The Neighbour » One Direction | Editing |

Prologue

Maxine Silver
Prologue
2009 July

"I'm up, I'm up, please shut up." I yell hoarsely, blindly flinging my arm onto my bedside table. "Guess it's time to get up."

-

Stepping into the unusually warm bedroom and into the walk in closet, I roll my eyes slightly. When mum had asked if I'd like to move house sometimes, I laughed at her and nodded jokingly. Next thing you know I'm on the other side of the world.

With mum being a fashion designer and dad a builder, we were a pretty financially stable family so I assumed the move was well planned out, though I would've enjoyed some more time to prepare...

Yesterday evening mum had told me to go meet the neighbours soon, I think she forgot that I am the definition of awkward, however I think that even if she had remembered, she'd still find a way to convince me.

Almost falling down the stairs I had never seen since a few days ago, I walked into the kitchen to smell mum's lovely baking.

"Morning sweetie, I'm making a pie for the neighbors, I want you to take it over once it's ready," she says without looking up, stirring fast before tipping the pastry into a tin,
I know, how cliché, the new neighbors bake pie!
I nod slowly before turning into the pantry, attempting to ignoring the delicious smelling apple pie.

"We really need to go grocery shopping..." I mumbled, grabbing some bread and shoving it in the toaster.
Waiting for toast is like waiting for a Jack-In-The-Box, so when the slightly charred bread leaped out (almost falling on the floor in the process) I also leaped and almost fell on the floor, probably resembling a fish out of water.
"Max, I have to go down to the office today," Mum calls from the door. "The pie will be ready in ten, don't burn the house down and please be safe!"
I nod slowly and watch as she leaves.

-

The road was quiet and the air was cool as I walk across the street to the neighbours.
Once reaching the door, I lightly knock, tapping my foot nervously. The pie warm in my hands.
Waiting only seconds, the door was opened to reveal a blonde girl around who seemed in her late teens.

"Hello! How may I help you?" she smiled kindly, her unthreatening appearance allowed me to relax slightly as I spoke, handing over the pie like some sort of peace-offering.
"Hey! I'm Maxine, I moved in next door and my mum sent me to give you this on behalf of my family,"

"Oh yes! Come on in," she says stepping aside and welcoming me into the house, "My names Ruth, sorry about the mess," she says putting her hand out.

I grin, "Hi Ruth, I'm Maxine but people call me Max, don't worry at all." I smile softly, shyly shaking her hand.
"Nice to meet you, follow me," she says leading me to a different room.
I follow shyly as we step into a kitchen.

"This is my mum Karen, my sister is in her room and my brother should be home soon," she says stepping aside from where I was hiding behind her.

In front of me was a smiling lady cooking lunch, "Hello! Nice to meet you," she says cheerily, coming round from the island bar to shake my hand.
"Nice to meet you to Karen," I say, again smiling shyly.
She grins, gesturing for me to take a seat, "Tell us about yourself Maxine!"

Her and Ruth both sit down across from me. Not being completely sure what to say, I blurted out the first thing that comes to mind. "I like music a big." I shrug, feigning casualness but feeling anxious.

"Tell me what type of music you like." Karen suggests kindly.

"Any genre is fine, I don't really have a certain type," I smile happy to be talking about music.
She nods.
"Do you play any instruments?" Ruth questions.

"I play guitar, piano, drums, bass guitar, and a small bit of violin," I smile. Both Ruth and Karen look surprised as I attempted to hold back a small laugh.

The click of the front door shutting makes me turn my head, only to be met with a brown-haired boy.

"Um... Hello?" He says, confusion etched on his face.

Before I can respond, Ruth and Karen speak.
"Woah you are a talented young girl!"

The guy seems to be even more confused, looking between Ruth and Karen for some sort of hint.

"Maxine was just telling us about herself!" Ruth says smiling at Karen. "She's the new neighbour!"

Taking in the information, the boy turns to me and plasters on a grin.

"Hi I'm Liam."

"Hi! I'm Maxine or Max." I say, grinning politely and holding my hand out.

-
Even after knowing Liam for years now, I still don't know what was rushing through his head when we first met, I doubt he expected us to be close. I doubt anybody did, including my younger-self.
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EDITED.