THE NEIGHBOUR [editing 13.7.26]

Chapter 1: The Removalist Truck

------MARLEYS P.O.V------

My eyelids lift open and everything in front of me comes into focus. The blurry white patch clears out to become my Maths Textbook and then the pens and pencils, calculator and pencil case comes into view as well. Then it occurs to me. Massive Maths UNI qualifier tomorrow.

I groan internally and externally and lifted my heavily sleep marked face off the ground. Apparently I have fallen asleep while studying. Nothing new.

I get off the ground and off my lazy ass and set off to venture for some fresh air. I open the window. Great day outside.

I pack up my textbooks and make my way down stairs. My mum is in the kitchen, as always, stirring up something. God knows what. I shuffle my self over to her and lean over her shoulder playfully, studying her cooking skills and eventually becoming bored of it.

I sulk to the fridge and pull out a popper. Don't judge okay I still like poppers. My mum judges though. As soon as I pulled out the popper her whiny voice is already audible.

"Marley, you're 21 and you're still drinking poppers"

"Wasn't it you that was telling me, and I quote, 'stop growing, I miss my little marshmallow'?"

She hesitates for a moment. "Just go and drink you popper".

I grin and I mentally high-five myself for slaying my mum with that come back. Then I drag myself up the stairs while ripping the wrapping for the straw on the juice box.

As I make my way up the stairs I pass Peters room and immediately a horrible stench met my nose.

"Haven't you ever heard of deodorant Pete?" I yelled at him.

"Nope, will you introduce me to him?" Peter remarked sarcastically.

"That joke was as lame as Aunty Jennies lemon cake." I exclaimed.

I stalked away and headed to my room. I slipped my phone off my bedside table and checked the lock screen as I stabbed my popper, mentally apologising to the cardboard box of delight in front of me.

Instantly a message popped up on my lock screen. It was Jason.

JASON: Hey babe. How's the heavy studying treating ya? x

I smiled to myself. He cares. I joyfully sipped my juice and replied.

MARLEY: Hey Jase. I miss you so much! Studying is giving me an emotional bruise I would say. Also some face marks from sleeping. Long story. So what are you doing?

I sent the message and as I did a horn honked outside. I walked towards my window to observe what was going on.

A removalist truck had pulled up in front of the currently empty house next door to us.

Behind it a Subaru station wagon parked itself by the truck. Out stepped a boy, who looked about the same age as me. He was tall and hot might I add. But I had a boyfriend.

Jason (internal heart melt)

Anywho, he had messy brown hair and sported a beanie. Unfortunately I absolute loved beanie.

He walked up to the front door. He was rolling behind him two suitcases and he had a backpack on his back. By that time his mother and father had already walked up to the front door and so had a little girl. I assumed this was the mysterious boys sister.

They entered the house and one by one the removalist dudes did to, heaving cardboard boxes, some big some small.

I had a new neighbour. I knew what this meant. Every time someone new moved into our street, all the residence had a welcoming party type of thing. It was a Loral Avenue tradition. At least I could get to know this guy better.

I jogged downstairs, phone and my empty popper in hand. I was planning to alert my mum on the interesting news. But apparently they had figured that out by themselves.

Both my brother and mother had their faces literally pressed against the front yard window, staring outside like a pair of hawks. Creepiness. Runs in the family.

At that moment my phone vibrated in my hand and I looked up. Jason had responded to my text.

JASON: Oh nothing much. I'm at the Tortilla Tavern. Grabbing some nachos. How about you?

Mm. Feel like nachos. Crispy deliciousness filled with cheesy
amazingness with a pinch of-

Ding dong

The sudden sound of the doorbell scared the living daylight out of me. And scared my cheesy nachos thoughts out of my mind to. Dammit.

"MARLI, GET THE DOOR!" my mum screamed from the other side of the house.

"YES MA'AM" I yelled back with a sarcastic tone.

The doorbell rang again.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!"

Geez. Take a chill pill. Whoever it is, he/she must be eager to talk.

I swung open our door, only to be greater by a cheery, and I mean extremely cheery woman. Extremely cheery. Have I said that enough?

"Hi, I'm Rosanna Philips and we just moved in next door"

A/N:
Yayayayya hope whoever reads it likes it because it took a lot of hard work and sweat and battlescars and stuff! Vote and comment.

UPDATE: Friday or Saturday

WORDS: 895