The Boy Next Door

Chapter 1: The Madness Begins

Chapter 1

"Emma! Emma!" I heard my name being called, but I didn't want to wake up. "Emma! Wake up or you'll end up in detention!" No! That would be the first time in my entire life. I can't let my honor student image be ruined...or has it already? I jerked my head up and saw my math teacher, Mrs. Dun, in front of me. She gave me a look of disappointment while I used my sleeve to rub off the drool at the corner of my mouth. "Emma! I'm very disappointed," Mrs. Dun exclaimd. She paused for a moment and then continued. "A student like YOU should never be sleeping in class!" "I..I..I.." I tried to talk, but I couldn't get words to come out. The look in Mrs. Dun's eyes really got to me. The look of disappointment and anger. That expression doesn't suit her sweet, little face. Ever since I started attending Ravensville High I was one of Mrs. Dun's students. She teaches each grade from ninth to eleventh. When I first met her, I immediately noticed her bright green eyes. I have blue, but I've always wished for green. He chocolate hair glimmers and shines with or without the sunlight beating down on it, and her hair is as brown as brown can be. That made me jealous. I don't like having blonde hair. It makes me feel vulnerable, because it's so light.

Guilt struck me hard in the head like a hammer hitting a nail. I look up to Mrs. Dun, and I know she expects better of me, but... I don't know what's happening. It's been two weeks since I started feeling tired, and I take the chance to sleep whenever I can. Okay...maybe not always at the best times, but I can't help it. I can't! I don't know why! Am I dying? No. That would be ridiculous. "Mrs. Dun, I'm very sorry, but can I be excused?" I muttered almost whispering my question, because that's the last thing she would expect to come out of my mouth. I felt embarrassed. I knew I was blushing. I could feel the blood rushing towards me cheeks. In a sigh almost weep she replied, "Sure Emma, but I do expect you to get your notes from someone." I nodded my head trying to hide my embarrassment. I left the room and walked down the hall. The hall is straight and runs into the gym at the end. I decided to follow the hall and head there. Maybe if I relax in the gym for a while I'll feel better. I hope so. I opened one of the large metal doors. Creek. Squeak. The door's usual sound. My head instantly turned to the bleachers when I entered. Yes! There is no class in here. Perfect! I'll sleep! No, no, no. If I sleep chances are I won't wake up for hours. If that happens I'll miss the bell and be in big trouble. So, I just decided to sit and ponder. This beats math, I guess. What seemed like one minute turned out to be ten, and the bell rung. I darted up from the bleachers and out the gym doors. I hurried to class, got inside, got my books, and apologized to Mrs. Dun in the little breath I had left. She smiled. Good, she isn't mad anymore.

After sixth period, I went straight to my locker. I didn't stop to talk to anyone. Not even my best friend Mia. Well, untill she came up to me. "Emma! How was your day? I heard about what happened in math," she snickered and smiled. Talk about nice classmates. "Well if you heard about what happened in math, you should know how my day went." I snapped. "Okay...well...do you want to hang out on Saturday? Pizza at Deck Out?" Mia asked. "Umm...I'll think about it and text you later. K?" "K," she answered. To be honest I don't really want to. Even though that is a tradition of ours. Every Saturday we both eat pizza at our favorite parlor, Deck Out. Mia's always been like this. Random and forceful. She tries to avoide any fights or arguments with anyone, even when she doesn't see them coming. When I was nine I met Mia in third grade. We ended up sitting next to eachother which led to a wonderful friendship. Personally, I think Mia is much more prettier than me. All the boys that want to date her make my statement pretty true. None of the boys at Ravensville High can resist her carmel eyes, long lashes, and voluminous, wavey, brown hair. She must be lucky to have all the guys want her. Or is she not? Maybe she has it harder than I think. Well it can't be helped.

When I finished packing up my backpack I walked to my car. Being a sixteen year old has it's ups and downs. An up being I can drive. A down being my parents expect me to be responsible. Which includes paying for my own gas and car insurance. However, it's all worth it in the end. If I didn't do those things, I wouldn't even have a car to drive. I unlocked my car and opened the driver's door. I maneuvered and tossed my backpack onto the passenger's seat. I closed the door and put my hands on the steering wheel. My head ached, and I suddenly became tired again. In and out. I took deep breaths for about three minutes than started the car. On my way home I decided to stop by Wincorp, a pharmacy in Ravensville. The automatic entrance door opened as I stumbled in due to my excruciating headache. It seems to have gotten worse since I started driving from school. "Excuse me, where's the Advil?" I asked a nearby employee. "Isle Six." "Thank you," I mumbled and smiled. Oh, I know where the Advil is, but my head hurt to much to think. I walked down Isle Six and grabbed the Advil off the shelf. Then I walked back up the isle to the register. The employee ringed up the medicine, I paid, and left. I took three tablets with the water bottle I had in my car, because the pain was unbearable.

Finally! I'm home. With the rough school day I've had and the horrible headache I got, I decided when I get inside I'm going to treat myself with a sweet. I pushed through the front door and took my shoes off. If I kept them on, my mom would nag to me about how dirty the make the wood floor. I inched into the kitchen and set my backpack on the table. The cookie jar is on the counter next to the sink. I grabbed a cookie from the jar and munched it down. Then both of my parents came in. My mom is short. Maybe around 4' 5''. I look the most like my mom. I have her blue eyes, blond hair, and short height. My dad, on the other hand, is extremely tall and busty. He has brown hair and light brown eyes. His skin is fair while my mom's is pale white. My dad also is a sucker when it comes to the gym and sports so, he has a good amount of muscle throught his body. I don't look anything like my father. Even my skin color is pale like my mom's.

"Emma, we have an exciting announcement," my mom cheered. "Are you pregnant?" I asked with fear and happiness at the same time. "Oh, no! However, it's just as special," she exclaimed. "What could be as special as if you were preggies?" At this point I was puzzled. "Well," my father replied. "We have new neighbors!" My mom smiled and laughed. My dad was cheerful. "Wait, so the Jonsons moved out?" The Jonsons are the family that lives to the right of us. Chloe, Carmen, Annabelle, and Mr. and Mrs. Jonson make up the family. Chloe is the oldest. She's in my grade which is tenth. She's actually in my writing class. Carmen is the only son of the Jonsons and is the middle child. He's in eigth grade. Carmen's at the stage of being bratty then sweet, and short then tall, AKA puberty. Annabelle is the youngest. She is the sweetest child you will ever meet. To me, she is like an angel from Heaven who came down to cheer up the humans of Earth when they're discouraged. So you can probably tell that she's my favorite. I'm not saying any of the other kids are bad though. I have no problem with any of them. Even Carmen is on my good side. My parents are really good friends with Mr. and Mrs. Jonson. My dad works with Mr. Jonson in court. Both of them are lawyers. Mrs. Jonson always invites my mom and I over for tea. We go whenever we get the chance, because she makes the best tea and cookies in the world. Her tea makes my taste buds dance when the warm drink hits my tounge. The wonderful cookies she makes are so good it's like eating one of God's own creations.

"No, they still live next to us," my mother confessed. "That means," my voice cracked, and I felt uneasy. Don't say it dad. "Yes," my father replied. "We have new neighbors to the right of us." "Oh God!" I exclaimed in horror. Why would someone be willing to live in THAT house?!