Neighbors

Neighbors VII

Chapter 7

K A Y L A  W E S T

A couple of days pass as I hang out with Willy but haven't really talked to or seen Andrew. And Parker. I'm surprised one of them hasn't found their way inside my room yet. Especially Parker. I don't know whether to be happy or worried that he hasn't showed up. I know I should be worried about Andrew, because I don't even see Sunny get on the bus or get home anymore. Sabrina still comes out and talks to me and we play, but I've been seeing her less and less. I wonder where Sunny, Andrew, and--I hate to say it--Parker are at. I kind of miss them. I mean, except Parker...I think. Right now, I'm sitting on my bed listen to music and doodling in my notebook. I'm drawing a girl sitting in an apple tree, grinning down at the ground as she thinks she got away from gravity. I've been told many times before that I'm good at drawing. Like artist worthy. I never looked into it though.

When I'm done drawing the girl, I lean back and twist on my bed so I'm laying on my stomach with my feet in the air and moving like someone is pumping a swing. I then draw a little image of a girl looking flustered, and angry. It looks like a real girl, and I wonder if I should color her cheeks with red to make them stand out a little. I decide I will.

I get up from my spot on the bed and walk downstairs. That's when I see Andrews mom, Caroline.

"Oh hi," I say, caught off guard.

"Quinn?"

"Um yeah." I say slowly.

"Wow, long time no see. Get over here and hug me." I smile and run over to the breakfast bar where she is sitting on a stool. I notice my mom in the kitchen making coffee and humming. I hug Caroline and step back.

"Why, you've grown out to be quite pretty. Always knew you would." I shrug while blushing and laugh, taking a seat across from her.

"Thank you." We are quiet for a second, just listening to my mom twirl the spoon in her coffee. Although after a while, Caroline smiles and me then asks me something.

"Have you seen Andrew yet?" I bite my cheek and nod, thinking I shouldn't tell her that we went to the party together.

"Yes, she gave him a ride to school her first day while he showed her around." Mom says, butting in the conversation, taking a spot across from me, on the opposite side of the breakfast bar. She sets down the coffee she's carrying in her hand and sips from hers.

"Oh, how wonderful. Did he behave?" Caroline asks and raises and eyebrow smirking much like her son.

"Yes." I roll my eyes and lick my lips, the smell of coffee coming to me.

"Great. You know, I'm glad you came back. Andrews been trying to get over his girlfriend, well, ex now." This news comes to a shock to me and I tilt my head.

"Huh?"

"Oh, you haven't heard of Kayla?"

"No, I don't think so," I glance over to mom, and her eyes are alight with the faintest sign of happiness at the start of gossip.

"Oh, well you'll have to ask him." Caroline says. "I don't want to step over his boundaries." I nod, thinking about that photo of a girl who looked like me in Andrew's room, wondering if it was 'Kayla'.

"I understand. Well, can you answer this: does Kayla have black hair and blue eyes?"

"Yes. Actually, she looks almost exactly like you," Caroline says, slowly. "I think you may have heard of her."