Lilly

Part 1

My dad pulled up to a rusty old yellow house. He parked right in front of the existing car in the rocky driveway. My sister Casey hopped out of the car. She dropped her Barbie dolls all over the floor. I sighed and I followed her out.
"Well, it will do." My dad said as he stood in front of the building.
"So we live in this dump!?" My mom exclaimed as she exited the car. I really just wanted to see what my room would look like. My dad walked over to her and he began to explain the "beauty" of living in the city. Casey wandered around the maroon building...barefoot. She seemed really curious- but what else do you expect from a 5 year old? My mom protested with my dad, but I ignored it and walked towards the car for my bags. Then, I was approached by a really cute boy who looked about my age. He was holding a football.
"Hey, I'm Blake." he said. I looked over to where my parents were. They stopped arguing and both of them were awkwardly staring at me. I blushed. Then my attention went back to Blake.
"Hi. My name is Harper."
Blake smiled at me.
"I saw an unfamiliar car pull up here, and I assumed that u guys were new to this neighborhood." Blake explained. I nodded in agreement.
"So, where did you move from?" He asked.
"Florida." I fatuously answered.
"Oh. That's cool."
"Where is your house?" When I asked that, Blake raised an eyebrow. Then I added, "Not to be a stalker, but I'm just curious."
He chuckled and pointed his finger to a brick house next to where we were staying. There was a big black dog walking around a black Jeep.
"And that is my dog, Noodle." Blake said. I could not help but laugh.
"So... are you busy...tomorrow maybe? We can hang out at my place- I can even show you around!!!" Blake exclaimed. I was excited.
"YEAH! I-I mean... sure. I'm probably unpacking most of this junk today, so I think that tomorrow is perfect." I felt my heart skip a beat. I tried playing it 'cool'. Thank goodness that he didn't notice, because he then began talking about his friends at his school, how the teachers behaved there, who was who in his family, and how awesome it was that there was a girl his age living in the neighborhood. I was feeling really welcomed- and I just got there! Then a lady stepped out from Blake's front door and called out to us.
"BLAKE! DINNER IS READY!" Then she stepped inside. I assumed that the lady was his older sister, Vallerie (I only assumed from the story Blake told me about his wacky family). He had said that having 4 older siblings, including Vallerie, was really tough. All this time, I was thinking that having ONE younger sibling was hard! Blake had an additional 6 younger siblings and his grandparents were living with them, because his mother had passed away recently. Suddenly, I broke from my trance. Blake began to walk away from me.
"I guess we will talk later..." he said and winked. I waved as he jogged to his house. Then I turned around and saw my parents and Casey just staring at me with a creepy look on their faces. I felt really embarrassed.
"I see that Harper has made a friend." my dad said and laughed. I ignored his stupid comeback as best I could. Dad paced over to the car to unpack with me.
The fact that I'm going to live next to Blake was heart racing. I had never had a boyfriend before... maybe Blake would be my first? But if I would ever come home to my parents with the news that I was going out with someone, they would flip out. I guess that I could continue to dream about it...
Meanwhile, I was observing Casey skipping in her pink tutu all around the grass singing an annoying song from the radio that I hated. My mom gave me a nudge to keep me focused on removing all of our suitcases and boxes from the car. But we still had the U-Haul truck to deal with.
"Here Harp." my dad handed me my suitcase and my carry-on luggage. I set down a bag that I was holding beside my feet. I was already having a hard time carrying just what my dad had ever so kindly handed to me, but a moment later my mom plopped Casey's stupid dolls and her book bag on top of my carry-on. I heaved and then everything in my arms was had tumbled to the ground. Casey laughed at me in the background. I didn't have to look up to see my mother's annoyed facial expression. I just felt it as I knelt down to clean up the "mess".

After what felt like an eternity, my dad was opening the door to our apartment. He turned the key in the lock and the door swung open, sending out a whirl of a dusty aroma. I peered through the revealed opening. It was dark.
"This place seems so old..." Casey murmured. "I don't like it mommy." she tugged on my mom's shirt. I saw tears in her eyes. This was not how I had imagined my first day at this house. But who cares!? Dad stepped in first and he flinched on the lights, revealing a dusty, 3 story Victorian home. I personally really liked it- just without the dust. Mom helped me carry all the stuff I had held before. It felt much better.
"Well? What do you think, Darline?" He looked at my mom, who was now holding Casey in her arms (and she held a hell of a lot of stuff too).
"I hate it." she coldly said. My dad frowned. "But I will have to accustom to it." She added. My dad smiled at her.
"That's the spirt! Now come on guys! It's time to pick out rooms!"