A Perfect Match

Prologue: The Beginning

An alarm woke me with a jolt. I sat up strait. I took the baseball bat I hid behind the curtain. "Who's there?" Then I realized it was just the alarm that made me scared out of my wits. I sighed and slammed my hand on the snooze button. I lied on my bed and pulled the cover over me, seeking warmth. But all I could feel was a cold comforter. I grumbled and got out of bed. I stuck my head out the window.

There was a huge truck outside, as in a moving truck. Mum never told me people were moving in next door. Huh.

Followed by the moving truck was a dark regular truck. I assumed the family was in that vehicle. The moving truck stopped with a hiss, followed by the other truck.

One door jerked open in the moving truck, and out came a chubby looking man with a bored expression and pimples littering his face. Then the dark truck's door opened almost right after the moving truck's did. A boy that looked around 7 hopped out of the car with a solemn face on. Then came a woman who had blonde hair pulled up in a messy bun with a tired face. I did not see someone that looked like a father, so I assumed she was a single mother. A girl with mocha skin and dark brown hair squealed, then ran up to the 7 year old. "Isn't this awesome, Gazzy?" She yelled, quite excited. Then the mother turned back at the car, and made a gesture. As if saying "Come, now". There was a long silence. She turned back to the two kids and muttered something to them. Then, the girl took the boy's hand and ran inside, the boy scampering behind her involuntarily. The woman turned back to the truck and opened a door on the passenger side.

It took a couple of minutes until the woman stepped back and went inside, leaving the car door open. Why in the world would she do that? I thought. Then the door opened a little more. Who's that? Must be a big family. I thought. I expected maybe a little boy, about the age of 10, who was having a hard time moving. But no. Behind that door was a boy about my age. He had pure back hair and a black shirt with bits of red. He had black jeans, slightly skinny, with a thin chain hanging down the side. I didn't notice I was staring at him weirdly until he looked around to see who it was. His eyes trailed right to my window, the hair that flopped over one of his eyes blowing in the wind. I felt awkward, so I smiled at him, trying to hide my blush and be polite for once. His opaque eyes just starred me down until I felt my face get hot and I pulled my body inside and shut my window. I yelled "MOM!" at the top of my lungs, knowing she was already up. "Come downstairs!" She called. I slumped downstairs in my robe, PJs and slippers. I saw her making pancakes. Normally, I'd be asking her when they were done, but I was too curious about the new next door neighbor's sudden appearance.

"We have new neighbors?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't think you'd care. You never did before."

"Well, curiosity killed the cat."

"No. I think curiosity killed the Max." My mom smiled, while stirring the pancake batter. "Haha, very funny." I said, mocking her stern voice.

The oven beeped, indicating that whatever was in there was done and cooked. Mom stopped stirring and said: "Oh! That reminds me. Max, you have to bring these cookies to the new neighbor's house." I was getting a drink from the fridge when I stopped, slammed the door shut and felt my face get hot. If I had to go over there, I might run into the Goth kid. Crap. Why does my life have to be so awesome? Note the sarcasm.

"What's wrong, Max?" My mom asked, but still handing me the cookies. I couldn't tell Mom that the goth kid starred me down and if I have to go over there, I might run into him and he might kill me with a pocket knife. I shook my head. "Ok, wait for them to cool down. Get your nice clothes on and run over there and give them the cookies. Be polite, Max." She warned. I sighed and ran upstairs. I changed and slumped downstairs once again, but not from being tired.

I took the cookies, which were now wrapped up in tin foil, and headed next door. But I suddenly found an excuse to not go over there. I smiled mischievously to myself. I turned around on my heels so I could see my mom. "Mom? They're unpacking right now. Should we really disturb them?" I asked, putting on my innocent face. Mom shook her head.

"Max, I know what you're doing."

"You do?"

"Of course. You don't want to go over there because you don't like people A.K.A. you're shy. But I met their mother before. She is very nice." She said and shooed me out the door. I sighed, half of relief and half of defeat.

When I got on their sidewalk that led to their new house, I saw the goth kid looking out the window, peaking through the curtain. It was no use trying to hide my face; he already saw me. He scowled. I rolled my eyes and walked up to front door. I rung the doorbell. I expected the woman with a oh-so tired face on to come to the door, but noo! I glanced at the curtain, and the boy that looked like a devil was gone. Next thing I knew the boy was at the door, looking at me with emotionless eyes. He was a couple inches taller and he looked athletic. "What's up?" he asked casually. I rolled my eyes, and handed him the cookies.

"I'm your next-door neighbor and my mom made me bring these cookies."

"Did you poison them?"

"If I made them I would have, but my mom made them, so no." He starred at me, then he whispered "Girl in the window." I looked down, feeling myself getting hot in the face. "Um, yeah. I was curious as to who was making the noise." I said, and then cleared my throat, "I'm gonna go now…." He nodded but a little girl's voice said: "Oh, big brother!" The goth/emo kid swung around and groaned. "Who's at the door? You better not be hitting on anyone!" The mocha skinned girl appeared next to the emo kid, holding his arm like a teddy bear. She looked to be about 8 or 9. I smiled at her, she was so cute.

"What's your name?" the girl asked, looking so innocent.

"I'm Max. What's your name?" I asked, grinning.

"Monique, or just call me Nudge. Whichever works with me! We just moved into this house! It's awesome but I miss my friends, but I sure hope to find some. Do you have a little sister? I hope you don't have a younger brother, that would be eww for me! Gross! No offence but-" At this point, the emo kid put his hand on Nudge's mouth. Nudge glared at the goth kid. "Well, I've gotta go-" I would have said more, but Nudge pulled off the hand from her mouth and said: "No! I want to tell mom about you and show her you!" She squealed, as if I was a trophy she won from a competition.

"Nudge, I don't-" but before the emo kid could finish, Nudge took my wrist and dragged me in the house. Brown and tan walls flew by me as Nudge ran down the hall. I saw the blonde lady with a messy bun again on a couch. Her head flew up as Nudge entered the room with loud thumps on the hardwood floor.

"Mom! This is Max; our next-door neighbor!"She squealed, and I had to cover my ears to not go deaf. I heard a chuckle very close behind me, and I jumped and glanced behind me. The goth kid was smirking behind me. I scowled at him.

"Hello, Max. Nice to meet you. I talked to your mother before we moved here. Very nice lady. I'm Anne Walker." She smiled brightly at me. I smiled back. I could practically feel breathe on my neck, and I wanted to spring back and tell emo dude to back off. But his mother was here, so I didn't.

"Mom? Who's here?" I heard a boy-ish voice call out. I looked to my side and the 7 or 8 year old boy was climbing down the stairs. "Jamie! This is Max." That's odd. I thought his name was Gazzy; Nudge said it earlier. Then I heard a beep from the oven. "Oh! Breakfast is done. Guys, keep Max company." She demanded, and walked off. I sat there; looking at my shoes, feeling awkward.

"Maybe we should introduce ourselves the real way." Nudge muttered. The emo/goth kid walked off to the stairs. I heard Nudge sigh. "Ok, Max. This is Gazzy; also known as Jamie. I'm Nudge, also known as Monique," Ah, that explains it. "And….that's… Nick." She pointed to where emo decided to stomp off to. Why didn't Nick have a nickname like Nudge and Gazzy? I decided maybe it was too childish for him. I imagined when I was looking out the window that morning. His hair was long, too long, and in a pony-tail. Normally, a girl would think "Eew! He's a hippy and emo!" But I smiled at him, trying to wipe that horrible expression of loneliness. I wondered if he was really lonely. If so, I guess it's Max's time to save the day.