Chapter 1 - The Meeting
My new house is in a town called Trenton, Kentucky its population is only about 320. I’m going to live near my best friend, Bella, who only lives about ten minutes away from my new house. I was in the army and just retired so I had to find a permanent place to live alone, not with my mother. She worries about me because I’m the only kid she’s got and I grew up too quickly, which is funny to hear from her considering she had me when she was sixteen years old. Me and Bella’s mom are best friends and that is why Bella and I are best friends.
I’m moving into a one-bedroom house with one story, a basement, and an attic. The outside of the house is white brick, and sort of old. The inside is modern, nothing like the outside. The house smells musty and definitely needs a good clean.
I live alone, and it will feel like Bella is living with me once I move in with how often she is going to be coming over.
“Oh my god, I am so excited you are back home for good, Jess!” Bella yells over the phone.
“I know me too but it feels weird not having a plan or a schedule I have to follow,” I say as I start unpacking boxes.
“Have you met your new neighbor yet?” Bella asks eagerly.
“No. Why?”
“Because he is really cute!” Bella says excited again.
Bella is very boy-crazy and has been her whole life. In fifth grade, she had a huge crush on a kid named Zach, and she could never stop talking about him.
“How’s Gunner doing with the move?” Bella asks.
“Good, he acts like the same crazy dog he always is,” I say as I look over and see Gunner chewing on his rope toy.
Gunner is a sweet dog. He was in the military with me, that’s what I got him for was a partner in crime, but I soon realized he was much more. He is my best friend, but still my partner in crime. Bella went with me to the shelter to find a dog for me to take with me to basic training, and when we saw him we immediately knew I would be taking him home with me. Bella loves Gunner, sometimes when she comes over I feel like it is to see him more than me.
“Guess who’s birthday is coming up?” Bella asks excitedly.
“You know come to think of it, I can’t remember,” I say sarcastically.
“You’re silly!” She says she didn’t get that I was being sarcastic.
“Oh, that’s right,” I say, holding in a laugh. “Mine!”
I had never liked my birthday ever since I was little. It was just a day when everyone had to act like the whole world was perfect. So, my birthday is just a bunch of people being fake, Bella and everyone else I know knows I don’t like birthday parties, so they never give me one which I appreciate.
“So any plans for your Birthday Jess?”
“C’mon Bella you know I hate my birthday,” I say.
“Yeah I know, and I will never understand it but I know you and I won’t make a big deal out of it,” She says.
Although she said she won’t make a big deal, for some reason I don’t believe her. Bella is someone who will do everything that she thinks is right, but she doesn’t think about the fact that other people might not love it the way she does. So, I have to be cautious around her so I don’t give her any ideas.
I ended the call with Bella and continued unpacking the old cardboard boxes my things were stored in. While I was sorting through things I saw that the glass vase my mom had given me was chipped. This vase was unique because it was my great, great grandma’s vase and my mom had told me to be careful with it.
I went to an antique repair shop near the new house to get the vase fixed. When I walked in I saw a man, who looked to be about my age, working behind the counter. I started to walk up to the counter when a loud smash sounded from the back of the store. It turns out it was just another employee dropping something, but the way the man from behind the counter flinched could be recognized anywhere, it seemed as though he had some form of PTSD. I don’t know what form but it seemed like a pretty severe reaction for something falling on the floor.
“Hi, I just moved here and this vase got chipped in the move. Is there any way you could fix it?” I asked while putting the vase on the counter.
“Yes, of course, Let me take a look,” He said.
There was something about him that made me feel like we had been friends since childhood even though I had just met him.
“So, it’s gonna take about a week to get fixed,” he said.
“Really, for that tiny chip?” I asked confused.
“Yes, well the specific glass it is made of will have to be imported from the UK so it will take a while to get here, then we can fix the vase.” He said very nonchalantly.
“So, you said you just moved here?”
“Yeah, I finally settled down somewhere,” I said laughing to myself.
“What made you come here? It’s a very small and boring town,” He said, half joking and half serious.
“Well, I needed to get away from my mom,” I say truthfully. “She was starting to drive me crazy,”
“Yeah I know the feeling,” He said laughing.
“Where did you move to?” He asked.
“Just off the main road, I believe the street is called Hazelwood Dr,” I said.
I didn’t think it was too weird when he asked me where I was living, mostly because it is a very small town and he will probably figure it out sooner or later.
“No way!” He said very excited.
“What?”
“That’s where I live too,” He said. “I think you are my new neighbor, I heard that someone bought that house.”
“Oh wow, that’s great then I can ask you about my vase,” I say laughing.
“Yeah, well I’ll see you around!” he said excitedly.
This must be the cute neighbor Bella was talking about but I don’t see it. I mean sure he’s attractive but not out of this world or anything.
I walk back out to my car and drive home, When I get home Gunner is sleeping on his bed, which I had made sure to put out before I left so he had somewhere to sleep. Once I got settled I went to sleep.
