Dream

A forced friendship

Mia sat in the passenger seat of her dad's car, her arms crossed over her chest as they pulled into the driveway of a large, imposing house. She watched as her dad parked the car and turned off the engine, a tense silence filling the air between them. Every passing tree and house seemed to mock her, a reminder of the life she had been forced to leave behind.

The car ride to the unfamiliar neighborhood felt longer than usual, each passing street sign a reminder of Mia's displacement. She stared out of the window, watching the world pass by in a blur of colors and shapes, her thoughts consumed by the uncertainty of her new situation.

"So, Mia," her dad's voice cut through the silence, filled with a forced cheerfulness that grated on Mia's nerves. "I know this isn't exactly how you wanted to spend your summer, but I promise we'll make the best of it, okay?"

Mia merely grunted in response, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she turned her gaze back to the passing scenery. She had long ago resigned herself to the fact that this summer was going to be anything but enjoyable.

"And who knows," her dad continued, undeterred by Mia's lack of enthusiasm, "maybe you'll make some new friends while you're here."

Mia rolled her eyes internally, the idea of making friends in a place where she knew no one feeling like an impossible feat. She had never been good at making friends, and the thought of starting over in a new town filled her with a sense of dread.

With a heavy sigh, her dad pulled into the driveway of a large house, effectively ending their conversation. Mia's heart sank as she stared up at the imposing structure, a sense of unease settling in the pit of her stomach.

"What are we doing here?" Mia asked, her voice tinged with apprehension.

Her dad merely smiled, a hint of excitement dancing in his eyes. "We're here to visit an old friend of mine," he replied cryptically, opening the car door and stepping out onto the gravel driveway.

Mia followed suit, her curiosity piqued despite her misgivings. She trailed behind her dad as he made his way to the front door, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the quiet neighborhood.

The door swung open before they could even knock, revealing a tall man with graying hair and a warm smile.

"Frank! It's good to see you," he said, extending a hand in greeting.

"Tom, good to see you too," Mia's dad replied, shaking the man's hand firmly. "This is my daughter, Mia."

Mia forced a polite smile as she shook the man's hand, but her mind was racing with questions. Who was this man? And why were they here?

"Harper's upstairs," Tom said, gesturing toward the staircase. "I'll go get her."

Before Mia could protest or ask any questions, Tom disappeared up the stairs, leaving Mia and her dad standing awkwardly in the entryway.

Mia turned to her dad, her confusion evident on her face. "What's going on?" she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Her dad merely smiled, a knowing glint in his eyes. "You'll see," he replied cryptically, gesturing for her to follow him into the house.

Mia's unease only grew as they made their way through the unfamiliar surroundings, the sense of displacement weighing heavily on her shoulders. She had no idea what to expect, but one thing was for certain—this summer was shaping up to be anything but ordinary.

And as she waited for Harper to make her appearance, Mia couldn't help but wonder what other surprises this unexpected encounter had in store for her.

After what felt like an eternity, Tom returned, followed by a figure that Mia recognized immediately from school—Harper.

Harper's expression shifted from mild confusion to recognition as she spotted Mia. "Oh, hey," she greeted, her tone neutral but tinged with curiosity.

"Harper, this is my daughter, Mia," Mia's dad introduced, breaking the tension.

Mia forced a polite smile, nodding in greeting. "Hi," she said, her voice small.

Harper nodded in return, her eyes flickering between Mia and her dad. "Nice to meet you," she replied, her tone guarded.

Mia's dad cleared his throat, breaking the awkward silence that had settled over the room. "Why don't you two go hang out while Tom and I catch up?" he suggested, a hint of excitement in his voice.

Before Mia could protest, her dad was already ushering her towards Harper, leaving Mia with no choice but to follow.

As they made their way to Harper's room, Mia couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She barely knew Harper, and the idea of spending time alone with her was more than a little intimidating.

Harper's room was a stark contrast to the rest of the house—colorful and chaotic, with posters covering every inch of wall space and clothes scattered haphazardly across the floor.

Mia hesitated in the doorway, feeling like an outsider invading Harper's personal space. But Harper merely waved her in, gesturing for her to take a seat on the bed.

The room was a riot of colors and textures. Posters adorned the walls, ranging from vintage band prints to abstract art pieces, all overlapping in a kaleidoscope of images. A mismatched assortment of throw pillows lay scattered across the bed, each one a different pattern and fabric. The windows were adorned with sheer curtains that billowed gently in the breeze, casting dappled shadows across the room.

"So, what's up?" Harper asked, breaking the silence.

Mia shrugged, feeling awkward under Harper's scrutinizing gaze. "Not much," she replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "Just...hanging out, I guess."

Harper nodded, seemingly unfazed by Mia's awkwardness. "Cool, cool," she said, her tone casual. "So, what do you wanna do?"

Mia shrugged again, feeling out of her depth. "I don't know," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Harper smirked, a hint of mischief dancing in her eyes. "Well, we could always play a game," she suggested, reaching for a deck of cards on her bedside table.

Mia hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Sure, why not," she replied, trying to ignore the butterflies fluttering in her stomach.