▹ ONE

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''PRETTY, RIGHT? THE NEIGHBORHOOD?''

Serena Michael sneaks a glance in her rear view mirror, where there she could physically see a reaction since the motioning car was filled with silence.

It was full of tension, maybe even pressure. This was, of course, a whole new town. They had to start all over.

Hazel Michael had her head down. The lines creased on her forehead gave away from her furrowed brows as she was going through her phone.

She had headphones on, but she knew fully well the girl had one ear out. She was more of eager to know when they would arrive to the new home so she can move around.

Francis Michael, however, had his gaze focused on his surroundings outside of the window. His eyes were narrowed and his lips were scrunched to the side.

He was chewing on the inside of his cheek, it was a habit he always had. One that usually happened when he was deep in thought.

His shoulders had slightly lifted in a shrug as a response towards his aunt's positivity. But he quickly let's them fall, an audio sigh being heard from his nostrils.

Serena averted her focus on the road along with the shake of her head. They were non-responsive for a while, pretty much when she had first fly out to take of them.

Usually, Hazel and Francis were in better moods around their aunt. She was youthful and has many tricks up her sleeve.

But considering the incident that lead them to move into the small town of Riverdale, which Hazel even claimed to be most likely unknown to Google Maps, was not the best of times with their aunt.

Though, Serena forces a wide smile as she makes a turn, pulling up in the driveway of their new house. She takes a deep breath before announcing, ''We're here.''

Hazel's features only soften shortly while looking, her eyes wide. The cobblestone exterior looked more than spacious for just three people.

She pulls out her other ear phone and begans to ravel the wire around her cellular device as Serena warns, ''Now, I know what you're thinking and I don't want you gu-''

Francis and Hazel turned to each other and in an instant, the two were running out of car and towards the front door.

A bubbly feeling erupted in Hazel, the anxiety and the anticipation of winning, knowing she sat on the side of the car that made her closes to the front door.

She reached out for the door knob, at attempt to push the door open and quickly make her way upstairs, until her body was slammed against the locked door.

''What the hell?'' Francis breathes out, his brown eyes shifting from left to right like ping pong balls as he tilts his head back.

Serena reveals herself from around the driver side of the car and leans against the passenger door. She had one arm tucked under the other arm, where in that hand she was dangling her copy of the house keys.

Hazel felt the wind blowing from behind her instead of the presence of her older brother.

She turns around to find him running towards the side of the house.

Her features dropped while screeching, ''Francis!''

She then ran after him, following his trail when she decided to yell, ''Ever hear ladies first?''

''There's a reason why woman had to fight for voting, Haze,'' He remarks. He hissed a sharp, ''Shit'' when running one too many steps past the stairs of the back porch.

All the while reaching for the railing and sliding against the dirt, Hazel was getting closer and closer.

''Men were once woman, Franny-''

''I told you to stop calling me that!'' He exclaims while carefully walking up the steps as fast as he could.

''Men used to have vaginas-''

''Then God said, I've had enough, bring in some bro's.''

Hazel approached the back porch and skipped some steps on her way up.

Francis had blocked her from getting any further into the house by extending both arms towards both railings on his way up.

She bites on her bottom lip while slamming an elbow down on the arm he decided to purposely included and used all the strength in her to push him to the side.

Ignoring his grunts, Hazel skips the rest of the way and opens the backdoor of the house with shaky hands.

Hazel and Francis swerved around all of the uncoordinated boxes stacking in both kitchen, dining room and living room along with the furniture as they made their way towards the stairs.

''Hey!'' Serena calls after Hazel tipped over a box that crashed against the wooden flooring. ''Be careful, those were granny's vases!''

Francis devised another method since Hazel decided to bring violence into this and reached out for her.

''Damn it, Haze!'' He cursed when she retracted her arm in time before he could of grabbed her.

She lets out a roar of laughter. If anything, it was as if she was taunting him, knowing she was faster than him towards the bedrooms.

Hazel bursts through the first room once she's landed on the second level of the house.

It was at an odd angle, that was for sure. The room felt as if pieces were missing since it wasn't a whole square. But, it was still spacious enough for a creative theme to spur.

She walked further into the room, each corners of her lips lifting into a small smile.

She could make it work.

Francis walked into her room with his bottom lip pursed, but he seems to relax when he seen the room his little sister stood in.

He waves a finger in the air and comments, ''This room is weird.. I'm intrigued.''

Her brunette locks shift swiftly as she turns at the heel of her foot. ''Save it, cunt rag. It was mine the second I walked in, those are the rules. Remember?''

He grew into a grin and began laughing.

She raises a brow at him, wondering about the sudden humor?

''Those rules are so stupid.''

''I know,'' She nods her head and folds her arms across her chest. ''Of course, I would know 'cause you made them when I was seven.''

''Yeah,'' He agrees softly. ''Mom and dad were planning on giving you the bigger room so you could have space. Even though, we moved because everybody needed more space.''

She tisked him as a scold while taking steps closer to him. ''You were so jealous that my baby alive collection needed more room than your robots-''

''Transformers-'' Hazel's lips tugged into a sly smirk as she watches him close his eyes shut and take a deep breath.

''And,'' He looks up at her, mimicking her smirk. ''I wasn't jealous. Mom just wanted to spoil you.''

She giggles. ''And dad just wanted us to bunk so he could have the big room as his-''

''Man cave,'' The finished in unison.

Her smile slowly fell, dragging almost into a frown. ''I miss them, Francis.''

His throat felt like it was tightening as he licks his lips. ''Yeah, I know. I do too.''

Her eyes were hooded given that she was staring at his shoes. He was wearing an all black pair of Nike sneakers. ''Can we just-''

She looks up and forced a tight lip smile, waving off the situation. ''Hug this out so we can skip the sappy moment?''

His chest heaves from chuckling softly. ''Whatever you want.''

She looks at him before opening her arms to wrap around his torso, nuzzling her head into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and rest his chin on top of her head.

Hazel had an abrupt thought that caused her to scoff. ''Looks like mom wasn't the only one who likes to spoil me.''

''Do not make me regret touching you, Hazel.''

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