A Neighbor's Dilemma

(Almost)Burnt to a Crisp

Sakamoto sits down and sighs. Emi nervously twirls her hair. "It will only be for a year-"

"A year!?" Sakamoto and I say in unison. I look at him in an apologetic way, I'll have to stay with him for a year? He stares blankly and turns away blushing.

"I'm fine moving... The problem is that I'm gonna stay with someone I've hardly met. Not to mention a girl... " His voice trails off. I hadn't thought about that. I've never lived alone with a guy I don't know.

"I don't mind if he lives with me, when do you have to go Emi?" She stands there for a minute causing me to think the worst don't tell me.. Her grip on her purse tightens.

"... Tomorrow" Sakamoto stands up and starts packing all of his stuff. Which wasn't much since most of it was still in their boxes from moving in with Emi.

"I'll drive you guys to Erin's house." She turns to me and whispers. "I'm sorry Erin, but you're the only one I thought to ask." She grabs her keys and heads to the door.

"You guys can put all of it in the back of my car, I'll drop it off at Erin's house and head straight to the post office, I have something waiting for me."

Sakamoto starts bringing things outside when I pop out of my haze. Oh, I should help. She heads off and leaves us to walk back. We were just about to pass a small grocery store but my stomach started to rumble. I pull on Sakamoto's shirt.

"I have to get some stuff for dinner. " I point at the store.

"Oh, uhm ok.. " We were on the store for 15 minutes. I finished getting all my ingredients when from the corner of my eye see Sakamoto in the candy aisle. I walked up to him and grab the bag of gummy bears from his hand. I put the bag in the basket.

"Sakamoto, didn't you say you were also 17? I couldn't hear you very well." He follows me to the cash register.

"Yea..." I noted to myself he bites his lips when nervous. I have never been good by myself or the dark, so I was happy I had someone beside me.

As we arrived to my house Rex started sniffing Sakamoto's feet. "You, have...a dog." I stood frozen, and looked at him worried. Is he allergic? Scared of dogs? I'm sure as hell not leaving Rex outside. "Are, you allergic?"

"No, I'm just happy. My parents never allowed us to have pets."

"I've... been thinking about that." I put on an apron and get a cutting board out of a drawer. "Why did you live with your sister and not your parent?"

I look up from my cutting to see him visibly hurt. My brows furrow thinking I hit a nerve. "I-Im sorry for asking..."

"It's ok" He sighs. "My late mom was very kind to us. My sister, dad, me... one day she fell ill. My dad couldn't keep up with the bills, both medical and to keep us with a home." He sits down on a stool by the kitchen counter.

"I only wish I was old enough to work." I finished cutting and turn on the stove. He stares as the fire shines bright. "My father soon fell ill as well, leaving only my sister and I to fend for our selves. My sister Lily decided to quit college and go into the workforce." I let the vegetables cook as I sit beside him to work on some peas.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you thank you.. For letting me, you know, stay here." I put on a smile to comfort him. "No problem! I'm glad I could help. I hope we can become friends." He turns around blushing and whispers whatever. He notices the boxes Emi left inside with her spare key.

"Where... Where would I sleep" I remember I haven't fully unpacked. "Fortunately, I have a spare room with a mattress. I, still have to unpack." I walk him upstairs. "This room is yours. The one right across from it, is mine. Bathroom, closet, etc..." He sets down his things on the mattress. "I'll get you blankets and sheets, don't worry." We walk back downstairs. "In this hallway, there is a bedroom, 2 closets, an empty room and a bathroom over by the kitchen."

"I need to go unpack some stuff, I'll leave you to your own." I start ripping off the tape of a box and take the contents out. Stuffed animals.. What a bunch of memories. I go upstairs and into my room, which is a mess. Rex, really!? Empty boxes tipped and ripped, one of the cushions that was on the small built in bench by the window was ripped with stuffing everywhere across the room. I clean up when I hear a knock at my door.

"What happened? Ya need help?" I throw some stuffing into a trash bin. "It's ok, I wouldn't want to bother you from your own unpacking."

"Well, when is dinner ready?" I perked up, dinner.. I totally forgot.. shit. I run out of my room, stumbling down the stairs. Tripping, even to see the vegetables foaming over the pot. I turn off the stove, leaving the vegetables crispy, but not burnt.

I stumble back, thinking I would back into the kitchen counter. Sakamoto was behind me, leaving me to fall into his arms. I look up to see him blush and walk away, letting me fall to the floor. Bitch, I'm giving you a home, food, and a room. This is how you thank me? 

I get up and dust myself off. I look at him, stick my tongue out and head straight to serving the food. 'Food' I contemplated about serving it. But I didn't get enough from the store to make a second. It will be a long ass year. I thought.