Assigned To Him

Aurelia's POV

I knew I would hate Miami, the moment the car went slow by the house.

"Wow," my mom said with a big grin. "See the house."

I leaned forward from the backseat and rolled my eyes. "Is this a house? Or a hotel people accidentally live in?"

"It is called modern architecture, peanut," my dad said.

"This is too big for a house," I said. "Who will clean it? Definitely not me."

My mom giggled.

We got out of the car, and I wanted to go back to Houston right now. The air felt weird. Everywhere was too neat, too hush, too "right." I do not like it at all.

"Come on, Aurelia," my mom said, already walking toward the front door. "Help me carry something."

"Nope," I said fast.

"Yep," she replied fast.

"Help your mother," my dad intervened.

"Ugh, I sat for a long time in the car. I need to chill. I need quiet and food, especially."

"You will rest later," my mom said. "Take this to our neighbors next door."

She had a box, a big one. Filled with cookies and petals of flowers. Probably love and kindness stuffed inside too.

I blinked. "Huh?" "You can go there yourself. Why me?"

"Because I asked you nicely."

"That is not actually a reason."

"Well in this house, it is."

"Ugh." I sighed loudly. "But I look like a mess."

"You always look beautiful."

"That is emotional manipulation, Mom."

"And it is working pretty well," she said, smiling.

I stared at her. She stared back. I grabbed the basket.

"Fine. If they are weird, I will come back immediately."

"Just be polite."

"I am always polite."

My dad snorted.

"Wow," I said. "No support in this family."

I walked outside and stopped.

"Wow. No

The house next door was wild. It was bigger and richer. There was a black car in the driveway that probably costs more than my entire life.

I adjusted the box on my hand. "If they are rude, I am keeping the cookies."

I went to the door, hit it, then waited. The door went open.

A boy stood there. He is really tall. I had to eye him up, which was annoying. He has brown hair, which was not real by the way, and his eyes look like honey. Real gold. Who has eyes like that?

"Hey," I said. "We just moved in next door. My mom made this and asked me to bring it over. So, yeah, here."

He just stared at me.

"Did you hear me?"

Still nothing.

"Cool," I said. "Love the energy. Very welcoming."

He reached out, took the basket, and stepped back.

I waited. Say thank you.

He slammed the door on me.

I stayed, then hit the door hard. Wow! Real polite, neighbor! You could have at least said thank you!"

No response.

I threw my hands up and left.

My mom saw me right when I walked in. "How did it go?"

I fell on the seat. "Bad. He took the box and slammed the door."

She blinked. "Oh."

"Yes, oh," I said.

"Maybe he was busy?"

"Doing what? Practicing being rude?"

My dad chuckled.

"Do not laugh," I said. "We live next to a psychopath."

"You are being dramatic." My mom said shaking her head.

"I am telling the truth."

I pulled out my phone, and texted Naomi.

Me: I hate it here.

Naomi: You just got there. 😭

Me: The guy next door is so rude. Criminally rude.

Naomi: Is he ugly tho?

I paused. "Annoyingly no," I said softly.

Me: That is not the point.

"I am going for a walk," I yelled.

"Do not go far," my mom yelled.

"I will go exactly as far as I want," I said lowly, and closed the door.

The street was hush. I had my hands in my pockets. I walked slowly, looking, then I heard vroom.

I spun. The garage next door went up. Slow. Then a cool black car came out.

I froze. The car's glass was down. And in the driver's spot, eyes front like he's the boss of the road, was the boy next door.

He looked at me. I gave him my middle finger.

But he just drove past me.

"No way," I said.

I spun and kept going. I went round the corner, without looking and hit someone.

We both stumbled.

"Whoa."

"Oh no," the girl said. "You good?"

I looked up fast. She is my age. Cute, with dark twisted hair and big earrings and a face that was somewhere between worried and about to laugh.

"I'm good," I said, standing up. "My bad, I was not looking."

"Me too," she said. Then she laughed. "I'm Kiara."

"Aurelia."

"You're new here," she said.

"You can tell?"

"You got the look," she said. "Like everything here is too much."

"Cause it is," I said. "Back home, people say hi when you knock at their door."

She raised her eyebrows "Neighbour trouble already?"

"The boy next door slammed the door on me."

"Whoa." "Wait. Next door to which house?"

I pointed back down the street.

"Oh no, girl. Do you know who lives there?"

"A rude person," I said. "That is all I know."

She took my arm like old pals. "Give me your number."

When I got home, the sun was down. I opened the door and saw my dad standing there with papers, like he was waiting for me.

"Aurelia," he said. "Your school had been confirmed. You resume on Monday."

"Which school?"

"Kingsrow big school."

I looked at him. "That sounds like money, wow."

"It is but you are on scholarship," he said.

I opened my mouth but he gave me the face that translated to the conversation was over.

I shut my mouth and went to my room.

That Kingsrow school.

I sat on my bed and looked at the wall.

If the boy next door went to that school, I was finished already.