RAIN SOFTLY KNOCKED on windows, the faint sounds of birds happily chirping, a hot cup of green tea in hand, and a book in the other. could this night get any better for leonora valentine?

the young girl sighed in bliss as she delicately turned the page. placing the mug with hot liquid down, leonora was startled by a loud noise. some sort of. . . music?

she groaned, nobody ever blasted music this late. then it hit her, a new couple had just moved in next door. rolling her tired eyes, she slid out of the covers leaving her in just her soft pyjama pants and the comfy tank top she had chosen.

hurriedly, leonora slid on her fluffy, bunny slippers and trudged down the stairs. both her dads were fast asleep, not being their biological daughter meant not getting their heavy sleeper genes. 

she quietly opened the front door, squinting as the bright porch light illuminates her face. she stood out on the porch, closing the wooden door behind her. leonora spotted seven other teenagers standing outside their houses, she lifted her eyebrows in amusement. the girl didn't even know so many teenagers lived on the same street as her. the rain seemed to die down into a slight drizzle as if it was God allowing leonora to make new friends.

"hey!" she quietly called out, walking into the middle of the street. 

the other seven spun their heads to look at the girl. one girl made her way over, a shy smile on her pretty face. leonora flashed a tired smile at the light brunette girl. 

"i'm paloma," the girl introduced herself sweetly. she had soft brown hair just past her shoulders and hazel eyes that shimmered with excitement.

"leonora, it's nice to meet you," leonora politely returned the smile and shook the girls hand. 

a young boy and a girl then made their way over, the two seemed to be arguing or just talking a lot, with their hands.

"hello, i'm armani!" the boy greeted. his dark skin emphasized his kind smile. his hair was neatly cut to fit his hair type.

"hi. leonora," the valentine girl answered.

"i'm athena," the girl next to him grinned. she was very gorgeous, with tan skin, full brown eyes and pink lips.

next, three girls walked up side by side, followed by a good-looking boy who shadowed behind them.

"hey, i'm isabelle, this is AJ and adelaide!" a shorter girl smiled. she had long, silky black hair, fine skin and very straight teeth. one of the girls next to her had wavy brunette hair, dark brown eyes shaped like almonds and a very pretty smile. 

the last girl that isabelle referred to as adelaide had flowing, orange hair, a petit nose and lovely freckles to top off her beauty. 

"hi, i'm leonora."

"uh, hi. i'm elliot," the good-looking boy leonora had seen earlier introduced himself. he stared leonora in the eyes, making her feel awkward. he had wet brunette hair, stopping just above his eyes, water droplets dripping off his hair. 

"good evening, elliot. i'm leonora and you're most likely going to get sick," the girl stated, using her hands to motion at his wet hair.

elliot shrugged, a cheeky grin on his face. leonora stared at him in confusion before turning to the rest of the teenagers who had now formed a circle, including everyone.

"so you guys heard the music too?" armani called out over the deafening music that began to play again. 

the entire group chorused confirmations, along with an unnecessary sarcastic comment from leonora. paloma fidgeted with her necklace as she scrunched her face up due to the loud music.

"so how long have you all lived here?" isabelle yelled over the music, referring to the street they currently stood on. 

all teenagers replied one by one. leonora softly smiled at the floor, she finally hadn't scared potential friends away with her unfiltered sarcasm.

❀⊱┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄⊰❀

        IT WAS THREE am when leonora had finally fallen asleep, after talking with the other seven teenagers, they all exchanged numbers and created a group chat.

"nora! wake up, girl!" her dad called out from downstairs. leonora squinted her eyes as she tapped on the phone to check the time. ten o'clock it read, meaning the teenager only got seven hours of sleep. boy, would she be grumpy today.

she threw the fluffy, plaid green duvet off her body and rolled out of the bed. thank goodness for school being out. she walked out of her room and down the staircase, laughing as she saw her two dads trying to make the waffles look 'aesthetic'.

she pulled out a stool at the kitchen island and propped her head upon her palms. she quickly stole a fresh blueberry out of the bowl, smiling as she saw both her dad's shocked faces. 

she finished her breakfast in a flash and ran back up the stairs to get ready for the day. she grinned down at the ginger cat who had now found himself sprawled out on leonora's bed.

"morning, moose," leonora laughed, kissing the cats head. 

she washed her face, brushed her brunette hair and changed into a random outfit. she picked out her dark green zara jeans and a white, graphic tank top. leonora quickly tied a half-up-half-down braid and slid on her shoes. 

she made her bed and placed the cat back on when she finished. leonora bid moose farewell and did the same with her dads. the girl stepped out of the house, her face instantly in front of isabelle's face.

"woah there!" leonora jumped in fright. 

"oh! sorry, hello," isabelle giggled, moving backwards so leonora could properly exit her house.

leonora smiled at isabelle, the two began walking to the next house to wait for elliot, who was practically the loud neighbor during the day. 

leonora knocked on the front door, smiling as a friendly-looking man answered the door. 

"hello, i'm leonora and this is isabelle, we're here to see if elliot wanted to hang out with us and four others who we still need to get?" 

"well, leonora, isabelle, it's nice to meet you. why don't one of you go on up and get E out of his room. he's been banging on his drums since nine this morning," the older man joked. 

isabelle let out a giggle, making leonora send her a weird look. isabelle stopped laughing and turned to leonora.

"do you wanna go in, or should i?" 

"i can go," leonora shrugged, isabelle nodded in agreement, watching as the fifteen-year-old walked into the house. 

the younger girl waited outside, conversing with elliot's dad. meanwhile upstairs, leonora was having trouble finding elliots room. 

she figured it was the one with a drumstick hanging on a ribbon that was tied to the doorknob. leonora knocked twice before opening the door, and spotting the brunette boy playing his drums. elliot had yet to realize she entered his room.

leonora let her eyes wander around the room. there were posters of bands, an electric guitar hung on the wall, picture frames of elliot and whom leonora assumed was his mother when he was younger, his bed was a mess though, clothes messily laid on the sheets making the girl cringe. 

.•° ✿ °•.

"it was a really nice room, almost
reminded me of the eighties. but that
damn bed and the worn clothes nearly
sent me into a rage! he's good at playing
the drums, i'll give him that.
— leonora

°•. ✿ .•°

leonora walked to the boy and smacked her hands on his shoulders, making elliot jump in surprise and drop his drumsticks. he quickly noticed the familiar girl from the night before and tried to act smoothly when picking his drumsticks up.

"hey," he calmly said, running a hand through his hair and acting as if nothing had happened. 

the way he acted sent the girl into a fit of laughter. leonora's laughter died down slowly as she leaned over her knees to calm herself down.

"sorry, hi, elliot, are you coming or what?" 

"or what," the boy joked. 

"ha-ha-ha," leonora robotically spoke, "i guess i won't be shouting you ice cream," the girl shrugged, walking out of his room. 

she smirked as she heard him call out to her, leonora continued walking until she was out the front door, isabelle stared at the older girl confused. 

"he'll catch up in a few seconds, let's get the others?" leonora suggested.

"okay. goodbye, mr mayz!" isabelle sweetly waved at the older male. leonora texted the group chat asking everyone to just meet at the nearby park, seeing as her visiting elliot took up more time than she expected. 

the reason they were meeting at the park is because leonora had an idea, and she felt it was a very good idea.

NOTES:

→ i was feeling generous because of how
happy everyone was that i got back motivation,
so here's my gift to you: chapter one!! 

→ i know there wasn't that much of the 
'person x camera' kind of thing, it's just
because it's the first episode i just wanted
everyone to get to know the characters for 
starters. hopefully, the next one will have more!

→ also with isabelle and nora, i'm looking to 
make their relationship similar to mallory and
claudia in the babysitters club, if you know
what i mean? 

→ please vote & comment so i stay as motivated as
i have been since yesterday. i love you all so much
and once again thanks for waiting about five months
for me to update, i appreciate every single one of
you! <33