After not sleeping on the plane, having the scare of my lost luggage, and having to go though the hassle of getting a rental car after all of that, needless to say I haven't had a very good start in this new place. I just wanted to be back at home with my mom and friends. I usually wasn't one to judge things quickly just by first impressions, but I couldn't help it with this type of scenario.

I slammed the door to my rental car, not intentionally, it was an accidental action from my bad mood. I threw my bag over my shoulder and walked to the back of the car, struggling to open the trunk. Eventually, I had realized that there was actually no button to open it and I had to use the key.

"Hey!" A voice called from the distance behind me. I ignored it and fiddled for the key on the key ring and unlocked the trunk, watching it lift open. I turned around at the sound my shoes against the pavement and saw a boy jogging towards me.

His hair was the first thing I noticed out of all things. It was nearly black and was pushed back and out of his face, it contrasted well with his pale skin. He came closer and stepped onto my driveway and right in front of me. He was the slightest bit taller than me, or maybe it was just his hair that gave him the extra inch.

"Hi." He breathed out, flashing a smile, He had one of those smiles that looked liked the ones framed at the dentist. Or used as a toothpaste ad. I looked at him with a confused stare, but still gave him a small smile.

"Um, hi." I spoke, eyeing him up and down once. His thin white t-shirt and ripped blue jeans gave off the image that he was normal and wasn't here to kidnap me, that this was actually just a genuine greeting.

"Cassius." He stuck out his hand, still holding his smile as I held my same expression. "But you can call me Cas." I reluctantly took his hand and let my attitude change.

"I'm Maddie." I slowly said, being somewhat captivated by his light brown eyes. He had freckles spread across his nose and over his cheeks. There was no hesitance in saying he was good looking, anyone would believe that.

"So you're the new neighbor I see?" He glanced over my head nodding towards my new house as he shoved his hands in his pocket. I turned around, getting a look of the house myself.

"Yeah. I just got in from the airport actually, long flight." I stated, feeling almost intimidated by him. I had always been nervous about meeting new people, it was probably just because he looked like he walked out of a Hollister magazine which was slightly embarrassing considering I was in a slouchy hoodie and jeans with little to no makeup on.

"I'll take your bags then." He said cheerfully, reaching for my suitcases in the back.

"No it's fine." I stopped him briefly as he half smiled at me, tugging the two rolling bags behind him. I let him get ahead of me before I began walking towards him, finally meeting him once we got to the front door so I could unlock it.

I wasn't the one to let strangers into my house after knowing them for approximately 5 minutes, but he had been a helping hand so I figured, why not?

It was my first time actually in the house, since I'd only seen online pictures. It was just built along with most of this small neighborhood, which I learned that Cas had moved into about a month ago after moving out with his parents. He lived right across the street.

He dragged the suitcases along the hardwood floors, similar to the ones in my old home. He left them next to the couch that my mom had bought and shipped to my house, which I was confused as to why she let the men delivering the furniture waltz into our house and leave it there.

"You've got such a cute home." He helped himself and walked into the few rooms downstairs, one of them being mine. The walls were a crisp and clean white, definitely something I was going to change once my mom came.

"Thanks. My mom has a, um," I began, running my finger tips over the stone counter top in my kitchen. "Interesting taste in homes?" I said, not knowing exactly what to call it. His head popped around the corner as he furrowed his eyebrows.

"You still live with your mom?" He asked. I looked around and shook my head at him as he walked towards me and my spot on the sofa.

"I'm 17. Of course I do." I chuckled.

"You're only 17?" He exclaimed. "I thought you were nearly 20! You look a little older than you are." He pushed my shoulder slightly, causing me to sway to my right.

We got deeper into conversation which I learned that he was 19 and that we shared the same birth month. He moved from just a couple hours out of town and came her to pursue some type of acting gig. I wasn't too surprised, he seemingly had a perfect life.

About an hour or so into him being over we agreed on staying here and ordering in some chinese food from what he claimed as the best in town. He continued on and on about how he loved it here and he couldn't wait until things got moving for him. I loved hearing about his life, he was an interesting boy, to say the least.

My phone rang in my back pocket which I pulled out after excusing myself. The caller ID had read 'Michael' and for an unknown reason, I had let it slide. I wasn't exactly ignoring him, I just wasn't in the mood to talk to him. Which then I made a mental note to call him after dinner since I hadn't even called him when I landed.

"Sorry about that." I apologized, tossing it across the couch. I saw it light up once more and I squinted to the screen, seeing I had a text from him simply saying. 'Call me when you can. x'

"What about you?" Cas suddenly said, breaking my thoughts. I had completely drowned him out for the past 5 minutes and felt my cheeks redden.

"What about what?" I asked. He snickered and let his head hang low which he picked up shortly after.

"You haven't told me a lot about yourself. Well, besides the normal things." He threw his arm around the back of the couch and leaned back. I felt myself stiffen at the action. I had to admit I did feel a little awkward, but Cas saw no problem with it. He looked at me with the same glowing smile, waiting for me to speak up. I cleared my throat and turned towards him.

"I'm not really interesting." I began. "Well, at least not as interesting as you." I motioned towards him as a stifled my laugh. "I'm just here for my mom's work." I shrugged at the simplicity of it all. All this hassle for work. He nodded a few times then back at me.

"So when does your mom come into play?" I was slightly confused by his question, which I'm guessing was obvious since he began to back himself up. "As in, when does she get here?" He looked around the downstairs, as it was almost all visible from the one spot on the couch.

"In a week." I plainly said. "We were supposed to come out here together but-" I was cut off by the doorbell ringing which then he sprung up and ran towards the door.

"I got it!" He shouted, making me giggle lightly.

Cas was a bit odd, in all honesty, but it was the good kind. At least he wasn't shallow and boring. From the first look at him I had expected him to be since his looks made him come off as the popular boy that just wants to get into your pants, but holding an actually conversation with him, which was easy might I add, made you realize he's a big idiot. He just loves a good laugh and is a bit less masculine than I had expected. Don't let his deep voice fool you, I saw him skip to that door.

He came back after paying and set the white foam boxes on the floor in front of us, not bothering to sit on the couch.

"Sit." He demanded, pointing to the spot in front of him.

"There's a couch right here. Why don't we just-" I was cut off once again by him pulling on my arm and tugging me to the ground.

"Now," He started, shoveling a piece of sweet and sour chicken into his mouth. "Since you've just ordered this wonderful dinner and sat on the floor with me, you've just agreed to do this every weekend with me." He raised his eyebrows at me, giving me a subtle smirk. I opened my mouth to object, but then saw no harm in continuing the shared lunches.

"Alright." I pointed my plastic fork towards him as I sat up straight, already feeling a pain in my back. "But you pay."

"As a gentleman always would."

-

Cas had left a little while ago, leaving me home along for the evening. I was used to being home alone, but something made this seem a little more unsettling. Maybe it was the fact that I hadn't quite adjusted to my house yet.

It was pretty empty. There was little to no furniture since it was going to be moved later on. I had a bed already shipped out here, along with my mom's and one for the guest room. There was one couch and a chair that sat in the living room, it was odd to see it without a TV or table or rug.

I decided to take my uneasiness to my phone and finally call Michael since he's probably on the verge of pulling his hair out. I hopped up on the stone counter top and picked up my phone out of my bag and tapped on his contact, waiting for the rings to begin. Once one had passed he picked up immediately.

"Jesus Maddie, I've been worried sick. Where are you? What have you been doing? Did you get in okay? Are you okay?" His voice was loud which was something I wasn't expecting. I pulled the phone away from me ear as he bombarded me with more questions.

"Michael." I began as he continued rambling on about how he was worried. "Michael." I said once again, a little louder. He had still not heard my voice, which I rolled my eyes at. "Michael!" I shouted, finally getting his attention.

"What?" He asked, his voice now calm.

"I'm settled in, I got in a couple hours ago. I know I was supposed to call you, but there was this guy from across the street and he helped me bring my-"

"What guy?" He quickly questioned, ignoring my previous answers.

"He lives across the street, he was just being a nice neighbor. We ordered some lunch, nothing big." I told him, running the simplicity of the situation across him.

"How was the flight?" He changed the subject after a second of silence.

"It was alright. I didn't sleep at all, though. But I did land in some beautiful weather. It's really pretty over here." I kicked my legs, watching as one of my shoelaces on my vans had came untied.

"Only because you're there." He spoke in ease.

"Gag, Michael Clifford. I'm choking on the cheesiness of that sentence." I laughed once as I switched my phone from ear to ear. "You probably thought that was so slick."

"I did, but that's not the point. I'm glad to hear that you're at home safe. I'm already missing you." He confessed after we let our small laughing fit die down.

"Eh." I let my word linger on as I picked at the polish on my nails. "I guess I miss you. I kind of have to."

"Maddie!" He yelled playfully, making me actually miss his laughter and voice in person. I let my bottom lip stick out at the thought.

"I'm just kidding. Of course I do, more than words." I picked my head up at read the clock on the microwave. It was just about 10 o'clock and I already felt tired. "Anyways, it's not very late here, but I'm heading off to bed. I'm thinking it's nearly 1 o'clock from the time change."

"Alright." He sighed, not too happy about the short call I'm guessing. "Give me a ring in the morning. Goodnight, I love you."

"And I love you too." I smiled at the words, letting it sink in that maybe this wouldn't be too bad. "Goodnight." I hung up, hoping off the counter and dragging myself to my room and curling under my blankets.

Maybe this move wasn't going to be so bad after all.