Chapter Text
Y/N L/N really hated moving. She hated putting her things into boxes, she hated loading them into the big U-Haul, and she hated watching her house or apartment slowly fade away as she drove off. Every move was promised to be the last one, every move was their new permanent house. That’s what her parents said every single time, that she would never have to do this again until she moved out on her own accord. Every time they were wrong.
This time, it was New Mexico. Her dad had a new job and they left California after three years, the longest Y/N had ever stayed anywhere. She hated the thought of Albuquerque. I mean, what was there besides Breaking Bad and High School Musical?
“This will be the final one.” Her dad reassured her from the front seat, Y/N rolled her eyes from the back and focused her eyes on her sign language book.
“Okay.” She said, praying for him to stop talking. Tiredly, she started signing “kill me.”
“Look at this house!” Her mother cheered, rolling down Y/N’s window and sending an unpleasant shock of wind against her face.
The house was pretty, Y/N had to admit. It was cheap, and they didn’t expect much, but it was rather nice. The house was slathered in ugly red paint with a dead garden, but it was hard not to see the potential in it. She smiled shyly to herself, putting down her book to glance out the window. They caused a scene, with neighbors coming out of their houses to watch a beat-up chevy with a u-haul attached creak into the parking space in front of the house.
Y/N pushed her way out of the car, shoving pillows and backpacks out of the way. She slowly stretched her legs and cracked her back, glancing around at her neighbors. As expected, it was mostly older people. Whatever, she didn’t really care. She’d find friends in the next city over or just keep online. Y/N was a friendly person, she liked liking people, but she hadn’t had good luck in the past couple of years. People didn’t want to get close with someone they knew would be gone two months later.
She glanced at the house next to her, a family. Two parents, both blonde, a grandfather (she assumed), as well as a cute younger daughter. She waved politely at the girl and the family before something caught her eye. In the window next to them, a face appeared. A boy, about her age. Black hair swept over the forehead with dulled yet eager eyes, they made eye contact for just a second before he ducked from sight. She tilted her head in confusion before her father called out to her to grab some boxes.
-
It was five pm. Everything had been moved in, but the house still felt like a shell. It was eerie, the plastic-wrapped furniture and the rolled-up rugs. Y/N and her parents sat in awkward silence on the floor, the only sound being the slow ticking of a grandfather clock.
Suddenly, her mother clapped, startling everyone, “You know what we should do? We should meet the neighbors! The realtor told us the family to the left of us has a son your age Y/N.”
That boy.
“We should go,” Y/N said, uncharacteristically. Normally there was nothing she despised more than meeting the neighbors, but for some reason, that boy intrigued her. She wanted to see him, for real this time.
“Great!” Her mother helped her up, “We should bring them some food… Y/N grab those macadamia cookies you made!”
Obediently, Y/N scurred to the kitchen and pulled out the cookies before exiting the house. It was still light out.
Mother and father in tow, she sheepishly knocked on the door. She heard yelling inside, things crashing, heated arguments, before a sudden silence. The mother slowly opened the door, her face lighting up when she saw Y/N and her parents.
“You must be the new neighbors, we’re so delighted to meet you!” She grinned, a well-meaning smile on her face.
Y/N barely got to speak before she was guided in by the mother. She handed the cookies to the mother to which she started speaking intense thank yous and patting Y/N on the shoulder.
It was a sight, the entire family she saw earlier sat around a bucket of chicken, they were arguing and looked at her like a deer in headlights. The grandfather, the father, the daughter, a man in white she didn’t recognize and…
There he was. The boy. Black hair swept over his forehead, green eyes piercing her skin. He was beautiful, was Y/N’s first thought. He was in a plain white tee and was holding a notepad. The world stopped for just a second when they saw each other, like a red string of fate appeared. And then the silence broke.
“Oh my god, where are my manners? I’m Sheryl. This is Richard,” she pointed to the father who gave a tight-lipped smile, “My father-in-law Edwin, er, grandpa,” She pointed to him and he gave a toothy grin, “My brother Frank,” She pointed to the man in white, “My daughter Olive,” Olive waved frantically, “And my son, Dwayne.”
Dwayne looked at her, unmoving. She smiled at him, tilting her head, “I like your hair.”
He nodded, looking back down.
“I’m Y/N, by the way. These are my parents.”
“Y/N, I should mention that my son Dwayne has taken a vow of silence, so while I’m sure he appreciated the compliment, he won’t respond.”
Y/N nodded apprehensively before a light bulb went off in her brain, “Dwayne, if you wouldn’t mind, could I show you how to sign thank you?” She straightened her hand out and placed her fingertips to her chin, bending at the wrist to send her hand forward.
Dwayne looked at her for a second, before repeating the motion. It was slightly wrong, so Y/N repeated the gesture one more time until he got it. Then, she did the same position but slid her hand to the side, mouthing “you’re welcome.”
Then it happened, Dwayne smiled. Like genuinely smiled, tight-lipped, but still a smile as he repeated the gesture over and over.
Sheryl looked in amazement, “You know sign language?”
“I mean I’m still learning, but I’m getting better,” Y/N said sheepishly, putting her hands behind her back.
“That’s so amazing!” Olive screamed, running up to her, “I’m Olive! Like the food! You're so cool!”
Y/N laughed, “I love you already, thank you!” As she said thank you she watched out of the corner of her eye as Dwayne repeated the thank you motion.
“Well we want to let you eat,” her father started.
“Nonsense!” Richard interrupted, “Come and eat with us, we’re so excited to meet you.”
“I really have work to do, and so does she,” Her father pointed to her mother, “But I’m sure Y/N would love to stay with you!”
Y/N nodded, “My only worry is that I would cause any sort of burden-”
“Oh no honey,” Sheryl stopped her, “It’s no burden, we’d love to have you. Have a seat next to Dwayne.”
Y/N slid into the chair and looked up at the table, inspecting everyone.
“So little lady,” Edwin, the grandfather started, “You have a boyfriend?”
“Dad!” Richard yelled.
Edwin shooed him away, “I’m not asking for me you creep, I’m asking on behalf of Dwayne here.”
Dwayne went bright red, trying to subtly hide his face with his hand. Quickly he wrote down “STOP.” In big letters on his notepad.
Y/N felt her mouth go dry, “No, I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Are you looking for a boyfriend?” Edwin followed.
"Um, I guess so?" Y/N said awkwardly.
“Dad!” Richard yelled again.
“Why aren't you dating anyone then, what are you, mentally ill?”
“Let’s stop.” Sheryl tried to control the conversation.
Y/N laughed, “Because no one wants to date me! Simple as that.”
Olive looked like her eyes were going to bulge out of her head.
Edwin shook his head, “A pretty girl like you, single? You’ll get Dwayne’s hopes up.”
Dwayne shoved his head into his arms.
“He really is a nice boy, very intellectual, very cute, once I walked in on-”
“So!” Richard interrupted, shushing his father.
Olive jumped out of her chair, “We should take Y/N to our favorite restaurants! Let’s go tomorrow!”
Sheryl seated Olive down, “I’m sorry sweetie, we’re going to Ventura for the next week, we can’t.”
“Ventura, California?” Y/N piped up, “Terribly sorry to interrupt, but I lived there until two days ago.”
The group all turned to look at her, suddenly Y/N felt incredibly awkward.
“Wait, you did?” Frank asked politely, “We’re going to California for Olive’s pageant, but none of us have been there and we’re frankly at a loss for directions.”
“It would be helpful to have someone there who knows the land, could help us,” Richard added.
“And she probably knows all the good restaurants!” Olive added. Y/N nodded to show her agreement with that statement.
“Now, everyone, we can’t expect Y/N to just drop everything to come with us on this! I mean she probably has work-” Sheryl started.
“I actually don’t start school for the next two weeks, and I have nothing to do until there. It would be a godsend if I went,” Y/N blushed, “I mean if it’s not too much of a burden.”
Sheryl practically started in her seat, “Of course, it wouldn’t be a burden! We need a buddy for Dwayne anyways. Would your parents-”
“They would.” Y/N finished.
“Then it’s decided!” Erwin threw up his hands, “Y/N will come with us. It’ll be easy, she can sit in the back with Dwayne, they can share a bed-”
Dwayne flushed. Y/N did the same.
“I know that might be uncomfortable, I’m sorry.” Richard apologized, “But we really need to cut costs for this trip. You and Dwayne will have to share a bed.”