Knock, Knock

Chapter 1: My Complicated Past

The first time Bryce Hemmings knocked on my door was when I was four years old.

*flashback*
I sit at my window, tracing the rain with my fingers. White fog forms around them. It's so cool, and I giggle. Daddy tells me Jack Frost makes that happen. Dad has told me a lot of things, like about how if I pull on my finger, I'll toot. I giggle again, taking my finger off the window to tug at it. Nothing happens, and I sigh. "It must be broken." I mutter. I'm so bored. Everything is boring when my father is working in his study. Just then, I hear a knock echo through our house. I squeal, hoping that my American Girl Doll has arrived, even though Daddy said she won't because he ordered her only yesterday. I decide to go and check anyway. I open the door to a scrawny boy who is definitely not my American Girl Doll. My face settles into a scowl
"Who are you?" I ask the boy. His big ears turn red and he grins shyly. "I'm Bryce. Your new neighbor." His feet shuffle and I stare at them for a few seconds. Then I look back up at the boy.
"You want some raisins?"

*end of flashback*
After that day, we were best friends. My dad always called Bryce the son he never had. Bryce's older sister Carlie became my idol, and I always tried to act like her and dress like her. Sometimes she would curl my hair or do my makeup, and those days would be documented in my diary forever. Bryce and I did absolutely everything together. We were on the same soccer team, went to all the same summer camps, and talked every night out of our windows. He called me his May Bird and he was my Bryce Spice. I know, not the best nicknames, but we were like toddlers, okay? Anyway, our friendship only grew as we got older.
By second grade, we had memorized each other. We could talk without speaking. He always knew what I was going to do and would occasionally try to do it first just to annoy me. I knew what he was going to say before he said it. I knew every detail of him. Heck, I knew his grandma's best friend's maiden name!
Then in fifth grade, something changed. Bryce's ears suddenly weren't so big anymore, and he grew like a weed. His voice started cracking, and then got deeper. His features balanced out and he got his braces taken off. Suddenly, my best friend was...... cute. My ten-year-old heart would start to beat faster when he hugged me, or when he took off his shirt when we went to the pool. I was crushing on my neighbor boy. But everything crashed down on a horrible night in eight grade.

Senior Year
Heels. Purse. Touch up makeup. Phone. Ok, good. I run down the stairs and slip on my heels at the front door.
"Bye Dad! Love you!" I call behind me as the door slams shut. "Love you too!" Comes muffled to my ears. I smile to myself. My ride pulls up.
"You gonna get in or am I gonna have to wait forever?" Comes from my best friend, Meg when she opens the window. A grin stretches across my face as I run to her car and slide in.

             "Today is the day!" I squeal. Meg gives her signature smirk and says,

             "Yes. The day Colin Marding will finally tell his girlfriend, Mayo, that he loves her."

         "It's May. I hate it when you call me that." I scold playfully. I'm too ecstatic to be mad. He had told me on our date last night that the next time he saw me, he would tell me something important. A confession. It had to be this. What else could it be? We had been dating for four months now. It was about time. And he had said it while holding my hand and kissing my cheek, so it can't be a negative thing.

         Thoughts rush through my head so fast that I don't even notice when we pull up and somebody knocks on my window. I look up. Bryce, with his jet black hair falling in his blue eyes, is staring at me, his hand hovering over the window. My heart nearly stops. I get out. "What's up?" I ask awkwardly. Things have been weird and painful between us since that night in 8th grade, when we kissed, but more on that later. Bryce sighs and runs his hand through his hair, which makes it even messier than before.

"Tonight, can you be at your window at 10:00? It's important." He says, looking at me earnestly. I watch him, the boy I know -knew- so well. The way he is playing with his worn piece of leather that has now been made into a bracelet, which he found when we were at the park together. His hands were and are always moving. The same old leather necklace with the same wooden bead hung around his neck. I had given him that, when we were ten. My old best friend and I haven't talked out our windows or anywhere else since.... that day. I meet his eyes.
"Bryce, we haven't spoken to each other since we were fourteen. It's senior year, and now you decide to speak to me? What changed?" My tone is hurt, and Bryce takes a step forward.
"I've missed you, May." The words send a jolt through me, and I resist hugging him. The words that come out of my mouth shock me, as well as him. "It's a little late for that, don't you think?" I turn away, but he grabs my arm. "Please, Maybers." His tone is soft. My heart squeezes at the nickname he gave me when we were five, along with May Bird.
"No," I say, "we aren't even friends." Then I storm away, heels clicking. Bryce's sudden appearance has taken my mind momentarily off Colin, so I startle when arms slide around my waist. A nervousness sends my heart beating. "Colin." I breathe, turning around to kiss my quarterback boyfriend. He smiles against my mouth before pulling away. "Hey babe. Remember what I told you last night?" He looks at me with a slow smile. I nod eagerly. Colin winks. "Meet me in the old portable during lunch period." His words send my heart beating fast. Then Colin's eyes narrow at something behind me. "What do you want, Hemmings?" His tone is harsh and I turn to see Bryce glowering at us. My neighbor's eyes soften when he looks at me. His gaze lingers on my neck which is decorated with a small necklace his older sister gave me. Then he smirks. "Nothing. You're making out next to my locker, that's all." He gestures to the locker next to mine. My face burns. I tug on Colin, but he won't budge. "Colin." I say sternly. His anger quiets. "Don't talk to him." Colin hisses at me, then walks off. I fold my arms and glare at Bryce as he puts his stuff in his locker. "What?" He asks innocently. "You ruined the moment." I say bitterly. Bryce's blue eyes turn hard. "Don't go with him today. That guy's a sicko. You have no idea what you're getting yourself into." Bryce says. I scowl. "Colin is my boyfriend. I know him way better than you do." I feel hurt for some reason. My old best friend sighs. "I'm only trying to protect you, May." "I don't need protection." I bite back. Bryce rolls his eyes. "Of course. The Queen Bee. Sorry, I forgot." My eyes narrow, and I try to hide my hurt. I take a step closer to him. "At least I'm not an egotistical jerk like you." I snarl. Bryce laughs without humor. "Yeah, because you know them so well, don't you?" "Yeah, because I know you." My words are petty, but they seem to take a bite out of Bryce. He steps back. "I don't even know you anymore. What happened to that little girl?" He murmurs, reaching to touch my shoulder. I take a step away from him before he touches me and slam my locker shut. "She grew up."

So yeah. It's a bit short, and a bit messy and bland, but I hope you guys liked it. I'll try to update soon..... So yeah...... Review!

~ Sadie