Exposed

Chapter 3- The mansion

•Edited•

Melissa's POV
05-08-2007

"I'm through packing mum. When are we leaving?" I shout through my door waiting for my mum's response. I looked around my now empty room, I wasn’t sure what emotions I was feeling but it was overwhelming to see the room that was always decorated now packed away.

"By 8:30 a.m.! Make sure Barbie is also ready. I’m not going to turn around because someone left something here." My mum shouted back out from the kitchen. She was currently working on telling the movers where to what box in the van.

"Okay mum!" I shout back, picking up the last box that was in my now very hollow room. I look one last time before closing the door behind me.

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California

"Oh my god! Is that our new house?" I asked, my eyes glued to one of the most beautiful houses I have ever seen in my life. The house was bigger than our last one with the outside being a soft grey and the windows littering the front. It felt like a mansion being three stories tall, but I knew it was probably smaller than an actual mansion. The yard was trimmed and colorful flowers followed the front of the house. I bounced in my seat as I desperately want to get out of this car and into that house. I needed to explore it, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"No darling, that's not ours. That's for our new neighbors. Here this is ours." My mum said, shattering my self constructed illusion as she pointed out of the car window what was our house.

I turned only to see a small duplex. It was painted white with touches of grey, which were much darker than the previous house. The roof looked like it was sinking in, the front door looked old and the paint looked to be a very off white color. I imagine it was from all the dirt that had never been cleaned off of it. The house had a very abandoned look to it, I guess that's why my mum described it as rustic.

"Shit!" I blurted.

I opened the door stepping out of the car. The house wasn't, exactly, what I wanted but it was bigger than our previous one. At least we had that much. I just hoped the neighborhood was just as good as my mum described it to be.

My mum and sister follow my actions, stepping out of the car and following closely behind me. We headed for the door but we were stopped by a slim petite lady. She was wearing a white dress that was knee length. Her red hair band, which held back her curly brown hair, matched the flats she was wearing. She looked beautiful and youthful.

The mystery woman stopped in front of us with a smile. I stepped behind my mum, not used to the sudden friendliness of the stranger.

"Hi there. My name is Stacey. You must be the new neighbors." Stacey beamed at us as she looked us once over.

"Yes, we just arrived. It’s so nice to meet you Stacey, I'm Martha." Mum replied politely.

"Nice to meet you. I'm the housekeeper at Thompson's. They are your neighbors over here." She said while pointing to the mansion I had been eyeing previously.

“You’ve been the talk of the town since we saw that someone took the house here.” She spoke kindly to us.

"Really? I’m glad that everyone seems excited by our move.” My mum returned Stacey’s smile. “Once you’ve settled, they’ll come by to say hello.” Stacey says. My mum nods and we watch as she walks back to what is now known as the Thompsons’ house.

"She seemed like a nice lady." My mum commented, as she waved at Stacey who entered the home next to us, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"I just hope it continues this way." I said in a much lower tone.