As I walked back across the yard towards my place, I spotted Emily leaning against her porch railing, a fresh cup of coffee in her hand. She had that I was definitely watching look in her face. The moment I set foot onto my side of the lawn, she called out:
"So..? how'd it go, kiddo?" I chuckled softly. "You were totally spying, Well I got their names. The father and mother name is Scott and Andrea and the daughter is called Taylor" I said.
"I was observing," Emily corrected dramatically. "It's different. Not tell me more details so spill." I walked over to her porch steps and leaned against the railing next to her. "Well... the parents Scott and Andrea, they're super nice. Very friendly. They were really grateful for the food."
Emily smiled proudly. "Of course they were. You're basically the Welcome Committee." I shrugged, embarrassed but pleased.
Emily took another sip of coffee. "And what about the daughter? The tall blonde cute one. Taylor, right?" I shifted awkwardly. "Yeah... Taylor.""
Emily raised an eyebrow. "Aaaand?"
"She, uh... didn't say anything."
She blinked. "Nothing? At all?"
"Nope. Not a word," I said, rubbing my neck. "She just... kept looking at me. Like she was thinking something."
Emily smirked. "Oh? Thinking what?"
"I don't know!" I exclaimed in a whisper. "She didn't look mad or anything. Just... quiet. Really quiet."
Emily nodded thoughtfully, slipping into her gentle big sister mode. "Well" she said, "moving is stressful. New house, new town, new people... she's probably overwhelmed. Or shy." "Yeah... that makes sense" I said.
Emily nudged my arm playfully. "Or maybe she was just impressed by you showing up with a whole meal like some kind of neighborhood hero or a boyfriend meeting her parents for the first time."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't hide a laugh. "Yeah, right."
She smiled warmly. "Giver her time, kiddo. People like that usually open up when they are settled. And you? You're easy to talk to so she'll warm up."
I shrugged again, but her words settled me.
Emily straightened up. "I'm proud of you. Really. You handled that like a champ."
"Thanks," I said softly.
She ruffled my hair because of course she did. "Now go take a break, I know you will be busy today like always."
I smiled at her" Alright alright, make me do all the work."
"Exactly," She said proudly. Heading back to her door.
As I walked towards my house, I could feel a gaze on me still. I stepped inside my place the air felt cool compared to the warm sun outside. He headed upstairs, grabbed a pair of athletic shorts, a breathable T -shirt, and his work shoes.
I changed quickly, tied my shoelaces tight, and filled a water bottle. Time to focus, I thought. I walked through the living room and opened the sliding door to the backyard.
The backyard was peaceful. Birds chirping, the faint sound of movers down the street, a light breeze running through the grass. Liam forgot something. He went back inside to grab a yoga mat and went back outside. I rolled out the mat near the shaded part of the yard and started my warmup stretches:
1 min of neck circles,
1 min of shoulder rolls,
2 mins of arm stretches,
2 mins of hamstring stretches,
min quad pulls,
and 1 min of calf stretches.
[Muscle exercise lv 3 -> 4]
He closed my eyes and took slow breaths, letting my muscles loosen up. The sun filtering through the leaves, casting warm patches of light across the yard. Emily's cat, who I noticed recently and who always wandered between houses, even strolled by to watch him curiously before deciding the work wasn't interesting enough but the shade here was good enough to nap. After finishing his stretches, he felt limber and ready.
He started my workout session, determined and focused.
First 40 minutes: Cardio warm-up:
Jumping jacks
High knees
Jogging in place
Burpees
[+1 AGI]
My heart rate rose quickly, sweat already forming.
Next 40 minutes: Strength training:
Push-ups
Sit-ups
Planks
Mountain climbers
Squats
[+1 STR]
My breathing became heavier, but I pushed through each rep. One hour and 20 min mark: Water break as I sat on the grass, chest rising and falling, feeling both tired and energized. Welp, break done.
Next 40 minutes:
Backyard circuits:
Step-ups on the patio ledge
Lunges across the yard
Shoulder taps
Light resistance band work
[+1 CON]
I wiped sweat from my forehead with my shirt. Halfway there. I'm so tired.
Final 60 minutes:
Core and cooldown strength:
Leg rises
Bicycles
Russian twists
Slow controlled planks
Push up burn out set
[+1 DEX]
[Bodybuilder lv 3 -> 4]
My muscles were shaking by the end, but in the good way like they'd been properly challenged. I'm glad my body is getting better. After finishing, I finally collapsed onto the mat, staring up at the sky. My chest rose and fell in deep breaths, and I felt a satisfying ache on my arms, legs, and core.
I chugged the rest of my water bottle and sat up slowly. "Whew... that was a alot, I muttered with a tired smile. Sweaty, sore, and proud, I rolled up the mat and headed back inside. Unaware that from across the street someone was watching me. It was Taylor.
Standing by her upstairs window, her blonde hair falling over one shoulder, quietly observing the new neighbor who cooked, helped, and pushed himself harder than she expected. She didn't say anything, but she watched.
Back inside, I grabbed a towel, wiped sweat from my face, and sank onto the couch. I turned on the radio, letting the warm crackle fill the living room before the music kicked in.
"Drop It Like It's Hot" – Snoop Dogg
"Hollaback Girl" – Gwen Stefani
"Gold Digger" – Kanye West
[Singing lv25 -> 26]
"Let Me Love You" – Mario
"Since U Been Gone" A day to remember
"Sugar, We're Goin Down" - Fallout boy
The beat filled the room, steady and smooth, and relaxed completely. He leaned back, closed my eyes, and let my body catch up from the two-hour workout. Twenty minutes passed in what felt like five. Break was up, sat up, stretched arms overhead, and stood. My legs felt loose again—not fresh, but ready.
I moved to the kitchen, filled his water bottle with cold water, and drank a big gulp.
"Okay," I breathed out. "Five miles. Let's do this."
I tightened my shoes, stepped outside, and started jogging down the street.
I eased into a steady pace, letting the rhythm of breathing settle.
Mile 1 — Through the Neighborhood LoopI passed:
the newly moved-in family's house
Emily's front porch
the row of neatly trimmed hedges along Pineview Street
The air was warm and breezy, perfect for running. His feet found their cadence on the pavement.
Mile 2 — Toward the Small ParkI turned left at the end of the block and entered the small-town park. Trees lined the path, their leaves rustling overhead. I ran past:
a mother pushing a stroller
kids riding scooters
a man feeding ducks at the pond
The sunlight glinted off the water, and Liam inhaled the fresh, leafy scent.
Mile 3 — The Long Stretch Behind the SchoolI followed a biking path that ran behind the local middle school. The big empty field stretched beside me. I passed:
the metal bleachers
the deserted baseball diamond
the school's mural wall covered in bright colors
His breath grew heavier, but he kept his pace steady.
Mile 4 — The Shopping StripThe path curved toward a small commercial area. I jogged past:
the bakery with its sweet, warm smell drifting outside
the hardware store run by the elderly couple
the smoothie shop where teens often hung out
Cars rolled slowly by, and a few people gave friendly nods as he passed.
He took a short, slow sip of water before pushing on.
Mile 5 — The Final Stretch HomeI followed Maple Street back toward his neighborhood. My legs burned now, but it felt good—earned.
I passed:
the community garden
the line of tall maple trees
a group of joggers going the opposite direction
Finally, I turned into my street.
[+1 CON]
[+2 AGI]
Taylor was on her porch again, blonde hair catching the sunlight. She paused mid-step when she saw me running back, breathing hard but steady.
I gave a quick wave—she froze for a second, then looked away shyly.
I slowed down, reached the driveway, and stopped the timer on the watch:
5 miles — 59 minutes and 48 seconds.
I let out a long breath and smiled."Made it." I slowed to a stop at the edge of the driveway, lungs pulling in deep breaths of warm air. Legs felt heavy—solid—but in a proud, worked-hard kind of way. Sweat rolled down my forehead, dripping onto my shirt.
I took a long drink from the water bottle, then rolled my shoulders and stretched his calves against the curb. 30 seconds each side. Then hamstring stretches. Then arms.Finally, slow breathing. My heart rate gradually steadied.
The breeze felt cooler now against his sweaty skin. He wiped his forehead with the back of his wrist and looked around the neighborhood: Taylor had gone back inside, though her porch door was still cracked open. Emily was nowhere outside—probably resting or doing chores. The movers at Taylor's house were nearly done. Everything was settling, quiet and warm.
Took one last sip of water and headed inside. I need A Much-Needed Shower In the bathroom, I peeled off the damp workout clothes and stepped under the warm shower spray. The water felt incredible—running down his back, loosening sore muscles, washing away the last of the sweat from his 5-mile run.
I closed his eyes and let the steam fill the room. Scrubbing my hair, rinsed off, and stayed a moment longer just to enjoy the quiet.
When I stepped out, the mirror was fogged over. I wrapped a towel around my waist, ran a hand through my hair, and changed into clean comfy clothes—soft shorts and a loose T-shirt. My body felt lighter. Calmer. Refreshed.
Back in the kitchen, I opened the fridge and thought about what my body needed after such a big workout. Protein. Carbs. Something filling but clean. I settled on: a grilled chicken breast, a bowl of rice, mixed vegetables and a cold glass of water with lemon.
I heated the chicken and veggies, scooped rice into a bowl, and put everything together neatly on a plate. The first bite felt like my whole body said, "Yes—this." Warm, savory, perfect for tired muscles. I ate slowly, letting the meal refuel me.
After finishing, I sat back in the chair, feeling relaxed and satisfied. The house was peaceful, sunlight still drifting through the windows. It had been: a long workout, a long morning and a long day overall… But a good one. I took another sip of his lemon water, breathing out slowly.
Alright, time to go to my room to check twitter and start drawing if there's any commissions.
Taylor Pov:
I stood at the upstairs window of my new room, the one my mom said had "nice natural light." Boxes surrounded her—half-open, half-forgotten. Moving was exhausting. Loud. Busy. Adding with my music career I'm trying to make big it's overwhelming.
I tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear and looked outside. The new street was peaceful. Trees lined the sidewalks. Kids rode scooters down the block. A dog barked lazily in someone's yard. And then…there was him. The boy from across the street.
I didn't know his name at first. All I saw was a neighbor carrying a big bag toward her family. Curious, I walked closer to the window. I expected a delivery or something from the movers.But instead…
He'd brought them dinner.
Homemade. Warm. Thoughtful. I've had never seen anyone do that before. Not for a family they didn't even know.
I stayed quiet during introductions—not because I didn't like him, but because her throat locked up the moment he looked at me. "Fuck.. He's cute and tall, He got a rogue face, I also maturity in his face that I never saw around or age group." I said in my mind. "He got a deep comforting voice for singing. Shit, this is bad" She thought while biting her lip lightly.
She watched him from behind the box she held:
Blond hair a little messy from the day
Clear blue kind eyes
nervous smile
and carrying a huge bag of food like it weighed nothing
She wanted to say "hi." She really did. But her voice just… wouldn't come out. "TAYLOR, YOU ARE A ARTIST WHAT IS GOING ON WITH YOU!!" I screamed in my heart. So I nodded. Twice. That was all I managed. "It's over" I thought.
Later, I watched him jog past the house during his long run. He moved with this determined energy—like someone who took care of himself, someone disciplined. Every time he passed the house on his loop, he gave a tiny wave.
I never waved back. Not because I didn't want to— but because I didn't trust my voice not to betray me. After the run, I noticed him stretching in the yard. Sweat clung to his shirt, and his breathing was heavy, but there was something steady about him. Calm. Focused.
I found myself staring longer than I meant to and my mother that I didn't notice was watching me giving a knowing smile. I barely knew this boy, but something about him already felt… safe. Like his presence carried a quiet kind of kindness. The kind of person who brought food to strangers on moving day. Like who does that and especially our age and I don't think he knows me.
I stepped onto the porch at one point, pretending to get fresh air, but really hoping to catch another glimpse of him. When he returned from his run and saw me, our eyes met. I panicked. I looked away too fast. My face heated.
Great, I thought. He probably thinks I'm weird.
I sat on the porch rail, pretending to organize my headphones just to calm herself down. My parents were inside unpacking, and I was too tired to help more. Too tired to talk. Too tired to figure out how to make my music.
But I kept thinking about him. The neighbor boy. Liam. Kind. Quiet. Helpful. And for some strange reason… I felt like I wanted to know him. Just… not yet. Not until I could get my voice to work again.
Breathed in, breathed out. Maybe tomorrow, I thought. Maybe tomorrow… I'll finally say hi.