The Neighbor

four

"Wait!" I called from my backyard, Matthew stopped dead in his tracks, his body shifting towards me, "what are you doing?" He asked, walking up to the edge of the fence, I rushed over as best as I could. "My dad's home." His eyes widened, "he thinks I already left." I added, reaching for his hand, using my other to push myself over the fence, knowing he would hear the fence gate creaking. "Why can't he know we're talking again?" I sighed at the question, "he just, no offense first of all because I don't think this, but he just doesn't like you guys, he says your bad neighbors." I rolled my eyes, Matthew nodded, tugging me closer to his side as we rushed over to his car. A rush of adrenaline flooded my system as the sound of a front door opening could be heard.

"Alexandra Diana Wilson!" I stifled back a laugh as my dad shouted from our yard, Matthew shut the car door for me, rushing around to the drivers side. "Get out of that car!" Matthew looked hesitant about actually leaving, "please." I lifted my gaze to meet his eyes, "okay." Next thing I know, we're driving down the street, my dad being a mere imagine in the rear view mirror. "Did Andrew come home today?" I nodded slowly, I feel bad for leaving him with our dad, but I have to do things for myself, I know it's only gonna get harder from here on out.

"You okay?" Matthew's eyebrows shot up as I sighed, "yeah, I'm good." My lips curled into a small smile, "thinking?" I watched as he held a conversation with me, but kept his eyes on the road. "Are you a mind reader or something?" I teased, he shrugged, following the signs that were directing us to the fair parking lot. "I dabble in it." His response came across sarcastically, obviously that's what he was going for. "Good to know." A smile worked its way onto his face, the car slowing down as we got directed to a spot. We pushed the doors open, rushing to get to the bus before it leaves and forces us to wait twenty minutes for another one to come, "wait!" He called as the bus driver was about to shut the doors.

"That was close." I laughed, subconsciously smoothing out my shirt as I sat down, "indeed." The all too familiar lopsided grin appeared, I caught myself staring at him, "I feel your eyes burning into the side of my head." He turned his head, catching my gaze. Instantly my shoes became much more interesting than him, my phone started ringing in my hand, I answered it quickly with out checking to see who it was. Everyone was staring at me since it had been ringing so loudly, "hello."

"Alexandra, why on earth would you leave me here alone with your brother?" I pulled the phone away from my ear as my dads voice loudly came through the phone, I heard Andrew talking in the background, "let me talk to, Andrew." I answered him simply, the phone went quiet for a minute before Andrew started talking, "what's up little sister?" He asked, sounding a lot better than a couple of days before, we had a long conversation when he got home this morning, it involved some shouting, some tears and some understanding on both parts.

"Can you just promise to be easy on dad, until I get home?" I asked, wanting to be able to enjoy my date, Matthew could be seen out of the corner of my eye, glancing at me every so often. "Hey! I'm not doing anything, I'm literally sitting on the couch in the same spot you left me in when you ran off with that Johnson kid." I picked at the distressed rip in my jeans as he explained, I nodded even though he couldn't see me. "Okay, good." My response was soft spoken, a sense of relief with it. "May I remind you, we just went over what it means to you to have this night to yourself, so hang up and have fun, but don't get pregnant." I laughed as the line went dead.

"Everything okay?" Matthew was doing that thing again, where he takes everything in, examining my emotions. I nodded, giving him a soft smile, but it wasn't a fake smile, just a small one. He finally tore his eyes away from mine, with a small nod as the bus came to a stop in front of the fair ticket booth. "Lady's first." He motioned me ahead of him, "such a gentleman." An older lady could be heard as we walked past her, I smiled, knowing she was right.

"Matthew, please let me pay." I begged for the hundredth time as we inched up in the ticket line, "no." He shrugged, as if I would just give up, "fine, you buy the tickets, I'll buy the food?" I offered, to which he agreed. I held my arms tighter around myself as we walked through the fair, a wind rushing by, making my shirt blow up. "Where to?" I glanced at Mathew as he waited for an answer, quickly I scanned over the area. "Oh, a house of mirrors!" I smiled, pointing towards the fun house, I've always loved them, even if I just end up walking right into a mirror half the time. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, looking between me and the building in thought. "Okay."

I entered cautiously, my hands slightly outstretched in front of me. "Cheater." Matthew grabbed my hands, pulling them down to be at my sides, only to be stopped when he hit his head on the mirrored wall in front of him. "Are you okay?" I stifled back a laugh, trying desperately to hide the amused smile on my face. He rubbed his forehead but nodded, "I'm good." He laughed, stepping away from the wall. I had a boost of confidence, I don't know why but I grabbed his hand, pulling him gently behind me. "Come on." I mumbled, leading us through the maze with skill.

"This is a safety hazard." He pointed out as we carefully walked up the stairs, mirrors surrounding us, "this whole thing is a safety hazard." I shrugged, squealing when I almost tripped over a step, his hand rested on my back, steadying me before it disappeared. A blush rose to my cheeks, and I was thankful that it was fairly dark in here. "Thank god, I was starting to get claustrophobic in there." He breathed out, as we arrived to the small balcony area, the only way to get down was through a slide. "This is childish." Was the last thing he said before shooting himself down, popping out at the bottom a few seconds later. "Your turn." He shouted up to me, I sat on the edge, getting ready to slide down as a group of kids came up behind me.

"Oh!" Matthew gasped, tugging me gently so I was off the slide, "you alright?" This time he was holding back a laugh as I rubbed my forehead, I had hit it on the top of the slide when I went to get up. "I think I'll live." I blushed, embarrassed by my clumsiness.

***

"What are you doing?" I furrowed my eyebrows as Matthew parked in front of my house, even though his is only twenty feet away. "Come on now, Alex. I have to leave a good impression on you, it is our first date after all." His sarcasm was an acquired taste, but I loved it. "I think you left a great impression on me." I raised my eyebrows, as if I was saying 'how could you have not left a good impression'. "That's good to know." His response was soft spoken, I thought for a second before my next action. I leaned over the center console of his car, placing a kiss on his cheek, once I moved back, I looked over his face for any reaction. He didn't look different, he just gave me a soft smile as I opened his car door. "See you around, Alex."

"See you around, Matthew."