The Boy Next Door

Part Five: Neighbour

I gently tapped Ashton on the arm, waking him up. Him and Harry made a fort at the living room while I washed the dishes after dinner. Soon, the three of us went to have a movie marathon, laughing together and talking about almost anything we can think off.

"I'm up, why?" He asked, looking at me with sleepy eyes.

"I'll head to my room, I'll leave you two here," I said in a low voice. Harry is still fast sleep with his head on Ashton's shoulder.

"Okay, goodnight," he said, smiling, before he closed his eyes again.

I smiled at the sight of them before I went to the kitchen to grab some milk. Then I quietly went to my room.

I took out some pajamas from the closet, throwing it at the bed. I had my top off when I noticed the lights from the room across opened before Calum appeared with a shock look on his face. I quickly covered my breast with the top I just took off.

"What the fuck?" I whisper yelled, confused. Our bedroom windows are facing each other. He opened his window and motioned for me to do the same.

"Hey, neighbour," he said, grinning, the moment I opened my window. "Didn't expect a strip show would be included upon vacancy of this room."

"You're our new neighbour?" I asked, eyeing him.

"Yeah," he smiled, nodding. "That's why I decided to play with Harry for a bit before I head back here to help."

"Wait," I said, remembering Ash. "Do you have a sibling?"

"Yeah, one, why?" He asked, confused.

"Does he happen to know my brother?"

"Mali's a she," he chuckled. "And, yes, she met him once during our soccer practice."

"Oh," I said quietly before it hits me. "You're friends with my brother?"

"Yeah, we play together," he said, raising his eyebrow. There's an amused look on his face. "I just saw him while I was parking my car out front when he arrived."

"Oh," I repeated. I shook my head, laughing at myself. "Oh, okay. You were the friend he said he was talking to outside. That made sense."

"Mikee," he called. I looked back at him as he smiled at me. "I, uh, I really don't mind you dressed like that. You can take it here, if you want to. I can put a ladder for you to cross."

The funny thing about our bedroom windows aside from facing each other is it's just a few feet apart. Imagine that scene from Scream, we can basically put a ladder or something and cross each other's room.

I eyed him, as he laughs. He continued, "can you, uh, put your shirt on? And, maybe, come back here."

"Just a sec," I giggled as I disappeared into view and quickly changed into my pajamas. I pulled the chair from my study table and brought it to the window.

"Much better," he said as soon as I get back to the window. He was sitting by the sill with his one leg dangling outside.

"You're very different, you know," I said, looking at him. "I mean, you look different I almost didn't recognized you."

"Well, I'm pretty sure I'll be suspended for having highlights and tattoos at school," he chuckled, as he plays with a guitar pick on his fingers.

"I'd like to try ombre actually," I said.

"Why don't you? It'll look good on you," he said, looking back at me.

"I don't know," I shrugged. "Maybe I might get suspended. Or maybe because people might not like it."

"Boo," he rolled his eyes, laughing. "I wear glasses at school, and I'm no nerd, I promise. But I don't give a damn about what they think. I like that they don't mind me at all because of what they think I might be."

"Guess so," I simply said. "You, uh, play the guitar?"

"Yeah," he smiled. "Here, I'll play you something. Wait."

He disappeared for a minute before coming back with a guitar on his hand. He sat back down and positioned the guitar on his lap.

"I wrote this, listen," and he started strumming.

"Even when the sky is falling down
Even when the earth is crumbling 'round my feet
Even when we try to say goodbye
And you can cut the tension with a knife in here
Cause I know what'll happen
If we get through this
And if the earth ends up crumbling down to its knees, baby
We just gotta get out
And if the skyscrapper tumble down and crash around, baby
We just gotta get out"

I looked at him, smiling, as he plays the guitar and sing. His voice was all kinds of wonderful.

He bent to put his guitar down the floor before looking back at me, smiling.

"If I'm a judge at The Voice, I'd ring my buzzer for you," I chuckled. "But, no, really, you're really good. And that song is very catchy."

"Gee, thanks, babe," he smiled, blushing.

Him calling me babe is growing on me...

"Calum," I started, "don't tell anyone at school."

"About what?" He asked curiously, eyeing me.

"About what I look like outside school?" I said slowly, pointing out but sounding like I'm asking him the obvious. "I just, I don't know. I might disappoint them or something if they find out I take care of my brother and does all the chores around here."

"It's okay, you're doing okay," he said. "You do it because you love Harry. You love your family. Don't mind others. I honestly admire you for that. Didn't thought the perfect girl at school would be this hardworking and thoughtful one at home. I'm pretty amazed at how you manage both."

"I'm no perfect," I shook my head, chuckling.

"To me," he looked at me in the eye. I feel like I might get lost in his and I want to. "To me you are perfect."

Without thinking twice, I blurted out and said, "I don't want anyone to see you like this, too."

"What?" He said, not taking his eyes off me.

"I don't want people at school to know how different you are outside," I continued. I looked away from him, embarrassed. "I, uh, I want to be the only one who gets to see you like that."

"I want to be the only one who gets to see you like that, too," he said.

I looked back at him to find him smiling at me.

"Okay," I said in a low voice, smiling.

"Okay," he repeated.