Amber Society ✘

1

The house has five bedrooms; one on the first floor, four on the second floor.

It has four bathrooms, a large living room, a ginormous kitchen, an office, a basement, two garages, a spacious backyard, a tidy front lawn, a large patio, and an eerie attic.

It is going to be a home to six human beings and one hyper puppy.

The house is located in a quiet neighborhood in North Carolina.

It is close to the middle and elementary schools; a ten minute driving distance from the high school.

It has everything, yet it feels like there is so much missing.

-

"Mom, do we really need to move here? We were fine back in New York."

"Don't be dumb Rory, you'll love it here."

yOu'll LoVe iT hErE she says. There is no way I'll enjoy living in this quiet, shady neighborhood. I haven't seen a single person walking around or any children playing outside. It's eighty degrees outside; why aren't there signs of life here? Children should be riding their bikes or running around; adults should be barbecuing; teens should be playing basketball or soccer, or just wandering around with their friends. What if there aren't any teens here? What if I don't make any friends? Will I be forever alone in this sad, sad place? WILL I DIE ALONE?!

"Rory."

"Yes father?"

"Do not call me that."

"Sorry father."

"Can you grab that box by the truck and move it down to the basement?"

"I don't know.. can I?" I slowly and dramatically collapsed to the ground, and then finished with an award winning sigh.

"Maybe not. I guess I should invite that Calistro boy to come out and help me instead." Boy? Did he just say boy? There's a boy here? There's other humans here other than us? Thank the lord! Please, please, I beg of you, make him cute. Wait. What kind of name is Calistro? I mean that sounds kinda hot though, not going to lie. And if dad is willing to have him come out here and help, he could possibly look like he could lift up the moving truck.

"Stop drooling and get your lazy ass up."

"As you wish, father."

I get up and walk over to my dad's red pickup truck and, as promised, there's a big brown box that I have to put in the dark, scary basement. That place looks like Pennywise could be living down there, awaiting for me to come down the stairs and then he would bite my arm off and drag me through the small window and down into the sewers.

I'm at the basement entrance and I am feeling very confident; brave in fact. I open up the door and stare into the darkness. My younger brother walks by my and I grab him from the back of his shirt. "James, be a gentleman and go first." I make sure to put on my biggest smile and not show that I am shivering with fear. I shove him in front of me, and he rolls his eyes and descends down the staircase. I have my flashlight in my hand just to make sure nobody trips and falls, because that'd be embarrassing. I place the box down on the basement floor, and then I bolt back upstairs, dropping my flashlight on the way up.

"Moron. Why didn't you just turn the lights on?"

"Leave me alone. I just went on an extremely dangerous expedition, so don't at me." He's laughing at me. I swear, he won't be laughing if I lock him in the basement overnight.

"Rory, are you okay? You look like you're about to murder somebody.." My mom is holding Cora, and Cora is reaching her arms out to me. I lean over to take her, but my mom pulls her away. "I'm afraid of what you're going to do to her. I don't want you murdering my baby."

"Do you seriously think I'm going to murder Cora?" Mom is staring at me, nodding her head. "Oh my god-"

"Gosh."

"Sorry. oH mY gOsH. I can't believe it. I'm not going to hurt the poor child."

"Of course, I'm just kidding."

"I- I.. you know what. I'm not going to even comment on this. Hand me Cora; she can help dad and I move the rest of the boxes inside."

"Hulk baby is at it again! That. Is. The. Tea."

"MoOoOm!"

"Right, sorry. I'm just trying to be cool. Don't ruin my vibe."

"I-"

"Shut up. Here." She hands me Cora and walks towards the kitchen. My baby sister and I exchange looks. We have such a good bond, and sometimes I believe we think the same things. For instance, right now. We are probably both thinking "what is that woman on?" At least I am.

I walk through the garage and back outside.

I'm gone for ten minutes maximum, and what do I see?

A pretty boy with curly hair and blue eyes, staring right at my direction.

"Who's the cutie?" He says.