NEIGHBORS // Rucas

PROLOGUE

R I L E Y

I wiped the sweat off of my forehead with my t-shirt and set down the box that I carried in. I looked around my new—but also old—apartment and collapsed on the couch, my legs suddenly feeling like jelly. I pulled my long brown hair into a loose ponytail and straightened out my jean shorts.

After my parents told me they were moving back to Philly, I jumped at the chance to take the apartment from their hands. It was my childhood home, how could I just let it go to some stranger? My mom's bakery still existed downstairs, which was a plus. Maya's mom, Katy, took charge of it and I promised to help out whenever I could.

A drastic turn of events had just changed my life, anyways. I think moving out of my old area was the best thing for me after everything that happened.

The place was slightly too big for me, but I think I could manage. My parents' old room would become my room, my brother's would be a workout room, and my old room would become my office. Being a journalist gave me the advantage of working at home, while making a decent amount of money. An office was something that I desperately needed. Most of the larger furniture my parents had was left for me because they didn't want to bother having to lug it all the way to Philly.

My Uncle Josh walked in carrying a cardboard box, followed by my best friend Maya.

"Riles, this is the last one. Where do you want it?" he said. I looked at the scribbled label on it that read paperwork and told him to set it in Auggie's old room.

"Good job, honey. Put those biceps of yours to work!" Maya praised. Josh gave her a look and laughed before leaving the room. Maya fell onto the couch right next to me. She and Josh decided they were ready to officially be together about two years ago, after about three of waiting for each other. Their commitment of playing the "long game" was a lot more serious than I thought. I was happy for them both, nonetheless. Was it weird that my best friend was dating my uncle? Surprisingly, not in the slightest. "Well, that was exhausting," she exhaled.

I laughed and shook my head in disbelief, "Peaches, you barely did anything. How could you possibly be exhausted?"

"Hey, watching you two carry things around is more tiring than you think," Maya pointed out.

"Fine, whatever you say. It's so insane to think that until about five years ago, our lives circled around this apartment." Looking around, I could recall all of the different memories that we made with our friends Farkle and Smackle.

"I'm glad you did. I don't think anyone could appreciate that bay window more than we do." I rested my head on her shoulder and nodded in agreement.

Josh came and joined us with three glasses of lemonade balanced on a tray, along with the very few snacks he found in my pantry. We each grabbed one and he spoke as he raised his glass, "Here's to Riles and her chance at a new beginning. Cheers?"

Maya and I raised our glasses as well, clinking them all together. I couldn't help a smile from forming on my face. My life was finally taking a turn for the better.

"Cheers."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I finally came up with a plot for an actual book! WOOHOO, GO ME!! I'm actually pretty excited for this and I think I'm capable of actually pulling this off. We'll just have to wait and see.

This was only the prologue so it's pretty short. I'll try to make the rest of the chapters longer.

Let me know what you think! Gracias for reading. :)

- Syd