His Backyard

Step 1

The moving truck pulls up. It's loud, it wakes me up. My eyelids flutter as I see the dust roaming freely around the room. I turn my body, and see her, Jessie. She's the love of my life, her long blonde hair with light brown highlights is resting on my chest. I sit up and look to my left. She's comfortable, she doesn't know my pain. I get out of bed, put my brown shorts and tank top on. I tie my black chucks and walk in the bathroom. My hair is a mess, I style it to the best of my abilities at nine a.m,.

My bathroom doorknob is missing. I got in a fight with Jessie last night. I push the door open and walk down the stairs. My little brother is eating Doritos on the couch. "Joey, you're going to mess up the couch, at least get a bowl." I'm basically his guardian. We have parents, they just didn't want us. They raised me until I could raise Joey. I don't know where they are, I really don't want them to come back. My parents always hated my laid back fashion instead of the rich stereotype. My brother takes full advantage of it, wearing the top of everything, while I stay in the alternative line of things. They left when I was 15, Joey was 11. Now I'm 17, Joey is 13.

My guess is they bought a house near the Hamptons. Dad sends checks to me every month for Joey and I for food and gas. I open my door, and head down the marble steps. A shadow casts over our driveway. It's the moving truck.

I walk to the back of the truck. The latch is unlocked I pull it up. The back is loaded, there is a bunch of artifacts and expensive items. "What are you doing?!" says a woman in a dark blue suit.

"Oh, I was looking because I live next door."

"Hm. I'm sure of that, where are your parents? I'll take it up with them."

"Th-they're gone. I don't know where they are."

"Oh. I'm very sorry, I didn't know."

"It's okay,—welcome to the neighborhood." I say extending my hand. She shakes it as a hear a door slam. They have a son? He walks down and comes next to her.

"Oh, you scared me. Oscar meet your new neighbor this is-"

"My name is Daniel Mattely."

"I'm sorry we got on wrong starts. My name is Natalie Logan."

She seems paranoid, is it because of me seeing what was in there? She rubs her hands together and puts one behind Oscar, they enter the house letting the moving people do their jobs. I put my head down asking myself why is he like that, quiet, calm, mysterious. I rub the back of my beck pulling my head up, and I see a silhouette walking behind his house. I ignore it, I walk back and open my front door to see Jessie. She's naked, only wearing one of my light blue pastel, button downs with her left shoulder hanging out. Her arms are crossed, why would she be mad.

"Hey babe? My little brother is right there could we take this to my room?"

"Who are those people?" She snaps, what does she suspect? "The new people, they are moving in next to us." She tilts her head inferring that I'm lying, she never trusts me. "Uh, okay, why don't we go back to where we left off yesterday." She says gripping the low color of my shirt and whispers in my ear. I push her back, we can't do this in front of Joey, he's too young. "Look, I'm going to help them get their stuff in, I'll call tonight okay? I promise." I lean to kiss her forehead as she hugs me. Jessie runs up to my room to get dressed. "Joey, be good."

I walk out to the moving truck, there are two muscular men lifting furniture. I walk in their door, I knock as I enter even though I'm already in. "Hey–Oscar right?" I knew his name, but to not be creepy I hesitated. He is leaning on the wooden wall.

"Yeah, if your looking for my mom she left, to get the rest of the stuff." He straightens up and takes his headphones out.

"No, I was actually looking for you, I was wondering if you wanted to walk around some?" He looks to his left, and darts out the back door into his backyard. It only is woods, what's so interesting about those? My fave burns up, did I say something wrong!? Why am I so focused on this. I turn my head and see a wall of pictures. That must have been Oscar when he was younger. He looked happy, energetic, innocent, now he's–even I don't know. The house is dusty. It's an old house they moved in. The last owners that bought it in the 1970's, it's only been on the market for around seven years. There is a weird vibe about this place, about him. I scratch the back of my head and leave the house. I rest my hands in my pockets walking back to my house.

"Daniel, can I order some food?" Joey ask me, I don't respond, my head is too wrapped around Oscar.

"Dan?!"

"Sure whatever! Money's on the counter!" I snap. I run up to my room. I open my door running to my bed slamming my door behind me. I shake my head trying to forget it, and pull out my phone. 43 missed calls from Jessie Banks. What happened with her, is she okay? I look at my messages.

Jessie

Where are you?!
Text me NOW!!!
You didn't call me.
Are you cheating on me???

What is wrong with that woman? I call her, she doesn't answer. I call again, no answer. I call once more, she answers.

"Hey babe? What's going on?"

"Are you cheating! I saw you cheating?"

"Wait! What?!"