The New Girl Next Door

Chapter 1

Kaylie’s POV

My mom stands in the doorway of my empty room and asks, “Kaylie, are you ready to go?”

I sigh, “Give me a minute, I’ll be right down.”

“Okay sweetie, I will see you in a bit.” She gives me a faint smile before heading downstairs.

I take a deep breath as I look around my room one last time. I’m happy to be leaving this town and that hell hole of a high school, but I am going to miss this place. It’s the only home I have ever known. But I know moving is the best and safest option for me. Living in a new place and going to a new school for my senior year will give me the fresh start I need. But it doesn’t take away how much it sucks leaving this place.

I drag my fingers along the new door frame of the room as I walk out of the room. The old one contains my height measurements since I was little and is in the moving truck somewhere. I wonder if the new family living here will measure their kids' heights on this new frame.

I climb into my car and wave goodbye to my old house. The drive to our new home is only thirty minutes, but it feels so much longer and is in a different school district.

It shouldn’t have to be this way, but because I said no to Dylan Larson last summer, it is.

***One Year Ago*****

Every year there is an end-of-the-year party. We all come together to celebrate finishing finals and kick off summer. There is always a big bonfire where we burn our old homework, assignments, notes, and tests. Every year, the same kid from my grade hosts it because his family owns a huge plot of land with a massive fire pit.

Most of my classmates attend the party since we are a pretty close group. We have all been together since elementary or middle school. My school is still like any other high school though. It has the popular kids, the jocks, the nerds, the music kids, etc. but we still all manage to get along.

Emma, Claire, and I arrive at the party around nine and half my class is already there. The two of them were thankful that I offered to be the designated driver tonight. I was fine with it since I have a family party tomorrow and I’m not in the mood to be hungover when I see everyone. The three of us head over to the area where all the coolers are before finding seats by the bonfire.

Claire opens her beer and turns her attention to me. “So, Kay, have you and Toby done it yet,” she says with a wink while nudging my arm.

I laugh, “No, not yet. Maybe soon, we will have to wait and see.”

Toby Novak and I have been seeing each other for the last few months now. We never sat down and actually ‘Defined the Relationship’, but everyone knows we are together. The two of us have not had s*x yet though, I’m not ready yet, and he is fine waiting. We have done plenty of other stuff together, just haven’t gone all the way yet. I’m not in a rush to lose my virginity.

Emma and Claire laugh, and Claire calls me a prude, which leads to the three of us to burst out laughing because we all know I’m not a prude. I have been with a few guys at this point, usually ones I’m either dating or have a thing with.

The three of us talked a little bit longer before they left looking for their boyfriends and I went looking for Toby. He texted me saying he was by the pond, so I headed in that direction. Unfortunately, Dylan Larson stops me along the way.

“Hey, Kaylieeeee!” he says while slurring his word. It’s clear he has been drinking.

“Hi Dylan,” I respond trying my best to hide my annoyance.

Dylan is one of the most popular guys in our grade. I don’t really like him; he gets on my nerves. He thinks owns the school and can do whatever he wants. I try my best to tolerate him since he is one of Toby’s close friends. But everything he does irks me.

Dylan complains, “I’m bored and looking for something fun to do.”

And you are telling this to me because? “Um, why don’t you go look for Becky.” You know your girlfriend.

“She isn’t here, she is out of town with her family.” He looks like he is trying to get pity, but he is not getting it here.

“Okay, why don’t you go by the fire, I saw a bunch of your frie—” Before I am able to finish the sentence his lips are on mine. I push him off me and yell, “What the f**k!”

Dylan begins stroking my arms. “Come one Kaylie, Toby and Becky don’t need to know. Why don’t you let me be your first? Clearly, Toby isn’t satisfying you. If he was you would have put out by now.” It is none of your business what I do with Toby.

I swat his hand away. “f**k off, Dylan.” I don’t bother to look back at him as I storm off to find Toby.

I hear him say as I walk away in a warning tone, “You’ll pay for that b***h, no one says no to me.” But I pay no attention to his threat.

After a few minutes, I finally find Toby by the pond. As soon as he spots me his arms are outstretched for a hug and I allow his arms to wrap tightly around me. “Hey babe, you found me!” I do my best to put a smile on my face as I peck his lips, but he could tell I’m annoyed. “What’s wrong?”

I shake my head trying to brush off my recent incident with Dylan. “Oh, it’s nothing just stupid drunk people.”

He nods knowing to drop it. I then look up at him with my best puppy dog eyes, hoping he would get what I want. He bends down slightly going in for a kiss but I stop him. “No, that isn’t what I want.”

Toby rolls his eyes and grumbles, “Fine.” As he takes off his sweatshirt and hands it to me. “But you owe me a dance for this.”

I quickly put on his sweatshirt and grab his hand leading us to area where everyone is dancing. However, the entire time the two of us are talking and dancing it feels like someone is watching us. I shrug it off thinking it was nothing and go on to enjoy the rest of my night.