The Jerk Next Door

Chapter 4: Unexpected Guest

Maksean

The bell rang signaling all students that it was now time to leave the hell hole unless you have any reason to stay afterwards like if you have ball practice or drum line. And as far as I know we don't have practice today. I head to my locker before going outside. As I'm about to leave, a male arm attaches itself to my locker door. I look to see that it has black and yellow rubber bands on the dark skin meaning it had to belong to Luka Tinder, the drum captain.

"Hey, Luka what 'cha doing?" I ask while shutting my locker door.

"Didn't Rooney tell ya? We have practice after school." He said as we began walking towards the band room.

I tilt my head in confusion.

"No, Rooney never spoke to me today. I thought we didn't have it today?" I replied.

"Well, anyway let's go before the others get mad."

I nod in agreement and off we went.

***********

"Hey, great practice today guys. Now go home and get some rest, we have a big competition next Saturday." Luka said, still panting from marching the routine three times faster than normal just because we felt like it. We all nod, putting up our drums.

"Hey Maks " Luka called out to me.

I turned around to look at the elder boy; my head tilted to the side.

"Need a ride?" He asked.

"Uh," I look down at my phone to see how early we got done. I still had an hour before dad would even think about picking me up.

"Sure if it's no biggie." I shrug.

"Not at all."

We head out to his black truck and get in. He turns on the radio and we talk about different things from band to music. This wasn't the first time he's taken me home, but I almost forgot I moved. Luckily I remembered when he turned left about to head east when I now live west.

"Oh no, I moved over the week. It's this way now." I said just as he put his blinker on.

"Great timing. When did you have the time to move stuff?" He said taking a right.

"Well, we've been slowly moving stuff over over the past month. Something happened to our old house and we had to move out. Luckily my new step-mom hadn't fully put her house up for sale, so she took it off the market and turns out she used to have a lot of different rooms for when she would have company over. So there were plenty of rooms." I explained hoping he wouldn't ask what happened to the old house and those who lived with us.

He simply nodded.

That's what I always liked about Luka, he never pressed matters when he realized he shouldn't even if no one said he shouldn't. He knew how to deal with different types of people. I'm really glad we became friends. After a while of us listening to music and me giving directions, we finally arrived at my house. I thanked him then walked into my new home. I opened the door to my dad's office to tell him I was home only to see someone I didn't expect to see there.

Asher Smith. The guy I had a crush on way back when? Why would he be here?

I slowly close the door and reopen it to see if he would disappear. He seems to notice my presence as he stares at me with his brows risen in question.

"I, uh." I stutter out. "Wha-what are you doing in my dad's office?"

Asher turns

"My step-mom sent me over here to help you and your family unpack. And your father said to bring some boxes in here." He said pointing over towards two boxes that sat in the corner.

"Oh, well- wait are you our neighbor?" I ask just realizing all of his words.

He nodded.

"Hey Asher, dear would you like to stay for dinner? Oh welcome home Maks." my step mom asks.

Asher looks to me before nodding with a sly smile present on his face. "Dinner would be lovely Mrs. Swift."

After she left, I turned to the boy in the office.

"Is there something you want to say, super Maks?" he asked using the old nickname he gave back in third grade.

I lift my head looking over at the boy.

"No, just wondering where my dad is." I reply.

"He's out back" he said with a weird yet nice looking smirk plastered to his face.

I nod then head to find dad. After finding him, we talk for a bit which leads to him explaining that Asher's step-mom is the lady who came over yesterday and the boy she mentioned was Asher.

"But Dad, we don't need him. We have me. We all know how strong your super girl is." I say.

He lets out a small chuckle and a side smile. "I know, but with you being busy with school and band, we could use the extra help."