The Guy Next Door

Bambi was riding the bus to school, scribbling things down into her notebook. Just then the bus driver got on the loud speaker.
“Seth! Come up here and sit in seat one please.”
Oh no!! Not Seth! Bambi thought.
“Mrs. O. don’t make him…” But it was to late, Seth was coming down the aisle towards her. She sunk down in her seat.
No! Mrs. O. better not!
“Seth you can sit next to Bambi where I can keep an eye on you.” Mrs. O. chuckled.
“Yes, Mrs. O.” Seth replied.
Ohhh! Bambi wanted to disappear as Seth sat down next to her. She had a major crush on the senior. Seth got comfortable in the seat and set his backpack on the floor of the bus, near his feet. Then he turned to her.
“Oh hey, Bambi right?” he asked. Bambi swallowed hard.
“Y-yeah.” she stammered.
“Thought so, I’ve seen you around school. We don’t have any of the same classes.”
“Actually, I’m only a junior.” Bambi giggled.
“Oh really? I thought you were like a freshman, you know with your size.” Seth teased.
“Hey! I’m not that short! I‘m a whole 5‘3“ ” she exclaimed. She gave Seth a playful shove, acting angry.
“I- I didn’t mean it!” he stuttered laughing.
“It’s OK.”
“Hey, not fair.” He looked down for a second and spotted the notebook on her lap. “What’s that?” Bambi closed her notebook in a flash.
“Oh nothing.” she told him. Seth gave a laugh.
“Alright.” Bambi gazed out the window to see that the school was close.
She grabbed up her backpack that was by her feet. The bus squealed to a stop and she stood up. Seth did the same and gave her a nod.
“Bye Bambi, see ya later.”
“Later Seth.” Bambi giggled and they parted ways to meet up with their friends.

~ ~ ~

An exhausted Bambi made her way onto the bus, ready to go home. Slumping down in her seat and throwing her backpack on the floor, she greeted her bus driver. She took out her notebook and began scribbling again. But a voice pulled her out of her inspirational thoughts.
“Hey Bambi, can I sit with you?” She looked up to see Seth.
“Yeah sure.” She smiled. As Seth sat down, Mrs. O. turned to face them.
“Oh Seth! You didn’t have to sit there.” she said. Seth flashed a grin at her.
“I know.” Mrs. O. shook her head and chuckled. Then she started up the bus after the last kid got on and they were leaving.
“So Bambi… what’s up?” he turned back to her.
“Nothin’ much.” she replied. Seth gave another sly grin, looking down at her notebook. With one swift movement, Seth grabbed it.
“Seth, no!” Bambi cried. Seth scanned over it and put on a serious face.
“A junior who likes a senior and he didn’t know.” he revised. Bambi didn’t look up at him.
“Yeah.” she mumbled. She felt his hand fall under her chin. He lifted her head up to make her look him in the eye.
“Hey. You’re a good writer… and I see that the story is non-fiction…” he laughed.
“T-thanks…bu-u-t”
“And… I believe… that senior really likes you, too.” he whispered into her ear . A speechless Bambi received a light brush of his lips across her cheek.
“Oh Seth…” she whispered with a faint smile. The bus stopped quickly, surprising her a bit. Mrs. O. turned to them.
“Bambi, your stop.” she said cheerfully.
“OK.” she replied, grabbing her backpack. Seth slid out to the empty seat next to them. As Bambi passed by, she brushed Seth’s arm flirtingly.
“Bye Bambi!” he called.
“B-bye Seth.” she stammered, almost tripping down the bus stairs.

~ ~ ~

Bambi was sitting at her kitchen table, ready to do her homework. But she decided to change out of her school uniform. She bounded up the stairs to her room. Then she changed into a pair of jean shorts and her favorite Hollister t-shirt. She pulled her long brown hair out of her bun and let it flow down to her hips.
She went back downstairs and was in the middle of working on her honors social studies homework when the doorbell rang.
I bet it’s Silver. She thought as she made her way to the front door. Standing on her stoop was none other then Seth. She opened the door with a laugh.
“Seth! Hey, what are you doing here?” Seth fixed his backpack, that was slung over his shoulder, with a broad grin on his face.
“Hey I was wondering… whoa you look… really good.” he went off, looking her up and down. Bambi giggled.
“Aww thanks. What were you gonna say?” she asked.
“Oh right! I was wondering if you could help me with my algebra homework.”
“Nah” she replied with a grin on her face. Then she opened the door and led him to the kitchen.

~ ~ ~

Bambi was in the middle of helping Seth with his homework when her cell phone rang. She took it out to see who it was.
Oh Silver. Bambi thought, taking a peek at Seth. Silver can wait.
Just as soon as Bambi pressed decline, the doorbell rang.
“Just a sec, Seth.” she said and went to answer, but realized he was following her anyway. Standing at the door was Silver with an angry glare. Bambi sighed and opened the door.
“Hey Silver.” Bambi greeted her. But Silver was still glaring at her.
“Don’t hey me bud, why didn’t you answer my call!” she hissed.
“How did she know?” Seth questioned. Silver ignored what Seth asked and turned to Bambi.
“Who’s the dude?” she asked.
“Oh Silver this is my friend Seth.” Bambi replied.
“Oh.” Silver said, not really caring. “What’s he doing here?” Seth gave Bambi a look.
“That’s Silver for ya.” Bambi told him, chuckling.
“But what about me!! Why are you spending time with him and ignoring me?!” Silver complained with a pouting face.
“Silver I have other friends you know, I can’t be with you all the time.” Bambi said, shaking her head.
“But meeeeeee!!!” Silver cried aloud.
“Sil…” Bambi began.
“I’m more important! Me! Why are you…” Bambi stopped Silver in the middle of her rant by pulling out a hand mirror.
“Oh me.” Silver exclaimed, grabbing the mirror.
“W-wha?” Seth questioned.
“She thinks the whole world revolves around her. I’ve been trying to train her. We’re working on it.” Bambi told him.
“Ah.” Seth said laughing.
“Meee. Hehe.” Silver murmured.
“Are you coming in or what, Sil?” Bambi asked.
“Huh? Yeah.” She replied and came in and Bambi closed the door. They went in the kitchen and Bambi and Seth went back to algebra and Silver went to raid Bambi’s fridge.

~ ~ ~

Bambi woke up, head in her arms, at the kitchen table. She sat up and heard a grumble. So she turned to see what it was.
"Seth?!" she exclaimed.
"Mom, five more minutes!" he moaned groggily.
"Seth! Wake up!" She shook him lightly.
His eyes popped open and he let out a cry as he toppled from the chair. He shook his head, getting his messy brown hair out of his face, eyes flaming with anger. He looked ready to stab the person who had woken him, but his eyes softened as they fell on her.
He smiled coolly at her, even though he had just embarrassed himself.
"Oh, hey," he said.
"Hey," she laughed. She helped him up then gave him a kiss on the cheek.
The garage door opened and Seth jumped in front of her. But Silver came in.
"Hey B, I hacked your code again. What's for breakfast?" she stopped when she saw Seth.
"Gee, he's here early," she inquired.
"Actually, he spent the night." Bambi chuckled.
"Oh!" a grin spread across Silver's face.
"Not like that!" Bambi snapped at her. Seth let out a laugh and Bambi went to start breakfast.

~ ~ ~

Bambi was washing dishes, Seth was putting his things in his bag, and Silver was raiding the fridge. Bambi shut off the water and was about to turn to dry her hands when she felt arms wrap around her waist. She looked up into Seth's deep brown eyes. He turned her around and kissed her on the lips.
When the kiss ended they saw Silver was staring at them, eating an apple.
"So are you dating or what?" She asked with her mouth full. Bambi and Seth just looked at each other and shrugged.
"I guess I haven't asked you, yet." Seth said, laughing.
"Sooooo..." Silver rushed him.
"Oh! Bambi will you be my girlfriend?"
"Yes," she replied with a giggle.

~ ~ ~

A few days later it was the beginning of summer. Bambi and Seth were hanging out when the doorbell rang. Bambi went to answer it, Silver was there.
"Hey bud, what's Seth doin' here. He has a nice car by the way." She greeted her.
"Seth's here because we're hanging out." Bambi told her.
"But meeeeee." Silver complained.
"Oh Sil don't start that, again!" Bambi sighed.
"No! We haven't hung out in like forever." She whined. Bambi crossed her arms.
"Silver it's been two days," she said. " But you can hang out with Seth and I for now."
"But it's not fair! Your spending all your time with him!"
"Silver, he's my boyfriend!" Bambi exclaimed.
"Hey, what's goin' on?" Seth came in. "Oh hey Silver." he greeted her as he went over.
Silver fumed and glared at Seth. With a swift movement, almost unseeable, Silver slapped Seth across the face then stormed out of the foyer, leaving him with his hand to his cheek.
"SILVER!!" Bambi yelled after her friend. She closed the door, shaking her head, she then went over to Seth.
"Are you OK?" she asked.
"Yeah, I guess..." Seth muttered.
"Aww." Bambi teased, kissing him on the cheek.
"All better now!" Seth perked.
Bambi let out a laugh and they headed back into the living room.

~ ~ ~

The next day Bambi was alone watching her favorite show when her phone rang. Pausing her show, she answered it.
"Y'ello?" she greeted. A sniffle came across the line. It was Silver.
"Bambi... Landon broke up with me... I'm coming over." And with that, she hung up.
Oh, poor Sil. Bambi thought.

~ ~ ~

By the time Silver showed up, which wasn't long after her call, Seth had also showed up. Bambi had gone to answer the door with Seth and Seth had cringed at Silver.
"Oh... hey Sil..." he had said.
"Oh don't worry I'm not gonna slap you Seth. I'm not in the mood."
And now Silver was raiding the fridge as usual and Bambi was answering the door again, thinking:
Is this all I'm ever going to do? Harbor my friends and answer the door?!
But she opened the door to Quinn.
"Quinn!? What are you doing here?" she questioned. Bambi hadn't seen him since she switched schools.
"Hey Bambi, long time no see! Is Silver here?" he asked.
"Uh... yeah but I don't know if..." But Quinn had already come in.
Silver came in eating a plum.
"Quinn, what are you doing here, I'm mad at your friend!" she huffed.
"I know... I told him to break up with you." Quinn admitted to her.
"You?! Why?! And at the football game championship!?"
"Hey the football game was Landon's idea. But I wanted to be your rebound guy. I really like you, will you go out with me?" Quinn asked.
"Aww. Sure, whatever."Silver mumbled.
"He broke up with you at a football game? Harsh." Seth commented.
"Shut up Seth! Soccer's better anyway!"
"Oh please! Football players are much stronger then soccer players!" Seth laughed.
"Are you kidding, soccer players are much more agile and are more skillful with their feet!" Silver countered.
"Sil, I don't think messin' with a senior is gonna end well," Bambi warned.
"A senior, and a football palyer? And you two are dating? Nice one Bambi, didn't know you could snag 'em." That comment received Quinn a smack across the head.
"Oww?" he questioned.
"Oh, Silver, that's for hitting my boyfriend." Bambi said. But Seth and Silver weren't paying attention.
"Well let's see where those skillful feet get you." Seth continued.
"Uh oh." Silver raced away and Seth took off after her.
As Bambi and Quinn watched them run around the house Bambi, not taking her eyes off her other friends, spoke.
"Hey, sorry for hitting you," she apologized.
"It's OK,it didn't hurt." Quinn told her while rubbing his head. Then he sighed.
"Who do you think is right?"
"Do you even have to ask? Football all the way, baby. I fricken hate soccer."
"Yeah, same here." Quinn agreed. Their gazes followed along with the chase.
"Do you think we should stop that?" Bambi asked when Silver screeched:
"Call him off Bambiiiii!"
Quinn shrugged.
"Guess so." He joined to see if he could slow them down. Soon the two of them had Silver cornered. But she was eyeing the window between her and Seth.
"S-she wouldn't..." Seth stammered.
"Oh she would." Bambi told him, and Silver went flying out the open window.
"Oh my god! Silver are you OK?!" Quinn ran too the window and peered out. Silve got up and dusted herself off.
"Yeah, I'm good," then she turned to Seth with a smug grin.
"I win." she said. Then she let out an insane laugh.
"Can we do it again?"