The not-so girl next door

Chapter One

When she moved in it was a rainy fall day. I remember because my mom wanted me to go out to help once we saw the moving van pull up. I went out without a jacket and after walking across my lawn I had to turn back to get the jacket I thought I didn't need. She and her dad were the only two moving things, her mom sat in the car with sun glasses, and big hat on not moving at all. It was strange but I didn't say anything. I got her dad's attention first he was walking back from the garage, I waved to him and he put on a smile that most new neighbors make when greeted for the first time.

"Hi I'm James, I live across the street. I wanted to see if you guys needed any help?" I say this kindly with my biggest smile on my face. That's when she walked out of the house toward me. Her hair was a pale green cut in a choppy manor. Her eyes were green and almost blended in with her hair, she was wearing a grey hoodie. She also had a nose piercing that seemed to fit perfectly on her small face and complimented her other features.

"I'm Charles, and this is my daughter River." Her father had a gruff voice, one that made you think he was mad at everything, "We would appreciate the help." He heads back to the van and pulls out more boxes. She stood there for a second looking at me before she let a small smile appear, soon though she turned around and went to bring more things inside. I shook my head to get my out of my trance and I went to help. The inside of her house was a mirror image of mine so I knew my way around it. After a while it started to rain harder and Charles said that I could go back home if I wanted. I refused though, I was so intrigued by this girl I couldn't help but want to be around her for as much time as possible.

Soon we finished and her dad left with her mother still in the van to go get their personal car from the truck rental place. River and I stood in the garage in silence, she pulled a pack of cigarettes out of her jacket pocket and offered me one. I looked at my house across the street and denied  just in case my mother was watching. My family was very religious and anything offended them.

"I never caught your name," she said finally after a few moments of hitting the cigarette and blowing spoke out.

"Oh, I'm James."

"Did your mom force you to come over here?" Her voice was smooth but had a wicked edge to it. I never wanted her to stop talking.

"Yeah," I say chuckling. "She is Christian.."

"Ah that makes sense now. She wanted to be good Christian neighbors and help the new people move in."

"Exactly, she would have done it herself but you can't catch her in the rain for anything." she laughs lighting and looks at me with her pale eyes. I choke on my next words but finally get them out. "Are you going to go to the high school around here?"

"No actually, I do online school." She shrugs and stomps out the cigarette as her dad pulls up. We go on to one side of the garage so that he can pull in, "don't ask questions, but when my mother gets out of the car do not look at her or say anything." slowly her moms door opened and we both looked at the wall. I felt the urge to look over but I didn't, I had so many questions running through my head but I didn't ask any of them. I just stood there staring at the wall focusing on all the little cracks that ran along it. Soon the door closed and River let out a sigh. I looked over and her and raised and eyebrow. "No questions, at least not yet."

"No questions," I say putting both my hands in the air. She sticks her pinky out and looked my dead in the eyes.

"Promise," she says. I nod and wrap my pinkie around hers.

"I promise." I whisper back, this makes her smile. I smile back. I can never forget the day I met River Charleston. She was my dream girl but I didn't know it at the time. I thought I would always need the "girl-next-door" type, since that is who my mother was. I promise you though, River is any thing but the "girl-next-door".