The Boy Next Door (a Spencer Charnas fanfic)

Chapter two

Be prepared for less quality writing because I don't think I could ever write as good as that first chapter. That first chapter was literally the best thing I have ever written.

Water splashes my legs as I accidentally stomp into a growing puddle of rainwater. Not that it really mattered, I was soaked. My clothes hugged my body in an uncomfortable way, the rainwater only making them heavier. The breeze shot through my body like a bullet through a piece of paper. It was absolutely freezing and the rain didn't help either.

Shivering from the harsh conditions outside, I step into the small, run down apartment complex that I call home. Water drips from my clothes and hair, leaving a wet spot on the carpet beneath me.

The only reason I have an apartment in the first place is because it's the shittiest one and the landlord was kind enough to lower the already low price of rent. The water barely worked, the lights barely worked, I couldn't afford heat so it was always cold as shit as well. But hey, better than living on the streets.

Climbing the old, creaky stairs, I fish my keys out of my drenched backpack. I shove the key into the lock and turn it, giving the door a good shove so I could open it. Setting my keys down on the little table that I have next to the door, I peel off my jacket and throw it in my hamper. I strip of my soaked, heavy clothes and change into something more comfortable. I slide another jacket over my head for warmth. I had about an hour before I had to go to work.

It was just a part time gig. Nothing too fancy. I barely even had to work since I didn't actually  have to pay bills since nothing in this shit hole actually worked. All I had to do is pay for the rent. Which as I said before, was super low. But I also needed a job so I could pay to do my laundry at a laundromat since the electricity barely worked. I also managed to put LED lights in every room so I could actually see, they ran on batteries so that was a pain in the ass to do.

I grab the LED light remote from next to my keys and turned them on to white. Grabbing my phone from my bag, I call the pizza place nearby the apartments. Rain was still pounding against my windows and lightning lit up the sky. I place my order for the pizza and grab my wallet from my bag. I open the backpack entirely and set it against the wall, trying to get it to dry.

My apartment could be described in one word: sad. It was barely decorated and it was just....bland. The floors had no carpeting, the couch was old and breaking, the TV ran on hopes and dreams. It was a nightmare. My feet, clad with three pairs of socks, were still somehow cold. My phone buzzes on my hand, sending a tingling sensation up my fingers and through my forearm. The screen lit up with a notification, the pizza was delivered and the guy was waiting by the door.

I rush down the stairs and open the door for the poor, now drenched, delivery guy. Handing over the money, I take the pizza from him and make my way back up to my place. Suddenly, someone runs into me and the pizza box tumbles out of my hands, opening in the process, and smearing all over the carpeted hallway floor.

"No! My pizza!" I kneel down and put the now ruined delicacy back in the box. The guy who ran into me also kneels down and helps.

"Ah, fuck I'm so sorry. Hold on, let me get some paper towels." He rushes into the apartment next to mine and leaves me to stare down at the crime scene in front of me. That pizza was 8 bucks.......

"Here, I got paper towels. Let me clean this up. Again, I am so so sorry." He wipes the red sauce off the floor.

"It's um....its alright. It's fine." I rub my forehead, stressed out. I finally look up and see a bolded IX on his arm. My eyes travel further up and I'm met with the side profile of the one and only Spencer Charnas. My heart stops and I have to force myself to look away.

"I'm really sorry about that" he turns to look at me. His eyes meet mine for a split second before I look away.

"Nah it's fine. It's my fault. I wasn't looking where I was going." I clear my throat and start putting pizza slices back in the box so I could throw it away. I guess I'm not having dinner tonight.....

"How much was it? I'll pay you back." He puts the paper towel in the box as well and sighs.

"Oh no, you definitely don't have to do that. It's alright. Seriously." I grab the pizza box and stand. As much as I honestly needed that money back, I just couldn't bring myself to admit that to him. He scratches the back of his head and stands as well. He stood a couple inches taller than I did.

"Nope. I'm doing it. How much was it? If you don't tell me, I'll just guess." He pulls his wallet out of his back pocket. Unsurprisingly, it was themed around Nightmare On Elm Street. (Googled his favorite horror movie, that's what came up)

I wrap one arm over my hoodie covered chest, standing my ground. He locks eyes with me, seemingly staring into my soul. Not looking away from me, he opens his wallet and pulls out a random bill.

"Oh look at that. A 20. Here you go." He holds the money out to me. It was really tempting. Looking between him and the money a few times, I shake my head.

"I'm not taking that."

"Either you take it, or I'll figure out a way to make you take it."

I groan and take the money from him. I shove it in my pocket and give him a small smile.

"Thanks......"

"It was the least I could do. I'm sure that pizza was your dinner. I'm Spencer, your neighbor." He sticks one hand out while the other puts his wallet back in his back pocket.

"Y/n." I shake his hand, which was surprisingly soft.

"Alright, I should go. Again, I'm sorry about the pizza." He waves and goes into his apartment. And from the half glimpse that I saw of his apartment, I could tell he was still unpacking.

Little did I know, this was the start of a beautiful friendship.