Helping people is not what I do. If you have a problem don't expect me to help because I won't, not willingly at least.
But when my next door neighbour, also my mom's best friend, needs my assistance of course I have to help whether I like it or not.
I may have been a lot more hesitant to help though if I had known what the consequences would be.
It was just last week actually, Maryanne saw me get off my bus stop and waved me over.
"Rory, sweetie! Over here!" She called from her yard and I could tell by the strain in her voice she was definitely struggling with something.
"Hey Maryanne!" I replied politely and started walking over to her.
She was carrying several cardboard boxes all stacked up to almost above her head.
"Let me help you." I told her and grabbed half of the stack of boxes. Again, I am not someone to offer to help. But unless I want to be grounded for life I have to.
"Thanks sweetie. That load of boxes is really a pain on an old persons back." She said as we walked to the front door of her home.
"Oh please, Maryanne, you don't look a day over thirty!" I told her with a smile she returned with a wholehearted laugh.
"You're too sweet Rory." Maryanne said opening the door and stepping through the threshold, I slowly followed her in.
It felt weird being here after so long but everything still looked as I remembered it.
The staircase was straight ahead, living room was to the left and dining room to the right.
"Right to the kitchen, dear."
I followed Maryanne through the dinning room to the kitchen which also looked just as I remembered it.
We set the boxes on the kitchen table and just as I turned to leave she stopped me.
"Where are you going Rory? Wouldn't you like to stay for a cup of tea? I haven't seen you in ages we need to catch up."
Of course I wanted to stay and catch up with Maryanne but I don't want to have to see Austin. But there's no polite way to tell someone you want to leave their house because you don't want to see their son, especially someone as sweet as Maryanne.
"Sure." I said a bit slowly. Maryanne sensed my hesitation and frowned.
"What's wrong Rory? If you have homework it's fine, you can...oh." She stopped when she realised why I didn't want to stay. "It's Austin isn't it?" She said, her voice becoming hushed.
I nodded shyly not looking at her.
"I really don't understand what happened between you two. You used to be the best of friends then one day you just seemed to stop talking." Maryanne said more to herself than me as she started putting the kettle on.
I didn't respond and took a seat at the kitchen table, a seat clear from boxes in front of it.
"Anyways, Austin is at basketball practice so you don't have to worry about him being here." Maryanne said with a sympathetic smile and I just nodded.
Maryanne and my mom have always been this way when it came to me and Austin. Whenever the topic of how we used to be such good friends comes up they both act sad for us, even our dads do it. I can't blame them but the situation isn't going to change so they just need to except that we aren't and will never be friends again.
"You know Rory," Maryanne began as she took the seat across from me. "Austin doesn't hate you."
I looked up at her interested in what she was about to say.
"He never told me what happened between you but I know if he could change it he would." I almost believed her for a second but I knew it wasn't true. If Austin didn't hate me we would still be friends.
She knew I didn't believe her and with another sympathetic smile changed the subject.
"So you're still taking the bus?"
"Yeah, I won't get a car unless I pay for one myself. And at the rate I'm going that will never happen. The bus stinks but it's the only way I can get to school."
"You know what? You can ride to school with Austin!" No.
Maryanne looked like she just had a million dollar idea. How would me riding to school with Austin help anything? Hadn't we just talked about how we aren't friends anymore?
"Maryanne, I don't think that's a good-"
"It's perfect Rory! You guys can be friends again and it will just be great, I'll talk to your mother."
"Maryanne that's very nice but I don't think it'll work out."
"Trust me it will be fine-"
"Mom? I'm home!" Austin's voice called from the front of the house followed by a slam of a door.
"In the kitchen sweetie!" Maryanne called back then looked at my paling face in remembrance.
"I'm sorry Rory, he's supposed I be at practice." She told me quickly, finishing just as Austin walked into the room.
"Hey mom, coach had a-" Austin stopped mid sentence when he saw me sitting there. I can only imagine how uncomfortable I looked.
"Hi Rory." Austin said politely then faced his mom again. "So anyways, coach had a family emergency and called practice off early."
"I'm gonna go." I said standing up and grabbing my backpack I had placed on the floor.
"But Rory, you haven't had your tea." Maryanne said. It seems like she completely forgot about the whole Austin situation.
"It's fine, I have some at home."
"Don't forgot, Austin will drive you tomorrow morning. He leaves at seven so be ready by then." Austin shot his mother a confused look and I took that as my cue to escape. I passed by Austin in the archway he was standing in walking as close to the wall as possible and rushed home.
