ON THE WAY

It had been one hell of a week. Aurora wished it was just because it was the week of the fourth of July and her birthday. But it wasn't. She had caught herself many times staring out the window into his backyard when she heard him out there. Or sitting out on her front porch watching him go out on errands or go to work. She had even fulltime taken up the chore of taking the trash out just to see if she could catch a glimpse of him.

She was totally fucked. And she blames him. It is all his fault, if he hadn't put the stupid idea in her head then it wouldn't be like this. She is angry at him but at the same time completely fascinated. Joel Miller was taking up way too much of her mind than she liked. Her ears would perk up like a dog when her father would mention him.

And she knew the next few days would be even worse, because he hosts the July fourth barbecue for the neighbours. And that barbecue also happened to be the same barbecue that they would have to celebrate her birthday. She liked it that way as it meant she got a little party but everyone's main focus would be on the fact it is independence day and the fireworks.

And this year is technically a big birthday. Come Saturday, she will no longer be a teenager. That both excites and scares her. 20 years old. She hopes that, that means people will take her more seriously with being an adult and all. But it also marks the full end to her childhood, though she could probably hold onto that until she's 30, because what do 20 year olds know about life, right?

She throws herself back on her bed with a groan, dragging her hands down her face. She had been watching him set up his garden ready for tonight. Asking herself why did he look so hot doing literally nothing? She then hears the ever so sweet voice of her mother calling her from downstairs. She pulls herself off her bed having a sneak peek into his garden, to her disappointment it appears he has gone back inside.

She heads downstairs, finding her mother. She didn't have to look far as Darla came past the stairs with a box of food.

"Take this next door and put it in their refrigerator." She instructs handing the box over to Rory.

"Joel's?" She blurts out almost eagerly and a hint of shock you could say.

"Yes, Joel's. It's for tonight. But he has to go grab a few things, so I'm asking you to please get off your ass and help him by putting that away." Darla says before walking back into the kitchen.

Rory stands bamboozled. She then steps out onto her porch looking at her neighbouring house. His truck is going the opposite way down the road. A little relief that she won't embarrass herself in front of him. She heads over, she greets Sarah who rushes outside on some quest of her own.

She sets the box of food down. Placing the buns on the counter tops before opening the refrigerator. It looks a little sad, couple beers, yoghurts, fruit, some rogue pieces of salad, two cartons of milk. She is sure on of them would be sour. She starts stocking the refrigerator with the meats, salads, and random cling wrapped bowls of food her mother had made.

She lets her mind slowly drift off into a little fantasy. She's just been to the store and is filling her families cupboards, her children playing outside. Her husband comes up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, his mouth finding her neck as he whispers sweet nothings in her ear. She'd turn around, and that husband, would be Joel-

She shakes her head, closing the refrigerator. She then heads out to the back yard seeing Sarah setting up a little kiddies pool which the drinks will be held in.

"Hey, Rory. Enough food for tonight?" Sarah asks as she grabs the hose pipe.

"We're going to be rolling to bed with the amount my mom has done, let alone the food that everyone else will bring." She replies leaning against the wall. Her eyes fall on the shed in the corner.