My Neighbor's Secret

Chapter 3- Rose

I open my eyes. Someone's strong arms wrap around me from behind, breath tickling the small hairs on my neck.

"My Rose," the voice purrs," what a beautiful flower you have become."

Suddenly the arms feel familiar, a deadly weight around my waist. Keegan.

I turn in my abusive ex boyfriend's arms. He never hit me, but it would have hurt less than the threats and deep cutting words he left me with. Even though he caused me no physical pain, I flinch is for any male makes a sudden movement.

But Keegan didn't care, he just glares down at me with angry green eyes. But those eyes turn golden, with amber flecks near the pupil. Those Cold eyes turn warm and inviting. The next words that come out of this person's mouth are Ashton's.

"It's not what you think."

I wake up throughly confused, and a little frightened. Keegan. My first boyfriend. He didn't physically hurt me, but he might as well have. All his words cut at me in a way that no other thing could do. Every time he moved to brush back my hair I had to close my eyes to avoid flinching. Keegan's words were like no others, they were threats, accusations, insults. After a while they weigh you down.

And I'm hair now shaking off that's weight. And Ashton. Why was he in my dream? I don't even know his last name. Knitting my eyebrows together, I look out my window.

It's about 9:00, so the morning light is just now fading into afternoon. Ashton is cutting wood with another boy with blonde, shaggy hair. They're both in athletic shorts a plain t-shirts. Something about how Ashton move does something to me, it sets butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

I glance at myself in the mirror, my short yoga shirt and a Cami that has ridden up a little and shows a little of my skin over the waistband of my shorts. Shrugging, I put my snarled hair in a very big messy bun.

When I get downstairs I make myself some coffee, grab my book, and go outside to my porch swing. Instead of sitting straight up like I aways do, I lay across the swing, my feet dangling off the edge. The back of my head faces the boys, so I don't catch myself watching them.

And finally I read my book.
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"You just gonna sit there and read a book?" Someone calls out.

"Sam!" That was Ashton.

I turn in the swing, seeing the boy Ashton called Sam waving his arms around as he most likely explains why he said that.

"Actually no!" I call back with a chuckle.

"Good because that is a horrible book!" Sam yells.

I glance down at my book, Shiver. It'sabout werewolves. Something about them intrigue me greatly. I know that sounds weird but I love to leave this boring world to a fantasy setting where anything can happen.

"No it's not!" I call defensively.

"Whatever makes you sleep at night," Sam says.

I like him, he seems to be a lot of fun. But I roll my eyes and go inside. My phone is wedged between my shoulder and ear as I rage through my closet, calling Caroline.

She answers on the third ring," WHY ROSEMARY PRIOR HOU NEVER TOLD ME FOUR HOT GUYS LIVE NEXT TO YOU!"

Her yelling hurts my ear," well-"

"I'm almost at your house see you later bye!" Caroline already hung up on me.
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Caroline starts running from her car and I run from my porch, still not dressed. We meet halfway in an amazing hug. We're both laughing about how much we missed each other in the whole month I was gone.

I pull back, looking at Caroline's blonde curls and baby doll face," you look amazing!"

She flips her hair," I know."

We laugh on each other before Caroline says," wanna go swimming? It's super warm out."

"In the lake we found in the middle of the woods?" I ask and Caroline nods.

I shrug.

Once we're inside Caroline looks at me," where are all the hot guys Luke told me about when I saw him at the gas station?"

I point to the window where Ashton and Sam have a little girl between them," there's two of them. Ashton and Sam." I point to them as I say their name.

The boys seem to look towards my house when I say their names. Before I can do anything, Caroline is outside.

"Hey hot guys!" She yells," wanna go swimming?"

"Caroline!" I exclaim, running out after her.

The boys look at each other then at us,"sure." Sam calls back.

There's a weird way he looks at her that makes Caroline blush.

"Can I come?" The little girl asks cheerfully.

"Abi..." Ashton starts.

"Of course you can," I interrupt.

Ashton looks up at me, a little surprised. I smile at the littler girl Abi,"wanna get ready with us girls?" I ask. Then to Ashton," if that's okay?" He nods.

Abi nods so fast I think her head might fall off," yes pleeeaaaseeee."

I motion for her to follow us inside," then come on." She runs across the yard and takes my hand.

"Its a lake in the woods we'll show you where," Caroline says and walks into the house with Abi and I.
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Sam and Ashton are talking so intensely they don't notice we're on the porch until Abi collides with Ashton's leg. His smile is genuine as he lifts her into his arms.

Caroline borrowed one of my string bikinis that doesn't fit anymore. I settled with my bandeau, a red one. We put our clothes on over it and grab a few towels. Abi was so exited when I found one of my bathing suits from when I was her age. Thank god my mom is sentimental.

Caroline goes to stand next to Sam," I'm Caroline. Rose said you were Sam."

Sam nods," the one and only." his smile matches his demeanor, lighthearted and amused.

Caroline and Sam start a conversation I don't really listen to, I'm too busy watching Ashton with Abi. Abi looks up a Ashton as if he was her father. It's adorable.

I make a pleased noise and jog the rest of the way to the lake. The rocks Luke and I discovered are in sight, meaning the deepest point in the lake is just over my head. The rocks that show above the water are like tanning beds for Caroline and me.

Caroline follows me out to the little patch of coarse sand and takes off her shirt. The bikini she borrowed from me looks better on her. It's black, which contrasts with her pale skin in just the right way while my tan skin matches the Crimson of my bathing suit.

I shimmy out of my shorts, taking care in not pulling my bikini bottoms down with them. They match my plain top. Caroline has aready beaten me, splashing water as she runs deeper into the lake. I follow her, not even bothering to wait until the water was deeper before diving underwater.

It's colder than I expected it to me, shockingly fridged. When I come up for air i suck in a huge breath at the change of tempature. abi squeals as Ashton kicks some of the cool water at her. he and Sam have taken off their shirts, showing off their killer abs. The difference between the two boys is that Ashton is broad but lean, tall, maybe 6' 2". He has an unusual shade of hair, not brown but not blonde either. His eyes are so golden they are almost yellow. Sam is lean, his shoulders as narrow as his waist, and hes maybe 6' 4". His blonde hair and blue eyes seems to shine. Ashton is tan, his muscles buldging even though he isnt flexing and Sam is more pale, but still strong.

Sam splashes Caroline, making her groan is fustration, her hair got wet. Abi is refusing to swim right now, paying in the sand and Ashton is making his way towards me. He smiles, both dimples flexing, white teeth shining.

"Wanna play chicken?" He asks.