Sweet Caroline

Chapter 1

The people next door had sold their house finally. They had a big above ground pool but they had it removed, I didn't understand that, personally I feel they could sold the house for more if they had kept the pool, but that's just my opinion.

My name is Caroline, I'm 18 and still live with my mom and step father. I don't like going outside or people I spend most of my days either reading or watching Netflix but it's mostly reading. My mom makes me do chores around the house too. I have no job but not from lack of trying. I live in a smallish town, there isn't that many options.

I open up a book and start reading, I get lost in it until I hear noise outside and my dog starts barking. "Retro be quiet!" I say but as usual he doesn't listen. I go and check and see there's a moving truck. Hmm I guess the new owners are moving in today. I pull Retro away from the window and bring him to the back yard to play.

He darts around the pool to the other side of the yard and starts barking at the new owners. I just ignore it and go back to the living room and start reading but something runs past the window I look and see it was Retro! "I thought Mal fixed the gate," I mutter to myself before rushing out the front door in my little navy shorts and a white spaghetti strap shirt.

I run around to the side I saw him which was opposite to where the moving truck was thankfully and see he's chasing something. "Retro come here boy," I say in a false cheerful voice and start patting my knee. Of course he doesn't listen. Just then someone runs around the corner to where I am and we both go down. That gets the stupid dogs attention. He comes over and start barking at the person on top of me. "Shut up!" I snap at him and surprisingly he listens, "Oh so now you can want to listen to me you little bugger," I sass to him he just tilts his head tongue rolling out the side of his mouth. I sigh I hear more people coming around the corner.

"Can you get off of me please?" I ask the person still on top of me.
"Oh ah yeah, sorry," I hear a deep voice say before there's no more weight on my back. I hear snickering as I get up but still don't turn around. I look down at my comfy close and see gravel all over them and some scratches from rocks going into my skin. I try to get it all off until I hear someone clear their throat.
Great now I have to deal with people. I sign and turn around and see the four most beautiful men I've ever seen.

I just continue trying to get all the little rocks off of me hardly paying attention to them. They might be hot but guys in books are so much better.
"Uh, I'm sorry I ran into you this dog just came out of nowhere and started chasing mine," the one with brown hair and blue eyes says.

I hmm and turn to look at Retro he just sits down and looks up at me all innocent like. I look back at the guy, "It's fine, sorry about that I thought my step dad fixed the gate I guess not," I say as I grab Retro's collar to keep him in place. Then look around for a dog but I don't see one I'm just about to say it when some hairless looking alien type thing comes out of the bushes I gasp and take a step closer to the guys pulling Retro with me.

"Frenchie!" The brown haired one says as he sees it.
I turn and look at them, "That thing is a dog?" I ask.

The two taller ones smirk while the brown haired one frowns at me and picks it up. Just to be safe I take a step away from him with a grimace. He catches it and glares at me. "Yes. She's a dog! Much nicer than that thing and she's knows how to listen unlike yours," he snaps at me.

I raise a brow in surprise and the grin maybe I can have fun with this, I lean closer getting a better look at it and look up at him with a look of uncertainty and ask, "Are you sure that thing is a dog? I thought it was an alien or something like a science experiment gone wrong and it escaped from the lab." The three others laugh but the brown haired one just glares at me. He just about to open him mouth to comment back but I beat him to it. "As fun as this has been I've got things to do," I say as I brush past them hearing them follow behind me, before I enter my house I turn around, "By the way, welcome to the neighbourhood," I say with false cheerfulness and close the door.

I spend the rest of my day reading after showering until my parents get home. After dinner my mom says they have an announcement so I wait to hear it, "Well sweetie I got a promotion at work but it requires a lot of traveling and Mal will come with me because he's part of the department I'm in charge of."

I'm shocked to say the least but hide it well, "That's great mom! You must be so happy! You've always wanted to travel! I happy for you!" I say and it's all true.
She reaches across the table for my hand, "Are you sure it's okay?"
"Of course Mom!" She squeals and gets up and tells Mal to start packing they have an early flight to catch in the morning.

I go upstairs to my room and put on my running gear grab my iPod and leave the house. I love running at night when people can't see you or there's hardly anyone outside. I go back home a few hours later, shower again put on pj shorts and a sports bra. I then climb out my window up to the roof and look up at the sky. Until I eventually fall asleep there.