Neighbors

S E V E N

"What do you mean you think you have feelings for Beckett?" Bryce asked me as he lounged out on my bed.

"I don't know. We were just talking and we have a lot in common and I don't know," I huffed in frustration. "I shouldn't feel this way about him."

"And why not?" Bryce looked at me questionably.

"We're in two completely different social circles. You're pretty much my only friend."

"And whose fault is that?" he sassily remarked. I glared at him. "I'm just saying you could have more friends if you didn't close yourself off from others."

"I do not close myself off," I disagreed with him.

"Yes you do, honey," my mom butted in, my clean laundry in hand. She laid my clean clothes on my bed.

"Thank you Carolyn!" Bryce cheered, high-fiving my mother.

I folded my arms over my chest. "What are you guys trying to say? That I'm antisocial? Unapproachable?"

My mom shook her head, "no honey, that's not it at all. All we're saying is that you need to put yourself out there more. Make some new friends."

I scoffed, "what does any of this have to do with me having feelings for Beckett?"

"Our neighbor, Beckett?" my mother asked in shock. I forgot she was in here. I simply nodded my head. "I think you should act your feelings and ask him to prom, sweetheart."

"No way, mom," I instantly turned down her proposition.

"But why not?" Bryce interrupted. "He's cute and he's single."

"He also has a thing for Gabrielle," I pointed out.

"Well he seemed pretty interested in you while he was here," my mom winked.

"He was not," I rolled my eyes. "He was just intrigued by my taste in music."

"Sure, your taste in music," Bryce commented sarcastically and laughed. I hit him in the back of the head causing him to yelp in pain. He soothingly rubbed the back of his head.

"Just consider it," my mom placed a hand on my shoulder. With one last reassuring smile, she dropped her hand and left my room, closing the door behind her.

"So explain to me everything that happened between you and Beckett," Bryce demanded.

***

BECKETT

By the time I got back home from the Jennings' house, Sadie had just woken up from her nap.

"Did you have a nice nap, cutie?" I asked and scooped her up in my arms. She nodded and rubbed her eyes.

"Where's Pipie?" she mumbled.

"Pipie, uh I mean Piper went home," I corrected my mistake.

"I didn't get to say goodbye," she pouted and started to sniffle.

"Hey, don't cry." I set her down on the floor and kneeled so I was at her level. "We can go see her in a little bit but right now it's time for dinner."

"I wanna go see her, now!" Sadie stomped her foot.

"We'll visit her after dinner, deal?" I held my pinky out to her.

Hesitantly, she locked her small finger with my large one and nodded. "Okay," she murmured.

I stood up straight and grabbed her hand and led her to the kitchen where our parents were waiting.