The Boy Next Door (Editing and Rewriting)

Chapter 5

My thoughts were correct, today was definitely interesting to say the least. Including and not limited to the fact that Adam was being just as annoying as he was in homeroom the entire day. Is it possible for someone that you have just met to annoy you to the point of you wanting to kill them? Probably not, but never the less Adam has managed to annoy me to that point.

What is wrong with me? I'm not normally a violent person. Oh right. Then again it was fun, hanging out with someone that didn't know me, didn't know my past.

"Alison?" a voice called pulling me out of my thoughts, I got home about an hour ago and I have been staring at the same wall since then. Turning to the source of the voice I see my dad looking at me with concern glinting in his eyes. Honestly, I don't blame him for being concerned about my current state; I haven't blankly stared at a wall like this for about a year, since the incident. In fact it was thirteen months since it happened, just before my dad and I moved to London, though it has only been 10 months since I stopped blankly staring at walls.

Looks like I'm not completely over that habit yet, said my inner voice.

"Hey Dad, what's up?" I reply after dragging my attention away from the wall I had been staring at.

"Oh, nothing much, was just coming to remind you that we are having guests over for dinner and they will be here soon, you should get ready now, honey." My dad tells me, not commenting on the fact that I was just staring at the wall for about an hour.

"Oh, okay thanks for the heads up, Dad," I said and when he still didn't move, I added, "I'm going to get ready now, can you umm, leave?" I finished, not really wanting to hurt his feelings but at the same time, I kind of just wanted to be alone. My dad seemed to get my subtle hint and he left, shutting my bedroom door behind him.

Before you ask, no, I am not depressed, sometimes I just want to be alone, is that such a crime? Most people would say yes, but most people don't understand or care about anything outside of their own personal bubble. If it didn't affect them it didn't matter.

Standing up off the floor I headed into my bathroom to wash my face, apply a light coat of make-up before walking back into my bedroom. Walking over and throwing open my closet, I picked out my clothes for tonight; simple blue jeans, a red tank top with a black crop top over it. Not exactly formal, but I didn't really mind, it was more formal than what I usually wear, my dad will be shocked that I'm wearing something other than sweat pants. After pulling my long, brown hair into a simple high pony tail, I headed downstairs in search of my dad.

I wonder if these people are nice, I wonder who these people are- my inner thoughts were interrupted by a sharp piercing sound, the doorbell, meaning that the guests were here.

"Dad," I called, my voice echoing through the house, "should I get the door?"

"Would you please? Then just bring them into the living room, I'll be there in a second." I heard him call back, his voice echoing down the stairwell.

"Sure thing" I replied, walking over to the front door and opening it, "Hi! Welcome, my dad said he will down in a minute-" there was more to say, but I suddenly couldn't continue, not after I saw who was standing on the other side of the door. It was Adam and his parents, the two parents dressed in various formal wear, whereas Adam was dressed similar to me, jeans and a t-shirt.

"Alison dear, how nice to see you again!" Cass, Adam's mum, exclaimed, clearly not fazed by the fact that I was standing there wide-eyed like a statue. While John, Adam's dad, and Adam just acknowledged me with a small inclination of the head.

"Likewise Mrs. Niles," I replied, once I figured out how to use my tongue again.

"Alison! I told you to call me Cass, Ms. Niles makes me feel old" she said pouting

"No of course not," especially not when you act like that, I wanted to add, but thought against it, "please come inside, my dad will meet us in the living room, if you would follow me" I said opening the door a little bit wider and gesturing for the small group of people to come inside. The only sound as we made our way to the living room was the subtle thump, thump of Adam and John's shoes along with the loud click-clack of Cass' heels; no one spoke on the short walk through the house.

"Please make yourselves comfortable," I spoke up and gestured to the sofas spread out across the room, as soon as we entered the living room. The living room is a simple room that contained furniture, all covered in a fine layer of dust, we rarely use this room.

After a few minutes of sitting in awkward silence I could hear footsteps on the stairs indicating that my dad was coming to join us now.

"Hey guys! Sorry I took so long" he said when he walked into the living room, but not sitting down.

"Hello Michael, how are you?" John said, standing up and extending his hand towards my dad.

"I am good thank you John, and yourself?" my dad replied, extending his hand to greet, and shake, John's.

"Good as well,"

"Well, now that the formal greetings are out of the way, let's eat" my dad said, he is always wanting for food, I wonder what's for dinner, my inner voice was saying as we all made our way to the dining room.

Entering the dining room my eyes travelled over the table seeing all of the fine china out along with wine glasses. But, neither of those things were what attracted my immediate and undivided attention, but the dish in the middle of the table, or rather the contents of the dish. Chicken Alfredo, my favourite meal.

"Food looks great dad," I said nonchalantly as we all took our seats around the small wooden table, even though if no one else was here I would be jumping for joy. My mind kept repeating one phrase, or rather one word as my dad was serving each person some food; yum.

There was not much talking as we all ate our dinners' and the silence was slightly uncomfortable. I'm not surprised, these people sitting at the table with us are nothing but strangers, this should be interesting, my inner voice said and I was very inclined to agree.