I pulled into town and knew I’d be at our new house

within five minutes. I looked back at Brayden who

was sleeping peacefully holding onto his Elmo. I

smiled as I pulled onto our street. It was more of a

secluded semi-circle that only had three other

houses on it and I was glad that mom picked

somewhere away from the masses. I sighed as I

pulled into the driveway and saw that mom’s car

wasn’t there. Oh well I thought as I killed the

engine and got out and pulled a sleeping Brayden

out of his car seat. Ever since he was an infant it

never failed car rides could always make him fall

asleep. He didn’t stir as I removed him from the car

and his head immediately hit my shoulder and he

stayed there. I started to slowly walk towards the

front door when out of the corner of my eye I saw

someone from next door approaching me. I hadn’t

even made it to the house yet I was in no mood to

meet anyone new but he was headed straight

towards me. “Hey!” he smiled as he waved. Shit

okay I can’t ignore him I thought as I turned to

look at him. As I turned my heart stopped and I

almost dropped Brayden. I could not believe he was

standing there in front of me. There’s no way no

possible that this could be happening. He can’t

recognize me. This was a bad idea. No! No! No! No!

I thought as I just stared at him. “uh…hi?” I

stuttered as I looked at him and he just smirked at

me. Oh geez he probably thinks I’m some crazed

fan or something. Wait that’s good. If he thinks

that maybe he’ll leave me alone and I won’t have

to talk to him I excitedly thought. “My name’s J.C. I

take it you’re my new neighbor.”He said continuing

to smile at me. “Uh yeah.”I said. “I just got here

and I have no idea what my mom got set up and

what she didn’t since she was here yesterday so I

should really go see what I need to do.”I said

nervously. “Oh yeah that’s fine I understand. We’ll

if you need any help with anything just let me know

and if not you should stop by later and meet my

roommates.”He said. “Roommates?” I said a little

too quickly as my heart started to race again.

“Yeah.”He grinned at me. “I live with my four best

friends.” “Oh.”I laughed nervously. “Well uh yeah…

like I said I have to go.” I said turning away from

him and walking towards the door. “Hey wait! What’s

your name?”J.C. Called after me. Shit should I risk

it. I guess I might as well tell him there’s no way

around it he’ll figure it out eventually and I mean I

can’t exactly act like I didn’t hear him. “Uh…Abby.”I

said then hurriedly walked into the door. I laid

Brayden down on the couch and then starting pacing

back and forth. This cannot be happening. There is

no way this is true. Why? Why me? Out of all the

people who live in this damn town why do they have

to be my neighbors? I don’t suppose he has four

other best friends who aren’t Nsync? Damnit it has

to be them. What am I going to do? Well for

starters I’m going to make mom start looking for a

new house. But she loves this house she couldn’t

stop raving about it from the moment she looked at

it. I must admit it is pretty nice. But I cannot chance

him being my neighbor there is just no way. It can’t

happen. Shit. Shit. Shit.             Just then my mom

walked through the front door carrying a load of

groceries. I went to grab the rest and followed her

into the kitchen. “Mom!”I said dejectedly as I sat

the bags down. “What Abby?” My mom asked

confused. “Do you have any idea who our neighbors

are?” I screamed as I started pacing again. “Well

no but the realtor assured me that this was a very

secluded area for a reason and that we wouldn’t

have any problems with any of the neighbors why?”

My mom asked getting even more confused. “Abby!

Sit down and tell me what’s going on.” I stopped

pacing for a second and looked at my mom. “When

I got here our next door neighbor stopped to say hi

thankfully Brayden was asleep and didn’t recognize

him and thankfully he didn’t recognize me.”I said

as I started to pace again. “What? Who are you

talking about?”My mom asked as she stopped

putting groceries away to give me her full attention.

“Our neighbor. Our fucking neighbor is J.C.

Chasez…Oh and to make things worse he lives with

his four best friends he told me. Any idea who that

could be?”I yelled at her. My mom just gave me a

little smirk and said “Well is it really the end of the

world. Maybe now you can find the closure you were

looking for.”She said as she started to put groceries

away again. “What? NO!” I yelled. “There is no way

I can tell him. And we can’t just act like everything

is peachy either, it’s only a matter of time before

one of them recognizes me. Oh and what about

Brayden he’ll realize who they are the first time he

sees them!”I said still yelling. “First of all stop

yelling or you’ll wake Brayden up. And secondly

that’s a chance you’re going to have to take. Now

listen to me. I left here five years ago for you, not

for me, for you. You couldn’t handle it so we left,

BUT you are the one who begged me to come back

here and so here we are.”My mom said getting

frustrated. “I can’t believe this! You don’t care.”I

said as I started to pace again. “Honey, listen to

me. It’s not that I don’t care but we’re here and you

can’t keep running forever. You’re going to have to

face him sometime.” I sighed as I sat down and put

my head in my hands. I chose to move back here,

but nothing and I mean nothing could have

prepared me for this. “Abby listen you don’t have to

decide anything right now. Why don’t you go take a

shower while I start dinner.”My mom said as I

looked up at her with tears streaming down my

face. “Oh Abby it’s not the end of the world. You’re

a strong girl and you’ll figure this out. You have to

for that little boy in there.”My mom said as she

came over and hugged me. I just nodded as I

pulled away from her and headed up the stairs to

take a shower like she suggested.