Elena Rodriguez is friendly kind of person.
She had tons of friends at the neighborhood. Young, old, girl, boy, lesbian, gay, all sorts of people. She had her best friend, too, Jason Ignacio. they were best buds since kindergarten.
Elena met this girl way back last summer. Her name was Melissa Millard and she lived across the street. Melissa had this long braided hair. She’s pretty and… yeah, pretty. Upon meeting this girl, all Elena and Jason could comment is that she’s pretty and she never gets this haggard look. Not until…
Summer of 2012. Elena was really happy that school’s already ended. No more waking up at 6 AM. No more homework, no more hard exams and no more mean girls who gets on her way. Although she’s so friendly, those mean girls mistook her friendliness to flirtation. And she hates those mean girls. But good thing, she had Jason with her. Jason. Jason, Jason, Jason. If only Jason knew---
ANITA: Elena! Daydreaming again? Who is it this time?
Anita, she doesn’t know yet her sister had a big crush on Jason. The best alibis of her daydreams are famous hot actors. If she told her about Jason, she’s going tell everyone in their neighborhood that her sister had a secret crush on her best friend. Elena doesn’t want that. She’s cared that Jason will avoid her because of the fact the she likes him. A lot.
ANITA: I’m going out.
ELENA: Out again? With whom this time?
ANITA: With my girlfriends, of course. Who else?
ELENA: Names please?
ANITA: Sarah and Minnie. We’re going to the mall and shop. I’ll be back before it gets dark.
ELENA: Okay. Be careful, alright?
ANITA: Duh? Of course. I’ll be going now. Do you want me to buy something for you?
She asked this with a shyness tone on her voice.
ELENA: I’m cool. Thanks.
ANITA: Okay. Bye.
She closes the door gently behind her.
ELENA: Home alone. As usual.
Elena and Anita’s parents are out of town. They’re in Spain spending their anniversary. They’ll be back in a week. Their uncle visits them every Wednesdays and weekends to check them up. And sometimes Anita’s girlfriends would also have a sleepover. So they’re never really that scared. The neighborhood’s somehow safe though.
So there she goes again, all alone in their big, empty house. Elena and Anita never really go out together that much. Nita’s always with friends ever since she turned 14. She’s 15 now, all grown up. Elena remembered when she was her age; she used to go out with friends too. Now that she’s 17, she goes out with Jason, as friends.
Jason’s one fine guy. He’s really cute and so manly. He’s also 17, but he seems like a 20-year-old guy. Many girls in their neighborhood had a crush on him and they were like “Elena, are you and Jason together?” And she was like “No, no. we’re just best friends.” Best friends. “Yeah, that’s all we can ever be.” Thought Elena always.
Rrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggggg!
ELENA: Coming.
She opened the front door and to her surprise, it was Jason. He’s wearing a gray shirt and summer shorts. His favorite shirt. It looks good on him, it shows how manly he is. His cuteness and everything. Elena stared at him for seconds.
JASON: Yo? Is there a dirt on my face?
ELENA: No. none. Of course not. You’re… you’re okay.
JASON: So you ready?
ELENA: Ready for what?
JASON: I knew it. You’ve forgotten. Haha! We’re going biking around the neighborhood. Remember?
ELENA: *face palm* (Crappy! Right! We we’re supposed to go biking around the neighborhood. How could have I forgotten about that?) I’m so sorry, Jas.
JASON: That’s okay. I can wait for you to prepare yourself.
ELENA: It’s okay. I’m always ready… (Ready for you.)
JASON: So let’s go?
ELENA: Yeah. Let’s.
Elena went beside the garage to get her bike. She was never that nervous in front of Jason, just that very moment.
ELENA: What’s gotten into me lately?
JASON: You saying something, Elly?
Elly is Elena’s nickname to Jason.
ELENA: Um, nothing. I said, let’s race. Hehe. -_-
They started pedaling and spent the whole afternoon biking around the neighborhood. Stopping by to some friend’s house to chill for a moment and back to biking again. By 4:00 PM, they went back to the street where Elena lived.
ELENA: I had a blast. Wow, I wonder how many pounds I lost.
JASON: Probably… nothing. You’re still fat. Kidding!
ELENA: Jerk.
Elena saw a pretty lady in front of their house carrying boxes right out of her car.
ELENA: Looks like I got a new neighbor.
JASON: Wanna help her out? Looks like she’s all alone.
ELENA: Come on.
They walked to the lady and offered her help.
ELENA: Hi. I’m Elena Rodriguez. I live across the street. You need some help?
MELISSA: Hi, I’m Melissa Millard. Oh, no, thank you. I don’t wanna spoil your time---
JASON: No, it’s okay. We just got home from biking around the neighborhood. I’m Jason by the way. I’m her best friend.
MELISSA: Hi, nice to meet the both of you. Thank you. Are you sure this is not a bother?
ELENA: It’s okay. We’re neighbors after all.
Jason carried the big boxes towards the empty house. Elena and Melissa carried the small ones and the luggage. Elena flashed Melissa a smile. Melissa replied with a grin.
To be continued…
