JAMES

VANESSA

HAILEY

JAMES & VANESSA' s

PARENTS

HAILEY'S MOTHER

I was walking down the sidewalk on my way from the shop. The shopping bags in my hands were heavy. I was walking deep in my own thoughts, thinking about the amazing book I was currently reading. It was so good with its plot, twists and unexpected turns. When I finally came to my senses I did not recognise my surroundings. All of the houses looked weird and unfamiliar.

I was so captured by the book that I did not notice that I was walking straight into someone. The bags ripped from my hands and I found myself falling to the ground. Before I hit the ground, a pair of hands captured me and lifted me to my feet. I looked up and saw a face that looked like it belonged in the most wonderful romantic story. 

It was that heartbreaking look in his eyes that made my heart ache. How could I be so lucky to be held in his arms. It was pure bliss, until he opened his mouth. 

Watch where you’re going, nerd

Yup, he’s a complete asshole. Why must all boys be that way - I sighed.

Clearly, he was not my Romeo, which is probably a good thing, since they ended up dead anyway.

When I finally mustered up something to say, he started walking away, stepping on my tomatoes. «Thank you!» I shouted after him, my shoulders felt like there were bricks weighing them down. Why did he have to be like this! I looked down at my broken groceries. The tomatoes were completely smashed. Luckily I had my backpack with me to put the groceries in. After packing up everything, I headed on my way back to the house.

My mom began yelling the second I stepped into the house, talking about how I was too late and for not getting the tomatoes she asked for. I told her about the accident with the strange boy. 

She began to feel bad for me, talking about how all men are assholes. She is divorced, so it is not so weird that she thinks like that. Two years ago my dad disappeared into thin air. I have not seen him since.

After he left, books have been my escape from the world. Whenever I was sad, I could just pick up a book and escape for a little while. 

I sat on my bed looking out of my window, I could see that there were men moving some boxes into the neighbour house. I do remember that mom told me about us getting a new neighbour. I was excited about it. 

Just recently I read a book about a girl getting a new neighbour and her falling in love with him. I had hopes that it might happen to me too! I wished I lived inside a book, all my dreams would have come true. 

I wondered what my life would look like if it was written in a book. I sighed. At least I hoped the writer would make up a wonderful prince for me.

I stopped staring at the movers and looked over to my side table. A half read book was laying there, just waiting to be read. «I guess I have to finish this one» I smiled and picked up the book and started to read

I couldn’t remember the first part of the book. The story wasn’t making sense to me. I decided I had to start reading the book from the beginning again. It was the story of a boy who moves to a new town and he doesn’t have any friends.

He feels sad because he misses his old friends. He doesn’t have anyone to talk to. He is angry with his parents because they moved. He doesn’t know they had to move because of his dad’s job.

I was curious about my new neighbours. In fact, I couldn’t get my mind out of them, so I decided to come outside. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and I took my book with me. 

 As I stepped outside, I saw my neighbours’ door slightly open. However, there was no one there. A strange idea was crossing my mind. I was really, really curious about what was inside. Apparently there was no one there. All I could hear was silence I looked around me. I was alone and I decided to go inside the house. 

I knocked the front door. No one answered. My heart was almost jumping out of my chest. For a moment I was worried about what I was doing. I knew it wasn’t right but I couldn’t fight my curiosity.

There was a big hall and a staircase to the first floor.

In the hall, I saw a family portrait. They were mother, father and son, I guess. Strangely the face of the boy wasn’t clear. On the right side of the hall there was a kitchen. It was very modern with nice appliances: a modern cooker, a big fridge, a small table with three stools. I could smell fresh coffee. 

On the left, there was a dining-room and a living room. There wasn’t much furniture: only a long table and some chairs, a big sofa and a TV set.

I went upstairs. There were three bedrooms. All of them were open. I could see the sunlight entering the windows.

One of the rooms belonged to a teenager, for sure. There was a single bed, a bedside table, a wardrobe and a desk. On the desk, there was a computer. On the walls there were posters from famous people.

The owner of that bedroom was a fan of hip-hop music and horror films.

I was staring at one of the posters when I heard a noise. I felt scared The poster was dark and my mind wandered to the underworld of horror films. The noise was repeated and I jumped back. Nevertheless, it was just a big fat black cat. I was scared just because I don’t like cats very much. 

When the cat saw me, it started rubbing my legs. The cat seemed friendly but he ran away. I followed it outside the bedroom. I realized there were more stairs probably to the attic.

These stairs looked old. Each step I took, I could listen to strange noises. On top of the stairs, there was a door to the attic. 

This part of the house had been transformed into a study. It had a desk and lots of books on bookshelves. Some books looked antique. Their covers were black, red and brown. The interior of the books was yellow. I was amazed because I’m always fascinated by books. I grabbed one of the books and started leafing it. 

I was so distracted by the books that I didn’t realize the door closed. It was a big and heavy door. I tried to open it but without success.

-  What have I done? What am I doing here? How can I go out?

For the first time in my life, I regretted my decision. I’m locked up in an attic whose owners I don’t know. They may find me here and call the police. I’m getting truly nervous and not even being surrounded by books comforts me. All of a sudden, I hear a bang. I thought it was the cat again.

The noise became stronger. It was someone knocking on the attic’s door.

-My life is over, I thought.

-Girl, I’m waiting for you to have dinner!!!! – it was my mother’s voice.

The noise became stronger. It was someone knocking on the attic’s door.

-My life is over, I thought.

-Girl, I’m waiting for you to have dinner!!!! – it was my mother’s voice.

What is my mother doing here? I thought. She grabbed my arm and said:

-Wake up, girl! I’m not in the mood to play games.

I can’t believe I had been sleeping and dreaming about the house next door. 

Ok. I really need to go down for dinner, although after that dream, I can barely swallow anything.

No one's here. Strange! As there is only me and my mother, we always have dinner in the kitchen. Then, I hear my mother's voice.

"Come to the dining room! I have a surprise for you!"

OH, nooo!!! What is he doing in my house??? I couldn't believe my eyes! Why is he here? Who are all these people? I didn't wait for answers, I just ran upstairs to my room.

I was on the verge of crying, when my mother came in, demanding explanations for my behaviour, why did I behave like a little girl?

I told her who the guy in our dining room was. My mother felt sorry for me, as she told me that I would see a lot him of him, because they are our new neighbours and she thought it would be nice to invite them for dinner.

A few moment later, the girl came up to my room and my mother left us alone.