Just Like That

Chapter Three

Derek sees the look on my face and somehow vanishes.

Even more terrified, I lock all the windows and doors after he is gone.

Not knowing what to do, I stand next to my window as I cry. I'm watching to make sure he doesn't come back.

I notice a boy riding a skateboard. He seems to be examining the houses.

He looks up at my window, catching my eye. He stares for a while, and I stare back. His gaze remains on me. That is, until the skateboard gets off track and he falls.

He jumps up and runs back over to my house. The next thing I hear is the doorbell ringing. Repeatedly.

I walk down the stairs, and unlock and open the door.

"Um, hi, can I help you?" I ask. After all, there is a stranger at my door.

"You look like you could use a friend. I'm Niall. Niall Malin. I just moved here last week." He says.

"Hi, I'm Lexi. You can come in if you'd like." I laugh at myself, "and normally I wouldn't let strangers in my home, but it's your lucky day, Niall"

He smiles at me and steps through the doorway.

"This is a beautiful home." He says.

I burst out laughing.

He turns around, "What?" He says, confused.

"You, you have lea-, leaves in your hair." I say through laughs.

He shakes his head, and leaves fall to the floor. When he goes to pick them up, I stop him.

"It's fine. The house is a mess anyways."

"What happened? It looks like a tornado went through." He says, picking up the leaves anyway.

"Honestly? I would like to know the same thing." I sigh.

Niall looks around and then back at me. He smirks. "Well, Lexi, have you ever ridden a skateboard?" He asks me.

I throw my head back laughing. "Um, no. And the reason is because I've always known me plus a skateboard equals a disaster just WAITING to happen."

He laughs.

"No, I'm serious." I say.

We look at each other for a second, then both laugh.

"Let's go!" He says pulling me along.

My tears are gone. And there is a random boy holding my hand, pulling me through my front door.

When we're outside, Niall comments on Derek's car.

"Woah, now that's a nice car." He says examining it like it was his own, and he were checking for damage. "Is this yours?" He asks.

"No, that's my brother Derek's." I say.

I hear a car coming down the street. It's mom.

I panic.

"Niall, you need to go. NOW. We can hang out some other time, but you seriously need to go. Take your skateboard and RUN." I say quickly. I sprint inside, cleaning the hall that looks like a storm went through. Piling papers, tossing trash, cleaning up spilled drinks and moment up sticky floors. Mom is probably drunk, buying me five minutes.

I finish cleaning just as my drunk mother comes in. I fix my hair with my fingers, not wanting to get yelled at for looking like shit. I scurry into the bathroom real fast and splash cold water on my face. I'm haven't cried since before Niall came in, but my face was a little puffy. The cold water seemed to have helped.