Just Down the Street (In Progress)
written by ☆kiola-the-iola☆
Sierra Rose Hunter McDunn's life sounds like a comedy show- rich dad, pushover mother, parents who are trying to set her up with a senior and only let her be best friends with Harriet Abbey because they think her family is crazy rich, too. She has resigned herself to a life she'll hate when she meets a family in her neighborhood. Specifically, one brother named Phoenix. She's never felt this way about a boy- she's practically engaged to Beau Preston, you see. But Phoenix changes the way she thinks until she realizes that maybe, her dream of marrying for love- and being an AirForce pilot- isn't out of reach...
Last Updated
05/31/21
Chapters
3
Reads
686
Chapter Two
Chapter 2
I answer the door when Mrs. Preston and her children get here. First eighteen-year-old Atlas sweeps in, followed by stuck-up fifteen-year-old California, then thirteen-year-old Dahliana and precocious six-year-old Ermias. Mrs. Preston holds his hand. Then, seventeen-year-old Beau walks in, looking bored. When he sees me holding the door, he quickly takes it.
"Darling," he says, all deep and rumbling, "how are you?" He holds out his arm and I take it. We walk into the dining room, where my brothers and parents are already seated with the rest of the Preston family. Two seats next to each other are vacant, with the elegantly written place cards (I made them myself) Sierra McDunn and Beau Preston.
We politely talk through the salad course, the soup course, and the main course. When Beatree brings out the tiramisu for dessert, I get the low fat version. I almost complain, but Mother gives me her ‘we need to make you petite’ look. I force bite after bite down my throat, keeping a smile on my face the whole time. Beau keeps his left hand on my arm as if trying to remind me to eat. I smile graciously, trying to stop my stomach from rebelling.
Mother doesn’t offer a second piece, which I am glad for (it would be impolite to refuse). I quickly get up just in case, though, and help clear the dishes. When I come back for another round, Beau pulls me back down into my seat .
“Let the housekeeper do that, Darling,” he says with disdain in his voice. He understands the importance of our match just as much as I do, but he has an advantage as the male- he is in control. I am being turned into Mother; a lady who only speaks her mind if she is told to. I sigh, unable to control myself. Father shoots me a glare, and I quickly turn to Beau and smile pleasantly.
It’s going to be a long night.
.....
When the Prestons start to leave, Beau gives me a cold, chaste kiss, just like every other time. It's the only kiss I've ever experienced. I know it's not normal, but it's the only kiss I'll ever know. I mean everyone at our private school, The School of Proper Adolescents, knows that we're practically engaged. I've never had any boy look at me like… well, like Phoenix did before I offended him. Oh, I had little, tentative crushes. Like on Martin, Harriet's boyfriend. That was slightly awkward.
But none of my affections were ever returned. Because of Beau.
I watch as the Prestons leave, my thoughts settling on Phoenix. All of a sudden, it's like I've been stabbed in the heart. Phoenix probably despises me. I've got to make this right. It hurts too much for him to hate me.
Once my parents and brothers retire for the night, I sneak out my bedroom window, clothed in my velvet nightgown. I feel like the main character in one of those stupid movies about the princess in love with some outsider so she escapes out the window. I’ve turned into a modern day Rapunzel. Though I guess Rapunzel is kind of modern day. At least the movie is. Whatever.
I pad down the sidewalk to their house. Just like I suspected, Phoenix is out shooting hoops. He seems to like basketball even more than his brothers.
I keep my head down and move towards him. He sees me and starts to go inside. I rush to try to catch him and step on a piece of glass. I feel it slice through the skin.
"Ugh, Sierra. Why'd you have to get hurt? Now I have to help you," Phoenix says. He puts my arm around his shoulders and helps me into his garage. I sit on a bench in my nightgown while he finds soap, water, and bandaids.
The cut stops bleeding after he washes it. I try to help but he waves me off,
"I'll do it, Your Highness." He's wrapping my foot up when I find my voice again.
"I'm sorry, Phoenix." He looks up at me.
"For what? The fact that you're rich, or the fact that I'm poor?" I cringe.
"Why are you making this so difficult? I'm trying here! I don't know how to fix myself, okay? I wish I wasn't stuck in this life, but I know that other people have it worse. I don't have the strength to try to change my family right now. I just couldn't let you stay mad at me." Phoenix says,
"Oh." I sigh,
"Of course, it doesn't seem to be going that well." I look down at my lap and then peek at his face. He's staring at me, his hands still cradling my foot.
"You're wrong. I can't stay mad at you." I smile.
"I should probably get home." He offers to help me back, but I tell him I'll be fine.
"Will I see you tomorrow?" he asks.
"I'll do my best," I say. As he walks back into his house, I whisper a truth I've just realized.
"I think I like you, Phoenix Jackson."
The next morning, I find a note on my windowsill. It says,
I think I like you, too, Sierra McDunn.
.....
School is the same as it always is, except for one thing: throughout school, I pat my skirt pocket, where the note from Phoenix hides.
Beau escorts me to lesson one, like always, even though he's a senior and I'm a freshman. My lesson one is Sewing: Creative Ways to Make Sew Many Things. It's as bad as it sounds. Then I have Household Math Skills (basic algebra plus checking accounts and keeping track of your husband's purchases). After that is Hostesses: How to Host a Fabulous Party (plus lunch). Then there's Ballroom Dancing. My last lesson is Dressing Nice: Facts about Fabulous Fashion.
No How To Fly A Plane 101, or Everything You Need to Know About the AirForce.
And, of course, Beau overshadows my every thought. Because Phoenix is my every thought.
Beau is always accompanied by his Chosen Personal Acquaintance, Derving Swansea. No, they didn't pick each other. The school paired them up. Yes, the school "picks" our best friends.
My Chosen Personal Acquaintance is Pamela Vaneck. She's perfect. No stray thoughts about fighter jets or about how to sneak off to youth group. If she and Harriet were to meet… I'm not sure what would happen, but it wouldn't be good.
My parents actually don't mind that Harriet is my best friend. They, of course, think that she is going to marry one of the Vaneck brothers someday. (I told them that myself). And Clide Vaneck is fine with playing along as long as we don't tell about his secret girlfriend (Josea Banks, the Swansea's housekeeper's daughter.) I don't know why they still think that Harriet is going to marry him when she's in Texas, but my parents are strange. Who am I to question them?
Rick and Greg, my brothers, haven't been matched up with girls yet. Apparently my parents haven't found their "perfect matches" yet. My brothers also seem fine with our way of life- but of course, they'll be in the driver's seat of their own lives. Beau will be in the driver's seat of mine.
You might be wondering how I even found out about Harriet's youth group. I saw a flyer for a lock-in. I thought it sounded fun and so I went. I fell in love with the youth group and kept going. Harriet and I were fast friends.
During Hostesses today, we have a test. It's all about what we would do in different situations: if someone canceled or we ran out of food or our husband got sick.
I complete it quickly and stare off into the distance, thinking about Phoenix. I daydream about his face. About talking to him.
And I decide that I am going to see him today, even if it comes at a cost.
.....
After school, I go right up to my room. I silently change into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.
“I’m going for a walk!” I call to Beatree. My father is at work, and my mom is helping a friend plan a dance. I slip out the door and walk the opposite direction from Phoenix’s house. It’s better to be safe than sorry. As I walk, I wonder why I have such a big attraction to Phoenix. I’ve never liked a boy this much before. Maybe it's the fact that he's so good.
Phoenix and his brothers are scrimmaging. I hop right in and score a three-pointer.
"Yeah, Sierra!" little Chicago says. I stop at his little voice, remembering him shaming me for being rich. I turn to the brothers.
"I'm sorry that I offended all of you." Memphis waves me off,
"It's okay. Every lifestyle has its drawbacks, even being rich." I smile gratefully. We resume our game, my heart at peace.
We talk and laugh for hours, until I know I'm stretching my luck. As I head back, I think. What did I do to deserve such amazing friends?
"Darling," he says, all deep and rumbling, "how are you?" He holds out his arm and I take it. We walk into the dining room, where my brothers and parents are already seated with the rest of the Preston family. Two seats next to each other are vacant, with the elegantly written place cards (I made them myself) Sierra McDunn and Beau Preston.
We politely talk through the salad course, the soup course, and the main course. When Beatree brings out the tiramisu for dessert, I get the low fat version. I almost complain, but Mother gives me her ‘we need to make you petite’ look. I force bite after bite down my throat, keeping a smile on my face the whole time. Beau keeps his left hand on my arm as if trying to remind me to eat. I smile graciously, trying to stop my stomach from rebelling.
Mother doesn’t offer a second piece, which I am glad for (it would be impolite to refuse). I quickly get up just in case, though, and help clear the dishes. When I come back for another round, Beau pulls me back down into my seat .
“Let the housekeeper do that, Darling,” he says with disdain in his voice. He understands the importance of our match just as much as I do, but he has an advantage as the male- he is in control. I am being turned into Mother; a lady who only speaks her mind if she is told to. I sigh, unable to control myself. Father shoots me a glare, and I quickly turn to Beau and smile pleasantly.
It’s going to be a long night.
.....
When the Prestons start to leave, Beau gives me a cold, chaste kiss, just like every other time. It's the only kiss I've ever experienced. I know it's not normal, but it's the only kiss I'll ever know. I mean everyone at our private school, The School of Proper Adolescents, knows that we're practically engaged. I've never had any boy look at me like… well, like Phoenix did before I offended him. Oh, I had little, tentative crushes. Like on Martin, Harriet's boyfriend. That was slightly awkward.
But none of my affections were ever returned. Because of Beau.
I watch as the Prestons leave, my thoughts settling on Phoenix. All of a sudden, it's like I've been stabbed in the heart. Phoenix probably despises me. I've got to make this right. It hurts too much for him to hate me.
Once my parents and brothers retire for the night, I sneak out my bedroom window, clothed in my velvet nightgown. I feel like the main character in one of those stupid movies about the princess in love with some outsider so she escapes out the window. I’ve turned into a modern day Rapunzel. Though I guess Rapunzel is kind of modern day. At least the movie is. Whatever.
I pad down the sidewalk to their house. Just like I suspected, Phoenix is out shooting hoops. He seems to like basketball even more than his brothers.
I keep my head down and move towards him. He sees me and starts to go inside. I rush to try to catch him and step on a piece of glass. I feel it slice through the skin.
"Ugh, Sierra. Why'd you have to get hurt? Now I have to help you," Phoenix says. He puts my arm around his shoulders and helps me into his garage. I sit on a bench in my nightgown while he finds soap, water, and bandaids.
The cut stops bleeding after he washes it. I try to help but he waves me off,
"I'll do it, Your Highness." He's wrapping my foot up when I find my voice again.
"I'm sorry, Phoenix." He looks up at me.
"For what? The fact that you're rich, or the fact that I'm poor?" I cringe.
"Why are you making this so difficult? I'm trying here! I don't know how to fix myself, okay? I wish I wasn't stuck in this life, but I know that other people have it worse. I don't have the strength to try to change my family right now. I just couldn't let you stay mad at me." Phoenix says,
"Oh." I sigh,
"Of course, it doesn't seem to be going that well." I look down at my lap and then peek at his face. He's staring at me, his hands still cradling my foot.
"You're wrong. I can't stay mad at you." I smile.
"I should probably get home." He offers to help me back, but I tell him I'll be fine.
"Will I see you tomorrow?" he asks.
"I'll do my best," I say. As he walks back into his house, I whisper a truth I've just realized.
"I think I like you, Phoenix Jackson."
The next morning, I find a note on my windowsill. It says,
I think I like you, too, Sierra McDunn.
.....
School is the same as it always is, except for one thing: throughout school, I pat my skirt pocket, where the note from Phoenix hides.
Beau escorts me to lesson one, like always, even though he's a senior and I'm a freshman. My lesson one is Sewing: Creative Ways to Make Sew Many Things. It's as bad as it sounds. Then I have Household Math Skills (basic algebra plus checking accounts and keeping track of your husband's purchases). After that is Hostesses: How to Host a Fabulous Party (plus lunch). Then there's Ballroom Dancing. My last lesson is Dressing Nice: Facts about Fabulous Fashion.
No How To Fly A Plane 101, or Everything You Need to Know About the AirForce.
And, of course, Beau overshadows my every thought. Because Phoenix is my every thought.
Beau is always accompanied by his Chosen Personal Acquaintance, Derving Swansea. No, they didn't pick each other. The school paired them up. Yes, the school "picks" our best friends.
My Chosen Personal Acquaintance is Pamela Vaneck. She's perfect. No stray thoughts about fighter jets or about how to sneak off to youth group. If she and Harriet were to meet… I'm not sure what would happen, but it wouldn't be good.
My parents actually don't mind that Harriet is my best friend. They, of course, think that she is going to marry one of the Vaneck brothers someday. (I told them that myself). And Clide Vaneck is fine with playing along as long as we don't tell about his secret girlfriend (Josea Banks, the Swansea's housekeeper's daughter.) I don't know why they still think that Harriet is going to marry him when she's in Texas, but my parents are strange. Who am I to question them?
Rick and Greg, my brothers, haven't been matched up with girls yet. Apparently my parents haven't found their "perfect matches" yet. My brothers also seem fine with our way of life- but of course, they'll be in the driver's seat of their own lives. Beau will be in the driver's seat of mine.
You might be wondering how I even found out about Harriet's youth group. I saw a flyer for a lock-in. I thought it sounded fun and so I went. I fell in love with the youth group and kept going. Harriet and I were fast friends.
During Hostesses today, we have a test. It's all about what we would do in different situations: if someone canceled or we ran out of food or our husband got sick.
I complete it quickly and stare off into the distance, thinking about Phoenix. I daydream about his face. About talking to him.
And I decide that I am going to see him today, even if it comes at a cost.
.....
After school, I go right up to my room. I silently change into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.
“I’m going for a walk!” I call to Beatree. My father is at work, and my mom is helping a friend plan a dance. I slip out the door and walk the opposite direction from Phoenix’s house. It’s better to be safe than sorry. As I walk, I wonder why I have such a big attraction to Phoenix. I’ve never liked a boy this much before. Maybe it's the fact that he's so good.
Phoenix and his brothers are scrimmaging. I hop right in and score a three-pointer.
"Yeah, Sierra!" little Chicago says. I stop at his little voice, remembering him shaming me for being rich. I turn to the brothers.
"I'm sorry that I offended all of you." Memphis waves me off,
"It's okay. Every lifestyle has its drawbacks, even being rich." I smile gratefully. We resume our game, my heart at peace.
We talk and laugh for hours, until I know I'm stretching my luck. As I head back, I think. What did I do to deserve such amazing friends?
