vampire ; c.t.h

chapter 1

Simplistic is easy when you're the most average highschool girl ever; simplistic comes naturally, as if it were minimalistic, cute and short. Like the average highschool girl.

Avery Beau-Marie Nightingale was petite, simplistic and cute. Like the average highschool girl. Constantly daydreaming, doodling, playing with her hair, and even, tragically a social outcast, when she had the beauty to be the most popular in school, and even with all that, she managed to have a perfect family and perfect grades. That's what everyone thought; but nobody voiced it. Nobody even knew her name, aside from Mel, Avery's best friend. They stuck together, and they surprisingly looked alike, some would mistake them for sisters.

Mel and Avery were hands down the prettiest girls, the most natural and simplistic. Plane white crop tops, black high waisted jeans, flower crowns and cute boots. Natural makeup, nothing drastic, nothing bright or eye catching, just... simple. Unfortunately, due to the simple and natural nature of them, they never got invited to anything exciting like parties, or the such. So they preferred to stay at Avery's middle-class, two story, three bedroom 4 bathroom house. It was beautiful, and found in a very nice neighborhood for a nice price. The only downside was the neighbour.

Most people love their neighbors, but Avery dreaded hers. He was her age, but lived alone, as far as she knew. He never left the house during the day, and when he did leave, it was when the sun was down. He was dressed in all black, shades and all, even in the dead night. Usually she would be curious, but a few years ago when she confronted him, he was a cocky dick, egotistical jerk who seemed like he knew everything. And he looked like he never aged; it was creepy. After what happened, her mother advised her to stay away from him. And she gladly did.

Until today.

"What do you mean I have to bring cookies to the neighbor? You mean Sheryl, right?" Avery asked, holding the plate of warm, soft cookies in her hand. She looked down at them and back at her mom, a rock sitting in her stomach.

"No, I mean the other neighbor. The boy!" Her mother exclaimed, sliding her mittens off and setting them on the counter, resting her hand down on the granite. She wore a white shirt and blue jeans, and some gold and silver jewelry that complimented her golden brown eyes and silver blonde hair. Despite her young age, Avery's mother looked old, years of hard work and mothering Avery and her brother could do that to a woman.

"Didn't you want me to like, stay away from him?" She shot back, squinting her eyes and looking at her mom closer in a sarcastic way.

"Yes, that was before. I think you can handle it."

"Mom-"

"Avery Beau." She said sternly, glaring at the girl.

"Fine, but you owe me!" She groaned, glaring at her mom as she walked away, black bunny slippers sliding against the wood floor, as she walked through the kitchen door, into the hallway towards the door. The sound of foots against stairs sounded through the front of the house, and her brother, Michael, ran down the stairs, guitar in hand. He snatched his keys, running out the door, yelling on his way out, "I'm headin' to Luke's!" The door slammed. She stared at the door, momentarily dazed.

Michael has known Luke since they were kids, and Avery had a crush on him, but it disappeared last year. Lowkey, though, she wouldn't mind making out with him. Shrugging off Michael's burst through the door, she slipped off her slippers and slid into her black toms, opening the door and sliding out, blinded by the morning sun. Closing the door behind her, she takes three steps before groaning again. The mysterious neighbor quickly retook her thoughts, her mind flying back to when she first saw him.

「 flashback 」

I look at the black door in front of me, nervously looking at my brother and Luke who sat in the living room window, which was in view from the neighbor's porch step. They could see me, and they kept nudging each other and laughing.