Suburbia (h.s)

chapter one.

Note: I am actively changing and rewriting this story. This new publication of chapter one has been edited, so the following has different details than if you'd read this before!

♡

I walked down my street unsuspecting and with a certain jump to my step that didn't make sense considering the day I'd had. I didn't know why, but I felt unusually happy from the moment I'd locked up the shop and headed on my way. I was busy in my thoughts planning what I would do when I arrived home: I'd throw my shawl on the couch, my shoes on the mat, run down the hall, and jump straight into bed. Then I'd grab the book Lola said she left for me on the nightstand. Undoubtedly another mystery.

I sighed as the night breeze fanned my hair across my face, and for once I didn't mind pushing my bangs behind my ears every minute or so. There was nothing quite like evenings in the summer. I loved listening to the cicadas.

My work day had been hectic. Usually I had no trouble managing the number of mothers and little girls in the clothing store I'd taken up work at, but today they seemed to overwhelm me to no limit, and I had the kind of headache that could only be soothed by having bedtime and a quick cup of tea as soon as I got home. Still, I couldn't help but feel excited at the prospect of the rest of my night. The thought of reading myself to sleep sounded like a dream.

Lately, it seemed all of my time was spent running errands and working. Not only was I on my feet all day, but my mind was running too at all hours. And in addition to that, my diet had become 80% fast food, and the workers at the sandwich shop next to my job had become acquainted with me enough that my order was always rung up before I had to speak. I hated how dependent I'd become on convenience, but it was easier to grab something on the go than to make something at home. The last thing I wanted to think about when I stepped through the front door was cooking. I hadn't even found time to begin my research and preparation for applying to grad schools, much to my disappointment. But I knew I'd get to it eventually.

When I made the final turn that would lead to my house, I cast a glance towards a strange looking car parked on the opposite side of the road.

I didn't recognize the car, but I could just barely make out a figure in the front seat. My neighbors rarely had people over this late at night. Still, despite the oddity, I let it go without thinking too much of it. Instead, my mind drifted to the weeds that were growing steadily outside the fence in the yard. I really had to spend some time tending to the lawn, it was beginning to look a bit scruffy.

Climbing the stairs to the front door, I knew Lola wasn't home yet when I saw that the windows were dark. I smiled to myself. I loved my friend deeply, but tonight I was in need of alone time. Lola could be awfully chatty. She was known to be able to trap someone on the phone for an hour in a conversation that was only meant to be five minutes. And unluckily for me, I had the terrible habit of not wanting to appear rude, so I never said anything to end the conversation even if I had other things to do.

I was grateful for Lola, but I couldn't deny that I was beginning to get sick of rooming with other people. Still, my last two roommates had been pure heaven compared to the string of bad luck I had attracted when I'd first moved into the sleepy little college house.

There had been Vicky, who three months after she moved in, I found out was stealing from me. It turns out that usually money doesn't actually just disappear from wallets, like she'd wanted me to believe. Vicky was the reason that I started college one semester later than I was supposed to. It was one of the most relieving feelings when the girl finally left the small house for good after a series of complicated legal troubles. The last thing I heard of her was that she had headed off to Alaska to live with her online boyfriend. I couldn't say that I thought of her often.