The Boy Next Door

one

AMELIAS POV
Today we were moving into our new house in Seattle, Washington. I didn't want to move, I liked Los Angeles. But my mom wanted to move. I was starting high school this year. I saw the house maybe twice, I don't know, it's okay, I mean it's a house. My two older sisters, Nancy and Kathleen were already in college and Liz was in her junior year and my brother Derek was in his senior year. I was the youngest of 5, the baby. We pulled up to the house and I got out of the car and helped my brother with boxes while my mom unlocked the house.
"You know you don't have to look so miserable all the time Amy," he said.
"Shut up," I said.
"It's not that bad," he said.
"Kinda is," I said.
"Cheer up," he said and nudged me and I smiled. We walked into the house and finished bringing all the boxes in. I walked upstairs to my room and brought the boxes up as well. I didn't want to be here. I wanted to go back to Los Angeles in the sun and the beaches and all the cute boys. But no, I'm here, in gloomy dark Seattle. Why? Who knows.
"Amelia," I heard my mother say.
"Yeah," I said.
"Are you just going to stare at the wall or do you want to unpack?" She chuckled.
"I'm getting to it," I said.
"Okay," she nodded. I looked over at my boxes and started unpacking my clothes in the closet. A few days ago we brought over my furniture so that was already in my room. I organized my closet and then sat down on the bed. In a few days I was starting high school in a new state. I was scared. I had no friends. I looked at my empty backpack that was on the floor next to my school supplies.
"Hey," I heard Liz say.
"Hey," I said.
"Can you help me move something?" She asked.
"Sure," I said and got up and helped her re organize her room. When we were done I walked downstairs and smelt my mom making cookies in the kitchen.
"Hey," I said and grabbed a cookie.
"Hey those aren't for you!" She said and hit my hand.
"I already touched it," I said.
"Fine," She said.
"Who are they for?" I said.
"The neighbors," she said.
"Why?" I said.
"Because that's what neighbors do, neighborly things," she said.
"Have fun," I said.
"You will too because you're coming with me," she said.
"Why can't you take Derek, people like Derek," I said.
"I'm taking all three of you," she said, "and people like you too."
"Like who," I chuckled.
"People," she laughed.
"Is this a ploy for you to get me to make friends," I said.
"Well I'm sure they have kids next door," she said.
"Mom," I complained.
"What?" She said, "maybe they'll have a cute boy too."
"I don't need a boyfriend," I mumbled and ate the cookie.
"Well you need a friend," she said.
"Why?" I said.
"Because you'll get lonely," she said.
"Okay and? I like being alone," I said.
"You're still coming with me," she said and put the cookies in a neat tin.
"Can you go get your siblings so we can walk over?" She asked.
"Sure," I said and walked upstairs.
"Derek! Liz!" I said.
"What?" They called.
"Mom is forcing us to say hi to the neighbors," I said.
"Right now?" Liz said.
"Yes," I said. They followed me downstairs and I put my shoes on to go over. We walked down the driveway and on the sidewalk over their house. My mom rang the doorbell and a women probably around my moms age answered the door.
"Hi," she smiled, "you must be the new neighbors!"
"Yes," my mom smiled, "I'm carolyn, this is my son Derek, and my two daughters Liz and Amelia." She handed them the cookies and the woman let us in her house.
"Thank you so much," she smiled, "let me go get my kids they would love to meet you!" She walked into the next room and called for her kids. A few moments later a boy and a girl came downstairs.
"Owen, Megan, these are the new neighbors, Derek, Amelia, Liz, and their mom carolyn," The woman said, "and I'm so sorry I just realized I never told you my name, I'm Evelyn."
"It's lovely to meet you," my mom smiled.
"I'm Owen, this is my sister megan," Owen said.
"Hi," Megan said. My mom sat down with Evelyn and Owen and Megan brought us outside and we were sitting at this table they had outside.
OWENS POV
New neighbors moved in today, which was exciting. Barley anyone ever moves into or out of our neighborhood, so new people was fun. They came over and there were three kids, Derek, Liz, and Amelia. I think Derek was the oldest, or Liz, definitely not Amelia, she seemed 2-3 years younger than them.
"So what grades are you guys in?" Derek asked.
"I'm a sophomore," I said.
"I'm in 8th grade," Megan said.
"That puts me in the middle of you two," Amelia chuckled.
"I'm a junior and Derek is a senior," Liz said.
"Thank you for answering for me Liz," Derek chuckled.
"Shut up," Liz said.
"Amelia likes being antisocial," Derek said.
"Do not," Amelia said.
"Me too though," Megan chuckled. Amelia was pretty, really pretty. She looked angry though. Maybe she didn't want to move? I don't know, she seems nice though. They all do. After a little while they left and my mom was making dinner.
"So were they nice?" My mom asked.
"Yeah," Megan and I said.
"They have two more siblings, both in college," my mom said.
AMELIAS POV
I was organizing my desk in my room when my mom opened the door.
"Hey," I said.
"Hey," she said, "the neighbors have a cute boy." I rolled my eyes and went back to what I was doing.
"Are you just going to ignore me?" She said.
"I don't need a boyfriend," I said.
"You two could be friends, or the girl megan, they were both sweet," she said.
"Everyone in my life leaves mom," I said, "I don't need that to happen again."
"Amelia," my mom sighed, "you have to let people into your life, more people than just Derek."
"Derek is fine," I said.
"Okay," she said and got up. I looked at my phone and I had an Instagram notification, a follow request. It was from Owen. I hit accept and followed him back. I didn't need more people in my life just for them to leave. He sent me a DM and I reluctantly opened it.
"Hey what's up?" It read.
"Nothing much, you?" I sent.
"Staring at my ceiling, I'm bored," Owen sent.
"Yeah mood," I sent.
"Wanna do me a favor?" He sent.
"Sure," I sent.
"Look our your window," he sent. I got up and walked over to the window in my room and pushed the curtains away. His room was across from mine in his house, and there he was, looking out his window, waving at me.