Chapter 10: 06|Mystery boy!-1

"We're home!" "In the kitchen." "I didn't expect you to be home." I gave a confused look to dad. "Then why did you three shout 'We're home'?" I chuckled at his imitation of our voice. "We do it daily, dad." Aiden deadpanned as dad's mouth turned into a 'o'. "Jokes apart, why are you home early?" Asher asked as he gulped OJ from carton. I would have been disgusted if I didn't do the same. "I got a call from school." Asher choked on OJ. "Y-yeah?" "Astrid, Asher, that was very-" he sighed and Asher stole a glance at me from corner of his eyes "-evil of you!" I breathed out and grinned. My dad is cool as cucumber. "But-" oh, I take my statement back "-what principle said was right too. And you both should be grateful that even after so much trouble, you both didn't land suspension or expulsion. Your punishments are justifiable and I expect you both to take that seriously. Are we clear?" We nodded in sync which was hard considering Aiden was making funny faces behind dad's back to mock us. "And Aiden you can stop making ugly faces now." I laughed but then Aiden's glare turned it into a cough. "Now go freshen up. We are having new neighbours over for dinner and then we will have a movie night, it's the last day of your freedom after all." "What do you mean by last day of freedom?" Asher looked horrified "New neighbours?" Aiden and I asked. "Yeah, the Martin's finally sold their empty bungalow to a family of 4. We're having them over." I nodded. Dad turned to Asher. "Remember, sport practices and your punishment start from tomorrow? And as you both will be living your jail time, Aiden will be helping me in office as my intern." Both Asher and I looked at Aiden so fast that I almost got scared for my neck. He rubbed his neck sheepishly. "Whoa! That's great bro!" "I am so proud of you!" "Yeah. Yeah, don't get mushy on me. Go and change." He mumbled and speed walked to his room. Aiden is not good with expressing any feelings apart from anger. I got into my room and fell on my bed. Today was eventful. After 5 minutes of peaceful staring at ceiling, I heard a knock at the window. And I thought that's all for today. I furrowed my eyebrows and turned my head. A single yellow post it note was stuck on pane. I gingerly took it off. "Sorry." I read aloud. I got even more confused and raised my head to look out. "What the-" I jumped and put a hand on my heart to steady it as my eyes met a pair of brown ones. Mystery boy. Is it me or there are one too many mystery boys in my life? Damn I need a few girl-friends! And he is my new neighbour? Wow! Small world, eh? He gave me a look that completely presented how guilty he was before pulling his curtains. I too slowly turned my blinds on. Was this supposed to be an apology? Deciding on taking a shower, I grabbed fresh underclothes and mom's black skater dress, considering the formal dinner. No don't give me that look, I may be tomboy but sometimes, I feel like dressing up too because at the end of the day, I am a girl and this is the dress that mom always wanted her daughter AKA me to keep. I stripped and turned the shower on, letting the lukewarm water relax me. Our home, was on a street known for its vintage houses. It is literally memory lane as all the houses are old and have sentimental aspects attached to them. Our family shifted here when I was 7. Whatever reason dad gives for this, I know he did this to heal from mom's death. Grandma left this house in dad's name in her will and hence we shifted here from Los Angeles. There are not a lot of people residing in this lane due to its old infrastructure. As most who do live are old people. Martin's house was empty since the very beginning apart from monthly maintenance visits. So it was obviously a shocker that they decided to sell theirs. To be honest, I always wished that Martin's don't sell their house. Why? Because the house has same roof kind of extension over ground floor's window as ours and it practically connects mine and mystery boy's window like a freaking passage. So now, I will have to keep my blinds on, whole time. How cliché is that? Un-freaking-believable. ~~~ "Astrid?! Asher?!" "Coming dad!" I yelled back "Asher!" I groaned. "Just two more second. Um...done!"