Trying Normal Again (Part 1)

Aaron heard the front door of his home open and his mother call his name. "Aaron!?" He sighed, quickly got up, and went to her.

"Yes?" he asked.

She was carrying groceries. Since when did she do the shopping?

"Come on, go get the other stuff in the car," said his mother as she strained, the plastic bag seeming to win the fight.

Aaron nodded before heading towards the vehicle. He quickly dug in the back of the SUV and got out the rest of the stuff, mostly bread and some milk along with some snacks.

He cleared out the trunk and headed back in to unpack the stuff. He stood in the kitchen when his mother walked in, having just changed out of her work clothes. You could tell by the baggy top and casual pants.

"Someone is letting loose," commented Aaron with a sly grin, to which she gave him a smile.

"Can't a woman relax in her own home?" she retorted as Aaron shrugged.

"Not that I mind. You just look like one of the kids at my school. If you started brooding, you would look like a depressed high school kid," he pointed out just as she raised an eyebrow at him.

"Really now? And what makes you such an expert?" asked his mother with a cheeky grin, to which Aaron gave her his best-depressed look, which was pretty easy considering his past couple of weeks.

She gave him a surprised look, clearly taken aback by his expression. "Alright, fine, you win!" she said as she walked up to him and hugged him. "You know you can talk to me, right?" He stared her in the eyes and smiled.

"Yes...thanks..." said Aaron, but she knew something was wrong. She was about to continue when the doorbell sounded off, echoing through the house, bouncing from wall to wall, looking for people.

They both got a small fright from the sound, looking briefly confused until they remembered their home had a doorbell.

Aaron was the first to respond. "I got it," he said with a smile as he walked away. She could only sigh at the unfortunate timing.

Aaron approached the door and opened it. To his surprise, it was his neighbors. "Mr. and Mrs. Tailor?" asked Aaron, seeing Leo and Bell behind them.

"Aaron, dear, who is by the door?" she called from the kitchen. Aaron turned pink in the face. Why would she yell from the kitchen?

He smiled at them. "How can I help you?" asked Aaron with his most polite smile, trying to bury the situation before it took off and drowned him in embarrassment.

Mr. Tailor shot Aaron a smile. "We were wondering if you and your family would like to join us for dinner. After all, we are neighbors now," said the man with a kind smile plastered on his face.

Aaron's mother came around the corner in her baggies. "Aaron? Who is at the door?" She halted when she saw potential guests at the door and quickly pulled forth her most welcoming smile.

"Hello there," she chimed.

Mr. Tailor smiled. "Mrs. Black, I hope we aren't intruding?" asked the man as she waved him off with a smile.

"Of course not! It's just Aaron and me here. You must be our new neighbors?" asked his mother, to which he nodded. Aaron picked something up from his mother; he didn't exactly know what, but she seemed apprehensive.

He knew his mother, and she was kind of shady at the moment.

"How can I help you, sir?" she asked.

"No, please call me Frank. This is my wife, Mia, and our children, Leon and Isabella," said Frank. Aaron looked at them with a cheeky grin. Leo threw a death glare at Aaron, to which Aaron responded with a smirk.

Bell covered her face. She wasn't really used to her full name; for as long as she could remember, she was called Bell. She tended to forget that wasn't her full name.

Aaron's mother smiled. "In that case, call me Katelyn. And as you already know, this is Aaron. He hates it when people shorten his name, so we have been banned from calling him Ron or my favorite, Ron Ron," said Katelyn. Aaron gave her a look, to which she chuckled. "And that is what I meant," Katelyn chuckled. Aaron eventually smiled, but he had a feeling Leo would try and use that.

Frank smiled. "Well, we just came by to give a peace offering! And to invite you and your family to dinner," said Frank as his wife handed them a basket full of sweets and fruits.

Katelyn looked at the gesture and took it. "Thank you! We will definitely be at the dinner, won't we, Aaron?" asked his mother, to which Aaron nodded.

"Of course," he said with a smile. Katelyn smiled at them.

"It's settled then. See you tonight!" Katelyn said with a smile, to which Frank and Mia smiled.

"Great! See you at 7:30," said Mia happily. Aaron gave Leo and Bell a wave as they turned to leave. His mother, Katelyn, closed the front door and smiled at Aaron.

"Nice neighbors, aren't they?" she said.

"Yes, they are. I give their son and daughter a lift to school," said Aaron. His mother looked at him.

"Goodness, first you help them move in, and now you give their children lifts to school! You have certainly become a Samaritan," she teased, to which Aaron's cheeks turned red.

"I have always been a nice and helpful person!" he defended as his mother chuckled.

"I know you are," she said as she kissed his forehead. "I see they have a pretty daughter, and she was eyeing you too," said Katelyn. Aaron scoffed.

"Oh, come on, I don't think Bell like me like that. She barely knows me," said Aaron as his mother gave him a grin.

"So 'Bell,' hey? They just arrive, and you already have a cute nickname for her?" commented his mother. Her grin gave him the shivers.

"It's nothing like that! Her family calls her that, and it sort of stuck with me as well!" said Aaron, to which his mom gave him a look that meant she didn't believe a word of what he was saying.

A curious expression dawned on her face. "Whatever happened between you and Michelle? Did you tell her?" Aaron felt his heart turn a little, an all too familiar memory echoing behind his eyes.