Sebastian

Walking through the large wooden door I felt at home again, except this time everything was cold and silent. I had finished studying education and literature at St Johns Southern university- twelve hours away from Green Hill, I hadn’t been home in seven years. I missed so many important things, I left so many important people and now I was back.

The two storey wooden home was covered in dust, an eerily silence wavered through the halls as I went around and flicked the lights on in each room.

After my father had passed away I had decided to come home after my last exams of the year. That was six months ago, I couldn’t make it home for the funeral due to COVID-19 which had torn through the country so unexpectedly. The first thing I did when I arrived was go and see his grave. Nothing could keep my tears at bay as I sat and thought about my life with my dad.

He was brilliant, by far the best person I’ve ever had in my life. All through high school he would have afternoon tea ready for us and we would sit on the back patio and chat about our day. He was the worst for dad jokes and laughing in very awkward moments. He was supportive of everything I ever wanted to do- cheerleading, scouts, soccer, tennis, drawing, writing, dancing and even geocaching.

But once he passed he left me the big empty house, my aunts and uncles had left it exactly the way it was as requested by me. The house has slowly been torn apart over the years that I wasn’t here. The yard had grown so much the grass was at my knees, the rose bushes were one big messy hedge and the house plants inside were all dead.

I sighed placing the keys in the little key bowl that had been there forever. I walked over to the old brown couches which were almost completely destroyed- they were ready to be thrown out. I took a seat at the end of the couch and kicked my legs up on the old wooden coffee table like I always did.

Without realising my eyes had fluttered shut and I had drifted into a deep sleep- suddenly awoken my the door bell ringing.

I sat up and looked around the lounge room shocked that I had fallen asleep in such a short time. I sauntered over to the door, sleep still clouding my eyes and my mind- after a ten hour flight and a two hour drive I was buggered.

I swung up the door to see who could be there- but to my dismay it was the once person I was really not wanting to see. But she wasn’t alone. At the door stood my old friend Belinda, next to her stood a tall ginger man, and in front of the two of them stood two kids a boy and a girl.

“Oh my goodness look at you! Come ‘ere.” She cooed pushing the kids aside and leaping at me, struggling a little as her very pregnant belly was in between us. Her short blonde hair and big blue eyes confirmed she hadn’t aged at all.

“Hello Belinda, would you like to come inside?” I offered pushing the door open further.

“Of course silly,” the four of them came in to the living room I closed the door behind them and ushered them to the couch. “This is my husband Ted, and our two children Edward and Penelope, and in my tummy is Warwick.”

Oh god who names their child Warwick? I felt horrible for the child. However I was surprised by all of the names considering as we were growing up she had stuck to the names; Thomas and Isabella.

“Nice to meet you all, I’m Lila.” I smiled shaking each of their hands. Penelope was the oldest she had long strawberry blonde hair, her face sprinkled with freckles and her eyes a mossy green. She was very beautiful much like her mother.

“I’m Edward but you can call me Eddy, did you know birds descended from a type of dinosaurs known as theropods.” Eddy stated sitting up further in his seat. His hair was very light ginger and was curly like his dads, his eyes were the same as his sisters. He was low key cuter though.

“I didn’t know that, thanks for the dinosaur fact.” I chucked.

“Eddy here loves dinosaurs, Penny loves to paint don’t you Penny?” Ted claimed staring very directly at his daughter who shrivelled back into the couch. I watched her curiously, she seemed to be a bit scared of her dad.

“She is a bit shy don’t mind her, how have you been?” Belinda turned the conversation back to the adults while the kids talked quietly amongst themselves- the best behaved kids I’d ever met.

“Here is the remote watch what you like, we will talk in the kitchen over a cuppa.” I smiled handing Penny the remote to the Tv and bring Ted and Belinda to the kitchen bench where the stools sat.

Belinda struggled getting up but Ted helped her as I got the mugs out and boiled the kettle.

“Ahh, I finished my university degrees... other than that I haven’t really been up to much.” All true, I had put so much energy into studying and handing my work in that I didn’t pay attention to my social life. “I do have a job lined up here though, remember Mrs Kenneth?”

“Oh that was Penny’s teacher last year, a mean old hag if I do say so myself.” Belinda scowled wiping the stray hairs out of her eyes. “I remember being in grade one, she always smelt like moth balls.”

I laughed along with Ted, I do remember her distinct granny smell.

“Awful smell. Well she is retiring and so I’m taking over her job.” I smiled putting the coffee into the mugs.

“No way! That’s so great! You’ll most likely have Eddy this year then, oh he is going to love that, the kids in his grade are so sweet.” Belinda smiled watching as I spooned in her six sugars, she was a sugar maniac.

“How many sugars do you take Ted?” I asked.

“Zero, thank you.”

I blinked in response I’d rather six sugars over none. I tipped the water in and gave it a stir and handed them their cups.

“I’m very excited to meet everyone and to redecorate the classroom.” I announced sipping on my coffee. This would be my first full time job in a school and I was very keen.

“If you need any help let me know.” Belinda chirped up, also sipping her coffee.

“Babe you aren’t going to be much help, you’re seven months pregnant.” Ted laughed placing a kiss on his wife’s cheek.

She pushed him away from her and stuck her tongue out at him, “I can laminate things and cut out stuff.”

I chuckled at their behaviour, I liked Ted he seemed pretty sweet.

“Actually since you kind of get kids, before we came over Penelope was on her iPad on an app called Talk but she is only seven and she was talking to strangers online. We talked to her together but I don’t think she quite understands that we have taken her iPad off of her to protect her from strangers and bad people. What she we do?” Ted sighed placing his hands on the green bench top- that was definitely getting taken out.

“I know there is a lock of IOS which allows you to lock the iPad in the app and to get out of it you need a password. You could try that, so if she has her iPad to play math games lock it in the app? It might help.” I crinkled my eyebrows together trying really hard to think of a good idea. The internet is a very scary place especially for kids.

“Hey that’s actually a very good idea, thanks I’ll look into it when we get home- speaking of home we might need to head off because I have work in the morning. Sorry to cut the visit short.” Ted smiled a very genuine smile, what a nice man.

“If you need any help just send me a text Belinda has my number-“

“Stop calling me Belinda- you never did it growing up so don’t do it now- it’s Lindy.” Belinda snapped. I rolled my eyes she was exactly the same as she was in high school, very sassy.

“Okay, okay.” I put my hands up in surrender and backed away from the counter. “Give is a hug.”

Once Lindy and her family left I was left to my thoughts once again, at first I didn’t want to see Lindy because I knew she had a family and she was happy. Lindy never really wanted to be a house wife, she always wanted to travel. I on the other hand wanted nothing more than a family, but one thing led to another and I found my passion in childcare. I was jealous of Belinda, she was loved through school and she was loved even more now.

However now that she had left it was like I was missing a piece of my heart, the house was empty and I had never ever been in the house by myself over night. It made my anxiety spike.

So I went upstairs to the bathroom and took a nice warm shower, it was only six pm and the sun was beginning to set as I got out of the shower my white towel wrapped right around my body when the door bell rang again.

I rushed down the stairs and swung the door open revealing a man, he looked familiar, he was tall- very tall, his hair was curly, dark and thick, his eyes were a deep brown and his smile reached his eyes. He was the most attractive man I had seen sines high school.

“Ah, hello?” I questioned looking him up and down, as I met his eyes I realised he was doing the same to me. Omg I’m only in a towel. I shoved the door shut but kept it a crack open. “I just got out of the shower sorry.”

“No don’t mind me, I’m just here to check in for the yard work you wanted.” He chuckled, trying to make eye contact through the door.

“Oh right come in, I’m just going to get changed, make yourself comfortable.” I rushed welcoming him inside as I ran up the stairs.

“Okay thank you.”

I rummaged through my suit case full of clothes but they were all very dressy and this town was very country and laid back.

“Why couldn’t I grab my casual suit case instead of this one?” I groaned, the moving trucks wouldn’t be here until Tuesday.

I ran towards my closet and thankfully I still had some clothes in there. They smelt kind of stale but they were better than right fitting dresses and leather coats.

I grabbed a pair of grey sweat pants and a white long sleeved shirt.

“Sorry about that, I forgot you were coming. I’m Lila by the way.” I introduced myself to the man sitting on my couch. He stood up as I walked into the room.

“No it’s completely fine. I’m Lane and I work for Austin Enterprises so I’m just here to make a schedule and what work is needed to be that kind of stuff. We shouldn’t be too long.” I explained very calmly taking a seat at the wooden kitchen table which I had led him to during his speech.

“That sounds great to me.”

He pulled out a notebook and a pen and started scribbling some information.

“Well I’m not too worried about what time you start, in fact start as early as you can to beat the heat.”

“So the earliest we start is 4:30-5am and we go as late as 8-9pm.”

That is very early, I’d still be in bed even on a work day.

“Whatever floats your boat really. The work is the tougher part. So I want the roses completely trimmed back until they look like seperate plants. The grass obviously needs to be mowed, the fence needs to be painted white and the big tree on the side needs to be trimmed back majorly. I want garden beds out in as well I have drawn up so designs for those. But that’s the front yard. Oh and I want a stone path leading to the stairs please.”

Lane continued to silently scribble down everything that I wanted in the front yard.

“Okay that sounds pretty simple what about the back yard?”

“Okay the back yard is a bit tougher, the pool needs to be cleaned and the filter needs to be cleaned as well. The back garden needs to be completely taken out and replaced with new plants. The palm tree has left crap all over the ground and the whole yard needs to be weeded and sprayed.” I stopped talking for a moment letting Lane catch up to my speaking. There was so much work to do outside but nothing compared to inside the house. Once he stopped scribbling and looked at me I continued my list of fixable things.

“The same pebble path I want done from the steps to the pool, second patio and the clothes line. The cubby house needs to be completely painted over and cleaned out inside because there are spiders everywhere. I want the photinia trees needs to be trimmed to the fence height. The whole yard needs to be mowed and cleared of debris.”

Again I stopped for lane to write everything down.

“Also the concrete needs to be pressure washed. And that’s all I can think of right now.” I huffed.

Lane chuckled at my attitude and closed his note book on the table.

“It seems like a lot of work but considering there will be multiple of of us here at a time the work will get done in no time.” Lane assured.

“Oh wait I forgot the roof,” I smacked my head lightly, lane opened his book up again with a laugh, “the gutters need to be cleaned and the roof needs to be tiled again.”

***

“Thank you so much for coming by.” I smiled gratefully at Lane as I ushered him out of the house onto the front porch. Should I tell him now that I needs the porches to be painted as well?

“Hey it’s my job, so we will start work tomorrow morning around 5-6 am just so we don’t wake you too early. Someone- most likely Ash will come up and let you know we are here.” Lane smiled. He looked pretty young maybe 20.

“Okay sounds great see you tomorrow Lane.” I waved goodbye and headed back inside. I’m sure that will be my last visitor of the day.

I walked over to the kitchen and realised I didn’t have anything for dinner which meant a trip to the grocery store. I slipped on my brown ugg boots and grabbed my phones and keys.

I drove to the shop in no time. I grabbed a trolley and started my way around the shop that I knew like the back of my hand. I grabbed; bread, butter, grapes, soft drink, biscuits, potatoes, pastry, cheese, milk, mince and so much more.

As I was heading to the home section I realised they had my favourite scented washing powder, it was actually for kids but it made my clothes smell so sweet and feel so soft.

I looked up and down for it and just as I found it and reached for it a large hand cut in and grabbed the last pack on the shell.

“Hey, I was going to get that.” I pouted turning towards the man who dared to cut in and take my washing powder. “What does a man like you need with kids washing powder, I mean I don’t have kids but I like my clothes to smell and feel nice but that’s beside the point.”

I looked up and realised I had rambled a bunch of crap at the most gorgeous man I actually had ever seen in all of my life. He was really tall, taller than Lane. His hair was in loose dark brown curls which were pushed back away from his face, his eyes were a stunning forest green and his jaw line was the sharpie at I had ever seen. His clothes stuck to his body like a second skin, his shoulders so broa-

“Can you get out of my way?” He snarled, narrowing his eyes at me and throwing the box in his trolley.

“There are such things as manners you know.” I snapped pinching my eyebrows together in anger. How dare this grown man speak to me that way, how dare he be so rude. And to a stranger who does that? “And there is no reason for you to be so rude.”

“Get your uppity ass out of my fucking face.” He growled letting out a long breath of air. He looked really angry, but I wasn’t going to give in to this man.

“Excuse me?” I gasped in shock and embarrassment. Uppity?

“You bloody heard me, now move I have places to be.” He clenched his teeth together and tried to move past me.

“You have no right to be a grade A dick to a woman, all I said was I wanted the washing powder that you snatched away from me.” I bit back at the man who could flick me and send me flying.

“Look mate take the powder and let me fucking leave.” He grabbed the box and threw it in my trolley, he reached over and grabbed another box of kids washing powder.

Watching him I realised he had dirt all of his hands and face and his clothes, he was wearing a yellow tradie shirt and black shorts.

“You’re welcome.” He rolled his eyes and walked away. I was left flabbergasted, is this what the town had come to? When I lived here the men were nothing but nice to me.

I stood still blinking non stop trying to push past my shock, I didn’t expect that kind of encounter tonight or ever. I grabbed onto my trolley and made my way back to the registers where I got my groceries bagged and headed back to my car.

***

Laying down in my bed after such a long day made my back ache, it was ten thirty and although I was tired I felt weird about sleeping, I knew it would take a little while for me to get used to sleeping alone in this house. I thought I would’ve slept tonight considering the flight and people I’d met.

Instead I sat up until three am watching Facebook videos and scrolling through Pinterest looking at classroom ideas. My room still smelt the same and the walls were still painted pink.

***

The sound of hard knocking woke me up in the morning, I was so groggy and a mess as I headed to the door in a white singlet and black booty shorts. I swung the door open rubbing my eyes into reality.

I mumbled something along the lines of good morning to the person at the door. I opened my eyes properly and moved the hair away from my face to see a man in front of me holding a clipboard which blocked his face.

“We’re here to do some work on your yard is that correct?” The man asked, his voice deep and calming. He moved the clipboard from his face and I gasped.

“You.” I huffed suddenly not tired anymore, it was the man from the shop. The rude man.

“Me?” He answered half assed, he didn’t care what I had to say, he just wanted me to shut up so he could do his job.

“You have nerve trying to play off last night as if it never happened.” I furrowed my brows at him creating a crease between them.

“No idea what you’re talking about Miss, can we start working?” He asked starting to turn away from me.

“Are you going to tell me your name?” I called out to him as he started down the steps.

“Nup.” I shrugged heading towards the two utes in front of my house. I saw Lane get of his car and wave at me.

“Good mornin’ Lila!” He called out to me with a big smile and wave. I chuckled at the gesture.

“Morning Lane.” I answered with a big smile. Time for me to go back to bed. I turned and shut the door heading back to my bedroom for some more much needed sleep.

***

I woke up once again at eight thirty, I could hear the workers out the front and decided to go and check on them and see if they needed anything.

I walked outside to see they had cut the roses back and mowed the lawn, the fence was being painted by some guy I didn’t know, Lane was creating the garden bed frames out of wood and the rude guy was on the phone.

I walked over to Lane and smiled at him.

“Hey Lane.”

“Oh hey there Lila, that’s James over there.” He quickly introduced the other guy who sent me a wave and a smile which I returned back to him. “Did you need anything?”

“Nope, just checking on everything. Did you guys want anything? A drink? Some food?” I asked but before they could answer I kept talking.

“I’ll make you something to eat- scrambled eggs and bacon?”

At the same time Lane was trying to tell me that they were okay.

“I insist.” I pressed the two boys. Who looked at each other and shrugged.

“Okay thanks Lila.” James nodded at me and held his hand up for a high five. I laughed and smacked my hand against his.

“I won’t be long. Also who is that?” I asked quietly pointing at the rude guy.

The two of them turned around and looked making the guy look over at us with a scowl. He never seemed happy.

“Oh that’s my brother Sebastian.” Lane shrugged.

How could these two be related? One of them was so lovely and the other could be related to the devil.

“Sebastian.” I played his name on my tongue, it didn’t really suit him. Sebastian sounded so innocent, like a little boy who played soccer.

“Yep.” James nodded. “Imma head back to work now.”

James walked away and I felt myself walking over to Sebastian. Leaving Lane behind to do his job. He had placed his phone in his pocket and was now going through paper work on the bonnet of his car.

“Hello Sebastian.”

He grunted in response, scribbling on a piece of paper, I walked to stand beside him realising he was looking at the sketches I had drawn for the back garden.

“You want all of these plants removed?” He questioned pointing at the drawing.

“That’s what it says.” I chuckled watching him shake his head lightly.

“Righto.”

“Did you want something to eat?” I asked turning and facing him so that he had no other choice but to look at me.

“Did you want to put on some real clothes?” He eyed my pj’s with a smirk. I instinctively folded my arms across my chest.

“I just woke up, I’m making breakfast, I hope you like bacon and eggs.” I huffed walking away from his car and stomping inside of the house.

Before I started making the food I went upstairs and took a shower, I changed into a little white sundress with cherries sprinkled over it.

I was able to make the food very quick and I grabbed a glass pitcher and filled it with ice and lemons and poured lemon lime bitters inside of it.

I brought the trays of food out to the front patio where the wicker table and chairs was, I went back inside for the plates when Lane called out to me.

“Let me help you.”

“Ok”

He followed me inside and grabbed the plates and cutlery while I grabbed the pitcher and the glasses. We walked back outside to set the table.

“Thanks Lane.” I pushed my shoulder against his arm in a friendly way.

“Guys food!” Lane yelled to them.

I took my usual seat and Lane sat next to me, James sat in front of Lane and Sebastian took his sweet time walking over and sitting down in front of me.

“Thanks for the food Lila.” James smiled cheekily at me, serving his food. I also made toast to go with the food.

“Figured you’d need your energy to get as much work as you can done. So you didn’t have to come back too many times.” I answered creating a little sandwich on my plate.

“I’d love to work everyday here it’s a dream, most places we go to are very uptight or very rude. But you are so lovely.” James explained beginning to shovel his food into his mouth.

“That’s funny considering some would call me... uppity.” I directed my comment at Sebastian who picked at his food. I narrowed my eyes at his action, did he not like my cooking? Everyone liked my cooking.

“You are far from uppity Lila.” Lane laughed hard making me turn to watch him.

“Are you new to town?” James asked ignoring Lane laughing still.

“Ah, no actually, I was born here, but I went to uni for seven years but I’m back now.” I nodded cutting my bacon with my knife on my plate.

“What did you study?” James continued the conversation.

“Literature and education.” I answered with a smile before shoving the bacon in my mouth. I was so hungry.

“That’s awesome, I was going to go to uni but my family wanted me to take on a trade so here I am.” James sighed digging into his food once again.

My eyes flickered to the man in front of me who was still not eating.

“Well I had a great experience, I highly recommend going if that’s what you want to do.” I pointed my fork at him, “I went to St John’s, if you ever need me to I’ll put a good word in for you.”

I turned to Sebastian and tilted my head in confusion, “do you not like it?”

He looked up from his food and shook his head, “not that hungry.”

“I can wrap up your left overs for later if you’d like?” Although he was rude to me I figure it probably best to just let it go and move firmware with my life as there was no pint in having bad relations with people around town.

“That would be good, thank you. Not yet though I’ll keep eating a little.” He picked his fork back up and began pushing around his eggs. Wow he knew manners now.

***