Stranger

-1-

"Yeah, just turn left and go straight," I say into my phone. "What? No! It's not on Mulberry drive, I told you that it was on Camelot Street no more than two minutes ago Ginny," I reply with an annoyed sigh. This was my fifth time guiding my sister back to the new house. Ever since she came back from University of Chicago a week ago for thanksgiving, I think she got dumber. Not that I would say it to her face, but I doubt she has good grades there. How did she get a full scholarship in music? Is that even a thing? "Ugh. Why can't you just call mom about this?" I ask her. "I don't care if she's a at work, I'm busy playing Mario Bros," I say to her, quickly dodging a Koopa Troupa on my wii U. "Ugh. For the last time Ginny, it's not a kid game, and I can play it if I want." I pause my game and get off of my black bean bag. "Are you close to the house yet? Do you see the basketball hoop?" I run up the stairs, taking each step two at a time. My feet bang against the carpet and I reach the top. "Ok. I'll meet you out front," I say, hanging up and putting my iPhone back in my pocket. I open the basement door and walk to the front door of the house, opening it. Even though we've only been in this house for a week and a half, I've memorized where everything is and how everything works. I honestly don't mind that we moved from Washington to Chicago. I mean, I thought that Washington got old pretty quick. I didn't have many friends, because of my tendency to be late or flake out on them. None of them were very fond of video games, which I was addicted to. My mom felt sorry for me, she said some junk about my bottling up my emotions, so she bought me a Wii U. Hey, I don't know why, but a Wii U is a Wii U, out of pity or not. I start school this Monday. My mom thought it would be best to take a week off, but I knew all she wanted was down help unpacking and washing stuff. I'm was fine with that, because I needed to decorate my new room.

After about a minute of impatiently waiting in the lawn for my sister, her baby blue slug bug pulls into our driveway, filled to the roof with bags, decorations, and her smiling self.

My sister, Ginny, was an optimistic balloon head. All she did was brag about her reports, assignments and grades. If she wasn't working on homework, she was bragging about getting into the University of Chicago. If that wasn't the case, she was hugging the living daylight a out of someone, like me.

"Argh!" I grunt, getting swept up into the arms of my smiling sister. She hugs me furiously and I frown.

"What's wrong with you? I saw you last week!" I say, managing to push away from her. She laughs and hugs me again.

"I missed you little bro!" She yells to me. I spit a lock of red hair out of my mouth. The funny thing was that my parents named my sister after one of JK Rowling's characters, Ginny. After they saw her fire red hair, my dad, who was a fan at the time, insisted they call her Ginny.

"Yeah. Same with you, but seriously... I can't breathe," I say, wheezing for air. She immediately lets go and I gulp some air into my lungs. She chuckles.

"Sorry... Now show me that house!"

"I showed you it last Monday! Don't you remember?" I say, exasperated.

"Yeah, but I wanna see it again!!!" She squeals. I purse my lips and walk inside and to the kitchen. She trails behind me like a little, lost puppy. I take a Coke bottle out of the pack in the fridge and sit down at the bar, sipping at the can. Ginny looks at my can and giggles, looking into the fridge for a can of her own. She shuffles around in there for some time before picking a red can and sitting next to me. She opens it, takes a sip, then sets hers down, only to grab mine.

"What's wrong with you!" I yell at her angrily. She sips the bottle then point to my can and I read it: Share a coke with... A Sister... I sigh a long sigh as I realize why she was looking for a certain can. She hands me her bottle and I expect to see brother on it, but read: Share a coke with a Villain. I glare over to her and she laughs hysterically at my face. I reluctantly drink her coke, and she keeps laughing.

"Hi kids!" My mom's voice rings through the house along with the garage door slamming shut. My sister stands up so fast, I'm surprised she didn't get a head rush.

"Mommmm!" She squeals, running to engulf our mother with a big hug.

"Hey mom," I say, taking out my phone. My mom hugs my sister back then manages to pry away.

"Hey guys. Oh Ginny! How's school!" Mom asks excitedly.

"Great! We're learning about World War One in social studies and going further into biology in science. Calculus is also hard work, but I'm getting great grades on everything so far. Straight A's, as usual," Ginny adds proudly. I roll my eyes and continue texting one of my friends from back home.

"Awwww! I'm so proud of you Hun! What should we have for dinner?" Mom asks us. I shrug.

"I don't care. Whatever you want Ginny," I say to my sister. She smiles, and I already know her answer.

"Spaghetti and meatballs!!!!" She exclaims, rushing to the pantry. Ever since we were kids, Ginny has always loved spaghetti and meatballs. My mom makes the best meat sauce, and Ginny can cook the angel hair pasta to perfection. I usually just set the table.

"I'll get the table set up!" I say, shutting off my phone and putting it in my back pocket for later. I walk to the cubbies and take three plates out for each of us.

My parents are divorced, which means my dad isn't around much. He lives in Montana because of work reasons, or at least that's what he tells us.

My sister comes back from the pantry holding a box of pasta and some marinara sauce. She hoists a large cooking pot on the stove and fills it with water. I arrange the plates around the table, then walk to the drawer to fetch some silverware. I set down a fork, knife, and spoon for each plate, along with a napkin. Ginny is cooking the pasta still and my mom is heating the sauce and stirring in some ground beef. A ring echoes through the house and I turn towards the door. I walk across the room.

"I'll get it," I say casually, opening the door. A middle aged man and woman are smiling to me. The woman with brown hair, and the man with reddish brown hair. They have an arm around one another and are wearing ridiculous grins.

"Hello! We're the new neighbors from across the street. We just moved in!" The woman exclaims. Great. Two perky new people in my life. That's just great. My mother and sister come to me and my mom smiles at the couple.

"Hi there! You're new! Well, I'm Maddison Thompsons. Nice to meet you!" Mom says, holding a hand out.

"Hey," I mutter, keeping a straight face. Ginny smiles politely.

"Hello! Welcome to the neighborhood," she says.

"I'm Linda, and this is Curt," says the woman, gesturing to her husband. I mentally roll my eyes at the happy couple. How can anyone be truly that happy? "We also have a 17 year old daughter, but she's back at the new house arranging her room," they explained. Of course they had a child. They were too touchy not to have a child. Ugh. She's probably just as bad as them. "Do you want to come over for dinner?" I know my mom would say yes, so I answer before her.

"Sorry. We can't. We already have plans," I say. They nod in understanding.

"Ok. Maybe another time," says Linda. Or maybe never, I think to myself.

"Let's have a barbecue tomorrow for dinner? Does that sound good?" My mom starts up, already wanting to plan ahead.

"Yes! That should work," Curt tells my mom, still smiling like an idiot.

"See you then!" Ginny exclaims, waving and shutting the door. She then angrily turns to me. "Would it kill you to be a bit kind to new neighbors?!" She yells exasperatedly. I look at the ceiling, pretending to think then smile and nod my head.

"Yup!"

"Grrrrrrrrr!" Ginny yells in frustration, running to the kitchen to put the dinner onto plates. I chuckle and my mom grins and nods as she follows Ginny into the kitchen.