The Boy Next Door

Chapter 4

Dinner was great.My whole family was at dinner tonight. All through dinner my dad talked about his job and every 5 seconds he had to start over because of Phoenix. He is just so loud. Then my dad turned his head to me and asked "Are you still friends with Phoenix?" I had to think to myself for a minute. Why the hell is he asking me this? "Ya... I guess why." " I don't know, just don't hang out with him okay. I'm doing it for the best." What the hell does that mean?

"Why?"

My dad hesitated for a moment. He kept looking at my mom and I. Then he finally said "He looks like a bad kid Scarlett, I don't want you hanging out with bad boys. Your a good kid. I don't want you to turn out like him."

Okay. What the hell was that all about.

"Dad, Phoenix is not a bad kid. I've been friends with him since we were 10"

My dad looked at me like I was growing 2 heads. "Dad?"

"People change sweetheart." I was shocked I thought my Dad liked Phoenix. After 10 minutes of everyone just looking at eachother my dad finally said "Do you ever wonder why he stopped hanging out with you?"

My face felt like it was on fire. I can't believe he just said that. Phoenix was like a brother to me then he just left. I was trying to get it out of my head until my DAD brought it up again.

He just kept looking at me. Then I finally said "Ya. I miss him. It was fun talking to him everyday. Like I remember this one day when we were hanging out this kid gave him a dirty look and he beat him up..... nevermind."

I kind of get what my dad was saying. Like why would he just beat up a kid. But to be honest it was pretty funny

My dad gave me a look like. I told you so.

Dinner was over. Thank you. That was the weirdest dinner EVER!

I went up to my room thinking about why he did all of a sudden just leave like.... that

Do I smell or something. I take a shower everyday. Was I a nerd or something. I dont know.

** knock knock

"Hey Honey. Are you okay?" It was my mom.

"Ya why?"

"You looked upset at dinner."

There was a long pause. I was looking at my knees and my mom was looking at my poster of Back to the Future.

"He is really cute though."

What. Is this the mom I know.

"Mom who are you talking about?"  "I'm talking about Phoenix. He was so cute when he was younger and now..... he looks good. I mean your dad looks good too but daddy is better looking.

I giggled "Mom I know what you mean."

"You guys were so cute together. I remember everyday I used to pick you guys up from school."

"Mom, do you know why he left. Was it me. I was never mean to him right?"

"No, no, no. You were never mean to him."

Then she kissed me on the forehead and left.

She never anwsered my question. Why did he leave? I guess I wasn't going to find out today.

Now it was like 9:30 and I was really tired.

You know what, I just realized that I have a really good veiw of Phoenix's house. His bedroom is on the 2nd floor (just like mine) and our bedrooms are right across from each other. And when I go to the other window across the hall. I have a really good side veiw into his front yard.