled his feet and his hands clenched and unclenched. It could just be nervousness but the bright smile on his face didn't feel forced or anxious, it seemed excited and impatient. As their eyes meant the grin widened, almost blindingly bright.

The older boy, Theo, laughed at Ash's stunned expression. "Yeah, Rhys leaves a strong first impression. It's a little like staring at the sun, huh?"

The woman, presumably his mother, pinched Theo's face. He yelped and looked at her pitifully, inciting the girl, Iris, to laugh. Ash couldn't help a smile rising up on his face too.

"Look, he smiled!" Rhys yelled out, pointing at Ash, prompting him to blush and iron said smile flat again. Ryhs's mother placed a hand over his mouth, but didn't pinch him like her older son. Clearly he was a little more spoilt, Ash could understand spoiling the youngest, it just made sense.

"I'm sorry, clearly I haven't properly taught my kids what to say and not say in public yet." She smiled awkwardly, but as they made eye contact both mothers seemed merely amused by the children's antics.

"Hey, you can't include me with them!" the girl, Iris, exclaimed.

"Of course not, our Iris is very sensible." The mother smiled dotingly at Iris' proud expression, gloating over her brothers. Rhys laughed and Theodore poked his tongue out and scrunched his face, earning him another pinch.

"Ugh! Go, go! Go play your games, I know you're bored dead standing around listening to us adults chat."

"Thanks mom!" Theodore was quick to run off, making a heart motion towards his mother as he ran backwards towards presumably their house.

Iris hesitated, before looking to Sierra still holding Ash's hand, "Do you want to play together?"

Sierra turned her eyes to Ash, and he really did smile this time. Not the amused smirk that attempted to escape before, but a freely released beam of teeth with the warmth of a toasty fire as he let go of his little sister's hand and gently pushed her towards the older girl.

As Sierra ran off with Iris to play, Ash lifted his sight back to Rhys and his mother, and it really seemed what went around came around as Rhys's mouth hung open in a slack-jawed stare at Ash. Both mothers noticed at the same time and burst into school-girl like giggles.

Ash blushed furiously as he glared at his mother but could do nothing about the two women's immersion in their mirth.

Ash's mother tried to pull herself from her fitful giggles as she spoke haltingly between breathy laughter "I suppose both ... our boys ... make shocking ... first impressions." The two women shared a grin as they regained their composure.

"Sierra and Ash must be very close?"

"Oh yes, I think he thinks himself her third parent."

"He does seem very mature for his age."

"Too mature. He's like an old man some days, not like an eight-year-old at all."

"Oh, you're not the only one. Our little Rhys is a right troublemaker, running about, breaking things, provoking people. He's already eight but you'd think he was still in his terrible twos."

Both women fondly smiled at their sons once again. 

"Alright, you two go play. Get to know each other. The adults want to chat." Asher's mother shooed him towards Rhys, who promptly grabbed Asher's hand and ran away from the two women's teasing.

As Asher's face cooled from the wind rushing past him, he felt a fondness for the clearly carefree and reckless boy in front of him. His childishness provoked that maternal feeling he had only felt towards Sierra in the past. He decided right then that he would look after this boy like his own little brother.