I wasn't into boys. Now, I know you're probably thinking, were you into girls then? But, no, I wasn't into dating period. My life had been planned out ever since I could remember.

I was going to graduate top of my class.

I was going to get into Columbia.

I was going to become a journalist.

I was going to work for the New York Times, or some other big newspaper.

Basically, I was going to focus on my life, education, and career, before thinking about a guy. This was my dream. It wasn't my parents, it was my own.

However, as I walk home with the milk in my hands, thinking about the rude Irish kid and Vernon's words "you need to find yourself a man", I can't help but wonder if I do need something else in my life. I know that I'm happy, but maybe I'm reaching too far into the future, instead of living for the now. This also reminds me that I don't need a man to find extra happiness, and if my career and education are what matters to me, than I should accept that. Just because it's summer and I have time for reading and movies and other things I don't normally have time for, doesn't mean I need or have time for a guy.

For some reason, I don't want to go back inside as I finally return home. I almost want to find out where this Irish kid lives, just to give him a piece of my mind and crush his pasta even further into death. He may have friends in Ireland, but he's already made an enemy in America.

"I have your milk," I announce to Mom, as I find her watching TV with Joshua. "So, you can watch TV, but I can't?" I point out, as I put the milk in the fridge and set her change onto the counter.

"Joshua and I got our vitamin D already, you were trying to watch TV without first getting it. Thank you for picking up the milk, too," she tells me, as she glances over the couch and gives me a smile.

"Yeah, yeah," I shrug. "Vernon says you were talking about me. Telling him you couldn't get me out of the house," I inform her. "You have time to gossip about your own daughter, yet you can't find time to pick up milk? That's some voodoo right there," I point out.

"Why would I pick up milk, when I can send you?" She replies. "Also, I always gossip about you, love, you just don't know it."

"Great," I whisper. "I met one of the Irish family's kid. He was...interesting," I inform her.

"Good interesting?" She asks, suddenly seeming very interested in what I have to say.

"Sure," I lie. "Do you know where they live? I haven't seen him around to know."

"Honey, are you serious?" My mom asks, before letting out a sarcastic laugh.

"What's so humorous?"

"Here," she begins, as she gets off the couch and walks over to the window. "See that red house right there," she points to a house diagonal to ours.

"Yeah...?"

"That's where they live."

"You're kidding me! Why didn't I see them move in? Didn't they have moving vans and stuff?" I ask, wondering where I was when this was all happening.

"Yes, they did. I have no idea where your mind was. You were probably studying for something. Finals were a few weeks away when they moved in, I'm sure you were getting a head start."

"Do you think it's weird I spend so much time studying? Planning? Thinking about the future?" I wonder aloud.

"Why would I think that was weird? I think it's great that you're spending your time bettering your education," she promises me. "I'm so proud of you, Crystal, and never forget that." She kisses the top of my head, before returning back to Joshua and the sofa.

"I'm going to go back out again," I say as I hurry back into my room and collect a few dollars. "Vernon has a new lollipop shipment, and it's been a while since I've tried any."

"Alright, tell me if there's any good ones," she requests.

"Will do," I promise, before returning back into the scalding heat. I can't believe I volunteered to come out here on my own, I must have forgotten how close the sun seemed.

Once again, I hurry down the sidewalk, before walking up the steps to the market, only to pause before I glance down the street at the familiar red house that supposedly belongs to Jerk and his family. They were that close all along, and I had my nose so far up my books I hadn't noticed.

"Back so quickly? I knew you loved me!" Vernon teases, as he sets his newspaper down while I walk in.

"I forgot to pick up the lollipops," I sigh, thankful for the cool from the A/C.

"Ah, yes. I seen that Irish fellow was getting to you," he begins, trying to suppress a smile.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I ask him, trying to focus on picking a flavor of lollipop, instead of thinking about what I'm currently hearing.

"That's supposed to mean that he almost got to you. You almost let that little boy get to you, good thing I was here to back you up."

"Oh, yes, because I couldn't handle him on my own," I half laugh. "Have you tried any of these?" I ask as I pick up two pink ones with yellow swirls. "I would love recommendations."

"I tried the blue one with white swirls. It's raspberries and creme. Now, back to what we were saying -- "

"No," I interrupt him as I lay the lollipops on the counter. "I'm going to pay for these, then I'm going to leave. There is going to be no more talk about that jerk."

"Okay, okay," he laughs, as he holds his hands up in defense. "That will be $3.84."

"Here you go," I say, as I hand him a five dollar bill. "Keep the change," I wave him off. "It'll give you something else to put your mind to."

"What's that supposed to mean?" He asks as I walk outside.

"Whatever you want it to," I smile sweetly, before shutting the door and making my way back home, only to try a blue and white lollipop on the way there.

Now, I had all the intentions of going inside when I reached my door -- remember, it is like one hundred degrees out -- but some movement in the corner of my eye stopped me from opening my front door.

Across the road at Jerk's house, was a lady pulling weeds from the front garden. She looked sweaty and worn out, and I decided to go over and welcome her to the neighborhood. I wasn't normally this friendly, but I figured if I got on friendly terms with his whole family, someday our families would have to have dinner together, and he would have to survive seeing me again. It'd be torture for him, and a bit of payback for how he acted.

Taking out a pink and yellow swirled lollipop from the bag, I open my front door and set the rest inside so they don't melt in the heat, before I make my way across the road.

"Hello!" I say brightly, as I get closer. "Do you need any help?" I ask. I didn't want to work in the scalding sun, but by the looks of the sweat rolling off of her, I don't think she did either.

"Oh, hello, dear!" She greets, as she squints up at me, the sun a little too bright for her to handle. "No, I don't need any help. I'm almost finished, but thank you!"

"You're welcome! Do you want a glass of water or anything? It looks like you could use something," I suggest, genuinely wanting to help her. She seems nice, I wonder if she spawned the jerk. If it wasn't for her Irish accent, I would assume I was at the wrong house.

"Actually, I have this last weed to pull," she begins, before pulling it and throwing it aside with the other weeds. "And now I'm done. I could use a glass of lemonade, would you like some? I just made it this morning," she smiles.

"I would love some. I don't want to intrude, though," I tell her, for I wasn't expecting her to invite me inside.

"Not at all! You're the first youngster that even came by to offer help or say hello," she sighs, and I can already tell that her impression of this neighborhood isn't the best.

"I probably would have said hi sooner," I begin as we walk inside. "But I had no idea you lived across the street from me. I heard there was a new family in town, I was around when you moved in, I just don't know where my mind was," I apologize.

"I knew I seen you somewhere! And it's all right," she promises, as she washes the dirt from her hands. "At least we got our hellos in now."

"I'm Crystal, by the way. Crystal Anderson," I introduce myself when she's done washing her hands, before holding out my hand, only to get pulled into a hug.

"We don't hand shake in this house!" She laughs. "We hug." She informs me, before letting me go and walking over to get two glasses from the cupboard. "I'm Maura, Maura Gallagher. My son should be home soon. It's just me and him," she sighs, as she begins to pour the lemonade.

"No other children?" I ask, hoping it's not a touchy subject.

"I have Greg, but he's still in Ireland. I miss him, but he was happy there," she tells me, despite the almost hurt that flashes over her eyes.

"Thank you for the lemonade," I tell her, before taking out the lollipop from my mouth and taking a sip. "It's delicious!" I compliment her, the taste being refreshing after drinking nothing but water and milk for what seems like forever. "I haven't had lemonade in forever."

"I'm glad you like it!" She chuckles.

"Oh, this is for you," I tell her, before I hand her the pink and yellow lollipop. "Vernon, the market owner, is a friend of ours. His brother works in a candy factory and he sends Vernon different flavors every week. My mom and I used to get them and try them out, giving Vernon feedback on which ones we liked and which ones we didn't. Normally, there wasn't any that we didn't like. I bought some today, and as I was making my way home, I seen you were working in your garden, and I didn't know if you would like one," I tell her, hoping she doesn't find me weird. "A sort of, welcome to the neighborhood gift? I don't know," I laugh. "Seems a bit weird, now that I think about it."

She laughs when I finish, and I can't help but laugh along.

"I'll take the candy, thank you. It's the only welcome to the neighborhood gift we've gotten, so I thank you for it," she smiles.

I open my mouth to reply, only I'm interrupted by a door slamming. "I'm home, Mom," the familiar voice that reminds me of how much I want to slap him, says as he walks into the kitchen, only for his smile to leave once he sees me standing there sipping lemonade and eating candy. "What are you doing here?" He snaps, suddenly taking a drop in moods.

"You two have met?" Maura smiles, as if her son hadn't just snapped at me.

"Yeah, we did," I whisper, trying to force a smile.

"That's great! I was just telling Niall that he needed to get out and make some friends. Looks like he's already done that! And she's a sweetheart," she winks at him, and I can't help but blush.

"I should probably get going," I tell her after an awkward silent moment of me finishing my lemonade. "Thank you so much for the drink!"

"Thank you for the candy, as well," she chuckles. "Have a lovely day! Stop by anytime!"

"I will," I tell her, despite not having any intentions of doing just that.

"Wait, Crystal!" She calls, just as I'm about to close the door behind me.

"Yeah?" I say, as I step back inside, not wanting to let out the cool air.

"Are you and your family doing anything tomorrow night?" She asks, and I can already feel what she's going to ask.

"Not that I know of," I admit, not entirely ready for the awkward dinner yet. I know I said I wanted to torture this Niall, but I didn't know it was going to go as planned so fast.

"You should bring your family over for dinner," she suggests. "If you all aren't doing anything. How does seven sound?"

"Seven sounds good," I smile, it being entirely forced, before I shut the door behind me and jog the rest of the way home, hoping to get inside quickly before she comes out and asks to do anything else.

Oh, what have I done?

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hehehehehehe she's gonna have dinner aha