Taken Away

Jealousy

"All a girl really wants is for one guy to prove to her that they all are not the same." - Marilyn Monroe 

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"Noah?" I asked, immediately recognising the beautiful human being that stood before me from the beach on Saturday.

"Annie? I never realized you lived next door," he replied, looking just as shocked as I felt.

I nearly choked on my own saliva "You live next door?"

"Yep," Noah replied popping the 'P' "we just had our first night, isn't too bad around here." 

"I had no idea it was you moving in next door, I'm sure you'll like it." I told him faintly.

"It does seem nice around here," he agreed. "Anyway, my mom made these for you guys, as a thank you." I watched Noah nod his head to the plate in his hand.

I raised my eye-brows "A thank you?"

"Your mom helped my mom with something in the house yesterday, I wasn't in so I'm not sure what it was exactly..." he trailed off.

I never even realized my mom was next door, I just assumed she was wworking late. Sure, she can make time for her neighbours but not even her own kids. 

Smiling brightly I took the plate from him. "Thank you, I'll try not to eat them all myself!" 

"You better not!" he fake scolded. "Don't want all that running to go to waste, now do you?" 

A light blush blossomed across my cheeks and I heard Noah give off a short laugh.

"I should probably get going, can't be late for my first day at a new school." Noah said retreating down the porch steps.

"Well good-luck with your first day, and thanks again for these," I said lifting the plate of cookies slightly.

"Don't worry about it, see you around Annie!" 

I watched Noah jog back to his house and only then did I realize he had been calling me Annie. Lightly hitting my forehead I closed the front door and returned into the kitchen where Mollie was eating her breakfast and Jackson was leaning against the kitchen counter, tapping on his phone.  I walked over to the kitchen table and set the cookies down..

"Who was it?" asked Jackson looking up from his phone.

"The guy from next door," I replied hooking my thumb in the direction of his house.

Jackson frowned slightly and shook his head. "Haven't seen the new people yet," 

"Oh, you'll know them when you see them." I giggled.

Mollie stood up from the table and skipped out of the kitchen.

Jackson looked at me, one eye-brow raised. "Someone has a crush,"

"I do not! I just can appreciate his good looks!" I denied backing out of the kitchen. 

"Tell Mollie she's going to miss her bus and you're going to be late for school if your friend doesn't hurry up!" Jackson shouted after me.

As if Hayden had heard Jackson, he pulled into the driveway, honking his horn in the process. Glancing at my watch I quickly realized that Jackson was right. Bounding up the stairs two at a time I  ran into my bedroom to retrieve my bag.

"Mollie!" I yelled. "You're going to be late!"

"I'm coming!" Mollie moaned, walking out of her bedroom.