'39 [Stanley Uris]

3: Friends Will Be Friends.

The next morning, Andi awakes to the annoying sound of banging coming from her door. At first, she thinks it might be Richie from across the street.

Slowly, she arises from the ground, groaning at the stiffness of her back as she does so.

Tiredly walking to the front door, she pulls it open with a clearly annoyed expression. Only the boy across the street isn't at her door. In fact, it's some nicely dressed girl around her age with a freshly cooked pie.

Man, she loves pie.

"Hiya, neighbor!" The girl cheerfully greets, snapping Andi out of her longing gaze towards the pie.

She simply stares back at the unknown girl, tilting her head.

When she fails to say anything back, the nicely dressed girl speaks up.

"I noticed that the foreclose sign came down, and I figured that must mean we have new neighbors! My name's, Lana," the girl explains. "Anyway, I thought I might bring by a welcome gift."

Andi takes the pie from Lana's hand, offering her a soft smile.

"Thanks," Andi mumbles.

"Oh, it's no problem, really. You see, I got an A++ in my culinary arts class. Isn't crazy how women are naturally so talented in cooking—" Lana begins to rant.

Andi takes this opportunity to slam the door, and head back inside to start working on the time machine.

Even though she closes the door, Lana doesn't take the hint.

"I can see that you're a little busy right now, so I'll just talk to you from out here!" The girl calls from outside the door, smiling still.

Andi rolls her eyes and puts her head phones on as she works.

"Fat Bottomed Girls," by Queen, blasts into her ears.

After ten minutes of working on the stupid device, she removes a single cushion from ear, checking to see if Lana is still outside. Sure enough, the neighbor is still outside blabbing about how she should really consider re-planting her grass.

"...everyone in this neighborhood judges harshly on looks, which is why I think you should re-plant your grass. I could probably help out–" Lana goes on.

Sighing deeply, Andi stands up from the floor, throws a blanket over the time machine, and walks back to the front door.

As she pulls it open, Lana stops talking.

There's a silence between the two of them for a little while before Andi speaks up.

"Do you...." Andi struggles to get her words out, "...wanna come inside?"

Lana's face lights up, and she nods her head rapidly, practically pushing past Andi into the house. As soon as she steps in though, she stops and looks around in surprise.

"Wow..." Lana whispers. "I know you just moved in, but it's really empty in here. Do you need some help moving your furniture in? And where are your parents?"

"Don't have any," Andi simply replies, sitting by the pie on the ground and eating a piece with her fingers.

Lana looks at her confused.

"Furniture, or parents?"

"Both."

There's a silence between them, and Lana swears she catches a glimpse of genuine emotion in the tough girls eyes. That's more than she's seen since she met her a few minutes ago.

"Well," Lana sighs, "that sounds lonely."

Andi shrugs, continuing to eat the pie. Man, it was so damn good.

"What's that?" Lana questions, beginning to lift the cover off the device on the floor.

Andi is quick to pull it back down before the over enthusiastic girl is able to catch a glimpse of anything. She then pushes the device further into the corner of the wall.

"None of your business," she states.

Lana doesn't seem even a little phased by her snappy attitude. Guess she's used to people snapping at her because of her nosy personality.

"Do you have anything at all?" The nosy girl questions. "Like food or clothes?"

Andi takes a second to look around before shrugging.

"I guess not," she nonchalantly replies.

Lana smiles widely, "then I guess this means I'll have to bring you meals every day!"

"Great," Andi mumbles sarcastically.

"It'll be fun! We'll get to see each other all the time, and I'll bet we'll become best friends!" Lana insists with a loud happy-go-lucky tone.

"Sure thing."

After that Lana leaves, and Andi continues working.

Some where along the way, she must've fallen asleep because she's awaken by loud noises in her front lawn. These noises include loud talking, moving trucks beeping, and lots of moving.

Quickly, Andi jumps to her feet and peeks out her window.

There, on her own lawn, Lana is talking to a man and signing things in a clipboard while other men unload things onto her property. Well, sorta her property.

She quickly rushes out the front door and towards Lana.

"What the hell is going on?!" She calls as she approaches the girl.

A boy their age immediately comes to Lana's defense, protective stepping in front of her and making Andi stumble back.

Lana hands the clipboard back to the older man before pushing what looks to be her boyfriend out of in front of her. Then, she smiles brightly. A smile that only confuses Andi that much more.

"I got people in the neighborhood to donate furniture! Lots of people came forwards, and some even donated old clothes. Isn't it great?" Lana cheers.

Andi stares at the girl blankly for a second or two. Then, she smiles that same soft smile from before. A smile only some can achieve.

"Thanks," she simply says.

She probably would've been more thankful if she would've known that Lana skipped school just to help her out. 

"That's all you've got to say?" The boy scoffs, rolling his eyes.

Andi glares at him, debating whether or not to engage in battle.

"Don't be so mean, Aj!" Lana defends, pushing the boy lightly.

Andi relaxes a little at this.

"Don't mind him," Lana assures, "this is just my boyfriend, Ajax. He can be a little outspoken sometimes."

Boyfriend?

He looks nothing like her type! He literally is the complete opposite of her, and looks like he's in a gang or something.

Andi shrugs off the surprise, and nods her head a little.

"Oh," she mutters.

Then, they all go on to bring the furniture inside. Lana decides to help Andi decorate, and Aj develops a playful friendship with her.