Butterfly

1. The Move

"I still think this is stupid."

I set down the box with a loud thump and Sandra looks up from the spot she's scrubbing on the floor, glaring at me.

"You can't just throw that around. We've got people living underneath us, for God's sake."

I let out my breath in a huff, rolling my eyes when she turns back to the spot she's scrubbing.

"You know this is better than what it was."

"Yeah, sure."

I glare at her back, flopping down onto the box I just brought in, hearing something crunch like it's broken. I glance at the lettering on the box: Delicate. Oops.

Sandra looks up from the floor, her brows creased.

"What was that?"

I stand up, stepping in front of the box.

"What?"

"That sound," she raises an eyebrow suspiciously.

"I don't know why you're talking about," I reply, turning toward the door again.

Sandra lets out a sigh, blowing her bangs back from her face, fixing her stupid 50's housewife headband.

"Can you please just cut the attitude and help me with the rest of the boxes?"

I roll my eyes, walking toward the door.

"Why didn't we just get a stupid moving company? First I have to move in the first place, now I've got to carry all the damn boxes."

Sandra glares at me, standing.

"I'm not kidding, shut your mouth and help."

"God."

I fling the door open and turn, my eyes widening to see a young guy in the doorway, his hand up like he was about to knock. He blinks, slightly surprised.

"Hey."

I roll my eyes, turning back into the house.

"Sandra, one of your stupid boy toys is here."

I hear an annoyed huff.

"Just a minute, I think you broke something in this box moving it."

Yikes.

I turn toward the door again but the guy's still there, blocking my escape route. I give him a look.

"Just go in, I could care less."

He tilts his head, confused.

"Uhm, I'm your neighbor."

He points to the door across the hall and I pull my lips into some semblance of a smile.

"Well, congratulations. You get to deal with the most fucked-up family since the Lyons."

He blinks.

"What?"

I hear a gasp behind me.

"What the hell, Y/n?! You broke the lamp! You think I can afford another one?!"

"That's my cue. Why don't you introduce yourself to my lovely sister."

I shoulder my way past the guy, hurrying down the stairs, my sister's angry voice fading into the distance as I go down three, four flights of stairs, blinking in the sunlight as I push open the door, walking out to the car.

I let out a breath, pushing my hair back from my face, closing my eyes briefly as I lean against the car, the sunlight warm on my face. I stand there for a minute, the only thought in my mind how perfect today would have been to swim, to submerge myself and focus on the turns, the strokes, losing myself in the rhythm of the water.