It was the middle of August, on the hottest day of the year, and Lyra was stuck between her parents in a moving van with the shittiest air conditioner ever built.
"I still don't understand why we have to leave." The girl shifted uncomfortably. "I'm going to have no friends now. Everyone always picks on the new girl. It isn't fair. M y life is over."
"I thought your life was over when you couldn't sing in the seventh grade variety show last year?" Her father nudged Lyra playfully.
"Now stop being over dramatic my little song bird." Her mother sighed sympathetically. ""We already explained your dad's business required relocation. We all had to make sacrifices."
Lyra slouched back in her seat and played with the thick bracelet in her wrist. "All because he quit a cushy government job to freelance. Sounds like a midlife crisis to me." Her whispered complaints fell on deaf ears.
Finally after an eternity of driving the van came to a stop. The family piled out to stand in front of their new life. There was a major city in each direction. But her family had to move to the suburbs with nothing to do for miles.
"Home sweet home." Lyra's father stretched out any stiff muscles. "Let's get started."
The family unpacked and sorted out boxes. Lyra sat on the lawn pulling out grass while her parents struggled to to unload the heavy couch.
"Lift with your legs honey." Her father grunted while trying to stabilize the furniture fom inside the van.
"Ya know there are people that make a living helping others relocate." Her mother giggled. "Pretty sure they are called movers."
Lyra giggled while watching the playful banter. She turned her head to the side to catch a cool breeze coming there way. Her eyes caught sight of what looked to be some nosy neighbor coming there way.
"Mom bogies at your five."
Her mother instantly dropped the couch to spin around and search for the invaders. Her determined stare changed into a bright smile when she saw the woman with a tray of cookie. Lyra assumed chocolate chip from her vantage point.
"Hi there neighbors." The woman called out to her parents. "Just wanted to be the first to welcome you. My name is Katelyn." She offered a hand in greeting. "Katelyn Peace."
Lyra's mother quickly wiped the sweat from her hands to shake her neighbor's. "Ariel Wilson and that beefcake over there is my husband Clint."
Clint jumped out of the van landing next to his wife. "Nice to meet ya." He shook the neighbor's hand enthusiastically almost jolting the tray out of her other hand.
"Like wise" Katelyn laughed as she steadied the tray.
Lyra silently watched the interaction form the sidelines. Her father's joyful spirit was truly infectious. He could make anyone, including herself, smile. She rolled her eyes climbing to her feet knowing she would be called upon soon enough. She was already walking their way when right on cue her father called her name.
"Oh Lyra" Clint put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her into the group. "There you are. This is Mrs. Peace." Lyra nodded in acknowledgment.
"Nice to meet you Lyra. And this" Mrs. Peace pulled a young boy's wrist and the rest of his frame came into view. "is my son Warren."
The boy glared at the cement. His brown hair barely covered his eyes from the group.
"Nice to meet you young man." Clint offered the boy a hand shake and warm smile.
"Whatever" Warren huffed without looking up. "Can I go now?"
"Rude" Mrs. Peace scolded her son. "Sorry about that. You know how teenagers can be these days."
The conversation continued as Lyra waited to be excused. She caught tiny fragments of their small talk. Mr. Peace wasn't home at the moment. Warren was also thirteen and they would be going to school together. Mrs. Peace offered to have Warren show Lyra around school and take her to and from on the bus. Warren let out another huff of frustration impatiently waiting to be excused.
"Warren why don't you help Lyra take these brownies into the kitchen."
Warren snatched the tray out of her mother's hand and marched towards the house. Lyra quickly trailed after him through the door to the kitchen.
"So...umm...you live next door?" Lyra stumbled with her words trying to make small talk.
"Yep" He headed towards the island in the kitchen.
"Do you like to-" Lyra jumped when Warren dropped the tray onto the counter with an unceremoniously loud thud.
"Just because we are neighbors doesn't mean we have to be friends or anything." Warren was staring straight through her.
Her shifting green eyes finally met his steel brown.
"I know that." Lyra snapped back. "I just thought since I'm new here-"
She never got to finish as he strolled by her bumping her shoulder on the way out.
"Well that was a great start." Lyra sighed as she fidgeted with her bracelet. She almost had a heart attack as the door slammed behind her.