The Neighbor Next Door

Paranoid

On Friday, OJ decided it would be nice to take his kids out to dinner. He had decided against it on Monday, deciding Friday would be better for something like that, and it would give the kids time to tell him all about their week. They were currently waiting for their food, and his kids seemed as happy as they did at the beginning of the week-- something that was already a good sign.

"We might not be in the same class, but we do have the same P.E. coach, and lunch time, so we get to hang out there. We also met this kid, box, he's really cool! He's a year above us, and really quiet, but he writes really cool stuff!"
"You've met a writer? That's cool,"

"Yeah! They've shown us some of their stuff and I'd say it rivals your skills," Ry grinned, before taking a sip of the soda they ordered.

"Oh really now?" OJ raised an eyebrow, a playful challenge.

"Totally. They'll be a better writer than you someday!" Cher spoke this time, also smiling.

"Well, I only write for a hobby, anyways, so I'm not too offended."

"Anyways! We've told you all about our week, what have you been up to, Dad?"

OJ just blinked, having to... Honestly actually think about that. Other than work, and brief writing on Wednesday after doing some housework, well... Oh Gods, he was falling into a boring cycle wasn't he.

"W... Well, I got some writing done," He answered a bit sheepishly, keeping his expression of unpleasant realization down at the table. The truth was, he had nothing going on. He had thought about planning stuff, but... He was busy. He only had Saturday and Sunday off for sure, and Wednesday, but... He really only had so much time. It had been easier to ignore during the summer with his kids home and in the house, but this was different.

"Are you still writing that fantasy story with the two characters you totally stole from us?" Cher asked.

OJ let out a scoff, though the tone to it wasn't actually offended; "I specifically asked you two if I could write something with those guys, and uh... Yeah. I am, actually."

"What are they going through currently?" Ry asked, wondering if OJ had caught on yet about who the two characters were supposed to represent yet.

"Well, the knight guy and the prince are currently camping out in the woods, and thinking of a plan while they're both enemies of the kingdom... I'm thinking the two of them would be nice together, so this specific scene I have planned is of them getting closer."

Ry and Cher just shared a look. Their dad was still oblivious as ever, clearly.

"You think they have uhm... what's the word?" Cher looked to his brother

"Chemistry?" Ry answered.

"Yeah, that,"
"Well, yeah. There are plenty of stories about knights and royalty falling for each other,"

"Yeah, so what about these two is so special then?" Ry raised an eyebrow towards his dad.

"W... Well, uh..." OJ glanced to the side again. "Um-- well, it's like opposites attract kind of? They're both so jarringly different, but the circumstances still bring them together. They still end up falling for each other in the long times they spend together, and... haha-- Well we don't need to get into it," OJ trailed off into a slightly embarrassed, flustered laugh.

"S- so, how are your teachers? Are they nice?" He quickly tried to change the subject, noticing how the two shared a look, before deciding to answer, thankfully accepting the shift in subject. The more OJ thought about the two characters he was writing, the more embarrassed he felt. It just... Seemed like a story that was really close to his heart now, and he couldn't place why.