Neighbors

Chapter Two, Baking

"Quinn honey I'm just gonna go to the store real quick I'll buy you that unicorn you've been talking about ok?" "Don't listen to him, he's lying!" I wake up in a sweat and realize I had that same nightmare again. It's a nightmare I've been having since I was seven. I climbed out of bed and walked into the kitchen to make coffee. I saw a note from Peyton saying she had to run the shop today but she wished me luck with the neighbor. I grab the recipes box and sit at the island flipping through different recipes. I decide to go with Raspberry Lemon cake and if he doesn't want that Fudge pie you can't go wrong with those. I turn on my Taylor playlist again to let myself go while I bake. I'm in my kitchen scream singing "Cruel Summer" dancing around while I bake when I feel eyes on me. I turn around holding a spatula and let out a high pitched scream. "AHH!" "Woah woah...calm down crazy. It's your neighbor. But if I wasn't and I was some killer let's say then I'd recommend you lock your door and you find a better weapon than a spatula." I can't help but giggle at his recommendation. "Sorry...but who just let's themselves into someone's apartment?" He takes a seat at the island. "Well I do. I came to apologize about yesterday. And also to see what smelt so good. Did someone hurt you?" He looks at me curiously. "What..?" He laughs. "Because I'm pretty sure India can hear you screaming." I turn my music down and turn back to him. "For your information I'm singing and no no one's hurt me." I think to myself as the words come out this is a lie but he doesn't need to know my whole life and then starts to pity me. "Well just checking. So what are you baking?" "None of your business, now what was this about apologizing?" He laughs and smirks at me. "Well I'm sorry for looking at your tampon." I freeze in disbelief. Did he really just say that? "Well that's not what I was expecting...but thank you." He laughs and then stops short. "What's your name?" "Quinn. Yours?" "Chris." I smile. "That's a nice name." He nods his head and then he suddenly leans over the island and brushes his thumb against my chin. "You had flour all over your chin." "Oh...well that happens when you're baking." Silence feels us and he gets up and starts to walk out of the kitchen. "Wait!" Oh this is so not in my nature. He turns and sits back down. "Yes?" I sigh. "I'm sorry about yesterday. My old neighbor was hardly ever here so she let me use her spot." He smirks at me with this look that says he knows he's all that and it drives me insane. "I hope you know how hard that was for me. Also the baking is for you." His smirk disappears and it's replaced with a look of both amusement and confusion. "Well what kind is it?" I turn and pull the fudge pie out of the oven and place it in front of him. "Fudge pie, and raspberry lemon cake." He smiles at me. "Mhm...this looks amazing. Can I have a fork and do you have milk?" I decided to stand my ground again. "No. This is not your apartment and I never actually invited you in here. I will bring you the raspberry cake when it's done. Bye." He doesn't seem surprised by my sudden change in attitude and he takes his pie and closes the door behind him. "Well that was easy." I say to myself while turning my music back on. I felt happy and free so I changed the music and played Country Gold. "Somethin Bad" comes on and I dance around the kitchen waiting for the cake. The cake has to cool off for thirty minutes so I decide to hop in the shower. I look at myself in the mirror and suddenly I have the urge to wear something nice. When Chris showed up I was wearing a stained tank top and spandex with my long red hair pulled back into a messy bun. I rummage through my closet only to find two decent outfits. I threw on a pair of denim shorts with a purple one strap top and some black wedges. I then curl my hair which I don't even remember the last time I did that and I actually put make-up on. I put the icing on the cake and then I head over to Chris's. I knocked three times before I decided to let myself in. "Hello?" I wander into the living room and kitchen but don't find anyone. "Chris?" I decide to place the cake on the counter beside the half eaten fudge pie. I walk out of the kitchen to find Chris in his bedroom doorway with a towel wrapped around his waist and there's a long scar going down his side. "Oh." I have no other words at the moment. He is very fit with a back tattoo and a very long scar. "Well I didn't think I was gonna have company." Chris looks at me and smirks. For the first time I noticed his eyes were an icy blue. "Sorry...I was just leaving the cake on your counter." I can't seem to remove my eyes from his scar and he follows my gaze. "Ah... you want to know how I got such a baddie scar?" I laugh nervously. "Well I don't tell just anyone that therefore I have to get to know you better." For some reason that word scares me and always has "get to know you better" . I don't know why but I suddenly turn cold again. "I don't care, bye." I don't wait to hear what he says. I run to the door and rush out then grab my keys and head to my car. I drive aimlessly for a bit and then I decide to head to the shop to see Peyton. I walk in and see Peyton at the register. "Hey..what are you doing here?" I try to smile but fail. She must notice this because she grabs one of the workers and puts them at the register. We walk through isles of clothes together. "What's wrong?" "I don't know there's something wrong with me." She looks at me sympathetically. "What did you do?" "I made the pie and cake for Chris and he came into our apartment and we talked. I was warming up to him but then I shut it down. Then I decided to go to his apartment to drop off the cake and he came out of his room after taking a shower and he talked to me but he said the words I hate...so I ran." Peyton looks at me and shakes her head. "Look Quinn I know because of your past it's hard to let people in I mean it took you three years to let me in and then another four for us to get as close as we are today. But you have to let other people in. This guy seems nice and it sounds to me like he wants to know you but he can't do that if you run every time he says he wants to know you better. Let him in I'm not saying become besties immediately but slowly let him in and if you decide you don't like him shove him right back out but if you do like him then you gain someone else to be able to talk with. Now how about a makeover?" I smile at her. She always knows exactly what to say. "Yes please I am in serious need of new clothes." She winks. "Well then you came to the right place!" We spent the next two hours roaming the store and picking out things that would look good on me. Finally I go to try things on while Peyton goes back to the register. After deciding what to keep and what not to keep I end up with fifteen tops, ten dresses, three pairs of denim shorts, four pairs of track shorts, seven pairs of wedges and heels, more pink hair ties, two tennis shoes, three purses, and cute pj sets. "Alright I think I'm good, this is gonna be a hefty price." We laugh as I go to the register. "So how bad?" Peyton makes a face and types it in. "$400.65 bad." I stare at her in shock and then we laugh again. "Well I guess beauty comes at a price huh?" "Yep. Well I have to get back to work. I'll be home late. I'm going on a date tonight." "Ohh ok well have fun!" I hug her and we say goodbye then I head back home jamming to Jason Aldean songs. Once I park I go to the back to get all my bags and realize I have too many bags for me to carry at once. "Ugh I hate making two trips...this might even be three trips." I sigh and start to put bags around my arms and hands. I suddenly realize there's another hand in my trunk grabbing bags. I turn slightly to see Chris. "You don't have to do that." He smirks. "You're right I don't, but I'm trying to be kind like you mentioned yesterday." I blush and grab as many bags as I can. The two of us end up getting all the bags and head up to my apartment. HE sets the bags to the side as do I. "Well...thank you." "No problem. You look nice." I forget how to speak for a moment and then I quickly remember. "Thank you." He stares at me. "You're a mystery. But I'm intrigued.... Do you have plans tonight?" I try to remember what Peyton said but I just can't spit it out so instead I do the dumb thing to do. "No. But I'm not trying to hang out with you." It comes out a lot harsher than I meant it too but it works because he shoves his hands in his pockets and heads out the door. I put the bags in my room and sit on the edge of my bed. I start to cry and then throw on my pj's and turn on Whiskey Lullaby which is my sad song. I listen to it on repeat and curl up in a ball on my couch crying.