Just a normal life

Chapter 3

*Mia's POV*

I hesitantly walked towards my front door, just as I was about to look for my house keys I noticed a beautiful lady gracefully taking boxes into the house next door.

How in hells name does someone look elegant while packing boxes?

I dreaded going back home so I forced myself to get the balls to ask if she needs any assistance. I walked through the little path going towards the side of the house, as I was about to move the vine aside I thought against it and decided to approach from the front (Imagine someone emerging from a bush and offering their help, seems a bit creepy. No?)

I made it to the drive way and took a deep breath in and released all my unnecessary fear as I exhaled.

"Um hey, I was wondering of you need any help?", I blurted. (You go Mia, so much for 'exhaling your unnecessary fears')

"Oh my word! Hey, I'd really appreciate that. Wait really? You don't understand how much I needed that .", she gushed with a slight rosy tint to her pale cheeks.

"I'd be more than happy to help.", I replied with a genuine smile.

"Thank you so much, my son was supposed to be back from school by now, this boy has to disappear when I need him."

I advanced to the moving truck and grabbed the first box in sight. I noticed that all the boxes had a label on them but this one was an exception.

"Ma'am where can I leave this box, there isn't a label."

"That's what we're not going to do. You may address me by the name Alissa or even Mrs Collins would do but "ma'am" is a humongous no.", she stated with a chuckle.

Collins. That sure rung a bell but I couldn't put my finger on it.

"I think I'll stick with Mrs Collins for now, I'm Mianna by the way but I go as Mia."

"It's absolutely amazing to know you dear, you're really pleasant I must say and the box can go to the first room upstairs."

"Thank you.", I gave her an awkward smile and headed to the staircase.

Compliments and me? No. We're a bad duo as I have no idea how to accept or give them properly.

I left the box at it designated stop and carried a few more around the house and asked about the destination for a few, we were finally down to about eight boxes and I actually felt proud as we started off with nearly twenty-five or maybe more. I picked up a box with the label "kitchen" on it, it was a bit larger than the last few so it slightly obscured my vision. I was trying to focus on where I was going really badly but that proved to be a bit difficult.

Before I knew it I bumped into something or rather someone and the box in my hand took flight and landed with a crash, leaving spoons and other cutlery scattered on the floor.

"Gosh you surely are blind, aren't you?", remarked none other than Mr Collins from Math class.

"Excuse me, you're the bind one.", Girl please who do you think you're lying to?

"Says you wearing glasses, okay I admit it was kind of my fault as the box was bigger than you.", he snickered as he walked away.

"You take that back.", I scoffed.

"How about no.", he smiled as he peaked around the corner of the door.

I bent down and gathered all the scattered cutlery and put them back into the box. The box was left in the kitchen, thereafter I made my way back outside and grabbed a box that needed to go upstairs.

Not even five minutes later I heard Mrs Collins angelic voice from downstairs.

"Mia and Noah please come downstairs, I've made some sandwiches."

I hate to admit I was kind of hungry so I rushed down but made a quick stop at the bathroom to wash my hands. I didn't realise there was already someone there as the door was slightly ajar. I let out a weird shriek as Noah jumped out from behind the shower curtain.

"Is everything okay?", yelled Mrs Collins from the kitchen.

"Yeah, sorry about that.", I replied with a shaky voice.

Noah was laughing hysterically and he even collapsed in the bathtub due to the amount he was laughing. I washed my hands and instead of drying them with the towel on top of the box, I went to Noah and wiped them on his face. His laughter soon died down and he stared at me as if I committed a crime, I wasn't sure what to do but I bolted out of the bathroom without a second thought. We were both laughing hysterically when we got to the kitchen.

Mrs Collins smiled at us as we seated ourselves at the counter filled with random objects, she set down two glasses and gave us water since they hadn't gotten anything yet.

I had eaten half of my sandwich when I looked outside. Shit shit shit, I really hope it's not five already.

"Uhh Mrs Collins what time is it?", I asked clearly panicking.

"About quarter to five.", she replied with a worried expression.

"Is everything okay?", they asked in unison.

"Yeah, everything is okay. I'm really sorry but I need to go. Thank you so much for everything."

Mrs Collins didn't seem entirely convinced but she smiled and pulled me into a warm embrace. I wasn't accustomed to affection so I stiffened and my expression turned blank as I didn't know how to respond.

"I'm here if you need any help and I'll bake something and bring it over soon."

I grabbed my bag off a box that was next to me and made my way to the door, it was still unlocked so I said goodbye and sprinted down the driveway and up mine.

I needed to get home before Luke and nothing else mattered at that moment. I opened the door with shaky hands and my panic raised as I pushed the door open. I breathed out a sigh of relief as I saw mum leaning over the counter.

"Mum I'm sorry, I went to help our new neighbours and I didn't realise the time. I should have told you that I wasn't home and I'm sorry for not cleaning up. I promise it won't happen again and I really mean it. Please...", my rant was cut short by my mother's voice.

"It's fine Mia. I've cleaned up the mess from last night and this morning. I have a feeling that you have met Alissa already, we were in high school together.", she said the last part with a smile on her face and that brought warmth to me as it was a rare sight.

I really wanted to ask her more about their friendship but thought against it as the sound of the front door opening caused my blood to run cold.