The Boy Next Door

The Window

Danielle's P.O.V
After having so much pizza, I learned that the Dolan family is a big fan of pineapple pizza. Quirky choice, but surprisingly good! I headed up to my room with a huge headache after overthinking so much throughout the day.
  "Thanks so much for helping out with me today, I hope you don't mind the twins, I love Lisa." My mom thanked me. I saw dark circles under her eyes, she must have been up last night. I guess I can't blame her though.
   "No problem, I like them both they are great." I said nodding my head. But this time it was true. Along with the pain in the side of my head. Ouch that definitely was real.
  "Listen, Danielle honey, let me know if your father calls. It's your first day of school and you know how much he loved seeing you on the big day. Plus it's your birthday tomorrow. He should call." My mom choked up a bit while saying that. My dad hasn't called in months. He could be on the other side of the world and I would have no clue.
  "Okay mom, I will." I said tearing up. I turned away and looked up at the moon from my window. "I think I'm going to get to bed if that's okay."
   "Of course honey, goodnight." My mom kissed my cheek and headed downstairs in her slippers. I felt so confused. I got up as soon as my door closed and looked out of my window. The moon looked so bright, but it was so far. Just like my father. Will any guy in this world realize that caring is important? Or is it just every man for himself? I glanced down. And I saw Grayson across the way in his window too. Our windows are aligned. Oh no I hope he didn't see me. I realize he is opening the letter that I saw earlier today "from Brielle." Grayson was wiping his face and sat on his bed staring at the note like if he stared at it long enough maybe this girl Brielle would appear. Who is she? I guess everyone has their secrets. Just like mine that I'm not over Kyle. Grayson looked up. Oh no act cool. I pretended to be looking up at the sky and prayed he didn't see me. I looked back over and he was opening his window too.
   "Hey Danielle, thanks so much for helping today." His voice sounded raspy it was cute. He seemed tired.
   "No problem, always here to help." I pulled my hair back with my fingers and smiled at him. I saw him smile back. Next to my window were doors leading to my balcony. Opening the doors I walked on to my balcony and sat down with a book.
  "Your balcony is sick, I wish I had one." I heard him giggle. He had a balcony too. I started laughing while he walked out onto his new balcony.
  "What brings you out here this late at night?" I questioned. It was almost 11:00 on a school night.
  "I could say the same to you," he answered lifting his eyebrows.
  "I guess you could say I like to go on my balcony and think at night." I swallowed as my throat got tight while telling him.
  "You too?"
   "What do you mean you too? Do you do the same?" I said with an easier tone.
   "I guess you could say that." He was moving around anxiously after he answered. He seemed a lot like me. I still wondered what the note meant and who it was from. He quickly changed the topic.
   "What book are you reading?" He queried. My cheeks got red again, but the sky was so black that the only light came from the porch lights and bedroom lights from both houses.
   "Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare." I got uneasy while saying this. Not many people today are a fan of Shakespeare.
  "I love that book. But reading the book when you have Dyslexia changes the meaning of the book for you." Grayson answered.
  "You are Dyslexic?" I replied. He was Dyslexic but still in almost all honors classes, impressive.
  "Yeah, so correct me if I'm wrong. But this Shakespeare dude said, 'there was never a story of more woe, than this of Juliet and her Romeo." He was no longer stuttering. And he smiled afterwards.
  "You were spot on, that's my favorite line of the book." My heart fluttered. This kid was really pulling on my heart strings. Kyle would have never known this. He would ask me who the hell Romeo was and laugh at me.
   "So you've finished it before?" He asked. The line he recited was the last line of the book.
    "About five times almost." I said back honestly. He laughed.
    "Me too."