Maine was looking out her window when she saw them walk out their front door and towards their gate. She started to fidget.
'He's coming over!' She thought as she started to pace around her room. She couldn't hide her excitement. She knew that it was very bad for her to get overly excited but she couldn't help it. She would finally get to meet the mysterious bespectacled boy from next door. Something that she had been wishing for since they moved here.
She knew they were coming. She was outside sitting on her wheelchair, reading a book when Mrs. Faulkerson approached her mom that morning...
"Hi!" said the lady from next door. Her mom was outside gardening, taking a break from fixing the interior of their new home, when she approached. They shook hands and they introduced each other. "My name is Rio Faulkerson and I live next door with my son Alden."
"Mary Anne Mendoza," her mom replied and gestured towards her. "That's my daughter, Maine."
Maine gave a short wave to their direction acknowledging the new comer. She looked back down to pretend to be reading but was still eavesdropping on their conversation.
"Do you need help with anything?" Rio asked after the pleasantries were done. "My son and I don't really mind helping out."
"Well," her mom replied. "We're fixing everything one room at a time. We fixed Maine's room first and foremost since she needed to be comfortable. The kitchen needs a lot of work that we've been ordering take out eversince we got here."
"I have a great idea," Rio said. "I'll make you my signature pasta dish. It would be a change from the take outs your family has been eating."
"I wouldn't want to impose..."
"Nonsense!" Rio assured. "It would be my pleasure. Besides, I really don't think it would be healthy for Maine to keep eating take out food. Don't you agree?"
Mary Anne looked to her daughter and sighed. She did worry about Maine's food intake. It was unhealthy and her doctor has been telling them to refrain from it. But she wasn't able to fix her kitchen yet, so she had no choice but order take out for her family. Maine was putting a brave front, as she tried to help out as much as her frail health would let her. She never complained and offered you a reassuring smile.
This move also took it's toll on Maine. The 5-hour travel from Bulacan to Laguna had her out of breath that when she got here, they immediately had to put her oxygen on to stabilize her breathing. But still she never complained and was cooperative when they made her rest outside while they fix the inside of the house to make it livable.
Mary Anne smiled at Rio and remarked, ending her reverie, "yes. That is really most appreciated. At least we'll be taking a break from bland burgers and oily fries. Thank you."
"Don't mention it," Rio replied. "I'll cook something up for this evening. My son and I will stop by to drop off the food."
"Why don't you and your son join us for dinner?" Mary Anne suggested.
"What?" Maine gasped immediately regretting her outburst. The two older women looked at her with her mother looking at her worriedly. Maine immediately wracked her brains for something to say, "I'm sorry. This story is really shocking. I got lost in the moment."
Mary Anne raised an eyebrow and remarked, "you're reading Harry Potter, sweetheart. You've read the series thrice already. What would you be shocked about in a book that you've known by heart?"
"Dumbledore dying always shocks me, mom," Maine answered matter-of-factly. "It's one of those climaxes that you really can't get over even if you read it over and over and over."
Her mom kept one eyebrow raised as she just "hmm'ed" an answer. Mrs. Faulkerson covered her mouth to hide the smile that was forming her lips. Mary Anne returned her attention to her and continued their conversation, "anyway, as I was saying. Join us for dinner. We could really use some friends here since we're new. Besides, Maine really needs a friend. I hope your son wouldn't mind it."
"It was actually my son's idea to reach out to you," Rio answered with a laugh. "He's been pestering me to welcome you to the neighborhood."
"I'm liking your son already," Mary Anne replied with a smile. "Please, I insist that you join us for dinner. It would be great to have at least one friend here."
"If you insist," Rio answered. "We would be honored to join you for dinner."
The two ladies kept up their conversation until Rio said that she needed to start making their dinner. But Maine blocked their conversation after she heard that they would be joining them for dinner...that HE would be there for dinner. That it was his idea to begin with, made her head reel. Why would he pester his mother to see us? Was he just curious or was he interested in befriending her?
Now Maine saw them cross the street to her home. She took a couple of deep breaths to calm down. All throughout the day, she made sure that she was feeling alright. She made sure that she didn't tire herself unnecessarily so that she wouldn't need her oxygen while their guests were here. She wanted to make a good impression. She wanted Alden to like her. She really hoped she could be his friend.
The doorbell rang and from sheer excitement, she came rushing from her room and down the steps. She was a little out of breath when she reached the first floor.
"Maine!" Her mom cried in horror.
She was about to approach her when Maine answered, "I'm fine, mom. Just a little out of breath."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, mom," she answered. "I promise."
Maine took a few more deep breaths before she finally opened the door.