Closed Eyes

Closed Eyes [16]

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"Look! The new neighbors are outside!" Natalie squealed when our car passed their house where the whole family was outside. Elle was running around in the sprinklers with her swimsuit. Elliot tossed a football to Ethan, who caught it with ease. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were standing near the grill that smelt of hamburgers. Elaine sat in the grass, painting her toenails. Elizabeth was off to the side, near the van, talking on the phone and glancing at her family every so often.

"We should go over there." Conner suggested with as much excitement as Natalie. "I'd rather not." I told them.

Conner stopped in the driveway. Him and Natalie turned to face me with a mad look on their face. "We're gonna meet the new neighbors." Conner said. "You're coming with us since you insulted the new neighbors." Natalie added in a 'take that!' kind of way.

"Fine, whatever." I put my hand in the air. One by one, we exited the car and made our way across the street.

When they spotted us, Mrs. Anderson stood on the sidewalk smiling. Elaine sat below her, legs spread out and toes wiggling.

"Hi!" Natalie waved with a smile. Elizabeth looked up. She snapped her phone shut and stood next to her mother.

"Hello. How are you?" Mrs. Anderson greeted in a kind voice. "Awesome!" Natalie chirped.

"New neighbors, welcome!" Conner beamed like they were from another planet. Elizabeth lifted her sunglasses.

"I'm Conner." He said. "Natalie." Natalie smiled.

"Nice to meet you, this is Elizabeth." She pointed to her daughter who had her eyes fixed on Conner. "My daughter, Elaine." She pointed to the ground. Elaine was looking around, anywhere but at Kylie.

"Ethan and Elliot." She pointed to the boys. "Elle." Elle came over to sit on the ground next to Elaine.

"My husband, Mr. Anderson." Mrs. Anderson finished. Natalie looked at all the faces. "Does his name start with an E, too?" Natalie joked.

Mrs. Anderson's face hardened. "See, told you mom." Elizabeth put a hand on her hip. "A household filled with everyone's name starting with the same letter is tacky."

Natalie giggled and held her belly like a little kid. Conner blushed. "She didn't mean it like that." I said.

Mrs. Anderson just turned around and walked back into the house. Mr. Anderson and Elle followed.

Elaine stood up. "She's kinda temperamental." She told Natalie.

Kylie all of a sudden became jealous of Natalie. How come Elaine wouldn't talk to her like that? Let alone, at all.

"I feel like I know you." Elizabeth said to Conner. Conner rolled his eyes. "We went to the same school since kindergarten." Natalie stated.

Elizabeth stared at her. "Natalie? I hardly recognized you." She smirked. "You look so skinny."

Natalie rolled her eyes. "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that."

"Same here." Conner clenched his fist. Elaine and I went back and forth, trying to figure out the history between the three.

Elaine met my eyes. "Kylie, come with me." She said in a raspy tone. She didn't give me time to answer, she walked by Ethan. She whispered something in his ear. Whatever she said, he followed her to the open garage.

Elaine pointed to this white powder on the ground. "Do you see this?"

I nodded, unsure of what she was getting at. "This is the stuff that represents what we used to do."