New Neighbors

Mouth was always the fifth wheel and he knew it, he even hated the title. He would go to Tric with Lucas, Haley, and Nathan. But Lucas would soon find some girl to dance with and Mouth was once again left alone. Mouth had feelings for Brooke but she didn't notice his feelings and was always with that new guy Felix.

When Felix and his sister came to his school Mouth never thought that he would befriend him then go after the girl he liked. Mouth always thought to himself that maybe if he were more like his friends than maybe he would get the girl sometimes instead of the Athletes and Bad boys.

A few weeks before winter break a new girl arrived in town. She had moved in next door to Mouth and he assumed she would be going to the same high school. Mouth noticed the new neighbors and was curious about who they were. His mother also noticed his curiosity.

"Marvin why don't you take this over to the new neighbors?" his mother asked handing over a bunt cake.

"Uh, mom do you really think that's a good idea?"

"Yeah, I think it would be great if you went over there and introduced yourself. They might have a kid your age. Plus you need to get out of the house you haven't gone anywhere except for school in the past week."

"Alright mom I'll go. Wish me luck," he said as he walked out the door.

"Son you don't need luck, you're a charmer," she said as she pushed him out of the door.

Mouth walked next door to meet the new neighbors. When he got there he tried to knock but somebody opened the door before he could.

"Dad I'll get the last box out of the car. Maybe moms dishes are in there." She turned to walk out the door when she noticed someone standing in front of her. " Why hello there. Can I help you?"

"Umm..., My mom thought you would like a cake. Umm.., Welcome to the neighborhood." Mouth spit out trying not to sound nervous.

"Oh thank you. That's so sweet of you,"She said. What Mouth didn't notice was that she was checking him out. How would he know if someone was checking him out, no body had done that to him before , especially in the way she was. "Im Janey Marshall and you are..?"

"Oh uh me. I go by Mouth. That's what all my friends call me anyway."

"Well Mouth thank you for the cake. Nobody has ever welcomed us to a neighborhood before."

Mouth was starting to warm up. "How many towns have you been to?"

"Oh just a few. Since my mom died my brother and my dad and I have been moving around for my dad's job."

"Oh Im sorry."

"It's okay she died two years ago."

They talked for a little while longer until they heard Janey's father call from inside, "Janey, How long does it take for you to grab one box?"

Her older brother came walking over, "She's not getting a box she's talking to some guy. But don't worry I'll get it."

"Gee, Thanks Dave that's a real load off my back that my big strong brother can carry a little box for me," Janey said sarcastically after her brother as he headed for their car.

"Well I better let you go since it seems your still moving in. Maybe I'll see you at school on Monday. Later"

Mouth walked home and somehow felt a little pep to his step. While they had been talking he had realized that she was checking him out and she wasn't trying to hide it. When he got back to his house he heard the phone ring but figured his mom would pick it up. Headed back towards his room when he heard his mom's voice.

"Phones for you honey. It's Lucas."

"Thanks mom I got it."

He picked up his phone and heard Lucas talking to someone in the background. "Hello"

"Hey Mouth how's it going. I bearly saw you all week, what happened to you man?" Lucas asked from the other side of the line.

"Yeah I know I've just been really busy with homework that's all."

"Well hey Nathan, Haley and I are going to meet Brooke and Felix at Tric you wanna come?"

"I would like to, but I don't feel like sitting at the bar all night by myself."

"Hey man sorry about last time, but im sure you'll meet someone this time."

"Lucas, dear, he'll go. Honey why don't you take the girl that moved in next door." Mouth's mother said still listening to the conversation.

"A girl moved in next to you. Dude when did this happen? What does she look like?"

"She looks alright. She and her family moved in yesterday."

"I don't think she just looks alright. Lucas you should have seen him when he walked in after spending an hour over there giving the family a cake."

"Mom you can hang up the phone now."

"Bye Lucas. Please get him out of the house for tonight." Then she hung up.

"You know your mom is right Mouth. You haven't done anything for a week. You really should get out of the house. Hey and bring that girl she was talking about im sure she'd have a good time."

"Alright I'll ask her but I can't guarantee that she'll go. Bye I'll see ya later."

"Bye." Lucas hung up the phone and Mouth went to ask Janey.

Mouth's mother saw him leave the house and a smile crept across her face. She loved to see her son happy.

When he reached Janey's house he rang the doorbell and Dave answered the door.

"Hi, is Janey still home?"

"Yeah sure hold on. Janey get down here that wired guy from earlier is back." Then Dave walked away from the door and the empty space between him and the door was filled seconds later by Janey.

"Hey Mouth what's up?"

"Uh.. Janey there's this club called Tric and I was wondering if you would like to go tonight?"

"Tric?"

"Yeah like electric. You wana go, it has a great house band if you like alternative."

"I love alternative. Hold on let me ask my dad."

"Okay."

Janey turned around and walked back in to her house. She was only gone a few minutes but during that time Mouth was secretly wishing she could go. He figured this way he wouldn't be the fifth wheel tonight. But then again they might get there and she might start dancing and hanging around with Lucas and he'd be by himself again.

Mouth was torn from his thoughts when he heard Janey walking back towards the door. "I can go. What time are you leaving?"

" Um.. I could come by here around 8 if you like?"

"Yeah that's cool, it'll give me time to change."

"Janey get in here, it's your night to do the dishes. Even if you are going out im not gonna get stuck doing them again." Dave called through the house.

" I never said you had too. Uh.. Mouth I better get those dishes done. I'll see ya at 8."

"Alright 8 it is later." Mouth waited till she closed the door then walked home to eat some dinner.