Every single day it was the same. I would wake up, jump in the shower, then I’d get dressed in the first thing that would fall in my hands. I didn’t care about my hair or any accessories, it was a simple thing in life that wasn’t worth my time.

Afterwards, like most 16 year old boys, I’d trudge downstairs rather unhappily and eat breakfast. Then I’d try to manage shoving some chocolate down my throat, only to be rebuked by my older sister. Without a word, I’d nod shamefully and would slip in the kitchen.

Every single day it was the same.

I reached for my schoolbag and I picked it up, like any other day. Placing it upon my shoulders, I hurried to lace my running shoes as I heard my sister rushing around the house in some last-minute preparation. She finished before I do, my pretty twin sister Jennifer. Long blonde hair, deep blue eyes. I definitely looked like her, both of us with our tall, thin bodies and clumsy ways. Though there was something that drew us apart, a big issue in my life that wasn’t present in hers.

Finishing her preparations, Jennifer rushed past me and threw the door open, yelling a quick, “Bye mom! Bye Jared!” I didn’t answer her, even if she named me. It would hurt too much to be reminded that I wouldn’t be following her.

Like every single day, I tried.

Placing my trembling hand upon the doorknob, I closed my eyes and swallowed harshly. Forcing myself to attempt breathing properly, I slightly twisted the brass knob a quarter of the way.

A stunning wave of fear struck me like it wasn’t possible, making me recoil from the door like if it was burning me. An explosion of mistrust burst within me before I took off my shoes and turned my back, heading towards the study in a slight jog.

I know it’s not normal, but I have a disease. I have a phobia of society; I absolutely can’t leave my house. All my life I’ve stayed inside, the fear of being outside too intense for me to manage on my own. I hate it so much, with a dark passion, but there’s nothing I can do to change it. When my sister brings her friends over, I don’t have a problem talking with them, but when it comes to having any contact with anyone outside my house, I freeze. It’s impossible to do.

Sitting down in the study, I forced my erratic breathing to calm down before I opened my backpack. It was rather useless to pack a schoolbag with my things, but it makes the stimulation of “school” more real for me. Soon, my mother, short and plump but full of love, showed up at the door and gave me a smile.

”Need any help for your work, sweetie?” she asked, almost in an innocent way.

I hate the way she baby-talks to me. I know I have a disease, but it doesn’t mean that I’m not like every teenage boy. Seriously, who likes to be called “sweetie” by their mother?

Shrugging, I shook my head before lowering my eyes to the extensive physics formulas in front of me. Mom goes down by the high school every single day and gets assignments that I would get if I was to be an average student. I get the best education without even leaving my home, plus I get a tutor who comes over every few evenings to make sure I understand my subjects perfectly.

Hours later, I climb upstairs to my attic. It’s 3:45pm, and every day it’s the best few minutes of my life. My heart racing in silent anticipation, I kneeled upon my bed and opened the curtains. Leaning on the windowsill, I sighed and dreamily looked outside.

Seconds later, my sister’s bus stopped in front of my house, the creak of its brakes reaching my ears despite the closed window. Jennifer jumped out, waving behind herself as her friends grinned from the windows. Then the object of my happiness came out.

I don’t know much about her. All I know is that she’s my front door neighbor, her name is Amber, and that she’s a year younger than me. She gracefully stepped from the bus all while shouldering her dark blue schoolbag over her shoulder, trapping her gold locks between her back and the bag. She shot a look at my house briefly before turning her back on it and crossing the road. As soon as she was across, the bus whizzed away and she unlocked the door, stepped inside, and shut it behind her.

Everyday I would watch her, my fascination for her never withering. I found her beautiful, stunning, and even if I didn’t know a thing about her, she had managed to capture my heart. She was slowly, without even knowing it, turning me into an addict. She was the reason I relentlessly tried to leave the house every morning, she was the reason why I wanted to get over this stupid sickness.

But today, everything changed.

An hour later, I was still sitting in my room, reading a book that my sister picked out for me at the library. She knows my tastes, so I always give the book she lends me a try. Anyways, I was simply shutting out the outside world when something brought me back to reality: the doorbell.

That, to any normal human being, is a normal sound. For me, it’s definitely a threatening one. Every time it rings, I’m scared it’ll be for me. It only happened once, it was my tutor and no one else was home to open the door for him. I had to do it on my own. Now I dread such a sound, but I know it’s a simple everyday-thing.

Sadly, my fears were confirmed when my mother called out, “Jared! Someone’s at the door for you!”

Swallowing harshly, I got up and ran a hand through my messed up hair. I figured it was my tutor who was extra early today, or one of my relatives coming to visit me. Therefore, I had to make sure I was presentable, not in a messed up state of panic!

Trudging downstairs, I was glad when I heard a faint voice coming from inside the house. My mother had already brought the person in, so I wouldn’t have any contact with the outside world besides from the person now apparently awaiting me. Stepping in the living room where I heard the voices, all my senses froze.

Amber was there.

Simply sitting in our armchair, wearing the same clothing I had seen her step out of the bus from, looking even more perfect up-close than she seemed from a distance. A bright smile danced around on her lips as she played around with a blonde curl sheepishly, looking almost shyly up at me.

Standing up, she quietly said, “Hi, Jared.”

Wow, she knows my name! The girl I had been daydreaming about my entire life knows my name! Now, social interactions aren’t really my strength, but I knew that I had to answer, at least. “Hi Amber,” I said simply. Then, as in an afterthought, I gushed out, “I’m really glad that you came over!”

Grinning awkwardly, she nervously placed her hands behind her back and said, “Yeah, well I’ve notice you in the upstairs window everyday when I come out of the bus. A lot of girls do, they think you’re rather mysterious, though no one dares to come and meet you. Your sister is rather protective of you, don’t you know?”

Now that was a piece of news. My sister pushing girls away from me simply because I peek out of a window everyday? Well I guess that there are many unknown facts about the female specie…

Clumsily, I answered, “I see you coming out of the bus everyday.”

Nodding, Amber quickly shot back, “Yeah. Look, I know what you have, Jennifer told me about it. It’s cool, I understand that you can’t leave the house. Do you mind if I hang out a bit with you tomorrow? I have homework tonight!”

Seeing the flirtatious smile she shot at me made my heart flutter shamelessly. Returning the smile, I shrugged as though considering her offer and muttered, “Fine, I guess, since I don’t think I have anything to do tomorrow.”

Then, seeing the smile playing on my lips at our joke, Amber grinned and turned around to leave. I followed her closely until we arrived at the door. She turned and gave me a last smile, raising her hand in a silent goodbye. I returned it with a nod of acknowledgement before she opened the door and stepped outside.

The world open in front of me made shudder involuntarily as she left, but when I trained my eyes on her, the world didn’t seem to be that scary.

In fact, maybe tomorrow I might be able to cross the road, just to see if I can go to her.

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A/N: Wow didn’t that come out horribly!

My mental idea of the fic was much better than what it turned out to be! It was better in my head, lol, apologies to those who read it completely. I just had to finish it before NaNoWriMo, now I have to start the plotting… Such a procrastinator, 7 days to go and I’m not even ready… tsk, tsk….

Take care!