Autumn Romance

Meeting the Parker's

I was instantly blinded by the sight I swear. The pearly white teeth, emerald coloured eyes and the tanned skin were enough to knock me off the drive and into the bush. I stood there for a few minutes, admiring the scenery, but this time it wasn't him, it was the actual scenery. The bushes were trimmed down and within them you could see pin-prick sized rose petals peaking out and white tulips ruling the bush off from the lawn. The lawn was carefully mowed down and it wasn't prickly, it was soft and I knew that just by bending down and feeling it. I must've look like an absolute idiot but I just had to feel something fresh, I honestly couldn't cope not feeling some ground below me and being strapped up in the back of the Parker's family car.

The car journey was like anxiety and paranoia. Every time Dylan said something to me I'd instantly check if it was true. However, to much surprise when this new sight reached down and dragged me up, pulling me straight around the corner of the house, I couldn't say I wasn't going to scream. He covered my mouth with a swift movement and he caressed my cheek before leaning in to kiss me. Who was this foreign stranger? What did he want? I stood there frozen for a few moments, contemplating what had just happened when he spoke...

"My name's Maxwell Parker. Nice to meet you. And you are?"

"Ashlyn, call me Ashy. Call me anything you want." I was stuck for words and the worst case scenario was happening too fast.

"Well Ash. You must be cold, perhaps you should follow me inside and I'll make you a coffee to warm you up? A mocha? Hot chocolate? Whatever you fancy."

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I headed up the driveway with Maxwell close behind; but on that thought I can't bear to call him Maxwell, I have to settle for something like... urmm... Max maybe? Maxy? Is Maxy too girly? Max...

"Yup?"

Dayum girl! I can't believe I said that outloud. I wanted to turn and ask him, 'did I call you Maxy outloud?' However, I didn't want to seem like a dweeb if I hadn't... Dilemma's hit me from every corner, I swear.

"Nothing, I just think... That's a nice rose petal bush isn't it?" I heard the shaking of my voice, I felt the sweat clinging at the roots of my hair, I heard the slight heavy breathing I had, I heard...

"Turn down for what..." It seems like I can't exactly relax in this place! A 10 hour flight and what do I get? TURN DOWN FOR BLOODY WHAT!

"Hey! Ashlyn! Come meet my friends" yelled Dylan. I glanced at Max, he shrugged. I guess I can't be mean to my new neighbour but I really can't be doing with this. I hate the song and I really despise Dylan Parker at the minute! Can I not just have one second to myself, can I not just stay with his blooming gorgeous brother?! How old was Max again? To have a 6 pack like that he must work out about 5 times a week!

"Ashlyn, are you coming?"

"You know what Dylan, I'm sorry, I'm really tired, I need to rest and I would like that mocha Max was promising me..." My voice trailed off, I looked over at Max, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth and off we went inside. As bad as I felt about leaving Dylan alone with his friends when he had offered sweetly to introduce me to his friends, I needed to rest, that song would drive me insane and I already had a banging headache. It must have been the 10 hour flight without a wink of sleep.

Max pulled me inside, one glance and it was enough to make me say 'wow.' Not at him but at the house. The stairway caved off to the right and the hallway was endless. On the corner of the stairs hung a photograph of little Dylan and Maxwell playing and on the left of the door was a picture of the whole family (Maxwell, Dylan, Kayla and their mother and father). I was suddenly locked in my thoughts... Never once did my family have a picture as one, the only pictures I have is with either my mum, Addy and me or my father, Addy and me. Never once were my father and mother in the picture together! I can't help but imagine if that's why we moved... Were mum and dad having problems with each other? It couldn't be financial problems? Is there someone else? In the UK? In the US?

"Hi Ashlyn, nice to meet you. I take it you know I'm Kayla? I look forward to getting to know you." Said blonde Kayla who came bouncing down the stairs at the sound of the door slamming. 

I instantly turned to see Max's face burning crimson red and then back to see Kayla holding her mouth in shock.

"Did bro do that Max?"

"YES!" Came the bellowing reply.

"Do what?" I heard myself say, suddenly gasping for breath. I demanded to know. Even though I had only been here a short amount of time I demanded to know as much as the others whenever I was around them and their gossip, for they were a gossiping family.

"Dylan slapped something on your ass presumably..." Kayla trailed off, suddenly engulfed in fits of laughter.

Max stormed off and I was taken by the hand.