I pulled into town and knew I’d be at our new house
within five minutes. I looked back at Brayden who
was sleeping peacefully holding onto his Elmo. I
smiled as I pulled onto our street. It was more of a
secluded semi-circle that only had three other
houses on it and I was glad that mom picked
somewhere away from the masses. I sighed as I
pulled into the driveway and saw that mom’s car
wasn’t there. Oh well I thought as I killed the
engine and got out and pulled a sleeping Brayden
out of his car seat. Ever since he was an infant it
never failed car rides could always make him fall
asleep. He didn’t stir as I removed him from the car
and his head immediately hit my shoulder and he
stayed there. I started to slowly walk towards the
front door when out of the corner of my eye I saw
someone from next door approaching me. I hadn’t
even made it to the house yet I was in no mood to
meet anyone new but he was headed straight
towards me. “Hey!” he smiled as he waved. Shit
okay I can’t ignore him I thought as I turned to
look at him. As I turned my heart stopped and I
almost dropped Brayden. I could not believe he was
standing there in front of me. There’s no way no
possible that this could be happening. He can’t
recognize me. This was a bad idea. No! No! No! No!
I thought as I just stared at him. “uh…hi?” I
stuttered as I looked at him and he just smirked at
me. Oh geez he probably thinks I’m some crazed
fan or something. Wait that’s good. If he thinks
that maybe he’ll leave me alone and I won’t have
to talk to him I excitedly thought. “My name’s J.C. I
take it you’re my new neighbor.”He said continuing
to smile at me. “Uh yeah.”I said. “I just got here
and I have no idea what my mom got set up and
what she didn’t since she was here yesterday so I
should really go see what I need to do.”I said
nervously. “Oh yeah that’s fine I understand. We’ll
if you need any help with anything just let me know
and if not you should stop by later and meet my
roommates.”He said. “Roommates?” I said a little
too quickly as my heart started to race again.
“Yeah.”He grinned at me. “I live with my four best
friends.” “Oh.”I laughed nervously. “Well uh yeah…
like I said I have to go.” I said turning away from
him and walking towards the door. “Hey wait! What’s
your name?”J.C. Called after me. Shit should I risk
it. I guess I might as well tell him there’s no way
around it he’ll figure it out eventually and I mean I
can’t exactly act like I didn’t hear him. “Uh…Abby.”I
said then hurriedly walked into the door. I laid
Brayden down on the couch and then starting pacing
back and forth. This cannot be happening. There is
no way this is true. Why? Why me? Out of all the
people who live in this damn town why do they have
to be my neighbors? I don’t suppose he has four
other best friends who aren’t Nsync? Damnit it has
to be them. What am I going to do? Well for
starters I’m going to make mom start looking for a
new house. But she loves this house she couldn’t
stop raving about it from the moment she looked at
it. I must admit it is pretty nice. But I cannot chance
him being my neighbor there is just no way. It can’t
happen. Shit. Shit. Shit. Just then my mom
walked through the front door carrying a load of
groceries. I went to grab the rest and followed her
into the kitchen. “Mom!”I said dejectedly as I sat
the bags down. “What Abby?” My mom asked
confused. “Do you have any idea who our neighbors
are?” I screamed as I started pacing again. “Well
no but the realtor assured me that this was a very
secluded area for a reason and that we wouldn’t
have any problems with any of the neighbors why?”
My mom asked getting even more confused. “Abby!
Sit down and tell me what’s going on.” I stopped
pacing for a second and looked at my mom. “When
I got here our next door neighbor stopped to say hi
thankfully Brayden was asleep and didn’t recognize
him and thankfully he didn’t recognize me.”I said
as I started to pace again. “What? Who are you
talking about?”My mom asked as she stopped
putting groceries away to give me her full attention.
“Our neighbor. Our fucking neighbor is J.C.
Chasez…Oh and to make things worse he lives with
his four best friends he told me. Any idea who that
could be?”I yelled at her. My mom just gave me a
little smirk and said “Well is it really the end of the
world. Maybe now you can find the closure you were
looking for.”She said as she started to put groceries
away again. “What? NO!” I yelled. “There is no way
I can tell him. And we can’t just act like everything
is peachy either, it’s only a matter of time before
one of them recognizes me. Oh and what about
Brayden he’ll realize who they are the first time he
sees them!”I said still yelling. “First of all stop
yelling or you’ll wake Brayden up. And secondly
that’s a chance you’re going to have to take. Now
listen to me. I left here five years ago for you, not
for me, for you. You couldn’t handle it so we left,
BUT you are the one who begged me to come back
here and so here we are.”My mom said getting
frustrated. “I can’t believe this! You don’t care.”I
said as I started to pace again. “Honey, listen to
me. It’s not that I don’t care but we’re here and you
can’t keep running forever. You’re going to have to
face him sometime.” I sighed as I sat down and put
my head in my hands. I chose to move back here,
but nothing and I mean nothing could have
prepared me for this. “Abby listen you don’t have to
decide anything right now. Why don’t you go take a
shower while I start dinner.”My mom said as I
looked up at her with tears streaming down my
face. “Oh Abby it’s not the end of the world. You’re
a strong girl and you’ll figure this out. You have to
for that little boy in there.”My mom said as she
came over and hugged me. I just nodded as I
pulled away from her and headed up the stairs to
take a shower like she suggested.