Mein Herz Brennt Für Dich

Chapter 1

"Go make some friends," My mom told me. "I heard the the lady next door has a daughter your age."

"Coincidentally, they have a daughter that is fourteen, too?" I questioned her. "I highly doubt that."

"Well, there's only one way to find out!" My dad yelled as he came in with the last box. 

"I didn't even want to move here!" I whined. 

"For the last time: it's for your dad's job," My mom told me. "We didn't want to move here either, but it pays good. We'll only be here for one year and then we'll go back to Arizona, okay? Now go next door and go try to make her your friend. Here: bring her these cookies I baked."

She handed me a container of cookies and I walked to the next door neighbor's house shaking. I was never good with talking to new people. I rang the doorbell and I shut my eyes while straining them. As soon as I heard the door open, I felt a shock in my stomach and I yelled, "OW!"

"Halo?" I heard a man with a deep voice ask. 

I opened my eyes and saw a really tall man with a beard standing above me. 

"Sorry, my parents must be mistaken," I said. 

"You speak English?" He asked to which I nodded my head. "Ah, you're the family that moved in next door."

"Yes," I said shyly. 

"Well, nice to meet you!" He shook my hand. "I'm Werner Lindemann."

"Nice to meet you too," I smiled at his kindness. "My name is Rilla Kutcher. My parents used to live in Germany, and actually I was born in Germany. My dad had to move to the United States for his job, and now they're making us move back here for a year."

"How nice! Where does he work?"

"Umm, I don't really pay attention."

He laughed. "What are those?"

"Cookies-my mom made them. Want one?"

"Sure! Would you want to come inside, actually?"

"Umm, I don't know."

"Why not?"

"Well, I've heard stories before and I just am too scared."

"Oh, I understand."

I felt bad. "Maybe for a little?"

"Of course. Come in."

I came inside and he guided me to his kitchen table. I opened up the container and I handed him a cookie. 

"My children should be here at anytime," He told me. "They just got out of school."

I felt more at ease. "Who are they?"

"There's Saskia (she's 10) and Till (he's 16). He was just at a boarding school and was a swimmer, but he got kicked out."

"Oh, that's unfortunate," I took a bite into my cookie and I gagged. 

"What's wrong?"

"These cookies are not the best-my mom sucks at cooking."

"I think they taste wonderful."

"Do you happen to have a bathroom?"

"Yes. If you go down the hall, it is to your left."

I thanked him and I went to the bathroom. After I flushed the toilet, I heard people conversing and I knew that his kids were home. I washed my hands and I walked out to find a tall boy and a younger girl eating my mom's cookies.