The Forbidden Bite

Chapter 2: The Boy Next Door

This whole first week of school has gone by quite slow for my liking.  Now it's Saturday, and everything is the same.  Suddenly I hear a large truck pull up next to my house and I look outside and realize it's a moving truck so I go downstairs to tell my mom. 

"Did you know that new neighbors are moving in next door?"

"Yeah, I did know that.  I hope they are nice, I don't have time for arrogant neighbors"  My mom says with distain in her voice.  My mom has always judged everybody, no matter what.  Whenever someone new moves in on the block she gives them an interrogation or at least that's how I interpret it.  I walk down my front steps to see if I can see who it is.  Then I see the same boy, Daniel.  He is talking to a man and woman most likely his parents.  I observe him very carefully, he has the same outfit on as he has this whole week of school.  The only thing that has changed is his shirt which has a photo of Marilyn Manson on the front.  We haven't talked much at all this week, it's not that I don't want to, he just has this weird spell over me.  Suddenly, I catch his eye and he starts to walk over.

"What's up?"  He says and flashes is crystal white teeth.

"Oh, hi I'm sorry if you think I'm creepy because I was staring"  I can barely stutter out.

"No that's fine, I get it.  Would you like to come help me put things up in my bedroom?  I have a lot of boxes"  Daniel chuckles and it sounds very sweet.

"Sure" I love that he asked me but also I'm so nervous.  I pick up two boxes and stack them on top of each other and walk into the house.  It's quite a large house and the flooring is the same as my house.  We have to walk up two flights of stairs and finally we reach his room and his bed is already there.  I place the boxes on the floor and observe his room.  It's quite a large room and Daniel already has his bed and dresser set up.  The walls are bear, and the floor is carpeted.

"So do you like it?"  Daniel asks and leans against his dresser.

"Yeah, it's really big."

"Yeah I like it.  I have a ton of posters that I want to put up, and most are Marilyn Manson"  Daniel laughs and just stares at me.  It feels like he is observing me from head to toe.  Suddenly, I start feeling very self conscience.  I decide to break the silence and so maybe he will stop staring at me.

"I noticed that you were a Marilyn Manson fan just by your shirt"

"Do you like him?"

"No, I'm not really into that kind of music"  Honestly, that music just makes me very uncomfortable, but I'm not telling him that.

"Really, what music do you like?"  Daniel walks over and sits on his bed.

"I like pop and hip hop the most" 

"You can sit down on the bed if you want.  I won't mind"  He says and then pats the spot next to him.  I sit down very reluctantly, sweat starts covering my hands.

"Why do you act nervous all the time?"  He asks and then I stare at his deep black eyes, almost getting lost in them.

"I don't know, I just feel like I need to be perfect all the time"  I answer realizing how true that statement actually is.

"Everybody has a different perception of perfect, but from what I can tell you try to hard to be perfect.  I've only known you about a week and I can already tell your not being completely yourself.  Who are you trying to please?"

"Well, I guess my parents.  They are from Yale and are quite successful.  They have always planned my life but I don't really mind.  My parents are just lawyers and I'm just there perfect kid bred from perfection,"  I say, suddenly I feel like a opened up to much.  I feel very vulnerable and I look down at my hands, I can feel Daniel's eyes scanning my face.

"I'm sorry, that must be a lot of pressure.  Are you okay?"  I can feel Daniel's hand start rubbing my back which makes me shudder.  Daniel notices and let's out a little laugh.  There was something about his touch that made me feel safe.

"I'll be fine.  I just wish I knew what I was meant to do instead of what my parents want me to do.  It's not like I can fight with my parents about Yale since there is no other option I have even been considering."

"Then don't go to college.  That's what I'm doing, after school I'm just going to get on a bus and go.  Then when I get to a city I know it will be for me and I will call it home.  You don't have to make decisions right now Jack.  Just live,"  How was Daniel so wise?  It didn't sound like a bad plan for someone like Daniel but for someone like me it was just to much of a stretch.  Suddenly I look up and Daniel and I are really close to each other.  His hand is still on my back and our legs are very close they are almost touching.  I look into is black eyes and get lost in oblivion, this moment seemed perfect.  He was a stranger, why was I doing this?  I lean back and scoot over to put some distance between us.  Daniel's mouth opens to say something when his bedroom door bursts open and creates a loud banging sound as it hit's the wall.

"Daniel will you ---"  A middle aged woman stops mid sentence and just stares at me.  "Um hello who are you?"

I quickly jump off the bed away from Daniel and I shake her hand.

"Hello, I'm Jack Beck.  I'm your next door neighbor,"  I'm guessing that's his mother, I really hope because that would be embarrassing if she wasn't.

"Oh hello Jack, nice to meet you.  I'm Mrs. Whitelock"  She looks at me and then at Daniel.  Daniel looks very embarrassed then he stands up.

"Mom, I just asked him to help carry boxes to my room.  I met him the first day of school.  He's a friend"  Daniel says.

"Oh ok well thanks for helping Daniel."  

"It was my pleasure"  I walk out of his doorway and look behind me and he just smiles.  I get out of that house as soon as possible.  I just had a heart to heart with a boy I didn't even know but met a week ago.  What was I thinking?  I facepalm myself as I go back to my house.  I feel frustrated and I can't put my finger on why.

"Where have you been?"  My mom stands with her hands on her hips.

"I just went to see the new neighbors and helped one of them with the boxes."

"Was that the boy with the Marilyn Manson shirt on?"  I roll my eyes at the question.  Of course, my mom would notice that.

"Yes mom that is Daniel.  He's nice so back off him"  My mom suddenly takes her hand and slaps me across the face.  I stumble backwards and catch the wall to steady myself.  The burning sensation spreads to my ear and I feel tears come to my eyes.  I won't cry in front of her.

"Don't you dare talk back to me young man.  Go to your room, and I better not see you speaking to him again!"

I run up the stairs and stumble into my room.  I flop onto my bed in frustration but the tears don't come.  In case you were wondering she doesn't do that a lot, but when she does it always catches me off guard.  I feel lost, I'm miserable.