Hello Neighbor: Welcome Home

Chapter I

"Good Morning Raven Brooks, just a month away from summer break! Meaning Football season between the Ravens and Owls continues!"

God, even the mere mention of them made him groan with bitterness. Nick begrudgingly rinsed his face harshly, hoping this day would end shortly. "Nicky we don't have all day! The muffin is getting colder!" His mother's voice bounced through the empty halls, "Lu, be patient..." his father's softer tone echoed throughout the old house. A good glance at himself in the mirror and he darted downstairs.

"There you are!" His mother shoved a muffin in his mouth, and orange juice. "God, you said the movers were gonna be here with our furniture last week!" His mother exchanged looks with his father; "The sooner we get our furniture, the sooner we won't be sleeping on bed bugs." His father sighed as he pulled Nick aside to adjust his hair.

"Remember, we have to fill in your student application for school, wait for Mom at the front of the school... got it?" His father instructed.

"Got it," Nick mumbled as he finished the last crumb. "Nicky, we only have an hour!" His mother's voice echoed down the hallway. Nick scampered with his school bag in hand as his new life was moving in motion.

Nicky Roth, the only child of James and Luanne Roth, a ripened freshman according to Northwood High. The kid who uses his walkman as a way to avoid conversations, even if he finishes the tape. A mild-manner doormat who just wants to be left alone with his sketchbook. The type of kid who seniors will eat alive with his bulky braces and shrimp-like posture. Brooklyn accent? An easier target, and the names from "Tinsel Teeth" to "Cheese Grater".

And now, his mother is driving him to school, despite his protest that he wanted to take the school bus... No amount of Talking Heads or letting the wind tangle his hair to stop his feeling of dread that this will be taken to his grave.

"So, Nicky! Are you excited to get those braces off this year?" His mother attempted small talk.

"Mh..." Nick replied, still pressing his face against the window ledge. "Thinking about what to do for dinner, I saw a pizza place around here... How?" Nick shrugged, starting to drink the boxed juice, Luanne sighed.

"I know it's sudden, Nicky-"

"That's an understatement of the year," Nick grumbles. "I know that you miss your friends," his mom said, emphasizing her words, Nick hated it when she did that.

"This is very new to you and trust me I know the feeling... You're not the only one going through this" She glanced at Nick. "You kept me in the dark about it!" He leaned back peering out the window as the scenery he saw moments ago felt like it never existed.

A Monday morning filled with cars and patrons walking by shifted into an empty road filled with pines and home to chittering Ravens, as their cacophony chirps seemed to overpower any form of sound.

"What if I don't make friends here?" Nick started to drink the stale capri sun, Luanne chuckled warmly, "Nicky, it's Pennsylvania, not the moon!" She tuned the radio louder. "You've only been here a week, give yourself a break!"

"On the bright side, you get to see an old friend of ours... He has two kids around your age," his mom playfully pinching Nick's nose. "Oh yeah I'm sure they'd love to watch me cooped up in a room drawing," Nick rolled his eyes, "You'll be fine! Just give yourself a month or two and you'll settle just right-"

"Car!" Nick shrieked as a car was heading directly toward them, Luanne swerved, steering back to the right side of the road avoiding collision. "Couldn't you hear the honking you stupid bitch!" The voice of a man yelled loudly.

"And where did you get your driver's license a fucking crack den?!" amongst other colorful language at the reckless driver through the window. As Nick was trying to regain himself, in his horror realize he squeezed the capri-sun a bit too hard in a rather unfortunate part of his pants – he looked like he pissed himself.

"Nicky, are you okay?" "H-huh?! Yeah, I'm fine, mom!" Nick responded trying to reassure her with a smile as the stain became even more obvious. "We're here!"

"Already?!"

The swarm of older kids now became visible to him as he could see some passersby chattering to themselves as they saw him,

"Oh, this is social suicide."

"T-Thanks Mom for driving me here I'll be!-" His mother started smothering him with goodbye kisses before he could even get out of the car.

"M-mom!" He protested. "Would you hold your horses, Nicky?" His mother laughed. He despised that nickname; it's one thing to say that to a toddler but to a going-on fifteen-year-old was basically asking to get bullied.

And one long kiss on the cheek, Nick finally managed to finally escape her grasp. "You'll be fine, just don't get in trouble!" His mother smiled as he got up.

"Okay Mom, love you!" Nick waved back, wanting her gone already.

"Don't get into fights!"

"Okay, Mom!"

"Make friends!"

"Okay Mom..."

"I better not hear you doing drugs!-"

"Mom!"

Nick scrunched up his face in embarrassment, making kids at the front of the stairs look at him, making a fool of himself. "Alright just have fun, Nicky!" His mom laughed at her son's sheepish face, as he finally started reluctantly ascending the stairs. So far, only a few snickers follow on his first day...

"Could be worse," he sighed. He could trip and fall down the stairs, or people would notice the stain he's trying to cover, or drop an inconspicuous pouch hoping no guy would pick it up, or-

HONK!

"...That..."

Nick dreads as he turns to see the source — a red Catalina Convertible pulling up.

"No..."

And his mother from that convertible screamed for EVERYONE to hear. "Nicky-Poo! Your barf bag I almost forgot!"

As his mother waved it around for EVERYONE to see, this will haunt him for the rest of his life.

"Thanks, Mom," Nick said, smiling with his teeth, seeing students attempt to hold in their laughter as he knew what would happen next. "I'll be here at three-thirty, remember to wait outside here, m'kay?" She smiled, pinching his cheeks and finally, she drove off taking the remains of Nick's dignity as a sea of laughter erupted.

"Nicky-Poo!" A girl mocked him.

"I'll pick you up at three, Nick-Poo!" A boy mockingly making kissy faces.

"Here's your barf bag, Nicky-Poo!" Someone threw a tissue at him.

"Sure, give me a month... More like fifty years."

"Definitely the entrance of the year..."