ON AND OFF THE SCREEN || J.N ✔️

1.

it all started in 2013, upon moving to los angeles. i had received a role in an upcoming nickelodeon show, which led to the relocation of my family from minnesota out to california.

just as we were scrambling around our new house unpacking boxes and sorting things out, the doorbell rings, followed by an audible sigh from my mom.

she rushes to the door, soothing out her jeans, fluffing her hair to look somewhat presentable.

"act organized! i think it's our neighbors. we've got to make a great first impression!" she calls before grabbing the doorknob. quiet snickers erupt from my brother. my dad lightly jabs him in the arm with his elbow to get him to stop.

immediately, i hear mom's upbeat, fake voice. the voice she uses around people she tries to impress. she never uses that voice with a lot of people. this means that she cares a lot of what these people think of us.

i stand upstairs leaning on the railing, spying down to the doorway of the front door. it's not just one person, it's a family. i reluctantly walk downstairs, peering at the doorway, attempting to get a better look at our new neighbors.

"margaret!" mom calls, looking up, then looking down at me, "oh, here she is, our reason of moving here!" mom says, presenting me to the family.

a lady, who appears to be the mother sticks her hand out, a notion for me to shake it.

"margaret, what a beautiful name?" the lady exclaims. her voice nearly matches the artificial tone that mom has. i take her hand and shake it, giving her a soft smile.

"thank you! but please, call me maggie," i respond, also speaking in my fake, polite voice that i use around strangers.

"maggie, got it. i'm nana, and this is scott, my husband, and my children, glory, xander and jace," she says, pointing at each of her kids.

i smile, not knowing what else to say or do.

"well, would you all like to come in? it's a bit of a mess, but you are welcome in!" mom says, her voice getting more cheerful by every word she speaks.

"oh, if you wants us to come back," nana starts to say.

"no, i insist! come on in!" mom says, stepping away from the door, presenting our house to the family.

i stand against the wall, looking at my new neighbors, particularly the kids.

glory appears to be the oldest child and the only girl, just like me. wow, she and kyle would make a perfect couple, only kyle is still hung over a girl back in minnesota. xander looks like the middle child. a middle child like nate. yeah, they'll be best friends. and jace? the youngest, like me. not to mention, he's cute. 

the normans start to walk in towards the living room, except for jace. he gives a small smile, rubbing his hands together behind his back.

"so, maggie? right? sorry, i suck at names," he says, trying to make eye contact with me. his mom hears him say 'suck' leading her whisper 'jace!'. he put his hands up in an 'i surrender' motion.

"yeah, that's right. and you're jace?" i ask, getting a nod as a response.

"so, your family moved to los angeles because of you? oh, sorry, i didn't realize that may be a touchy subject, i-"

"oh, no it's not! i act, and i got cast in a new show. henry danger."

"wait, henry danger?" he asks, seeming very excited. i nod.

"yeah! wait, are you..."

"i'm henry!! and you are?"

"fia!"

we smile at each other, realizing the awkward silence. i feel my cheeks turn a bright tomato red. he must've noticed because he gives me a smile.

"well, that's awesome! i thought i'd walk in on set not knowing anyone, i mean, that's pretty much what happens to everyone, i guess," he says. 

i smile at his slight awkwardness and he looks at the ground, his smile still on his face.

"yeah, and i moved here thinking that everyone would be so stuck up and rude, i mean, i'm from minnesota where people apologize for reaching for the same bottle of ketchup, but you're not stuck up or rude and i'll stop talking," i say, looking down. i feel my cheeks turn an even brighter red.

"that's what i thought when i moved here too, but you'll meet some of the best people here. especially those who have the same story as you. and speaking of stories, you seem interesting," he says, "interesting in a good way! not in a bad way, and it's my turn to stop talking."

we both smile at each other.

"alright normans, time to go, we'll let the parker's unpack," nana says, waving her arms in a 'come here' motion.

"see you later?" jace asks.

"yeah, see you later," i respond.

he waves on his way out, flashing a smile.

the best smile that i ever saw.

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