Chapter One

Leo got out of the car holding a small suitcase, which contained all the things he needed for the following weeks. He said goodbye to his parents and passed the fence surrounding the garden of the beautiful house on Robins street. It would be the first time he spent summer vacation with his two older cousins, Peter and Emily.

''Leo!'', aunt Janet called approaching. ''I'm so glad you're here! We've been expecting you''. Leo gave her an anxious smile as they entered the living-room, where his cousins were waiting for him.

''Hey, kid!'', Peter said with a pat on the shoulder while Emily welcomed him with a kiss.

''Go upstairs to tidy up your stuff and then we'll have dinner''. He did as Janet asked and later, he enjoyed her excellent cooking. Sitting among his aunt and cousins, he slowly began to feel more comfortable. He rarely spent time with them and he was only fifteen years old, while Peter and Emily were eighteen. The age gap was certainly small but at this age it seemed huge to him. Obviously, he was wrong. They all treated him very nicely and by the time he finished his supper, there was no doubt it was going to be a great summer. And it was... For a while.

Taking long walks with his cousins, staying up late and swimming in the sea. That was Leo's everyday routine during his stay at his aunt's house. He was having so much fun, until one day, as they came back from the beach, they heard loud voices.

''What's going on over there?'', Emily wondered seeing a truck parked next to their house.

''Looks like someone is moving in'', presumed Peter, since workers were carrying furniture and boxes.

''Careful, please! There are crystal glasses and porcelain plates in these boxes'', a nasal voice said. Then, appeared a petite woman with short, black hair with bright pink highlights. Even though the yard was covered with gravel, she balanced perfectly on high heels. Realizing they were standing nearby, she quickly walked towards them. ''Oh, you must be our new neighbours, right? Nice to meet you. I'm Annabelle'', she introduced herself with the same nasal voice.

''I am Peter and this is my sister, Emily and our cousin, Leo.''

''Oh, you are all so sweet!'', the woman said admiring Leo's golden curls, shining bright under the midday sun. ''Kylie and Jasper will be thrilled to hear about you. They are the same age as you, you know. I'm sure you're going to be really good friends. Now, unfortunately, I must leave you. There's a lot to do but we'll keep in touch. See you soon, guys''.

Next morning, as they were going to the beach, they saw Annabelle standing outside her house with two unknown faces.

''These must be her children'', Peter whispered.

''Here, you see? Your new friends are going to the beach. How about going all together and get to know each other? So, that's Kylie and this is my Jasper.''

''Hi'', said the boy shyly.

''Come on, you'll be late'', Annabelle said pushing her daughter slightly, as she looked a little unwilling to follow them. In the end, she did but never raised her eyes from the screen of her phone. On the other hand, Leo and Jasper seemed to have a lot in common and chatted all day long.

''I believe you'll get along very well with the neighbours'', Janet commented, when they told her.

''Jasper is nice but Kylie is a total freak.''

''Emily! Don't talk like that!'', her mother said.

''Emily is right, mum'', Peter intervened. ''She is really weird and arrogant''. Leo said nothing, because he hadn't really paid attention to Kylie. She was a little older than him, perhaps at Peter's age or older, beautiful but distant. He did not see a way they could ever hang out together.

''Anyway, you should give her a chance before jumping to conclusions'', Janet said but they did not seem to share her opinion.

''I think that we're right about Kylie. She's definitely a bitch'', Emily said while she untied her hair.

''I don't know... Mum could be right'', Peter said getting a surprised look from his sister.

''What? She is not. I thought you agreed with me. How come you changed your mind? Is it...?''

''Is it what?''

''Is it because you like our new neighbour?'', Emily asked and Peter threw a pillow on her face.

''Stop being ridiculous!'', he said looking at the window near his bed. His gaze stuck there for a while and then he went closer, looking at something beyond their house.

''What is it?'', Emily asked.

''Nothing...'', Peter responded stepping away from the window. He lied in his bed not taking his eyes off whatever had caught his attention. He remained thoughtful for a long time and then turned off the light. But until dawn, he hadn't been able to sleep.