The MAN Project

She really is 'The Girl Next Door'

'Ding-Donggggggggggg' went the doorbell. I waited anxiously, swaying side to side as I looked straight at the plain white front door. Something so simple as a door that was so harmless even had me scared straight. I heard the bolts of the door move and I turned pale... Steph had opened the door. I had come over to hang out before tomorrow when Nate and I's "project" started.

Yes it was her house, she did live next door and it wasn't out of the ordinary for me to just come by after school, but for some reason ever since I started dating Kennedy - I hadn't been coming over as much. Our visits to eachother's houses grew further and further apart. I wasn't sure if it was because of Steph - it being akward for her that one of her best guy friends and next door neighbor was dating her best friend, or if it was me - had I been scared to see her reaction?

"HEY BRAD!" Hmmm. Maybe this wasn't so bad - she didn't seem upset that they hadn't hung out in awhile - it was like he had been over yesterday.

"Hey Steph. What's up?"

"Nothing much. hahaha - dont just stand out side, come in!" She was being so sweet, inviting me in and all, and that laugh... it always calmed my nerves every time I heard it. It was so soft and refreshing.

I walked into her large house and slid off my Nike's.

"You wanna help me with my math homework? I know it's not very exciting, but after we can go do anything we want."

"Of course I'll help."

I sat down in her family room on the leather couch that I thought smelled like a mixture of peaches and sandlewood - a purfume Steph wore a lot. She jumped onto the couch and flung her legs ontop of my lap. I never wanted to loose this. The friendship we had - and thats probably why my 'player-like' ways didn't work around her.

"Ughhhh... math. I know your amazing at math so its actually perfect you came over." I was pretty good at math and it was funny that she remembered that.

I looked at the paper. "That one's 72." I pointed to the question marked number 1.

"Well thanks Brad, that really made me understand it hahahaha."

"Hahahaha. Your welcome." We laughed for awhile and got back to her work and I was fine with it. I didn't have to be doing something exciting with her - as long as I was with her. This MAN Project thing was going to be harder than I thought.