There was giggling coming from Marie's room and Mrs. D'Ancanto smiled. Ever since the Isaac's had moved in next-door Marie and Louisa had been thick as thieves. Marie's little 'boyfriend' had come over and Mrs. D'Ancanto was making them all lunch.
"Oh, this is going to be such fun! Road trip!" Louisa laughed. Her and Marie had come up with the idea weeks before of going on a trip someday together, all over the world. Wherever the wanted to go and they would plan out a way to get there.
Marie giggled. "Road trip!"
Cody just chuckled at the two girls. "Potty trip!" Louisa said rushing out of the room and Marie collapsed on the bed laughing. Cody moved over her leaning down and kissing her. She was a little surprised, they had never kissed before, but that didn't mean she didn't want to. She kissed him back until he started convulsing and she could feel him inside her head. Marie screamed. Louisa rushed into the room as Marie backed up into the wall staring wide-eyed.
Mr. D'Ancanto and his wife hurried in. "Call and ambulance!" Louisa told them as she leaned over Cody on the bed trying to keep him calm and not hurt himself. Mr. D'Ancanto left the room and Mrs. D'Ancanto went to Marie.
"Don't touch me!" She said hysterically. "Don't touch me!"
Marie left town soon after being practically run out. The only person she truly regretted leaving was Louisa, who had stayed with her throughout it all. She just left hoping Louisa would understand.
Marie watched from the living room window as the family moved in next door. She practically jumped with joy when she saw a girl her age out there moving boxes and helping and teasing a man with blonde hair. He grabbed her by the waist tickling her until she cried uncle. A woman came out telling the two to stop fooling around. She looked so much like the girl it was obviously her mother. An older man came out of the moving truck carrying some boxes and laughed seeing the two before telling them to get back to work.
"New neighbors, Marie?" Mrs. D'Ancanto asked pulling back the lacey curtains her daughter was peaking through. "Well, looks like there's a girl yer age, pumpkin. You should go over and say 'hey'."
"Oh, Ah couldn't, Mom." Marie said wide-eyed. "She'd just think Ah was a geek or somethin'."
"Oh, don't be ridiculous, sweetheart, come on, now, Ah'll go with yeh."
"Really, Mom!" She tried to dissuade her, but it did no good. She packed up a housewarming gift of cookies and dragged Marie over.
Marie stood shyly by her mother as the attractive older brunette came to the door. "Well, hi there." She said smiling. "Nice of you all to come over. I'm Ellie Isaacs."
"Anne D'Ancanto." Marie's mom said shaking Ellie's hand. "And this is my daughter, Marie."
"Hello, Marie you must be about ma daughter Louisa's age. Louisa!"
The girl appeared around the corner of the house shrieking, the blonde man hot on her heels. He tackled her just before they got to the women, rolling around like two dogs. "Yes, Mama?" Lou asked still wrestling.
"Well, this is ma daughter, Louisa, and ma son, James. Say hello, you two."
"Ladies, a pleasure," James said pinning his sister and looking up grinning cheekily at them.
Louisa looked up smiling. "Hi there."
"You'll have to excuse them, they're not made for polite company."
"Ah, come on, Ma, we're just foolin' 'round." He got up pulling Lou up with him. "Ain't we, Sug?"
"Yuppers," the petite girl said. "Come on." She grabbed Marie's hand leading her into the house.