For As Long As I can Remember (Private)

[Gman]

It was just another Autumn day in Adrian's neighborhood. Nothing but falling orange leaves and soft winds surrounded the area. The six year old was seated on the balcony that was attached to his room reading a book he had been absorbed in for a while now. The soft murmur of his parents downstairs was the only thing that gave the house some life. They had only recently let him off the hook for some trouble he caused for the new neighbors. Adrian looked over to the house next to him with a pout. The house was empty ever since he started living in this neighborhood. He had claimed it as his own secret hideout when he found a way to sneak in.


However on his latest trip, he ran face first into a real estate agent that informed him that someone had bought the house and that he couldn't go in anymore. Of course that didn't stop him from trying which was why his parents got mad in the first place. Since then, there had been several trucks unloading things and leaving afterwords. It would only be a matter of time before whoever bought the house would arrive.

 

[DungeoneeringGoddess]

Catherine sat in the trunk of the car despite her parents complaints and requests to get her in a seat with a seat belt. She pressed her hand to the window as her big, dark blue eyes watched their old home grow smaller and smaller as the family took their leave of their old home. She frowned with er nose pressed against the glass....she missed it already. She was only 6 but she had sent her whole life in that house and now they were moving. As they turned the corner she sighed and turned her head, pressing her cheek to the glass. "Alright, its gone now hunny - get in a seat and buckle up." She twisted her lips in dissatisfaction. She had already thrown tantrums and tried crying on the subject of leaving but it had done no good. She glanced out the window again, her long, dark-black hair falling around her youthful face and shoulders - she wished she could see it just one more time. She sighed once more in defeat and grabbed her blue back pack which had her stuffed kitty "Harrington" strapped to the outside. He was had cream colored fur with brown eyes and he was her favorite stuffed animal. She climbed up t her seat int he back and strapped herself in, holding her backpack with Harrington clutched to her chest. She held him up so he could see out the window and she let her young eyes follow his as they stared out the window together - watching all of the houses and greenery rush past.


Finally they pulled up into the driveway at the new house. Everything was already set up as the family got out of the car except for the few boxes they had in their car of personal and valuable items. Her parents got out of the car, her father was a tall, broad shouldered man with dark brown hair and blue eyes and neat facial hair, her mother was an olive skinned beauty with dark black hair and dark brown eyes. Her mother stepped to the side and opened Catherine's door, letting the young girl out. Catherine crawled out and held her backpack and Harrington close to her chest as she examined the new house. She looked up at it and tightened her lips, holding back her dismay. Her parents began to go inside as Catherine looked around her new street until her eyes met the balcony of the house next door. Her big, dark, blue eyes falling on a boy reading a book - he looked about her age. "Come on in sweetie." She let her eyes linger on him for a moment then turned and quickly ran inside.


The next morning her father went to work and her mother woke Catherine up,"Come on sweetie, its time to get dressed. We are meeting the neighbors today." She said with a smile. Catherine was reluctant to get out of bed but eventually did so and got dressed. She wore a pair of jeans and a white tank top under a dark blue sweater that was a little baggy on her. Her mother took her out and they passed out cookies and an an invitation to a backyard party at the end of the week to the whole street. The final house they stopped at was their neighbors. As they approached the front door, Catherine's eyes met the balcony again and she stared at it until it was out of site and her mother knocked on the door.


Catherine held her stuffed kitty Harrington to her chest as she waited for the door to be answered.

 

[Gman]

The sound of a car's engine took Adrian's focus away from his book. He peered over it curious as to the nearby sound. The sight of a car entering the drive way of the house next door caught his interest as this meant that the new neighbors had probably just arrived. His attempt at hiding his stare was a failed one but he lingered on hoping to catch a glimpse of the people who would be living next door. The first to leave the car was an adult couple that looked to be around his parents age. Their features were defined and they looked professional to the point where it was almost intimidating. He made a mental note to not even try to sneak into the house he once called his hide out. The woman walked to the other door of the car and opened it. Adrian at first saw a pair too small to be an adult's so he concluded it was their child. Out stepped a young girl who clutched her belongings tightly against her. She looked to be his age and seemed jolted about the whole situation of moving.


Adrian's book was lowered so that he could get a better view but he was quickly found out when the young girl's eyes met his. The boy blinked a few times before sinking back into his lawn chair on the balcony. Surly she knew he was spying on them. He could only hope that this would not get him in trouble as did most things he did would. Another peek from behind his book showed that the family had entered the house. The boy sighed and headed downstairs to tell his parents that the new neighbors had arrived.


The next day, Adrian was up early to watch cartoons on the small television his family had. An empty bowl of what was cereal sat on the table as he was focused on the program before him. Mornings were his time to relax since he didn't have much anything to do. His common clothes in this situation were just a pair of cargo pants and an over sized T shirt he got from one of his cousins. His short legs dangled in the air until he heard a knock on the door. Adrian's mother, who was a young looking Asian women, left the kitchen and opened the door. "Oh hello there." she greeted with a smile as she saw the woman and little girl.


Curiosity took over Adrian as he pushed himself off the couch and walked over to the hallway where the main door was. He poked his head around the corner to see the women and little girl from yesterday. A small sense of worry came over him when the possibility that they caught him spying and were here to tell his mother became real.

 

[DungeoneeringGoddess]

"Hello! My name is Christine Graystone and this is my daughter Catherine." Catherine's mother introduced them, placing a hand on her daughter's back. She then held out the cookies with the invitation attached to the container,"We have been going around the neighborhood this morning passing out some treats and invitations for a small get together we're having to meet and get to know our neighbors." She said as she handed the woman the bag. Catherine gave the woman a shy smile and waved a little but then turned her attention away as the two continued to chat. That was when she noticed Adrian put her head around the corner. Her big, blue eyes darted to him quickly and stayed on his own for a moment - this small, questionable moment seeming to last a much longer time than it did...before she finally gave him a small smile and a little wave. If only she knew these looks they were exchanging would be the start of a friendship that would outlast many other things in her life. But she wasn't aware of that at the moment, she looked up at her mom and his mother, they were still talking about something or another - Catherine was growing bored.


But that was when the other woman said something interested. She turned and smiled when she saw Adrian,"Adrian, come here and meet the new neighbors." She said and called him up, giving him a small push of encouragement in Catherine's direction, she knelt down next to his face and smiled at Catherine,"This is my son Adrian." She looked at her son,"Adrian this is Catherine and Mrs. Graystone." She said before standing up again. "Adrian why don't you go play with Catherine in the backyard while me and Ms.Graystone get acquainted."


Catherine's mother smiled brightly, glad the woman showed some interest in making friends. "Play nice Catherine." She said and knelt down, kissing her daughter on the head before standing up again and following Adrian's mother inside and closing the door behind them. As bright and fun as Catherine could be she felt a bit awkward as she turned and looked at Adrian. She glanced over his shoulder as the women went and sat in the kitchen, then looked back at him again. She held Harrington's paw and let him hang by her side. "Hi." She said, not knowing what else to say really as she gave him a rather sheepish smile. "I hope you'll come to our party at the end of the week. I don't think it will be very much fun with just a lot of grownups." She added as she shrugged, Catherine was a lovely girl, with dark black hair- bright, deep, blue eyes- fair skin- and pink lips, but of course that wasn't something she thought about. At the moment she was trying to seem relaxed and cool - hoping to get a friend out of it.

 

[Gman]

"Oh I had forgotten the house next door was sold. I'm Anna Ryder, it's nice to meet you two." Adrian's mother said with a soft smile. "Me and my husband would love to come."


Adrian watched his mother accept the invitation that the woman gave her. From his position in the hall way he could hear their entire conversation. Up until now, he was calm seeing that they weren't here to get him in trouble. When he heard his name called by his mother he froze up. A few seconds passed before he inched his way forward in a stiff walk. When he finally reached the door, his mother put her hand on his shoulder and patted him forward. The adults went into the house to talk while Adrian was left standing outside with the girl he barely just met. His awkwardness was showing as he blinked looking at the girl. "I'll come. My parents will never leave me alone anyway." he answered her with a small smile. "Lets go to the backyard."


The boy led the way around the house and into the backyard that was behind a wooden door. Adrian never really had his friends from school over. Since he was in grade 1, his parents and theirs had a careful grip on them. The backyard was one of the main reasons his family bought this house. It was big with well maintained grass and a patio with chairs, a table and a barbecue. Adrian let the girl in before closing the gate. He could see from the window that his mom and Catherine's mom were talking up a storm. The window served as a way for his mom to keep an eye on him without having to leave the house. The boy fiddled with his over sized t shirt as he tried to figure out what to do with the girl. His eyes looked her up and down as he noted the resemblance between her and her mother. Finally his eyes rested on what she held in her hand. "Umm I like your cat." he said while pointing at the doll the girl held to her side.

 

[DungeoneeringGoddess]

She nodded and gave him another shy smile as he said he would come, but then she let out a giggle as he mentioned his parents and gave her a smile back. He invited her to the backyard and she nodded in agreement before she followed him outback. She looked around their backyard as he closed the gate behind them, not noticing how awkward he felt as he fiddled with his shirt. She turned her attention back to him as he mentioned her cat. She smiled brightly and shrugged her shoulders a bit as if to imply it wasn't a big deal. "Thanks." She said,"His name is Harrington. He's my only stuffed animal but he's my favorite." She added,"So what games do you like to play?" She asked him, wondering what they would do in this huge backyard. It was about the same size as hers next door, but they had a playground set in the back corner. "My mom talks a lot so we're probably stuck here for a while." She said with a grin, knowing he probably understood her problem.


((sorry its short ))

 

[Gman]

(No problem! Since it is back and forth right now there isn't too much to write about.)


Adrian took a peek through the window to see the two women laughing and talking on the couch. Adrian's mother waved when she saw the boy looking before returning to her conversation. The boy nodded in agreement before returning his attention to the girl. "We'll be out here for a while." he said.


He looked around at the grassy yard and furnished patio. The boy walked over to one of the couches and pulled open the top to reveal a large collection of kids books. "I mostly just read if my parents keep a close eye on me. I have all kids if you want to check them out." he said as he shuffled through the pile.

 

[DungeoneeringGoddess]

Catherine watched him as he watched their mothers only for him to come to the same conclusion. He then suggested they sit out in the backyard on this beautiful day and....read. She then got a good idea. "Alright." She said with a sly nod and a wink. She grinned as she went through the books and chose on quickly. She sat down with him, holding Harrington under her elbow as she opened the book and 'began to read'. After a moment she looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "So what do you do when they don't keep a close eye on you?" She asked him, giving him another terrible attempt at a wink.


Catherine was obviously looking for a little more mischievous activity than the adventures in their children's books. "You said it yourself we'll be here for a while, lets have some fun!" She said in a hushed whisper.


(for them as children I picture very Gumball and Darwin xD hahaha!)

 

[Gman]

(Oh really? I haven't actually watched that show before.)


Adrian was only half paying attention to his book when he noticed the girl winking at him. It was the kind of week he knew all to well whenever one of his friends wanted to do something that might get them in trouble. The boy put down his book back in the pile and took a look through the window to see his mother and the other women talking but had moved to a different spot that did not have a clear view of the backyard. A small smile appeared on his face as he got off the couch and motioned for the girl to follow. "I'm on my last warning so we need to be quick." he said in a slight whisper.


On the other side of the back fence was a small creek with tall trees and a trail that Adrian sneaked off to in his spare time. There were some animals and places to explore. The boy walked over to one particular part of the fence and pulled it out creating an opening just big enough for a child his age to go through. "My dad really wants to get this fence fixed but he always forgets." he said as he stepped through.


The opening was closed once Adrian saw that the girl made it through. The soft chirp of birds and the sound of crunching of fallen orange leaves filled the air and drowned out the man made sounds coming from the urban area.

 

[DungeoneeringGoddess]

(This is a copy and pasted message to everyone I have been roleplaying/discussing a roleplay/or messaging with. I am sorry for my absence the last few days. Work has been crazy! But I am back now and appreciate your patience!)


Catherine watched as he put his book down and checked out their mothers to make sure the coast was clear. Growing more and more excited the longer he took, wondering what they were about to do.


"You're parents give you warnings?" She asked him, but then shrugged it off and followed. She smirked a bit as he told her about his father wanting to fix this but always forgetting, but then went through as he held it open for her. "Wow, we never had any place like this around my old house." She said as she looked around, there wasn't this much nature around her old house. She looked at him,"So what do you do back here?" She asked him as she picked up a leaf and held it to Harrington's face, letting him see it. She looked back at him,"Do you come back here a lot?" She inquired once again.


(.....the block is STRONG with this one.)

 

[Gman]

(No problem, I get block all the time.)


"I get three warnings before I get grounded. Its some weird strategy my mom read in a book once." he explained as they walked into the woods.


About half the leaves were still on the trees and the rest were littered around the ground in small piles. Fall was always the best time to explore the area since it wasn't too hot or too cold. There was a small path among the trees with the leaves piled up along it's sides. Some of the neighbors would come to this area to rake the leaves away from the path from time to time. Some piles stood much taller then either child. "I try to come back here as much as possible without getting caught. As for what I do, during the other seasons I just walk around but..." he trailed off as he eyed a particularly big pile.


Adrian smiled as he took a running start towards the pile and jumped in. His head popped out of the top with a big grin on his face. "You should try this." he said to the girl.