• tab Shane walked down the road, hands in the pocket of his designer hoodie. His two best friends Michael and Jake walked along side him, screwing around and laughing. He threw in a couple of grins and halfhearted jokes, but his mind wasn't focused on their conversation. They were walking home from school, the poster boys for the honor roll popular kids. Michael was tanned with golden blond hair combed and trimmed almost professionally. His clothing, like Shane's, was also of the latest fasion. Jake was slim and tall, with red curls that fell around his always grinning face. And Shane- the leader- was the handsomest. He was pale, with dark brown skater hair and wild brown eyes that showed way too much emotion. He was the best looking, the one who was most revered, the one who was asked out by the most popular girls- and the one who didn't want any of it.
    tab "Shaney Shane," Michael called out in a sing songy voice, batting his eyelashes jokingly. "Your woman is texting you nonstop. Can't you hear it?"
    tab Confused, Shane reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone, sliding the screen up. Seven texts from Britney. He read through the first two only. Hey, Babe. Juzz wondring wat u were doing this weekend. Wanna kick'it @ the mall?? Silently, he went back to his inbox and read the next one. Hi, Shaney Waney! Whats t8kin so looong? its been 5 mins and u havnt texted back... well anywayz i have to go, hun. juzz wanted to say i luv 4ever and ever babi <3 the sexiest couple sence 12112k9
    tab Annoyed, he shoved his phone in his jeans pocket. He only went out with Britney because their dads were golf buddies. Honestly, he thought. They'd only been dating for a week and she was already telling him she loved him. Either, she was clinging way too much, or her I love you didn't mean much. He was betting on the second one.
    tab "Aye, Shane." Jake bumped his shoulder against his, his face concerned. "What's up?"
    tab "Same," He muttered. "Britney talking about hanging out and love and who knows what else. I'm dying over here, guys!"
    tab Michael grinned. "Dump her. You don't like her, she's shallow; she'll be over it in a hour and be reapplying her makeup." Harsh words, but Shane knew they were true. Britney Johnson was known to bounce back, and bounce back with a bang. "C'mon," Mike continued, blue eyes joking. "There's plenty of babes in the pool!"
    tab Shane laughed inspite of himself.
    tab "I think you mean fish in the sea, bro," Jake replied.
    tab "Babes in the pool, fish in the sea, horses in the field ready to be mounted, whatever floats your boat."
    tab The three friends laughed, and continued on their way to Shane's house. It was Friday, and their moods were high. It was the last day of school and now was the beginning of winter break, with no teachers, no homework, and definitely no stress. They began jogging as the sun started to set, yellow bleeding into the dark blue of the sky overhead. When they reached Shane's block, they slowed.
    tab Moving trucks were pulling in and out of the large driveway next door to his house. Every single house on the block was huge, like modern day suburban mansions. They squinted their eyes to try to see what else was going on, but no such luck.
    tab "Some one's moving in?" Jake asked, incredulous. The house had been up for six months, with no prospective buyers. The guys had grown fond of it's for sale sign, seeing as they grafittied all over it every other week. The real estate agent didn't care. It was Michael's mom.
    tab "Apparently." Shane crossed the street, Jake and Michael at his heels.
    tab They called out hellos and how are you doings to the moving people as they walked up the path way, and Shane rung the door bell. Mike had twenty bucks on it being a retired person, jake had twenty on it being used as a vacation home, and Shane had twenty on it being a newlywed couple. As the door swung open, they forgot everything passing through their heads at the moment. Shane sure as hell hadn't been betting on the person being beautiful.
    tab It was a girl, around their age. She was tall, with very dark golden skin and perfect features. Her dark brown eyes were deep, with reflecting shades of hazel, brown, and black, and her soft lips were curved in a smile. She had black hair that hung down to her waist in long, straight sheets, and she had bangs down to her eyebrows cut at a razor straight edge. Overall, her appearance was exotic and gorgeous. Michael and Jake only saw her face, but Shane saw something else. He saw the glow on her cheeks, her hands intertwined nervously, and felt something inexplainable twisting in his chest.
    tab "Hi," She said softly, her eyes dark and secretive. She smiled. Shane noted that she had very white teeth. "I'm Zhaqalen. I'm your new neighbor."