The Boy Next Door, Chapter 2

"Oh come on Emma. It won't be that bad." I just look at my dad. I'm being dragged to Jackie's banquet against my will. And I'm making sure my dad knows it.

"You know I hate these things, dad. Why on earth would you make me come when you know I'm gonna be miserable?" My dad sighs and runs a hand throw his hair. Or lack thereof.

"This is important to Brenda and Jackie and you could show a little support."

"What happened to free will? Jackie has never once gone to one of my things, why am I stuck going to hers?"

"Shush." I glare at Brenda as she shush's me. She either doesn't notice or she ignores me. After a few speeches, all of which are boring, the food is finally served. Most of it sucks. The only thing that's half good is the cranberry sauce, which is saying a lot, considering I hate cranberries. The only thing that looks like it'd be good is the fruit salad. And I can't eat it cause I'm allergic to cherries. What fun this night is for me.

I sigh as I think about what I could be doing. I could be at home, not staring at my new neighbour boy, wondering if he's got a girlfriend. Just then this old lady comes up to our table. "Jackie, you've been wonderful this year!" Jackie gives her this big fake grin.

"Thank you, Mrs Combs!" I snort into my drink which results in a warning look from my dad. I roll my eyes to myself and jump when my cell vibrates. It's a text from Lyssa.

"Going to the bathroom."

"Hurry up because we're leaving soon." I openly roll my eyes at Brenda. Like I'm gonna spend an hour in there, pffft. I find my way to the lady's bathroom and slip into a stall. "hi u. decided not 2 go out. stopped by ur house n u werent there. ran into neighbor boi. he asked for u. told him ud stop by when u got home. luv u. lyss." I stare at my cell for a few seconds before replying.

"r u crazy!? whats wrong with u. now he expects me to talk to him. ill call u when i get home. em." Ugh, she's an idiot. I send it and step back out of the stall, shaking my head as I exit the bathroom while tucking my cell back into my pocket. I don't get far, however, because I end up running into a big, solid, body. "Oh gosh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you."

"No harm, no foul." I look up and my jaw almost drops. It's my new neighbour boy. Lyssa would freak.

"Erm, uh, yeah, sorry." He smiles and I suddenly think I've seen him before. "You look really familiar. Have you been around town?" He sticks his hands in his pockets.

"Does this help: Looking for a new car or van? Come on down to Mill's Motors. We've got the right vehicle for you." Holy mother of pete. He's Philip Mill's son?! I've had the biggest crush on him since their new commercial came out last Spring. "I'm Adrian, by the way." I stare for a few more seconds before I realize I'm supposed to answer him.

"I'm Emma."

"Hi, Emma."

"I didn't know Mrs Findlay had any kids."

"She and my grandpa divorced over 15 years ago. Family complications, I haven't been here since I was 3."

"Oh." Oh, my God, I'm so boring.

"Emma! Come on! Quit doddling and hurry up." I roll my eyes and sigh. I glance around Adrian to see Bren putting her jacket on. That woman wears a jacket in 35 degree weather, she's crazy.

"Sorry, gotta go, I'll see you later." I step around Adrian and rush after everyone, following them to the car. It's quiet most of the way home.

"So how did you like the dinner, Emma?" I roll my eyes at the back of Brenda's annoyingly big head.

"It was so great, I loved it." She turns back to me from the front seat and smiles.

"See? You just have to give them a chance. It's a pity it's taken you this long to really appreciate them." She turns back around while my dad looks at me in the rear view mirror, shaking with silent laughter.

"I know! Such a pity. If I wasn't leaving in September I'd help you plan and do all of the one's for next year, too." My dad suddenly falls into a coughing fit, which I know is covered up laughter.

"Honey, you all right?" He composes himself enough to speak.

"Yep, I'm just great." I grin at him and he smiles back at me. Once home I go up to my room and flop down on my bed. I make it a point not to look over at the house next door even though I know he can't possibly be home yet. Not unless he's got some super-human-cleaning-up-getting-home-really-fast super power. Not likely.

I turn on my t.v and flip through the channels. Nothing is ever on. What's the point in having a stupid t.v up here with cable if I can't ever find anything to watch? Ugh. I turn the t.v off and toss the remote onto the bed by my leg and sigh. I almost have a heart attack when my cell rings. It's Alyssa.

"Hi."

"Hey, whatcha doing?"

"Laying here bored out of my mind."

"Sucks."

"Yup."

"Yeah so sorry about earlier. I seriously wasn't thinking."

"No worries. You'll never guessed who I literally ran into at Jackie's dinner thing."

"Who?"

"My new neighbour. And you'll never guess who he is."

"Omigosh! Who?"

"Adrian Mill." I jerk the phone away from my hear as she screams. "Lyss, shut up."

"Sorry. But Omigod! What happened! I want full details!" I roll my eyes but smile.

"Okay so when I got your text I went into the bathroom and after I sent mine I ran into him, like actually ran into him. I almost fell down. I asked him if I'd seen him around and he recited that stupid commercial line and then I recognized who he was. Apparently he's Mrs Findlay's grandson and hasn't been here since he was like 3. Anyway, then Bren yelled at me to hurry up and I left."

"That's it? Tell me everything. What was he wearing?"

"That's really it. And I don't remember. Pants and a shirt, I think." I can almost hear Lyssa roll her eyes.

"Em you're so oblivious! You know you're supposed to take count of every single little detail."

"You have a boyfriend, Alyssa."

"Which is why I need to live vicariously through you, didn't you know."

"And besides, I'm not that observant. Remember how long it took me to finally notice that Brenda had bought a new couch? Like, two months."

"You're hopeless, this is true. Did he say "see you later" or anything?"

"No, but I told him "see you later" when I left."

"Emma! Why didn't you tell me!"

"Alyssa I swear you act 15 years old sometimes."

"Well sorry I'm not all old and boring as some people I know." I smile.

"You're forgiven."

"Emma, you're truly hopeless. He's going to expect to see you later. You can't ditch him, that's not nice."

"We didn't set a date or anything. And also besides, we live beside eachother. We're probably going to run into eachother lots over the summer."

"Which is why you need my help! Do you think it's too late to go over?" I look over at the clock.

"No, but he's probably not back yet. I think he was volunteering at the dinner thing. He was wearing one of those clippy name tags."

"Perfect. Gives me time to get over there and dress you."

"Oh come on, you're not coming over."

"You're always so hopeless when it comes to this stuff. I honestly don't know how you manage without me."

"You are not coming here."

"I'll see you in 10 minutes."

Someone Else's Happy Ending, Chapter 12

Wednesday December 31st [33 w 2 d]

"Red or black?" Phoebe holds up two shirts, one red and one black.

"Black."

"Which pair?" She also holds up two pairs of jeans.

"The darker ones."

"You sure you don't wanna come? Pink or blue eye shadow?"

"The light pink, not the bright one. You know I can't. And even if I could, I'd rather sit around here, veg out in front of the t.v, and not do anything all night."

"If you're sure. I'd make you lay down and not move all night. There's a t.v there and there's gonna be lots of munchies." I shake my head.

"No, no I'll be fine. I'll call you if I need you. Don't worry about me. This'll be the first time I've been really alone in weeks. I'm looking forward to it."

"All right, if you insist. Heels or flats?"

"Flats, the silver ones." She dresses herself in the clothes I suggested, sitting down to put on her make up. Her and Gabe are going to a party across town with a bunch of friends. I'm really glad that Gabe doesn't drink cause I'm in no mood to babysit Phoebe when she gets home. She doesn't hold her alcohol well.

"I'll call before I'm way out of it, or I'll tell Gabe to call, probably around midnight. Are you gonna be up?"

"Oh, probably. Lately it's hard for me to sleep before 1." She nods her head while applying her eyeliner.

"Ugh, I know. You make me crazy." I watch as she applies the rest of her make up. "Do you know if your mom's calling before you leave?"

"I don't really care. Even if she does call I won't talk to her." Phoebe sighs.

"Come on, Bell. It couldn't have been that bad."

"Are you serious? She cut off my cell phone and used the land phone all day so I couldn't talk to anyone. She was also on the computer all day. I couldn't stay up in my room cause I get hungry twice an hour. Even though the bathroom is on the other side of the house. I'm not supposed to be doing anything and she asked me to do tons of stuff for her, when she could have done it her damn self. Then the day before Christmas she tells me 'Oh, we're leaving in two days and will be gone for three weeks. I'll see if I have time to call. Your older brother will drive you to the train. Sorry kid.' You're telling me that wasn't that bad?"

"I know honey, but she just doesn't know how to react to you."

"I was gone almost 4 months. That's plenty of time to get over herself. I am the one that's pregnant. Not her. Doesn't she's think this is hard on me? She's been through this 6 damn times, wouldn't you think that's enough to realize what I'm going through?" She just shakes her head while looking for her purse.

"I dunno what to tell you, Bell. Just give her some time. She'll come around. I bet once she sees her beautiful little grand baby she'll put it all behind her. Did you see my silver bag?"

"It's under the couch upstairs."

"Oh, right! Be right back. I gotta call Gabe and find my cell." While she's upstairs I think about what she said. I guess I hadn't really thought of it that way before. That still doesn't excuse her from treating me like crap. I sigh and shake my head, forgetting it for now. I grab Phoebe's jacket and her keys before heading up the stairs.

"Phoeb? I got your keys and coat, where are you?"

"Kitchen." I puff my way up the stairs and then waddle into the kitchen to see her rifling through the fridge. Her parents and little brother are visiting family so I have the whole house to myself tonight. I almost find myself wishing I knew people around here so I wasn't completely alone.

"Wanna hand me some cheese and a yogourt?"

"Ugh, are you still eating that?" I sit down at the table while she hands me my food. I've been on this cheese covered in yogourt kick for about a month now. Everyone thinks it's gross but I think it's great.

"You know it."

"I dunno how you can eat that."

"Me either. But you'll understand when you're huge, hungry, and have cravings like you wouldn't believe." She shrugs and goes off to find her cell phone. I make my way to the living room, stopping on the way for a bottle of water from the fridge.

**

"Hey Bell. How are you doing?"

"I'm fine, Gabe. How're you guys?"

"Phoebe's wasted. Just calling to check in." I laugh. I knew she'd be drunk by midnight.

"Well I'm just fine over here. When're you guys coming home."

"Soon as I can pry her away from her drinks, we'll be on our way."

"See you soon, buddy."

"Bye." I hang up the phone and toss it beside my legs on the couch. I dip a chunk of cheese into the last yogourt in the fridge and pop it in my mouth. Half an hour later I see Gabe pull his car into the driveway. Ten minutes later he finally gets Phoebe into the house. He leads her downstairs to her room where she probably falls right to sleep. He comes back up and grabs a bucket from the bathroom.

"Night Gabe." He waves to me as he passes, going back down to the basement for the night. I manage to stay awake for the midnight ball drop, but soon find myself falling asleep during a Christmas special rerun.

Mind Over Matter, Chapter 16

Somehow, I can feel Liz down in her study, so I lead Zee there. I knock at the door and she looks up as we walk in. "Hey guys, what can I do for you?"

"I'm like to meet him." Liz puts her pen down and folds her hands.

"I'm glad."

"Yeah, when am I going to?"

"Well, how about tomorrow after dinner?" I nod.

"Sounds good, thanks." I turn and walk back out of the study, heading to the common room. I sit on the couch and lean back into the arm, Zee sets my feet on his lap.

"So, tomorrow night huh?"

"Let's talk about something else."

"Okay.. When did you find out about your.. ability?"

"Hm.. since my 16th birthday. So about a year now. You?"

"Earlier this year. It kind of ties in with what happened." I sit up a little.

"What did happen?" He takes one of my feet and starts massaging it, looking down as he talks.

"I don't really remember how it happened. I just remember being mad, really mad. I was at home with my family, it was after supper sometime, I was in my room. I remember these flames coming out of nowhere, they were moving all over the place. I ran downstairs to warn everyone, cause by then some of them had caught in my room. We all got out, but the house was destroyed."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Zee shrugs.

"I was kind of ostracized after that. Everyone thought I did it on purpose. It was even found that the fire started in my room. My friends and my girlfriend all left me. Funny as it is, Will was the only one that stuck around. He already knew about what he could do, so he kind of understood, in a weird way." I look up at the ceiling. "Weird, huh?" I nod and look back at Zee.

"So what happened after that?"

"I was sent to shrink after shrink. They all thought I did it on purpose. Only through findings of my own have I discovered what really happened."

"And what was that?"

"It's all tied in with my emotions. Really strong, negative emotions set it off. Getting that mad that night, things got out of control. I think if it was just the fire part, or the telekinetic part, it wouldn't have been as bad, but both together just turned out really bad."

"Well, if it was just the fire, wouldn't you still have burned your house?" Zee shake his head. He sits still for a few seconds before holding out his hand. "Wha-"

"Shh, just watch my hand." I watch and for a few seconds nothings happens, except that Zee breaks out in a light sweat. Suddenly, a round purple flame appears over his palm. I watch as he moves the flame around his fingers. "Hold out your hand." I look at him.

"What? Are you insane?"

"Hold it out." I hesitate, but then hold my hand in front of me. My heart hammers in my chest as his flaming hand moves closer to my own. I'm crazy. I'm going to get third degree burns. When his hand finally comes in contact with mine, nothing happens. No burning, no blistering, nothing. It feels comfortingly warm. I look quickly at Zee then back at our hands.

"What is this?" Zee smiles, totally enraptured by the purple flame.

"It doesn't burn if it's touching my skin." He digs a piece of paper out of his pocket and takes his hand away from mine. The lack of sensation takes my breath away. He takes hold of the paper with his hand, and the same nothing happens. Then he moves the paper away from him and flicks his finger with the flame. A small spark lands on the paper and it burns like any normal piece of paper would had it come in contact with fire, except with a purple-ish tinge. After a few more seconds the purple flames fade from his hand. He looks at me.

"Wow.. that was.. incredible."

"It's the warmth, right?" I nod slowly and he wipes his forehead with his sleeve. "That's about as much as I can do when I'm not mad."

"I don't even know what to say, that was amazing." Zee blushes.

"Oh, don't do that, you'll embarrass me."

"Move something." He looks around the room and decides on the remote to the t.v. It floats up slowly and then suddenly zips across the room and lands on a chair beside the door. Zee shifts a little and concentrates again on the remote. It floats up a little easier this time and he moves it over to himself, catching it before it drops. He's panting lightly as he looks over at me.

"Again, that's about as good as it gets when I'm not mad. I might have done more, but I used up a lot of energy with the flames."

"Are they always purple?"

"They seem to be. One time I got a bit of orange." I shake my head and lean back against the arm.

"I've always known that kind of stuff exists, but to see it done in front of your eyes, was just wow."

"Why don't you show me what you do." I look at him.

"I don't know. Remember once I'm in there I can see whatever I want."

"I trust you." And he does, too.

"Okay. Lean back against the couch and close your eyes." He does as I say. "When I tell you to, think of the word I tell you to think about. Envision the word in your mind. This is the easiest way for me to get in." He nods.

"How will I know you're in?"

"You won't until I make myself known, probably by talking to you. Ready?" He nods again. "Okay, think of the word hippo. See it in your minds eye."

"Hippo?"

"Shh, in your head, okay?" He nods for a third time. I think of the word, imagining a hippo, and I'm in his head.

Boo.

He startles but keeps his eyes closed.

Wow.

I smile.

Tell me about it.

What is this like for you?

Normal, I guess.

What do you see?

Nothing since I'm not looking and you're concentrating on me. Well, other than hippos.

I shift in my seat.

Think about something.

About what?

Anything. I won't go looking around unless you want me to.

I can see images filter through his mind before he chooses something specific. He's showing me the night his house burned down. I see and feel it through his point of view. There's rage and then terror as he sees flames sprout out of his hands. He looks around his room and the flames are shot across the room, landing on various things. The absolute terror that fills me nearly makes me black out.

I retreat from his mind and give him a hug. Until now I hadn't noticed the tears falling down my face. I kiss him on the cheek as his arms go around me. "I know," He soothes me, "I know."

The Boy Next Door, Chapter 1

"This is way too hot for June." I nod and readjust my sunglasses, looking at my best friend Alyssa.

"Agreed." Lyssa and I are lounging in my backyard on the deck chairs, soaking in the sun. We both graduated grade 12 yesterday and we plan on doing nothing at all for the next two months.

"Did you see your new neighbour?"

"Huh?"

"When I came over earlier I noticed this dude carrying a couple suitcases into the house."

"Which house?"

"Um, Mrs Findlay." Mrs Findlay is our elderly neighbour.

"Oh, that's nice."

"He was cute."

"You've got a boyfriend, Lyssa, remember?"

"Details." I shake my head. "You should go introduce yourself, Em."

"Yeah, that'll look real cool."

"Come on, he's cute and he lives right next door."

"Ever think that he could have a girlfriend?"

"Point taken. But what boyfriend moves in with his grandma for the summer?"

"How do you know it's for the summer?"

"Two suitcases. No furniture. In a cab."

"Point taken. Well if I see him around I'll say hi or something." This seems to please her cause she finally gives up and let's this neighbour thing go.

We spend the afternoon lazing about beside the pool, talking about nothing in particular. A perfect summer's day. She goes home as I'm called in for supper.

"So Emma, have a good day?" I suppress an eyeroll and paste on a fake smile. My step-mom Brenda annoys the hell outta me. She hates when I do nothing. Especially with Lyssa.

"Yeah, it was great. We talked about tanning and getting our nails done." She clicks her tongue.

"Well, you could have been in here helping me today. Jackie's banquet is tomorrow and I have lots of baking to do." Jackie is my stepsister. And according to Brenda, should be queen of the universe.

"Bren. She had a tough year at school, she deserved to do nothing today." At the end of last summer we found out my mom was having an affair with her boss. She moved out of the country with him and we haven't heard from her since.

After a stressful dinner, I go up to my room. I pick up my phone and dial Alyssa. Her mom picks up. "Hi, is Lyssa home?"

"No, she's out with Dustin. I'll tell her you called."

"Thanks." I hang up my phone and lay on my bed, my feet up against the wall. I look out my window at Mrs Findlay's house. As it just so happens, the neighbour boy's room is right across from mine. I watch him for a couple minutes before turning on my t.v. Spider Man is playing and I decide to watch it.

I end up falling asleep and wake up at 2 in the morning. My phone is blinking which means I've got a message waiting. The light's are out across the yard, not that I was looking. I go downstairs for a drink and something to eat. I find cupcakes and a loaf of banana bread in the fridge. I grab a cupcake and a bottle of water and go back upstairs.

Jackie's door is slightly ajar and her light is still on. I peek inside to see her sprawled out asleep on the floor, a book under her forehead. I shut my bedroom door behind me and sit back on my bed. I eat the cupcake while listening to the message.

"Hey Emmaleena. It's 11 and you're not answering, which means you fell asleep watching t.v again. Probably Spider Man, since it was on tonight. Admit it kid, you got a thing for that James Franco. He's actually not half bad. Anywho, Dusty and I are going out tomorrow night so you're on your own. Why don't you go to the old lady's house and say a casual hello to our mystery boy? Wear that skirt. You know, the brown one? And that light blue top. And wear those nice sandals you stole from me. I want those back, by the way. Oops, I gotta go. Call me tomorrow. No wait, I won't be here. I'll call you. Lyssa, out."

I chuckle as I delete the message. Should have known she wouldn't give up on that. I drink half the water in one go and lay back down, trying not to think about the boy next door. I'm going to a university 6 hours away come September. Summer romances are fun yes, but I've seen too many go badly at the end.

I sigh and tap my foot against the wall. Some kind of infomercial is playing on the t.v. It's boring but I'm too lazy to extend my arm and change the channel. I end up watching an infomercial about a thing to store clothes and one about a new kind of vacuum. I fall asleep halfway through a woman telling viewers how a cigarette dish changed her life.