Old Neighbors

Chapter 1

I had a serious talk with myself about moving away this morning. I love Bakersfield, this is an actual city, with cars and not pick-up's, with busy and serious people. Texas is just to warm, and everybody knows each other, and i know everybody, and that scares the shit out of me. I'm going to miss the big sign in yellow and blue saying "Bakersfield" everytime we arrive from visiting my mom's friend, Donna. The nicest lady in the world.
My dad lives in Texas, and my sister Anna lives in Ashford, she's working at the hospital. Anyway, I haven't gone home in five years, my dad comes to see me every month, and I truly don't want to go back. I already told I'm not living with him, I'm going to get a place of my own just for the three years of college and then, I have no idea what am I going to do of my life.
- Murphy!.- I hear my name being called from down strairs.- You are going to be late. The plane is in two hours!
- Mom, stop yelling, we have time.- I say while grabing a piece of bread and shoving it all in my mouth when I enter the kitchen.
- Manners Murphy.- She warns me softly after taking a sip of her coffee.
- I'm going to be fine, you know?.- I try to calm her by putting my hand on her shoulder. She's just stressing, as usual.
- I know Murphy, I know.- I hear her saying, probably more to her than to me.
I take a look to all of the bags in the front door. I just feel like moving away all over again, getting all the bags done, catch the plane, being nervous like the last time.
I got upstairs to brush my teeth and get everything done.
My mom drove me to San Francisco and then I catched the plane. I don't do the whole 'Goodbye' thing, it's just not in me.
I'll come here every now and then. Every now and then.
                                    •
The flight was fine, we had to stop in New Mexico but then we arrived Texas in one hour and a half later.
The heat is just how i remembered, even the smell and the colours, everything is alive. Like i never left.
I never realised how much i missed it until i got here. Until i heard my dad's voice on the telephone and then his truck. That godamn blue truck.
- How have you been doing? Happy to go to McMurry University?.- He asks opening the pick-up's window.
- Hum...yes, I guess.- I respond still looking at the most beautiful green trees that i haven't seen forever.
- Very convincing.
- I am. I am happy to go. But it's wierd to be around here again you know?.- I look at him this time.
- It's wierd around here without you kiddo.- He answers while looking at the endless road.
I love dad. He the calmer person. Whenever there's trouble, he's the first to make you feel safe and resolve the actual problem.
With my mom's different, she is more worried and makes me more stressed.
I immediatly stop my thought process when I see home. Home. My actual home.
That yellow little house, with the big garden and red tulips that probably Anna have planted and my dad kept alive.
And then I remembered, the twin house just next to mine. Axel.
                                   •
Tears ran trough my eyes in less than five seconds. Crying never felt so good, I haven't cried in years.

{Flashback}

- Murphy!.- I hear a clear and loud yelling from by back yard. Manon.
I ran trough the tight hall way in my house and found the beautiful blonde seven year old girl siting and playing with my barbies on the grass.
- Hey!.- I say as I sit by her side.
- Do you want to play with me?.- She asks with the most adorable face I've ever seen. When I was about to say a big and fat "yes" I hear another voice. A male voice.
- I think she rathers to play with me.- I turn around and observe Manon's older brother, Axel. He is two years older than me. He's eleven.
For a second I got lost in his eyes. They were singular, they were light green in the middle and had a dark blue circle around them. The hair was the same as always, black short curls and today he was wearing his favorite hoodie, which was actual a bit big for him, it was a black Offspring hoodie, and I'm not going to lie, I love that hoodie too.
Offspring is our favorite rock band, we listen to them all the time. His favorites are 'Staring at the sun' and 'Why don't you get a job', mines are 'Feelings' and being a basic chick 'The kids aren't alraight'. My dad gave me the 'Americana' album when I was seven, Manon's age.
- I'll be right back.- I yell already running inside the house. I got to my room as fast as I could, I grab my grey radio and plug it in. I put in on the edge of my window and turn it on. 'Walla Walla' was playing and Axel looks at me with a huge smile ok his face. I blush involuntarily.
- Do you guys wanna grab a bite?.- I ask them when i pass the back door to the yard.
- Sure.- Manon answers me putting a hand on her belly, smiling. She walks trough the house finding my parents on the kitchen.
- So, are you passing by tomorrow?.- I ask shyly, walking slowly with Axel by my side.
- Why are you so shy? Of course I'll drop by tomorrow.- He assures me looking me in the eye. Don't do that Axel, just don't.- See you later bunny.- And he desapears, just like that.