2 Months Later.

One last line of code... To do, to fix? Wait what was the client asking for again, to add a floating animation to the banner right? Petite fingers jitter across a chunky keyboard, punching down the key needed.

Delete. Delete. Delete. . . And now what.

Every single highlighted word on her laptop screen seems to burn the very retinas in Claudia's eyes despite the brightness of her bedroom, the rest of her creaking joints a consequence from slouch-sitting like a sloth. Oh boy did she need a good stretch... A break too from how much her code seems to squirm and overlap each other, making less sense the longer she stares.

Buzz. 

A text glows across the simple skyscrapers background of her phone laying hazardously at the edge of her computer desk. Claudia stretches her arm to pull it close and read the screen.

'Don't be late! My mom made extra food.' — Mad. (Offline)

Crap, she forgot to get ready. Claudia rushes to type an appropriate response back with one hand as she power-walks to her closet in search for anything decent looking and not monochrome... Oh right, all her good clothes are in the dryer downstairs. She can pick an outfit later anyways, time wasn't waiting for her own mistakes.

Claudia refreshes herself in the bathroom, washing her face and combing through her dark hair with her fingers to no success. Ah whatever, she'll deal with her hair before she leaves. 

She texts her best friend as she gets out, her stomach prickly for a snack but there was no more time. And she doubts her sister has put any leftovers in the fridge when she's working.

'I'm on my way now.' (Seen)

Then right at the door, one hand already twisting the knob in subconscious habit, Claudia looks back at the small mirror by her computer desk. Her poor excuse for a vanity. Like clockwork, whenever she's about to leave the safety of her bedroom, she wonders if she's underdressed— she didn't think of herself as bad-looking barefaced but...

Sparing a single glance at the unopened still-new tube of lipstick, the only legitimate makeup she owns besides the cheap seashell-shaped eyeshadow palette from her childhood, and thinks to herself she'll wear it next time... One day. 

Yes, when the opportunity presents itself. Her best friend would understand. After a quick brush of her black crow-nest hair, she moved onto clothes...

.   .   .

Cross the street, keep walking, turn left like she usually does.

A cloud of vanilla, fresh and strong bursts into Claudia's face and nostrils the second the door whips open. 

"Ooo you're actually wearing something nice! What's the occasion, Claud." Maddy's chipmunk-cheeks flare with her beaming white smile, her brown mousy curls hanging above dark eyes that scan Claudia from top of her bedhead to the bottom of her worn-out flats.

"Nothing. Jenna took out my clothes from the dryer for her boyfriend's so all my stuff is still wet. I didn't have a choice." Claudia folds her bare goosebump-ridden arms over the blue polkadot dress her sister once bought for her, mistakenly a size too small but a gift is a gift no matter how flesh-sinking tight the shoulders traps are. 

"That is such an asshole move but for once, good on her for that, you're finally wearing something cute!" 

Claudia pouted at Maddy's delight in both 'admiring' her and blocking the only way inside. The slight increase in heat slowly gets to her despite her exposed neckline, shoulders and arms. Summer isn't a good time.

"Can I come in yet?" Please, Claudia begs comically in her mind.

"Yeah yeah for sure but first—" A quick flash of light and sounding snap blinds Claudia in the eyes as she blinks. Maddy giggles at the black metal in her hand, wait when did she pull out her phone. Ah great.

"I'm making this moment my lock screen haha, okay now you can come in." The door swings wide open and Maddy's giggles echoe in a crescendo as she leads her best friend inside the house. Claudia holds back a grumble, following behind her and speedily into the sweet-smelling kitchen. Roasted apples, chocolatey thickness and tongue-tingling buttercream jam the air, no wonder Claudia has never seen her best friend ever use perfume... There would be no need.

Looks like Claudia will have a decent breakfast here and thank goodness. Her stomach grumbles in intervals as she and Maddy greet the older woman behind the counter. 

"There's more than enough for seconds, come! I made a new batch of blueberry cupcakes," Maddy's mother beckons the girls with her oversize gloved-hands, a pearly grin adorning her freckled bright skin. The motherly pats on Claudia's shoulder gave her comfort as she and her best friend dug in the salivating desserts sprawling on the table.

. . .

"I have a job for you, it'll be quick."

"Can't I do that after we eat?" Maddy moans beside Claudia, her crumb-covered hand crawling over the glass surface towards the biscuit-piled plate in a sneaky fashion.

Without batting an eye, Sharon gently lifts the plateful of baked goodies off the table away from her daughter's greedy hand that retreated in defeat. "Don't be silly, you girls can have more after you deliver these to the new neighbor. We can't be the last one to give a welcome gift, it'd be rude."

"Sure, Mrs Smith." Claudia smiles wide, downing the remaining orange juice in her glass.

"Fineeeee." Maddy's bottom lip was pushed out as she sucks the sugary crumbs off her fingers, clearly unsatisfied.

.     .     .

Warm and comforting sunlight washes down over the two best-friends as they head in the direction of the new neighbor's place according to Sharon. Claudia wipes away the beads of sweat forming over her upper lip, grateful for the gentle sunlight instead of sweltering heat while Maddy looked fine. Both girls carry baskets, Claudia's had fresh fruits while Maddy's was baked goods.

Summer is only beginning and Claudia already wishes to melt.

They arrive at the foot of a freshly painted maroon door of a blue roofed house, the specks and splatter of brown paint litter the glowing grass and pathway like an amateur's paint job gone wrong. No cardboard boxes or anything in sight to indicate somebody moving in except for a shiny Bentley in the open. What a fast mover, Claudia couldn't help to think as Maddy gingerly presses the painted doorbell.

Heavy footsteps from somewhere inside the house slow down, coming closer to the door as Maddy wipes her paint-covered finger on the side of the goodies basket.

"Hello there, can I help you?" Low baritone, pleasantly warm like well-roasted coffee beans greet the girls as the owner of the voice leans against his doorframe in a tight white 

For a second Claudia thought the man was talking to her and her heart stuttered, until noticing his dark eyes lay on her best friend and the basket full of baked goods held in her arms. Of course he's going to be looking at her best friend first, who wouldn't look at a cute girl. Claudia is saved from making the first move.

"We're from the other side of the street. My mom made some biscuits and brownies for you as a welcome to town gift... Sir." 

Claudia takes that as her cue to follow Maddy's action in handing over the fruit basket she was holding while the older man reaches out to take the baked goods first. Then with his other hand, grabs your basket, a small quirk in his lips when Claudia glances up his smooth-skinned face. She was close to meeting his eyes.

"Thank you ladies, wow, you townsfolk are pretty sweet." He looks at the large baskets in his hands then walks inside of his house before returning quickly, empty-handed. "I think this makes it my 6th time today receiving a welcome gift." Very friendly.

Maddy leaps into her curious nature as always and asks, "did you just moved here today?" 

"Last night."

So that's why there wasn't any news being spread. Yet. Claudia and Maddy exchange glances in understanding.

"Just drove here straight from the northside," He said.

"Oh then that means you're from the city?" Maddy's voice picks up an octave, Claudia watches as her smile spreads more generously from rosy cheek to cheek and less forced.

"Born and raised." The older man gruffly confirms like an automated response, he probably has answered this same question god-knows many times. "Grew tired of the noise and so I wanted to go on a little vacation, this town seems real nice." 

Both Claudia and Maddy almost scoff, not for the same reasons. In that moment Claudia wishes she could mention the not-so-nice parts of town like the party side but Maddy changed the subject.

"Are you living here alone? Sorry if I'm being too straightforward, I was wondering if you came with a friend." 

Claudia blinks in bewilderment at what her best friend is asking him.

"Unfortunately. My friend changed his mind last minute for some business and well, here I am. It's not so bad to have the whole place to myself," the older man seems to take no offense or show any other reaction except niceness. 

Maddy hums at his answer while Claudia side glances her, keeping up a polite smile. Claudia didn't know if conversations with strangers are supposed to be long but she has no idea what she should say, letting Maddy take the lead naturally.

Asking what state he was from, which part of the city he was born in, her questions rose in excited pitch contrasting with the older man's deep solemn tone. 

Claudia was taking mental notes throughout the entire interaction— questionnaire, it becomes apparent to her that she too one day would need to be in Maddy's place. To be the questioner and not look terrified. One day. But smaller things are more comfortable to do for now, like smiling while having eye-contact and making small talk.

Maddy's elbow subtly jabs Claudia's arm, getting her to blink and return her focus on whatever topic the conversation has ended up with. There was no topic, Claudia thinks.

"Nice to meet you two, I'm Charles Bergstein." He barely smiles but it doesn't look bad on a handsome clean-shaven face, the tiniest lift of his pinkish lips show in friendliness as his gaze flies back and forth between the girls equally. "You can call me Chucky, it's much easier and I prefer it."

"Yeah, so I'm Madeline and this is—"

"Claudette," Claudia finishes Maddy's sentence without thinking, her eyes pinned to the golden specks in Charles- Chucky's eyes, the very eyes staring now into hers. Eye-contact, she got it. She did it. 

"That's my name," Claudia clarifies when both her best friend and Chucky pointedly look at her though in different ways. Oh no did she sound awkward.

"Pleasure, Claudette." He nods.

Before anyone else could speak, Chucky leans back into his home and cranes his neck to look at something. "Ladies, I very much appreciate you coming all the way here, and the gift, but it's starting to get late." 

Maddy checks the time on her phone, a disagreeable look spreads across her smile but to Claudia's relief— she nods to the older man instead of stating her opinion. "See you around." 

He gently shuts the door slowly, showing a thankful smile, and the two best friends take the hint to leave.

Maddy only gives Claudia a funny expression the whole walk back to her house, like she unwillingly chewed on lemons and couldn't find the nearest trashcan to spit out the seeds. That unsatisfied look follows in Claudia's mind when she says her goodbye to a silent Maddy at her doorstep. Her best friend would usually be the one introducing her to people first but Claudia wanted to make a good, confident impression on the new neighbor. 

Surely Maddy can't be mad at her for that. Maybe. 

Claudia reaches home fast, texting a quick apology to her best friend and they make up instantly. 

Maddy's text glows in the dark. 

'That dude is acting like an old man. It's not even 6 pm yet and he says "it's getting late" wow.' 

Her text makes Claudia unleash an ugly snort, the two keep messaging each other for a little longer before sleeping an hour later. Maddy's passionate rants about them being grownups mostly taking up the entirety of the chat.