Awkwardly Neighbors

Chapter 2

My jaw dropped as I covered my mouth with my clammy hand.

"Who are you?" I took a step back, tripping over a pile of clothes.

"Please don't hurt me." The voice said again, this time I watched as a shadow moved across the room.

"I won't. Where is a light switch?" I felt along the wall.

"No need. There is no electricity." It seemed like nothingness was talking to me.

"What's your name?" Bending down, I felt the dirty floor.

"Alex... You?" She responded.

"I'm Rachel. Alex, will you come grab my hand so I can see you? I'm not going to hurt you?" Sticking my hand out, my fingertips hit hers.

My fingers met the back of her hand as I walked through the hallway into the sun lighted living room. Alex's thick black hair fell upon her back, and her brown eyes looked in mine. I could tell she was hurt before. Her face told a silent riddle of her life, her lips were dehydrated with slight cracking, and her face was pale.

"How old are you?" I grabbed her other hand and stared at her waiting for an answer.

"Thirteen."

"Where are your parents?" I let go and reached in my pocket for a hair-tie.

"They aren't here anymore, but I don't want to talk about it." She said as I pulled her hair up and off her sweaty neck. Alex wore a dirty t-shirt and cut up and stained shorts. Her shoes seemed 2 sizes too small and had holes. Skinny chicken legs, she seemed to have.

"Do you need me to get you help? Like a foster home or-"  I began to say.

"No!!! Please don't. This is my home." Alex was helpless, I couldn't take advantage of this.

"Okay, okay, I won't. Alex you can stay here, I'm not going to mess this up for you." I trembled.

"Promise?" She stuck out her pinky.

"I promise," Our pinkies wrapped around, "I'm going to run over to my house and get you some food."

I was about to run out the door, when Alex spoke up again, "Don't go through the front door. I had to break the lock to get inside. So use the back door and lock it on your way out. Knock on the door when you're back."

I went through the back way and turned the lock before I shut it, as Alex requested.

Since Jase locked the doors, I had to go through my window... again. Pushing the screen in, it opened. I never locked my window, someone breaking in is the least of my troubles. Tip-toeing to the kitchen, I peeked around the corner, Jase was asleep drunk. How long was I gone?

When I reached my destination, I grabbed one of my mom's homemade loafs of bread, and a package of apple sauce. Before I left, I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. Walking back to my room, I picked up my old winter jacket for the cold nights, and a pair of tennis shoes. Crawling back out of my window, I jumped the neighbors' fence and into Alex's backyard. The grass was gone, it looked like a desert. Knocking on the glass, I watched Alex stand up and walk to the door. Her face lit up with joy as she saw the new clothing and food for her.

As she picked up her bread she started eating as if she hasn't eaten in a while. Eating every last bit until it came to licking her fingers. Peeling the apple sauce lid back, she poured every last bit into her mouth.

"I was so hungry." Alex pushed her knees up to her chest and lowered her head. It was silent for a second, until I heard her sniff. I watched as her tears fell down on her dirty legs.

"Thank you." She looked up at me and smiled.

"You're welcome." I handed her a pair of socks and shoes, then she slipped them on. So much gratitude came from the little thing I did. 

"You better get going, it's getting dark." Alex picked up another cup of apple sauce.

Looking around, I realized something, "You can come over to my house tonight. And take a shower. Clean up. Sleep on a mattress." I took her hand and she followed me outside. The wind started and the house began to creak.

"Are you sure it's okay?" Alex said as I helped her up and into the window.

"Yes." I faked a smile.

I cautiously showed Alex how to work the shower, and gave her a towel. She didn't know how bad my step-father would hurt me if he found out I was sneaking around. I had to stay in the bathroom too, or else he would wonder why I was running water slash wasting money. The heat from the water fogged up the mirror as I waited her to finish up. I heard her shut off the water, then she signaled me to hand her a towel. I brought her to my room to let her dress as I went back to kitchen to find some more food for Alex. I picked up two apples and scurried back to my room when Jase stopped me.

"What are you doing." Jase glared at me.

"Just needed a snack gosh." I attempted to push pass him.

"Don't talk to me like that. I am your father." Jase grabbed my arm and used his other hand to smack my face. Hard.

Tears rushed down my face as I kept trying to hold them in. I opened my door a crack and came in.

Seeing my face, Alex looked at me with pity, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." I handed her an apple as we sat down on my bed.

"How old are you Rachel?" Alex took a bite of apple and looked around in my room.

"Fourteen. How old are you?"

"Same." Alex smiled.

We ate our apples in silence.

Alex looked and smelled better, way better. I let her borrow some of my old clothes, and got her a new toothbrush and toothpaste from underneath my sink.

"Here, let me comb your hair." She turned as I grabbed my comb.

Going through her hair, I untangled and put it into a braid.

"Thanks." Alex laid down under the covers.

"I'm going to sleep over here by the side of the bed, away from the door. If someone comes in, pretend you're me." I smiled and laid down on the ground, and fell asleep.