Splintered Heart

Chapter One

"Please just leave the last box in the hallway" you say to the movers who are helping unload the delivery van. After what's feels like months of packing, loading, unloading and unpacking you finally are moving into your new apartment. Currently there are boxes everywhere and no room to even think about how you will fit everything in. You thank and pay the moving company and start to unpack the first of many boxes. After you stomach rumbles from the lack of food you head to the kitchen first in hopes that you can unpack quickly and get some food into your stomach but quickly realising that you have no food to cook with.

While unpacking you look around your apartment to finally visualise what the end result will be. There's one master bedroom with an en-suite, a midsize kitchen and a living room with floor to ceiling windows displaying beautiful views of the city that's sounds you. Humming in content you finish unpacking the last of the kitchen boxes while listening to your music. As you are searching for local takeaways still open at 12:40am you here a knock your door. Confused you make your way around the boxes and look to see who could possibly be at your door. You have not had time to introduce yourself to the neighbours or people of Quantico and your family live a couple of hours away to just show up unannounced. Looking through the small window on the door you can see a older brown haired male looking at his watch. He is dressed in a suit however from the lack of jacket and tie you assume he has just finished work. You reach for the baseball bat that you keep near your door for occasions like this and slowly open the door enough to protect yourself from the stranger but can still communicate.

"Can I help you?" You ask the male who has yet said a word. He looks at your eyes and face with an unreadable expression almost as he is trying to figure out your whole personality from one look. You raise your eyebrow at him and you see the male switch to a cold demeanour and looks again at his watch before he speaks.

"It's 12:45am why the hell are you making so much noise." The male finally speaks up.
This time you don't respond back to him straight away and take the time to look him over like he did to you. You notice how the man in front of you is good looking he has dark brown eyes that give if the impression that they can look into your soul, short brown hair that seemed to have been styled but from rubbing his hands through it throughout the day has left it slightly messy. The rest of his attire looks very professional making it seem like he works as a lawyer or similar. He clears his throat getting your attention back to his words.

"I am just unpacking." You say trying not to give the stranger too much information about yourself.

"I can hear that but can you not wait until morning and turn your music off. It's late and some people are trying to sleep." He demands coldly without breaking eye contact with you. Feeling the exhaustion in your body and hunger you snap back to the stranger.

"I will turn my music off but I'm not stopping unpacking just because a random creepy stranger is banging on my door. Deal with it cause I couldn't care less. I have had a few tough weeks and if you don't mind I have a lot of unpacking to do so goodbye." You say in a matching cold tone and go to close the door when his hand stops you.

Tightening your grip on the baseball bat you look up at him once again but before you could move or speak he beats you to it.

"Look I didn't mean to come across as creepy. I live next door and my son is trying to sleep. All I want is that you keep the noise to a minimal so he can sleep through the night." He sighs rubbing his fingers on his forehead.

"Well if you just said that then this wouldn't be an issue but I am not stopping unpacking however I will try my best to keep the noise down. I'm y/n." You say trying to be civil reaching out to shake his hand. After all you have only just moved here and do not want to piss of your neighbours. He looks down at your hand for a split second before reaching out to shake it.
"Aaron" he says still giving the impression he does not trust or like you. When your hands meet you can't help but notice how nice his hands are. They are big with a couple of scars and have veins going in different directions. Pulling away you look up to him slightly embarrassed he just caught you checking out his hands.

"Well goodnight then." He leaves without a second thought leaving you stood at your door confused. Why has a man that was rude and cold to you making your stomach have that very familiar feeling. You shake your head blaming it on the lack of food before shutting your door and this time locking it. You make your way back to your phone turning the music off and continuing to look for food settling to order the only thing that is still open. Chicken nuggets and chips from McDonalds.

You hurry back to the living room keeping your word of keeping the noise to a minimum you carry on unpacking only stopping to eat your takeout. The living room and bedroom is finally unpacked after hours of hard work. Only thing that remains is the bathroom which has the least items to unpack. The time on your phone now reads 5am meaning you have time to shower before running errands. Quickly grabbing the box with your toiletries you grab your shampoo and conditioner heading to the shower. As soon as the hot water hits your back you sigh relaxing and the tiredness finally hitting you.

Finishing your routine you head to get dress into comfy clothes put on some minimal silver jewellery. While drying your hair you figure out the plan for today. You start your new job tomorrow so you need to go food shopping, work clothes shopping and finish unpacking the bathroom. You finish getting ready and grab your keys to head out the door. Looking at your phone you lock your door searching for the closest food store. While walking down the hall you bump into something that can only be described as a brick wall. Catching you off guard you stumble backwards but before you can fall you feel a firm grip on your hip and lower back.

"I am so sorr-" you start before making eye contact with the person in front of you. His dark eyes stare into your y/c eyes. His hands are still on your back until you step backwards.
"Sorry I wasn't paying attention." You mumble looking to your feet.
"I can see that." He says coldly. You roll your eyes at him ignoring the way his hand felt on your body.
"You know it's rude to roll your eyes at people." Aaron states.
"You know it's rude to be so cold to people who haven't done anything wrong." You state back.
"Just be careful next time." He says and you notice he is wearing work out clothes. Tight white top that hug his arms and shoulders with lose black shorts.
"Going on a run?" You ask the obvious.
"Yes and I'm late so goodbye." He states walking to the end of the hall to the stairs.
"What an ass" you mumble to yourself before following to leave the apartment complex.
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