Strange Thoughts

Part One-Chapter Three-Aleya

I'm sitting on the step in front of my house. I reach my thoughts out, scanning for anyone near me. You see, I have some pretty creepy neighbors. They try to spy on Aubrey and I at night

The eight year old and a ten year old boy, Jack and Robbie Williams, don't seem to have a sense of personal space. At neighborhood barbecues, they always flick pieces of paper at the back of my head, though they deny it everytime I yell at them.

Because Jack and Robbie have pairs of binoculars to look through our windows, Aubrey and I now have to sleep with our blinds down, we can't even watch the sunset. It's awful.

Today, I have decided to get back at them. All of their little pranks have gotten very tiring.

I walk down to their house. It's yellow, and it's the kind of house you would expect a very cheery old person to live in. The door is white, and it has two tiny circle windows near the top of the house that look like eyes.

When I was little, and without control of my mind reading abilities, I would always pretend that the house was a real person, and I could talk to her without having the ability to read her thoughts. She would always tell a new fact about herself everyday, and I wouldn't have already known it. Now I just cringe looking at that house, because of the people who live in it.

I stop and stare up at it. I am so mad that I know little Jack will run away at the sight of me. Robbie will just find it hilarious.

I look into my Ivivva bag, and pull out a can of pink hair dye. I smile to myself. Robbie is in for a big surprise.

I knock on the door. A disgruntled Mrs. Williams comes to the door. She opens it, and her expression changes.

"Hi Aleya! Thank god it's you. I thought that my sister had arrived." I don't know why she's so happy to see me, or why she's so unhappy about her sister coming to visit. I smile politely.

"May I come in?" I say. "I was wondering if I could hang out with Jack and Robbie." "Yes, of course." Mrs. Williams says. "Excuse me for one second." Mrs. Williams yells up to Jack and Robbie, and they come running down the stairs.

Robbie stops and takes a couple steps back, when he sees my grin. He knows that something's up, because I never come over there when I can help it.

"Hey Aleya." Robbie says. His voice is confident. I follow him and Jack up the stairs, and into their room. While their house is yellow, the walls of their room are black. There are a couple superhero posters up on Jack's side of the room. On Robbie's side of the room, there are several posters of superhero shows geared towards older kids, such as The Flash on CW.

The blinds are up on the second of the two circle windows. It is right above a wood desk, where two pairs of black binoculars, and gigantic flashlights are sitting. That window sees right into the window of my room.

"So, why are you coming over?" Jack says. Jack is a sweet kid, but he tries to act too much like his big brother. I know he means me no harm, but I'm not going to try to be friends with him until he pushes away the bad influence of Robbie.

"I just want to hang out, I have nothing to do over at my house." Jack smiles at me, but stops at a look from Robbie. Robbie steps forward, runs a hand through is thoroughly gelled hair, and leans against the post of his bed.

"Is that really why you're here, or are you here for me?" He gives me a look that he thinks is suave, but is not. He winks a blue eye at me.

I bet she likes me. It would be so awesome to have a 13 year old girlfriend. I mean, all of my friends would be so impressed. I would probably become the most popular boy in the whole fifth grade! Which pick up line should I use?

Robbie's thoughts were disturbing, while Jack's were mostly sweet and innocent like a normal eight year old's thoughts should be.

Maybe I should show her my new batman action figure. Maybe we could be friends. Maybe she could help me with my homework. I hope she's different than Robbie's friends. I remember that time they locked me in the closet, for a whole day. That was scary.

Robbie had locked him in a closet? I feel so bad for the poor little boy, and look at Robbie with disgust.

"Robbie, can I use your restroom?" I say. He nods, and I go out in the hallway, and walk down to the bathroom. I pick up a bottle of hair gel, with a picture of the flash on it. I read the saying. You don't need speed, if you use Johnson Hair Gel.

I take the bottle of pink hair dye from my bag, and pour it into the half empty hair gel bottle. This will turn his white blonde curls hot pink, and not hot in the way he wants to be.

I start laughing, and manage to regain myself in front of the mirror. I walk back into the bedroom.

"Guys, my sister just texted me. I have to go." Both Robbie and Jack looked disappointed, but for very different reasons. I walk out the door, giving a quick wave bye to Jack, which Robbie returns thinking it was for him.

I continue until I'm outside the door, but I stop for a moment to hear what Robbie's thinking.

Maybe I need more hair gel. I'm going to go to the bathroom and put some more in. That should do the trick in case she comes back.

I keep walking, my head down so Jack can't see me laughing if he's looking out of the window. I get home, open the door, and sprint up the stairs to Aubrey's room.

Her walls are a pretty turquoise, with a pretty, white bed with a pretty, white bedspread.

"Guess what I did!?!" I boast. "What?" Aubrey says. She looks amused, not expecting to hear what I'm about to say. "I put pink hair dye in Roasted Robbie's hair gel." Aubrey starts cracking up, tears running down her face.

We call Robbie, Roasted Robbie, because when we're bored, we roast him. I know it's mean, but he's a jerk who spies on us while we are sleeping, and doing who knows what else.

I sit on the edge of Aubrey's bed and start laughing as hard, if not harder than she is. We are having an amazing time, when my mom walks in our room.

"What's so funny?" she asks. My mom has a suspicious look on her face, but she won't push it because she's just happy we are getting along. "Just some old fashioned fun." Aubrey says. I struggle to keep my laughter down, but she is calm and collected. "Mrs. Williams sister and her son are coming to stay at the Williams' for a while. Her son is your age, Aleya." I nod, my laughter has dissolved to only a snicker here and there.

My mom leaves, and closes the door. We break into fits of laughter. "Another Williams? I ask. "I guess," Aubrey says. "I'm just happy there isn't one my age." I punch her in the shoulder, and she smirks at me.

"Maybe he'll be your future boyfriend." "Wowwww." I say. "You know who I like." Aubrey rolls her eyes. "That I do know. The one and only Grayson Parker." I feel my face heat up at the thought of him, but I don't know if Aubrey can tell, with my tanned skin.

"Don't think I can see through that complexion of yours," Aubrey says, as if she can read my mind. "I know you are totally blushing." I am blushing, but it isn't like I'm ever going to admit that.

I tuck a strand of my dark hair behind my ear, and look Aubrey straight in the eyes. "I don't like Gray Parker." I can't take it. I start cracking up. "You've liked him since forever." Aubrey says. I nod, I know she's right.

"Oh, and by the way. I don't know if Mom told you, but we are going over to his house for a barbecue on Saturday." My eyes widen, and I gulp. Anticipation fills me. Aubrey's smile grows wider, as she looks at my expression.