️ ⚜️ A E S T H E T I C⚜️

Chapter 1

(Home Again)

"Honey did you finish your homework?" My mom asked as I came down and plopped myself on the couch waiting for supper.

"Yeah. I did. This morning. At school." While most of the kids in my school thought I was studios, completing my homework that day at the school library itself, I considered myself to be lazy as the only reason I completed my homework before was because I wanted to laze around my room all day and sleep when I got the chance. Yeah I studied once in a while before tests and at tuitions but that was all. I guess I was lucky I had photogenic memory.

I got up as I smelled food from the kitchen and sauntered over to mom hugging her from behind.

"Smells good. Can I have the pudding later with syrup?"

"Yeah yeah anytime you want sweetheart." Mom answered distractedly sauteing the noodles.

"Go and sit with your dad. It's almost done."

I nodded and sat down beside dad looking at him solemnly.

"What?" He asked with one eyebrow raised.

I continued to look at him unblinking.

He started shaking his head violently. "No no no no..... Not happening."

I pouted. Or at least I tried.

"Honey you are too old for this game."

I sighed. "Dad, I'm only seventeen! Besides, it's never too old to play the staring game! You only don't want to play because you lose every time!"

"I said no. We pinky swore this would stop once you were fifteen."

"Too late to say that now." I scoffed playfully.

Our bantering continued for a while until mom brought the food to the table.

"So guess who moved back?" Mom started excitedly.

I raised my eyebrows questioningly.

"While you and your dad were away for the concert, The Millers moved back in the 'Gravel Door'."

The Millers were our neighbors. All these years, the house, 'Gravel Door' had been left empty.

"James and Alice came back? It must have been what? A decade?" Dad asked.

"Yeah you are right. They left when their son was eight.. And he is now eighteen. I met them yesterday. Perry has grown up so much since I last saw him."

I scoffed. "Uh obviously mom, he won't look the same for ten years now would he?"

I tried to hide the bubbly feeling within me. Perry Miller was my childhood friend... Not a friend actually, more like an acquaintance. He used to come to my garden to watch the blueberries every single day. I tried to talk to him, but he never responded. It was not like he was mute, he just didn't communicate with me.. Or anyone for that matter. I had also tried to ask him what was wrong with him, instead, I earned a slap from mom and a glare from him. Come to think of it, a glare was the only expression he had ever shown to me.

Till I was five years old, I tried my level best to talk to him. After that I just gave up. I made friends with other kids from my school and eventually stopped bothering him when he came to watch the blueberries every evening.

I would have probably ignored him and left him alone altogether if I hadn't seen him cry one year later. I had gone up to him, sat beside him and patted his back like any sensible six year old would do. I had asked him what was wrong but as usual, he kept silent. Upon asking mom, she said that he had just lost his newborn baby brother. That day, we sat and gazed at the blueberries till supper.

That day and everyday since then.

It became like a habit. I came home from school, his home tutor left and we used to sit side by side and watch the blueberries. We communicated through silence.

A year passed like that, but one unsuspecting day I came home and went to the garden like always, but didn't find him there. I waited and I waited hoping he would come, but he didn't. I gave up and went inside my house. Mom told me they had moved to LA as Perry's dad got a transfer. I cried all night that day. Although I had only seen him glare and cry, I had become attached to him so much that I never realized it until he left.

I got over it. I had to. As the years passed, the pain faded away and I got caught up with school and other friends.

Now he was back again.

I would be lying if I said I didn't care. Of course I did care. I wanted to see what mom said was actually true . I wanted to see for myself that he was the same. I suspected not. I mean.. behaviours do change after ten years. I wondered if he smiled now, I wondered if he still had those adorable freckles on his nose and mostly, I wanted to see if he remembered me.

After dinner I went over to their house too present them a cake my mom had baked for them as a welcome gift.

I wore my mickey mouse t shirt and striped blue leggings which matched with my eccentric hair. I tugged a lock behind my ear as I waited for them to open the door after I rung the bell. I hoped Perry would not open as I was not ready to face him yet.

Thankfully, Mrs. Miller opened the door.

"Oh my God sweetie hi! It's been so long! Come in. Come in." She engulfed me a bone crushing hug and led me to the living room.

"Hey Mrs. M! It's really good to have you back!" I said happily, scanning the place which looked exactly similar to how it had been years back.

"Well, it is good to be back home. Real home. James had to retire sometime."

I nodded. "Mom sent this cake as a 'good to have you back' present." I handed over the cake to her.

She blushed. "Ah that is so sweet of her! Fruitcake is my family's favorite. I can't believe she remembers. Tell Pam I said thanks."

"I will Mrs. M!"

"Oh please.. Call me Alice. You are seventeen I suppose?"

"Yeah. Going to be eighteen this year itself."

"How is high school treating you?"

"Eh."I shrugged nonchalantly.

She chuckled. "All teenagers have the same problem. School."

I smiled politely and asked the question I have waiting to ask since I entered the house.

"Where is Perry?"

"Oh he and his father has gone for a walk in the neighbourhood and the market. They will be home soon. Do you want to wait? You can have dinner with us if you want."

I tried to cover my crestfallen expression. "Um not today Mrs. M.. I mean Alice.. I already had my dinner. Maybe some other time?"

"Oh sure sure honey! You are always welcome. Once again, tell your mom thank you for the lovely cake! I'll meet them tomorrow morning!"

"Sure Alice! Bye! I better get going then!"

"Okay goodnight sweety! I'll let Perry know you came by!"

"No no no don't do that!" I panicked.

She gave me a bewildered look.

I smiled and said, "I mean.. I want to surprise him."

She laughed. "Oh the kids these days.."

I nodded politely and walked back home as I heard her softly close the door behind me.

"Did she like the cake?" My mom asked as soon as I entered the house.

"Mhm" I went upstairs to my room.

My room was parallel to Perry's room as he had occupied the same bedroom of our houses. Hence I could look through his window clearly. All these days, the window was closed and the curtains pulled down.

So it naturally I was quite startled when I found the curtains pulled up and a dim yellow light luminating his room.

I gazed at the direction of his room for a few minutes and got pulled out of trance when Perry came into view. He didn't notice me at first as he his back was facing me. He had grown too tall over these years. He was no more the lanky kid he used to be. I saw his back muscles flexing as he tugged on to the hem of his shirt.

Realizing what he was about to do, I forcefully looked away, wanting to give him the privacy. Besides, he could turn around any moment and I didn't want to embarrass myself in our first encounter after all these years.

I pulled my curtains down and went inside the bathroom for a quick shower before heading off to bed. The shower helped me to soothe my nerves and untangle the knots in my shoulders.

Heading back to my room after a good half an hour, I changed into my night dress. I peeked in through the curtains for one last time, and saw that he had already turned off the lights of his room. Sighing, I clambered onto my own bed and switched off the fairy lights and the lamp and let my sleep consume me at last.

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Hola!

Hope you all enjoyed the story.

And no. Perry is not inspired from Perry the Platypus :<>