My Next Door Neighbor

Chapter 6

The rest of the day went pretty normal actually except for the fact that Carter seemed to disappear off the face of the earth. He wasn't in class and I would be lying if I said I wasn't at least a bit worried. I mean, the kid could be a total jackass but I still didn't want anything bad happening to him.

When school ended I headed out to Wayne's car and waited for him. He was talking to a few really pretty girls who all seemed to drool over him. It was actually pretty funny, yet weird at the same time.

"Tick tock Kesha!" I called to my cousin after 10 minutes. He looked over and gave me an apologetic smile before saying something to the girls and coming over to me.

"Sorry, we were discussing some.....stuff." He said, unlocking the door and getting in.

I followed his lead and got in, buckling my seatbelt. He drove, me turning on the radio a little down the road to rid the car of silence.

"So, how was your day?" I asked the boy next to me.

"Oh......pretty good I guess." He said. "I saw you and Carter though...." With that sentence I froze.

"What did you see?" I treaded cautiously.

"Just you pushing him and walking away." He shrugged and I internally sighed in relief. "It's good you did that. He is dangerous."

Wayne's jaw clenched and my head snapped to his. "Dangerous? How is he dangerous?"

"He just is." Wayne said. "Why do you are anyway? You don't like him.....do you?" The anger appearing in his eyes caused me to flinch a bit.

"No. Of course not." I clarified. "I just don't see how he is so dangerous."

With a sigh, Wayne turned his head to face me. "Carter and Derek......have history. And not good history either."

I bit my lip and nodded, not saying a word. I mean, what is there to say?

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I finished my homework around 7:00 pm and went out onto my balcony to get some peace. The wind was picking up so I kept a sweatshirt and sweatpants on with fuzzy socks so i didn't freeze to death. I sat on my beanbag chair and plugged in my phone to the dock, turning on some soft instrumental music. My eyes closing, i just relaxed. The first actual relaxation in a while.

"CASSIE!!!!! CASSIE!!!" I head my name being called no more than 10 minutes after I sat down. With a groan I got up and headed downstairs.

"What?" I asked no one in particular.

"Cassie, can you please go to the store and get some milk?" Aunt Claire asked.

Milk? Seriously?

I sighed, nodding my head. I mean, Aunt Claire and the boys have done so much for me, I couldn't just not help out. So, I grabbed my wallet, phone, and the money aunt Claire handed me then put on some Uggs.

"See ya in a bit." I called and headed out the door.

It was dark walking down the sidewalk towards the small little food store called Johnny's. The only thing that lit the path were street lights spaced out every 30 feet or so. A small space in between each light where it was dark. I wasn't scared of the dark, though, just cautious.

I was halfway there when I heard some voices. Being the stupid female that I am, I went in search for where the voices were coming from. The string of noise led me into a grove of trees in the park, the mission to get milk temporarily forgotten.

"I told you what you had to do. Don't disappoint me Hunt." I heard a gruff voice say. Hunt?

I peeked out from behind some trees and saw a short and stout man in a rich lookin suit standing in front of someone i couldn't make out. Tall burly men in black suits stood around them, guns on their hips. Well, this definitely wasn't the cops.

The man I could see stepped forward into the light of the moon. My eyes widened as I saw the man, or rather boy, standing with his signature smirk.

"Have I ever?" Carter said, his arms crossed over his chest.

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I laid on my bed, thinking over what I saw in the park. I had gotten the milk for Aunt Claire as soon a I realized it was Carter talking to that man. I didn't want to get into any trouble with him. When I came back home, I told no one of what I saw or heard. Carter was a puzzle to me. It seemed as though more and more pieces came together but then it would crumble and I would have to start over again. It was a never ending cycle with him.

I don't know how long I laid on my bed before I eventually fell asleep. All I remember was that Id left my balcony door open and it was getting really cold.

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The next morning I woke up and took a quick shower getting dressed in some tights, a cute skirt, a long sleeve shirt, and some combat boots. I put my hair in a high pony tail and put on light makeup before heading downstairs.

"Cassie!" Someone grabbed me from behind in a big hug. I let out a gasp before chuckling.

"Hey Steven!" I smile as he let me go. "What's got you so excited?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all." He have a sly smile before pointing upstairs. In no time at all a loud yell was heard.

"Steven I'm going to kill you!" I heard Derek's voice call. He came running downstairs with a towel wrapped around his waste. What got me was the color of his hair. No more did he had dark brown hair, it was.....green! Not just any green, but neon green!

Steven howled in laughter as he fell to the ground, clutching his stomach. Aunt Claire came out of the kitchen and gasped, dropping her spatula onto the ground in surprise.

"Steven Matthew Richards, you are so-" she was cut off when Wayne walked into the room.

"What's going on in.....woah." He said staring at a fuming Derek. "What's up with your hair dude?"

All eyes went to Steven and Wayne chuckled a bit before a glare from Derek cut him off.

"Now what am i suppose to do?! I have green hair!" Derek whined.

"Relax bro, it's not permanent. It'll wash out on a couple of days." Steven waved it off like it was nothing.

"A couple of days! I have a date tomorrow after school! I can't go as an Oompa Loompa!" He yelled.

"Derek, just put a hat on and get ready for school. Steven say you're sorry and sit down for breakfast." She said to the two boys. "As for you two, breakfast is ready in the kitchen" she said to Wayne and i, picking up her spatula and leaving the room.

"Sorry." Steven mumbled, barely audible before heading into the kitchen. Derek groaned and stomped upstairs.

Kids these days.

Wayne and I ate then headed to his car. Steven followed close behind, but Derek was a bit late. I felt bad for him.

"Don't feel bad for him." Wayne said, reading my thoughts as we headed to school. "He got Steven last week for making out with his girl.
The whole outside of Steven's locker was decorated in Barbie stuff."

"How come i didn't hear or see any of this?" I asked.

"Steven was too embarassed and ripped all the stuff down, threatening anyone who saw not to tell or he would "make their lives miserable"." He quoted.

I nodded. "Well, at least it's over."

Wayne let out a laugh. "Over? No, it's just getting started."

Uh oh. This was going to get interesting.

(Picture is the Richards's home)