Faris from Fairytale

1. Window - Zain

I was so close to winning the game, but I paused it using the button on my controller.

"Faris Zain Fuller!" My mom shouted from downstairs.

So much for not being bothered on a Saturday afternoon. I left my bed as I thought about what chores I didn't finish. I grabbed the rail as I jogged down the straight steps. "Ma'am?"

My mom stood by the front door with her hands on her hips. "How many times do I have to call you?"

"Not many times, ma'am," I replied.

"You remember when the neighbors on this side moved out almost a year ago?" She pointed at the wall.

I nodded my head.

"Well, we finally have new neighbors. Your dad is outside talking to them now. Looks like they have a daughter around your age. Let's go introduce ourselves." My mom smoothed out my eyebrows and ran her hand over my face and fresh haircut.

"Ma, I'm not a little kid."

She snapped her fingers. "Boy, hush! Let's go."

I followed her out the opened front door. On the side of our house, my dad talked with another man, a woman, and a girl. Because we lived on the corner and it's been so long since we had neighbors, I forgot we shared the grass between our houses.

My mom put her hand on my shoulder as we stood next to my dad.

"I was just telling the Chatmons about you two." My dad looked at us. "This is my wife Sarah and our son Zain. We just celebrated his 16th birthday last weekend. Honey, this is our new neighbors, Paul and Leena, and their daughter Giauna."

As our parents shook hands, Giauna and I barely smiled at one another. Seems like neither of us cared much to be here. As I scanned her from head to toe, my eyes were pleased. She wasn't taller than me. Her hair was in long cornrow braids. Her eyes were almond shaped like a cat. When her lips parted, I thought she was going to speak but she let out a sigh as if she was tired of me looking at her. I quickly looked at her mom who looked exactly like her. It reminded me of my mom and sister Farah. They were twins.

"I'm cooking dinner tonight. We'd be happy to have you all over," my mom told them.

"Thank you, but we already bought dinner," Mrs. Chatmon told my mom.

"How about we plan to have dinner next weekend after you all settle in," my dad told them.

The Chatmons looked at one another. I knew exactly what they were thinking, because I was thinking the same thing. We all just met. I don't trust them enough to eat their food so why would they trust us? Sometimes my parents act like we live in a nice and safe world.

I suggested, "Or we can go out to eat at one of the restaurants nearby."

The Chatmons quickly agreed.

My eyes went to Giauna who smiled while rolling her eyes, revealing her deep dimples. She was even more beautiful.

While our parents agreed to dinner at a local restaurant, I asked Giauna, "How old are you?"

She replied, "How old do I look?"

I smiled at her. "I'm sixteen, so you can't be older than me."

"And why not?"

"Because you look younger than me," I added base to my voice.

Giauna crossed her arms. "Whatever."

I dropped my smile. "What grade are you in?"

She giggled, "Look, just because we're neighbors doesn't mean we have to be friends."

I was right. She's younger than me. With the amount of attitude she's giving, she's definitely a pre-teen.