Falling for the Girl Next Door

V

♤Jeremy's P.O.V♤

After leaving Reegan's house from hanging with the guys, I walked the short walk to my house.

"I'm home!" I call.

"We're in here, honey," mom calls to me. I head towards the living room.

Our house is small. It's a three bedroom house with two on the top floor and one in the basement. I have the basement bedroom with a bathroom attached. There's another bathroom upstairs. Then, on the main floor, is the kitchen, living room and dining room.

"Hey," I say to my mom and dad, dropping to give my mom a kiss on the cheek.

Mom is 40 years old and dad is 41. They were friends in middle school and started dating in 9th grade. They stuck together through everything and they've stayed loyal to each other for, like, 30 years. They once broke up for a year and a half because my mom wasn't sure about their relationship. She went back to my dad, though. They're just meant for each other. They got married 6 years after they both graduated university. They had me when they were 22 and 23. I was born before they were married - they were just finishing university. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only reason they're together; until I see how they look at each other, that is.

"Hey, sweetie. We've invited some people over for dinner," mom informs me.

"Cool. Who is it?"

"Our neighbors. Andrew and Reegan Jacobs. Reegan is your age. I think you're in the same grade," dad tells me. Great. Reegan hates me by now, I'm sure.

"Yeah, she is. We have calculus together. I met her dad earlier. Aaron is her older brother and we were hanging there." Dad, who's watching soccer, nods. I know he's just pretending to listen, though. I get my love of soccer from him, but my manners from my mom.

"She seems like a nice girl. Are you friends with her, too?" Mom asks me.

"She is nice, but I'm working on being her friend. She's sort of isolated. Her only friend is a girl named Shaeleen." I tell them. 

"Jeremy, would you get the door?" Dad says. 

"What? Oh, yeah. Sorry. Be right back." I head to the door and open it.

"See, dad, no one's answering. We can just go. Let's go. Come on, dad," Reegan says to Mr. Jacobs. Mr. Jacobs looks at me sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. I clear my throat, alerting Reegan of my presence in the doorway. She freezes. "Heeeey, Jeremy," she says without turning around.

"Hi Reegan. Mr. Jacobs," I say, sending a nod in his direction.

"Jeremy! How are you? I know we just talked half an hour ago," Mr. Jacobs asks me.

"I'm great. And you, sir?"

"I'm fine, thank you. Please call me Andrew. I feel old when you call me sir," Mr. Jacobs chuckles.

"Okay. Umm, come on in." I open the door wider and let them into my house. They step out of their shoes and take off their jackets, which I grab and hang up. See, I can be a gentleman. "My parents are right in here," I tell them, leading them to the kitchen. I know my parents have migrated there because I can smell the food cooking.

"Andrew! Welcome to our home! Dinner will be ready in about 10 minutes. Jeremy, why don't you and Reegan go hang out in your room or something?" The way mom says it tells me that there's no room for arguing.

I sigh. "Come on, Reegan," I grumble. Mr. Jacobs shoots Reegan a look telling her to be nice. She just rolls her eyes in response.

I lead her to my room and I sit on the bed. She stays standing and looks around. Her eyes land on my book collection.