Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Part 1- Imagine:
Shawn's POV (as an eight-year-old): I ring my bicycle bell as Cam and Nash cycle to the right, Brian and me cycling to the left. I round the corner and wave Brian off as he crosses the street and I continue down until I reach my house. I brake gently until I see our red mailbox and lean my bike against it. Just ahead infront of the next house is a giant van with the back open. I stop and stare as two men in grey overalls lift the stuff from the van into the house.
I didn't know we were getting new neighbours. Just as I thought it, I hear a car door slam nearby. A tall, pretty lady crosses the road, a girl holding her hand.
"Come on, this is your new home Y/n," she tells the girl.
I watch her drag herself next to her mum as she rubs her eyes. Where did they come from? Was it a long journey?
The girl turns her head and locks her eyes with mine, and I see that she's pretty, even when she's half asleep. She keeps on staring at me, her head twisting right round as they walk into the house. I stay stood in the same spot for several minutes, and then go into my own house.
"Mom! I'm home!" I pull the door shut behind me and walk to the kitchen to pour myself a glass of juice.
"Honey? Is that you? I've invited the new neighbours over for dinner, so wear the clothes I've laid out on your bed."
I finish my drink and walk up to my room. I shower quickly and change into a shirt and some knee length shorts. I go downstairs and sit with Aaliyah, watching another baby channel with her before I get bored and play with an action man figure. I hear Mom singing along to the radio as the smell of roasting chicken escapes the kitchen into the living room.
I hear the doorbell ring and Mom calls me to answer it. I walk over and open the door, looking up at the same lady I saw from earlier, her husband, and their daughter. She hides behind her mom, looking down at the ground.
Mom appears behind me and lets them in as I watch. "Welcome to Pickering. Hope you had a safe journey from England! I'm Karen, this is my son Shawn, and my daughter's just inside there. My husband will be back soon to join us for dinner."
The visitors smile and exchange small talk, but I only keep staring at Y/n.
Her mom shakes her shoulder. "Come on Y/n, don't be shy! Look, you have a friend here, Shawn!"
"But he's a boy," I hear her mumble.
"Y/n! You were friends with lots of boys back home, don't be like that!
"I want to go home," she whispers. "My real home."
Her mom sighs, but she bends down and talks to her. "Y/n darling, this is your home now. Trust me, you'll love it here, and you'll love Shawn. He's your new friend."
Y/n gives me a look and smiles shyly at me.
"Shawn? Did you want to take Y/n up to your room? Maybe you could show her some things from school?"
"Sure Mom," I say. I feel Y/n's presence behind me as she follows me quietly.
"You say Mum weird," she tells me.
My heart races as I realise she's talking to me. "I-Is it wrong?"
She giggles. "No, it's cute! I like the way you talk. It's weird, and funny."
I smile and she smiles back. There's a gap in her top teeth, but it looks cool when she smiles. My own teeth are not straight, and Dad has told me not to smile too much.
I hear Y/n gasp as she steps into my room, and she marvels at the toys that I still have.
I blush in embarrassment. "I- I don't play with those anymore, they're just there."
She looks confused. "But why? I love all this-" and then she stops, lowering her level of excitement. "I mean, they're cool."
I see her hands twitch as she looks at the shelves full of toys. I laugh. "It's okay, you can play with them."
She shakes her head, but after a few minutes, Y/n picks up an action figure.
