||Hello Neighbour: A Better Timeline||

||Chapter 1: The Blue House||

"Narf?"

Nicky stirred, not fully awake but he found him in the back of the car again, stretched out in the back seat as his parents drive to another town for his Mom's job, though this time was a bit different.
Apparently his dad had a friend that said there's plenty of spaces to work in their Banner or News Station.
So, mix of both.
Though he was far from excited, he felt numb moving again.
He had nothing to say goodbye to or. . . Anyone.
"Yeah? I'm up. . ."
"Sorry to wake ya, we're nearly there now."
Nicky sat up, adjusting his seat belt as he found it created a pressure mark around his neck, adjusted his hat that he used to cover his face from the sun.
"I think you'll like this town, Nicky."
He groaned.
Jay, adjusted the mirror to look back at Nicky, he wasn't excited and it was understandable; Nicky was tired, the dark circles under his eyes proved that to be the point and not mentioning past schools.
Jay glanced at Luanne, her eyes on a piece of paper but she glance up and offered a smile and gave his hand a squeeze.

=

"Is it. . . Blue or. . .?"
"I'm not sure? Maybe it looks that way to due age?"
The house did seem old, but it was a very nice house so with a little fixing up; It'd look great!
Jay rested his hand on Nicky's shoulder,"How about you go pick a room? I'll get the power on.", Nicky nods, taking his backup and a box to claim a room.
Jay walked around the house, following the wire that he hoped lead to a box as the paper described.

~

Nicky found the house kind of spacious, it would be nice to have more space but. . . It was only the 3 of them.
Walking upstairs, he found more rooms and as he peaked inside each one to choose the room.
And one room, he really liked.
It had the view of the street and the room was spacious enough.
He set his box on the old bed frame and his bag on the window sill, it was a nice place to sit and-
Oops!
He jumped back as the window fell backwards, he quickly grabbed it and put it back.
Right. That comes off; Some time of screen for bugs. . . He thinks.

"Nice choice."
Jay entered the room,"We'll get a lot of things redone like painting, floorboard and all that stuff. Got a colour in mind you want your walls to be?", Nicky shrugged, he was sure they weren't sticking around long so, what was the point?
"I dunno yet. . ."
"Take your time, Kiddo; Want me to bring your stuff in or?"
Nicky turned around,"It's okay, I'll get it.", so Nicky rushed downstairs to get his boxes of stuff.

~

"I didn't realise how spacious the house was, or the backyard."
Luanne was looking out the kitchen window, Jay placed the kitchen appliances on the counter and checked himself,"Yeah, well; We could get Nicky some stuff to play on like a Trampoline, swing or slide? Or start a garden??", Luanne nods,"I guess.", though the toys she understands, but she was not much of a gardener.

~

Nicky sighed, sitting on the curb; He was done, he didn't have much stuff to move if he's honest and he wasn't unpacking.
'Meow'
He set his thoughts aside, a small cat came over to him and rubbed itself against him,"Awe, aren't you a cute kitty.", Nicky gave it a pat and scratch.
The cat then turned to the house across the street, sat and watched it, Nicky looked at the house and took in how big it looked.
Probably a big family lived there, it looked really nice and the blue was more. . . blue?
Then he noticed a. . . Person in the window, staring at him. . . Or the cat?
He titled his head, squinting a bit but he couldn't get a good look from the curb.
"Narf?"
Nicky turned around, the cat jumping up and running off.
"That was a nice cat, you okay?"
"Uhm. . . Yeah."
Jay sat next to him,"It will be okay, I promise you; You'll like it here, and there's someone that wants to meet you.", Nicky was interested, though he wasn't hopeful.
"Now; I'll get myself a Suzzy; Want one?"
Nicky smiled,"Yeah.", he got up and catch to his dad, sparing a look behind him at the house.

=

"I was not spying! I was. . . Observing."
Mya titled her head, hands on her hips,"Yeah. . .", Aaron pointed at her,"Oh don't look like you are any better; You're just as curious!", they stared each other down.
. . .
They both peered out of the blinds, curiosity getting the best of them both.
"I see. . . A blonde lady."
"Oh, she looks serious; Business Woman?"
"Maybe. . . She looks a little scary, but that must be her husband; He looks nice."
"Yeah! And that must be their son."
. . .
"You think he's my age or your age?"
"I dunno, I can't tell. . . But he's sure tired."
"Yeah. . ."

=

That night, Nicky tossed and turned but just couldn't sleep again.
He eventually sat up, sat the desk and began to mess with the lock.
. . .
"CAW!"

Nicky jumped, a Crow was sat on the other side of the window.
"You scared me. . . Guess it's why it's called Raven Brooks."
The Crow titled his head at Nicky, Nicky smiled and put his finger on the window,"I've never seen a Raven or Crow get this close to someone.", the Crow Squacked again, before flying off.
He saw the person again from across the way.
Though from the flashlight he seemed to have, he looked. . . A lot older?
He put something on the window, then used his flashlight to pin it against the glass.

"Saw you earlier. Noticed your lockpicks."

Huh.
Nicky grabbed a note, scribbled the note down and lifted it up.

"Yeah, need something a bit harder; Picked this one a lot."

The boy lifted another one.

"Wanna come over tomorrow?"

. . .

Nicky was surprised but, he didn't have anything to do tomorrow as shopping day was the day after.

"Sure."