7 Things About the Boy Next Door

Chapter 14

"Everybody has gone through something that has changed them in a way that they could never go back to the person they once were." -Unknown

~Harmony~

I get home at around 10:30 that night. After the amazing surprise of the waterfall which I think that I can never repay Dylan enough for, the seven of us decided to head out for a nutritious meal, and by nutritious meal, I mean McDonalds.

I made sure to rush straight to mum as soon as I entered through the door to make sure she was in fact okay; it's been worrying me all day.

"Mum?" I call into the dim hallway.

"Over here baby!" She shouts from what sounds like the living room. Taking quick steps, I practically jump into the room.

Looking around, nothing looks out of place or suspicious. She's just there, knitting.

"You're okay," I ask just to be sure, but it comes out more like a question as if were surprised nothing actually happened - which I am, I just won't admit that.

"You sound a little surprised there, Harmony," she chuckles.

"No, of course not. I was just worried," I reply honestly even though I might have been a little amazed how everything looks in order.

"Now, now, what did I tell you about worrying, Missy," Mum says a little sternly, but I know deep down, she likes someone looking after her. No one has for a while now; she's always been the strong one, the glue to our small family, even though our numbers have halved.

"Yeah, I know Mum, but I can't help it."

"I know sweetie," she says with a soft smile, lowering her knitting down to her lap. "Anyway," she starts with a stronger voice and a broad grin, "how was your day." Even just thinking about it makes my heart race and lips pull. Mum smirks knowingly.

"It was... great," I say dreamily for lack-of-a-better-term and flop down into the opposite couch. The mountain of pillows Mum piles on these things is ridiculous, but right now I'm grateful for them as they catch me in a soft embrace.

"I can tell by that smile. And how about that," she says and then pauses. She clears her throat a couple of times and picks up her sewing intently before continuing, "that boy?" Ahh, that boy. That boy she loves so much... and now I do too.

I know she tries to make the question casual, but we all know it's anything but, especially when she adds that little shoulder shrug for extra measure. I smirk and contemplate how much I should tell her. I want to retell everything, the entire day, but there are some things even I'm not sure about, like that 'almost moment'. I'm going to keep that little fact to myself for a while.

"It was great. He was great," I say which causes Mum to smirk into her work. "It was all... great." When was my vocabulary limited to 'great'?

"That's fabulous sweetie, it sounds like you had fun."

"I did, and lots of it," I say pushing through a yawn.

"You better go to bed, you look pooped." Mum stows her sewing away in a draw on the other side of the room and comes to get me. Guiding my by the arms, she pushes me up the stairs on my lower back until we get to my room.

I fumble with my door handle for a moment, but eventually I get it open.

Shuffling to my bed, Mum follows me inside and I jump onto my soft mattress. Curling up in a ball, I feel my shoes being slipped off before I hear the thump of each one being dropped on the floor. The duvet moves up my body, stopping at my neck and I sink into the mattress.