Heart Sized Crush

“See, the house is pretty isn’t it girls?” My Dad smiled at my sister and I as he drove up to our new house.

I peered through the front window, taking in our new home. It was a baby blue two storied house, a white gate fence outlining the dark green yard. It was rather pretty, but it was nothing compared to my childhood home. We had moved across an entire ocean and country to California. We had moved from my lovely Dublin, Ireland, my home, to sunny San Diego California.

My Dad’s company wanted to relocate him, and he thought my sister and I would like the change. I personally wished I was back at my home. I could’ve stayed with my Grandparents, but I didn’t want to leave my little sister to go on this journey alone. I was hoping she was going to want to go home, and he’d let us go stay with them and he’d come visit.

At least I’d be turning eighteen in a month, if I didn’t like it at all I could go home without any say from my Dad.

“It’s pretty Daddy! Can we go to the beach?” Faylinn’s eyes were wide with wonder, a large smile on her young face.

“We can try to go sometime this week, but for now we get to unpack and pick which rooms we want.” My Dad smiled down at her, “go ahead and go pick out your rooms’ girls, no arguing over them.”

I gave my Dad a small smile as I stepped out of the car, Faylinn followed my lead as she grabbed onto my hand. With a wide front toothless grin she pulled me towards the house, going on and on about what she wanted to do at the beach and how excited she was to be here. I had to admit it slightly hurt to see her so happy to be here, but I had to remind myself she was young.

She managed to open the front door, letting go of my hand as she thundered inside. I stood there for a few moments, taking in the smell of the house. Everything looked new and polished, so unlived in and so un-home like to me. I was used to my cozy little seaside cottage, pictures of family and friends, the smell of Grandma’s cooking. I knew things weren’t going to be cozy like that here.

I looked back at my Dad, finding him socializing with a few neighbors outside. With a glum sigh I headed inside, running my fingers along the tan paint of the family room walls. Faylinn yelled down the stairs that she had found her room, and a few seconds later she thundered past to me get her bag from the car. I couldn’t help but laugh at her red curls bouncing with each step; she looked like a little fireball.

I took up the stairs, deciding that I’d tack up some pictures of family along the wall. I needed to make this place feel somewhat like a home if I was going to be staying here. I told myself to keep an open mind about this place, but I couldn’t help it.

Upstairs only one room had the door opened, and I assumed that it was the one Faylinn had claimed for herself. Just as I thought she came running past me, sticking her tongue out playfully before darting into the room. I smiled lightly, opening each door and inspecting any of the rooms.

After a bit I walked into a room I liked, it had a small window ceil with two large windows. It had a street view and a slight view of the ocean. The closet was just the right size, and it was only a few steps to the bathroom in the hallway. I set my sweater down on the window ceil, staring at the other houses.

“Amelia?”

I turned from the window, smiling down at Faylinn, “yes?”

“Are you happy?”

My head tilted to the side, “what do you mean?”

“You look sad, and I know you didn’t want to move here… but you did to be with me… are you mad at me?” She asked, her blue eyes swimming with tears.

“Oh Fay, I’m not angry or sad. Sure I’m going to miss home, but Mommy would have wanted us to stick together. Plus, think of this as one big adventure, and in the spring we can go visit Grandma and Grandpa,” I walked over, kneeling in front of her, “doesn’t that sound nice? And I’m sure the beach will be a fun place to visit.”

She sniffled slightly, a smile tugging on her lips. “You promise you aren’t upset?”

“I pinky promise.” I grinned, wrapping my pinky around hers.

*

The next few hours were spent unpacking, organizing, and decorating the house. I had taken it upon myself to put every family picture we had. I put a picture of my Mother in all the rooms, especially in my Dad’s since I knew he missed her more then he let on. The mantel of the living room was adorned with trinkets from home and a large family picture. The last touch on the mantel was putting our Mother’s urn on it, along with a few fake orchid flowers since they were her favorite.

Our Mother had died in a car accident one night. She had worked a late shift and it had begun to rain pretty hard by the time she got off. My Dad told her to stay at work until the rain slowed down a bit, but she refused and promised she’d be alright. She was nearly half way home when a car lost control in the rain and smashed into hers.

I had blocked memories from that part in my life, not liking to remember how destroyed everyone was. Faylinn took it the hardest it seemed, we’d have to remind her daily that Mommy wouldn’t be coming home. I made sure she had pictures of her though, and told her stories about how they’d play together to make her feel better.

A while ago Dad had decided to go get some food for dinner, saying that we deserved home cooked food instead of take out. I opted out of going since I hadn’t finished decorating, but Faylinn was practically singing from excitement.

With a content sigh I walked out the front door, taking in the crisp air outside. I had expected the air quality to be a million times worse in California. But it wasn’t that bad honestly, it felt nice outside even though it was supposedly cold for California weather today. But this felt like perfect weather to me, it didn’t even raise a goose bump on my arm.

I grabbed a now empty box and headed across the lawn, kicking off my flats as I did so. I was used to walking around my house and the front yard barefoot. It was something I grew up doing; just to enjoy the feeling of the grass under my toes.

I was busy tearing the box at its seams so it’d fit in the recycling when I felt it. At first I thought I had taken a miss step and fallen over myself, but it took me a moment to feel something fuzzy on top of me. I blinked a few times and came to see a giant golden face hovering above mine.

The large dog let out a happy bark before its tongue slapped itself across my face. I let out a small giggle as the wide tongue slapped across my jaw, followed by a loud and happy bark. With a content smile I scratched behind the dog’s ears, noting the leash hanging from its collar.

“Bear!”

I looked over the blonde dog just in time to see a man come running up. He bent over, hands on his knees as he panted for a few moments. It took all of my strength and personal will to not stare at him like some school girl, but anyone who ran around shirtless with a body like that was just asking to be stared at.

“I’m going to kill you for chasing cats, seriously Bear.” He grunted looking up through his pants. “Holy shit, did he knock you down?”

I smiled sheepishly, dropping my hand from the dog’s ear. “I wasn’t really paying attention to where I was going.” I lied standing up as I brushed myself off. “So I kind of ran into him too.”

Bear whined before barking towards my house, glancing towards it I spotted the black and orange cat sitting on the front steps. It let out a loud meow before prancing away into the dusk, the dog made a move to follow, but was stopped by the man stepping on his leash.

“I’m Channing, did you just move in?”

I nodded slowly, smiling at Bear who began to lick at my knee. “Yes, just this morning.”

He stared at me for a few moments before smiling and shaking his head. “I really hope I don’t sound rude, but where are you from? You’ve got one heck of an accent there.”

I had completely forgotten that here I’d have an accent, I probably sounded like I was speaking gibberish to the poor dude. “I’m from Dublin Ireland.”

He made an ‘o’ shape, “quite far from home, how’s your first day here?” He asked leaning down and picking up the leash.

It took me a few moments to reply, since my mind was too busy ogling how his muscles moved under the skin. “It’s… different.”

I couldn’t help but smile a bit wider when my Dad’s car came pulling into the driveway. Faylinn waved excitedly at me, and as soon as the car had stopped she had jumped out and ran over to me.

“Amelia, did you find this doggy!?” She giggled, scratching behind his ears excitedly.

“He more so ran into me,” I laughed, “Faylinn this is Channing and his doggy Bear.” I explained nodding my head towards the two.

Faylinn smiled up at him, “you’re a really pretty boy.” A giggle passed through her little lips.

“Faylinn!”

“But he is Amelia,” She giggled again, “and you’re a pretty doggy.”

I let out a faint groan, resisting the urge to curl into a ball and hide. And of course to add to things my Father strolled over, a polite grin on his face.

“Hello, I see you’ve met my daughters. I’m Ian McKinley.” He grinned.

I sighed, “I’m going to go put the food away,” I muttered, “nice to meet you Channing, and nice to meet you too
Bear.” With one last smile to him and a last pet of the dog I walked over to the car and grabbed a few bags.

At least the neighborhood had one cute boy in it.