Neighbors

I'm on my way home thinking about what happened before. I still cannot believe the circumstances in which I'm involved. I sort of want to see how good those two are firsthand and see if they could actually help me improve my grades. But they don't seem like they want to be near me, in any case, I will try to get into their good side, having smart friends is always an advantage.

As I walk down the street, I notice two familiar figures waiting at the traffic light. I get closer and the figures start to take form, it is Yuki and Lucy.

In an act of reflex, I hid behind a lamppost. I don’t know why I am hiding; it is weird.

As I was wondering why I hid. Some old lady that was walking in the street in front looked at me, she obviously thought I was a weirdo. And I don’t blame her, because I am literally behind a lamppost looking at two high schoolers.

I stopped hiding. They must leave close by, that’s why we walk the same path. But as I continued my way home, they were still in front of me. I was walking slowly, so I could maintain the distance. I thought that at any moment they would turn to another way, but they didn’t. After ten minutes of walking, I lost them after turning the block.

I sighed in relief; Finally, our ways were separate. And it was at the right moment because I was just in front of my apartment.

I walked up the stairs and before I could reach my floor, I saw Yuki and Lucy, waiting in front of the stairs. Yuki was leaning on the wall, and Lucy was standing up with her arms crossed.

“Well, hi dumb guy” Lucy said to me.

“That is not my na-”

Before I could finish my sentence Lucy interrupted me.

“Why were you following us?” she asked me, with an angry look (her normal look).

“N- no, I wasn’t following you, I live here” I denied the accusation.

“Liar, I saw you before. You were looking at us, hiding behind a lamppost” Yuki said.

“W- well... that was... that...”.

I have no excuse.

“Are you a stalker?” asked Lucy.

“No, I'm not a stalker”.

“Are you sure?” Yuki got close, really, really close. Her face is two inches away from mine. Her emotionless cute face makes my heart pound really fast.

“I’m more than sure” They aren't believing me, and I don’t know how to get out of this situation.

But just in time Emmi got out of the apartment, she may have heard all the commotion.

“Chris? Is that you?” Emmi asked, poking out her head from the apartment’s door.

“Oh, Emmi my savior” I ran towards my apartment.

“Do you know this guy?” asked Lucy.

“Yeah, he is my brother” Jane taught her to call me brother, although it isn't accurate, I don’t dislike it, I always wanted a little sister.

“See. I told you I live here” I said hiding behind Emmi.

“Mm, I see”.

“Are you, his girlfriend?” Emmi asked her suddenly.

“Emmi, what type of question is that?!”.

I don't want a sister anymore.

“No, I don’t like this guy”.

“So, are you?” Emmi turned to Yuki.

“No” she said, showing no expression as always.

“Emmi, stop with that, you are bothering them”.

“Sorry, it's just that I thought you finally got a girlfriend, after all of these years the only woman you ever spoke to was Jane and me”.

She didn’t have to say that at all.

“I’m getting worried”.

“Guh-”. Sorry for being useless socializing.

“I'm sorry about that,” I stretched my hand to the knob of the door and put an end to this humiliating conversation.

“But, what a coincidence” said Lucy, stopping me mid-way “We are neighbors”.

“Eh? Really? Which one is your apartment?” I asked.

“The thirty-four" she said pointing at the apartment to my left.

Mine is thirty-five.

“Oh, right next to me, what a coincidence…” I said, trying to smile.

Do I really live next to Lucy, and I didn't know? Well, it was just a few weeks that we moved in. Since the school was far from our old house.

“Mm, yeah certainly a coincidence. Mine is thirty-six" Yuki said standing in front of her apartment door.

“Haha, that’s crazy, ha-ha” I laughed so as not to cry.

I am neighbors with these two!? I don't know if this is good or bad luck. Anyway, I have to see the positive side of this. Now it would be easier to try and be on their good side. Hopefully I can make them agree to Bernard's proposal and get their help to raise my grades.

“Well, I have stuff to do, so, goodbye” said Lucy, searching in her pockets for her keys.

“Okay then, bye...” I said while entering my apartment. But at that moment Lucy started to search abruptly until she just stopped and hit her door with her head smoothly.

“What is it?”.

“I forgot my keys inside” she said in embarrassment.

“Aren't your parents' home?” I asked her.

“No, and they would come back late today”.

“How careless of you Lucy” Yuki said while searching in her pockets “You can stay at my place until your parents arrive”.

“Well things are solved, so I'll head back inside” I said. But as I was entering and about to close my door, I heard the familiar sound of a head hitting a door. It can't be true…

I again headed out to see what happened.

“What a blunder” said Yuki. “I also forgot my keys inside, and my parents are going to come late today as well”.

“What are we going to do now?” asked Lucy.

“You can stay here!” Emmi went out from behind me. I completely forgot she was here.

“What are you saying!?” I asked her.

“We can't let them stay outside, they are our neighbors, also they are your friends, right?”.

“No... Well...”.

They are not friends; I would say they see me more like a piece of trash.

In any case, Emmi is right, I can’t let them stay outside. Also, I can use this opportunity to fix our relationship and to explain that I'm not what they think. Except for the idiot part. I am an idiot.

“Emmi, right?” Lucy walked towards Emmi “It's okay, we don’t want to bother”.

“Yeah, we are going to be okay” Yuki added.

“What are you talking about, is going to get cold later. Just come inside, you are our neighbors after all...” I open the door.

“Are you sure?” Lucy asked.

“Yes, I am”.

I opened my door completely and let them in. They said their parents were coming home late, so I guess I have a couple of hours to try and get them to help me. First all have to try and make them think better of me. Hopefully it won't take long.