NOTE: This was revised, and re-edited after I realized I'd practically abandoned this story, and wanted to continue it needed some work.
I know it said Romance, but I'n not so fond of the stories where it's like Love at first sight! or the knowing-eachother-for-three-days-before-suddenly-declaring-undieing-love-for-one-another. I feel that real relationships grow over time, so this one *hopefully* will too
Ina Saltzman stood, triumphant, on the front step of her new house. Number 35 may have been the smallest on the block, but just knowing it was hers made it so much shinier. She dragged her over sized, over stuffed, and over used navy blue duffel bag in the door, and let it fall to the floor on the hallway.
Ina dragged the duffel up the stairwell and kicked it to the middle of the master bedroom 'my bedroom' she reminded herself. She plunked down on the bag and looked around. The carpet was an indescribable colour existing somewhere between a light grey and a tanish brown. The walls were the standard off white, and started box like at the floor, but bent and sloped into the celling. She pulled out the only décor on hand, a Doctor Who poster, and pinned it to the nearest wall. Already the house felt more like hers.
Ina stepped into hall, and though she's already done a walk through with the real estate agent, now that she owned the house it was like seeing it for the first time. The would-be guest room sat down the hall, and to the left from hers, with the spare room adjacent on the right. Both rooms looked much the same as hers, though smaller, and lacking the en-suite bathroom. Straight down the hall was a large window looking out on the cute suburban neighbourhood. However, the most interesting part of the hall was the spindly spiral staircase sitting between her bedroom and the spare. She smiled as she began to ascend the stairs. It was with a child like thrill she ascended the stairs, pausing mid way to imagine she was living in an old castle.
The attic was very large, and had, of all things, a fireplace at the far end. She inhaled deeply and her nostrils were met with the smell of must and old wool, the proper smell for any decent attic. There were several floor to celling shelves along the side, all sitting under a thin layer of dust. While another person might have found the idea of using the attic for an office a peculiar one, Ina couldn't find a more inspiring place to work.
Ina returned to the ground level, and made her way to the kitchen. The space was large, but necessary for her many cooking adventures. The sight of the empty pantry set her stomach rumbling, and she made for the nearest grocery store.
After much time Ina arrived home with a much fuller fridge, and a much emptier wallet. Ina went straight for cookies, forgoing the recipe as she'd memorized it long ago. The smell of chocolate chip cookies baking was enough to make the house feel like home. An hour later she sat on the island with a huge pile of cookies in front of her. 'Well, having this many sweets around the house is never good for my diet. I guess it's time to meet the neighbours'. She placed a dozen of the cookies on a paper plate, and covered it in plastic wrap.
She slipped on a jacket and stepped into the windy fall chill. Ina looked around the neighbourhood. To her left Number 37 sat very close, less than 20 feet between the houses, while to her right Number 33 was considerably farther with both it's and her side yards between them. She turned to the closer house and knocked on the door. She quickly stepped back, and waited for someone to answer. The door swung open to reveal an attractive young man with short black hair with a blond blaze up the side. Ina puzzled for a moment, the man looked familiar, rather familiar, but she knew she was hopeless at placing faces and quickly ignored it.
Ina cleared her throat "Hello, my name is Ina and I just moved in next door. I just made some cookies, but I have a tendency to make far more than I should ever consume so I brought some over as a 'hello'" she said holding out the plate. The man smiled and took the plate in his left hand and held his right hand out for a hand shake as he said
"Nice to meet you Ina, I'm Micheal". Ina smiled bigger
"Oh, you're from America too! I just got here, though I must say this moving business was rather difficult"
"I've only been here a few weeks myself, I just moved in with a couple of friends"
"That sounds like fun - living with friends. I'm on my own, but that's fun too" Micheal laughed
"It's quite fun, never a boring moment with those two" Micheal shivered in the October air "It's cold out, would you like to come in for a cup of tea?" He offered "Would you look at that, three weeks in England and I'm already offering tea" He laughed again, short and welcoming.
"That sounds lovely, thank you". Ina followed him downstairs into a cheery blue living room.
He gestured towards sofa
"Make your self comfortable, I'm gonna put the water on". Ina shrugged off her jacket and settled into the couch. Micheal sat in the armchair adjacent. "So, Ina, what brings you to London?"
"Well lets see, a few reasons, really. First I've always wanted to travel a bit, see new places, and second I got a job here so here seemed like a good place to be." Micheal nodded
"I take it you haven't got much set up yet" Ina shook her head.
"I can't say I do, just got here today"
"Well if it you're available we would love to have you over for dinner" Ina was slightly surprised.
"That's extremely kind of you, I would certainly appreciate it"
"Oh it's no problem at all. So what do you do?"
"I'm a bio-researcher. I work in a division that isolates communicable diseases and studies how we can prevent further infection, and possibly find a cure. I've actually got a pretty sweet deal where I only work Monday and Tuesday"
"That sounds really cool, what are you trying to save the world from?" Now Ina laughed.
"STDs, actually"
"That's a noble cause. So if you only work Monday/Tuesday what do you do in your spare time?"
"I'm a costume seamstress the rest of the time, it's kind of my passion. I sell costumes online, and spend some of my free time making them"
"It's always good to pursue one's passions. I've always loved film and music, so I've made my living out of them."
"That's aweso-"
Ina was cut short by the sound of the door opening, and two people walking in, arguing.
"yes"
"no"
"Yes"
"No"
"YES"
"NO" Ina turned to see two people in hoodies and ridiculous masks. The one in the green hoodie and the octopus mask Turned towards the Living room
"Hello Michael, and..."
"Ina, I'm your new neighbor. I brought over some cookies"
"Another American!" exclaimed the one in green, pulling the mask off his head. The one in blue followed suit. "I'm Alex" said the one in green, "And this is Charlie" The nagging feeling of familiarity was back, and stronger.
"Okay I feel like I've definitely met you before, and I'm terrible with faces, but I'm sure you look very familiar" She said, mostly to Charlie, but also to Alex. The two exchanged a look, and chuckled. Alex stepped foreword
"I'm Alex Day, you mighta seen me around youtube."
"And I'm Charlie McDonnell, youtube also". Ina nodded her head, dumbfounded as to how she hadn't realised immediately.
"I just moved in next to Alex Day and Charlie McDonnell - that's exceptionally awesome." She turned back to face Michael "Michael Aranda. I knew you looked familiar too, I just wasn't sure then" Micheal nodded. Ina glanced at her watch "Well I'd better head back if I want to get some unpacking done before dinner" She grabbed her jacket off the rack, and walked towards the door. Michael followed her
"Tonight, say Seven?" Ina flashed a smile
"Seven sounds great" and with that she walked back to Number 35.
Charlie turned to Michael
"Are you taking our new neighbour out on a date?" he asked with a chuckle. Micheal rolled his eyes.
"No, we're having her over for dinner"
So if you're justs starting now then this isn't important
HEY EVERYONE! Thanks for re reading this. I'm not making excuses or giving reasons, but I'm here, and revising and writing more chapters and stories and I LOVE ALL OF YOU!