My Neighbour A Secret Keeper

Chapter 1: Sudden Realisation

I feel a sudden throb in my head. Slowly I open my eyes; it takes a while for my eyes to settle to the surroundings. I try to get up but I feel dizzy.

"It must have been yesterday's drinks" I say out loud.

I get up and take a look outside my window... as usual. I see the sun already up and run to check the time. The alarm shows 7:45AM.

" Crap! I am late for school "I yell. Then I hear my mom calling me" Em! Get up lazy girl!!!

" You're going to be late for school".

"I am up mom!" I assure her while running to my bathroom.

It takes me exactly five minutes to fresh up. I am standing in front of the mirror confused what to wear. Then in a rush I pick my neon sweatshirt and jeans. I hurry down to the kitchen to see my mom preparing my milkshake. She looks young in her yellow knee-length dress and her hazel, silky hair.

"Hi mom" I say cheerfully picking a toast on my way to the door.

"Morning sleepyhead, you were late yesterday; but I want you to be back before 8" she said without looking at me.

"Sure Mom" I said flatly.

I leave the house and start walking along the road.

As I walk past my neighbour's house, Mrs Gillman who is working on her plants, smiles and waves at me. I wave back returning her smile.

While walking a memory fills my head. Yesterday night's Michael's party. The loud music fills my ears. Michael is a rich brat and ...My buddy.

I hear the horn of the bus and snap back to reality. In the bus I try to recollect the memory of that guy who was there at Michael's party.

He seemed to be an interesting person by the way he was talking. Well Michael introduced me to him. He seemed to be a very kind guy and he was really handsome.

The way he said "Hello, I am Ethan Maxwell. Nice to meet you" was awe-strucking. His voice was pleasant to hear and I was really enjoying myself.

"Hey I am Emily Manroe."

But when he said that "Michael has told me a lot about you" well that phrase caught my attention.

I hoped naughty Mikes has not told him anything embarrassing about me since he knew most of my embarrassing incidents.

"Really, what has he told you about me?" was my response.

I held my breath waiting for him to say something.

"Hmm... he told me that your dad was a businessman and you live with your mom. And he also mentioned that you, Michael and Julia are like best friends from kindergarten".

I felt relieved as I expected some embarrassing stuff to spill out. "Yeah! Michael and Julia are pretty much my buddies."

We talked a bit more and but were interrupted by some of his friends. I could see his friends forcing him to tag along with them.

"Sorry, I have to go. See you again. Bye" he said apologetically emerging from his group.

"Sure, go ahead. Bye" I said sadly.

I wish we could talk more. Then I realised he said very little about himself and we were mostly talking about me and Michael. Suddenly I hear a heavy voice calling my name. Marcus's voice. He knows me as I have been travelling in his for bus for the past two years.

" Emily, your school is here, wakeup or else you will be late!!!"

Jesus!!! I am late.

I quickly get up and run past the school gates on which "West High" is painted in yellow and red bold letters. On the gate was another banner that said "Welcome back! Have a good year". My legs are aching and I am panting by the time I reach the class. I could hear a heavy voice but it was not a strange voice.

The voice belonged to Mr Brown our Geography teacher. It was not a voice I could forget so easily as he had been torturing me the previous year just because I didn't submit my assignment on different types of rocks (well I am pretty sure that it was the topic).

"Mr Brown do you mind if I come in?" I ask nervously.

"Ah! Why do you have to be late on the very first day of school Emily?"

"Get in quickly" he added angrily.

I quickly sat down on the first seat I saw empty and in a hurry checked my bag for my book. I couldn't find my book. I was pretty sure I kept it in my bag. I started panicking. Mr Brown turned to face the class and his eyes were on my blank desk.

" Is there a problem miss?" he asked in a scary tone.

"I...I f.. forgot my book". He raised his thick eyebrows and said "Alas! Would anyone like to share their book with this young lady?"

To my utter astonishment a little familiar voice said" Umm... Mr Brown, I won't mind sharing my book with Emily.

I turned my head to the source of the voice to see the person who was generous enough to share their book with me. I could not believe my eyes that Ethan was there in my class, in West High and was ready to share his book with me. What a co-accident!

"Ok gentleman, come and sit next to her then".

Rest of the geography class was a blur. All I remember is Ethan sitting next to me and me looking at his handsome face. I thanked him and later he went and sat on his original place. I was pretty sure that he said he went to some other school. I think I was probably hallucinating. Well rest of the day went by....

Diary, 12:57PM

Today was one of the best days of my life. I can't describe anything of it. It was just happening. I was not able to keep track of the time. Ethan was in my class and he was really helpful. I am so excited for tomorrow because I will get to see him again. Jesus! I am not able to sleep. Not that I like him or something just... :)

Emily.