*Fanart not made by me!*

Moving sucks.

I had barely unpacked half a box, and already, the cramped newness of this place was pressing in on me. Maple Drive was too quiet, too perfect, like one of those neighborhoods where nothing ever happened. I hadn't even been here a day, and I could already feel the sameness of it seeping into my skin.

My friend, Jake, is the reason why I have to be here. He really likes a girl since two or three months, I'm not sure. However he rambled about how they're made to be together and other shitty stuff. And now we're here because it's where she lives. I just wait until he found a new job and I leaves to find the city back. But since I'm here, I might as well help my best friend.

By mid-afternoon, I was done pretending to care about the boxes or the fact that we still didn't know where the good pizza place was. I grabbed my phone and escaped to the front porch, letting the breeze do its best to cool me down.

That's when I saw her.

She was sitting on an armchair in the house next door on the second floor, a book open in her lap, I think, I couldn't see well. Her dark hair catching the sunlight. She looked... serene, I guess. Like she belonged in one of those classic summer movies where everything is golden and perfect.

I didn't mean to stare, but she was the only distraction.

That's when I caught her watching me.

She was at the window now, half-hidden behind the curtain, pretending she wasn't staring. I couldn't help but smirk. Isn't the first time at all a girl watching me before hiding shyly, but my pride always loves it.

I played it cool. Straightened up, stretched a little, let the moment linger just long enough for her to notice before I went back to hammering.

Maybe I can use her to enjoy the time I need to stay here.

____________________________________________

"The world changes when you see it through someone else's eyes."
- Jodi Picoult

🥀