Chapter One: Love-Hate Relationship
I stare blankly at the frost that is forming in intricate patterns on my window...perhaps of I watched it long enough I'd die of boredom. It's possible. As I get up, a sparrow lands on the window sill and stays perched there looking at me with its beady eyes. Eventually getting creeped out by the staring contest between myself and the bird I leave the room.
"Amber!?" My mother calls from the kitchen, she must of heard me going down the stairs.
I
"What?" I snap back, regretting my attitude immediately.
"I think I see the moving van coming round the corner, it must be the new neighbours!" My mum meets me at the bottom of the stairs brimming over with excitement.
"What's the big deal?" I roll my eyes though I am also quite looking forward to seeing who will be living next door. I sneak out the back door, slipping on the outdoor patio as I bolt towards the fence. The compost bucket feels unstable as I scramble onto it but I continue anyway, I peer over the fence. Some people may call this sort of behaviour creepy but I'd call it...well I guess it is kinda creepy. Whatever. Back to creeping. Right enough as my mother said a brightly coloured moving van is noisily making its way along the road. Closely following is a tired looking Range Rover. It would be disappointing if the neighbours were just some middle aged couple especially after all this suspense. The whole of bumble street consists of dull middle aged people it needs a little more variety.
"Bumble Street may of just gotten a little variety." I whisper to myself as a boy my age hops casually out the back door of the Range Rover. The boy is fairly tall with a head of jet black curls that contrasts with his tanned skin. As I go onto my tip toes to get a better look the lid of the compost bucket slides to the right causing me to flop onto the neighbouring bucket...making a lot of noise while doing so. I pull myself back on top of the bin only to jump right back off when I notice the boy looking in my direction...shoot. Pressing my face up to the fence, I look through the gap to my surprise the boy is laughing to himself. I can feel my cheeks turning pink...
I just go back inside admitting to myself that perhaps stalking isn't the best way to meet the new neighbours.
"What were you doing outside?" Mum looks up from her mobile as I walk in the back door.
"Er...Nothing," I mumble. Mum merely shrugs as a response, raising her eyebrows...it takes talent to shrug and raise your eyebrows at the same time. There's a knock at the door, we both look up at the same time.
"Go get that," Mum nods her head towards the door. I open the front door to reveal a plump lady with a round head and rosy cheeks her whole 'overly happy tourist look' completed with shoulder length hair and a fringe. The lady is smiling so widely her eyes have disappeared in between her eyebrows and her cheeks.
"Well hello there, neighbour!" The lady chuckles shrilly, I never knew it was possible to chuckle shrilly but I guess I know now. "My name is Susan, my family has just moved in next door!"
"Hello," I say, trying a friendly smile but probably grimacing instead.
"Hello, welcome to Bumble Street!" Mum walks over behind me, placing a hand on my shoulder "This is my daughter, Amber!"
"What a lovely name!" Susan beams putting her hand out to shake mum's hand "I'm sorry I didn't catch your name?"
"Oh...Sandra...my name's Sandra!" Mum takes her hand. I slip away up to my room as the exchange pleasantries.
Slumping onto my bed, I stare at the ceiling... So what have I achieved today?
1. I completely embarrassed myself in front of my new neighbour
2. I officially earned the title of 'The World's Worse Stalker'
3. I got through 4 seasons of 'Orange is the new black'
None of those 'achievements' are to be proud over. Whatever. My summer isn't completely going to be boring as Auntie Lauren will be visiting tomorrow. I glance at the clock. 6PM. Still quite early. Oh well I'll just go to sleep anyway... Not like I have anything better to do.