Best of friends

Creepy

I was all settled in my new apartment. I opened the studio and it was quiet at first. People would stop and look at my work, though. I had plenty of interest online. Obviously, I had a lot more on there. I put a lot of my tour photos on.
One sunny Wednesday afternoon, I was busy with some work when somebody walked in. I nearly fell over when I saw who it was. Fall Out Boy. Well, Pete and Patrick.
"Hello, may I help you today?" I asked.
"Yea, Brendon said you were really good at what you do, and he wasn't wrong." Pete said.
"These are fantastic." Patrick said, gesturing to some of the photos I had taken.
"Thank you." I said, nodding in appreciation.
"We need some new shots doing for publicity and just basically new band photos." Pete explained.
"When would you like to do them?" I asked.
"Monday?" Patrick enquired.
"Mondays fine. Afternoon?" Pete and Patrick nodded on agreement, and I booked them in.
We had a chat, and then they left. I finally had a booking, with Fall Out Boy!
I was tidying around, and I heard a noise from my office out the back. I checked, but I couldn't see anything out of place. I shrugged and carried on tidying up.
Brendon was coming over tonight as well. He was taking me out for dinner and a movie. I was really looking forward to it.
After our date we went back to my place. It was a lovely evening.It ended with us making love in my new apartment for the first time.
We both fell asleep, and as it was so warm in late July LA heat, we had sheets kicked off us. I turned in my sleep, and something startled me. I could hear shuffling from above me. I might have birds nesting up there or something. I need to call pest control in the morning. I fell back to sleep.
I awoke to a very sexy boyfriend kissing down my spine. I smiled and moaned quietly. The sensation was wonderful to wake up to.
"Morning B." I mumbled.
"Good morning, Rob." Brendon replied, and he ran his tongue along my spine. I moaned louder then.
"Come here." I said, kissing Brendon.
Showered and full, we said our goodbyes and that I would see him on Friday. I was going to Brendons from tomorrow night until Sunday.
I went downstairs and called some pest control. I then opened up. As I turned the sign around, Tom jogged past. He raised an arm in greeting, so I did it back.
I got on with my day.
Around 4ish, I had a lovely surprise visit from my parents. I hugged them both so tight. I missed them. They took me out for dinner.
"I am very impressed with your store." My mom said.
"Yes," my father agreed. "It's really beautiful, Robyn. We are so proud of you. Michael is running the studio in Vegas smoothly." I nodded, and we ate.
We were choosing some dessert when I felt a presence beside me. I looked up and it was my neighbour Tom, with a lady.
"Hello, Tom." I said.
"Hi, Robyn. This is Valerie." He introduced her.
"Tom, these are my parents, Frankie and Elsie. Mom, Dad, this is my new neighbour Tom." We all said our hellos and had some light general chitchat.
"No boyfriend this evening?" Tom asked. I shook my head and excused myself to the bathroom. Valerie came with me.
As I came out of the stall to fix myself up, Valerie was applying some more lip gloss.
"How do you know Tom?" I asked.
"We dated casually a few months ago. He called me out of the blue earlier today and said that he had got last-minute reservations for here. He asked me if I wanted to come with him. A girl gotta eat." She replied, and we laughed. We exchanged phone numbers, and we followed each other on Instagram. Valerie is an accountant. She has a lot of high-profile clients, too. We were talking so long that my mom came to find out what was taking so long.
"I should have known." She laughed, and we left the bathroom. Tom and Valerie joined us for dessert, and then my parents dropped me off at my apartment. They returned to their hotel.
I unlocked my apartment door and walked in. I placed my purse on the hallway console table. I took my sandals off. My phone played rang out with Don't threaten me with a good time, I spoke to Brendon for a good hour or so. I then went to bed.

I had a booking today. A boutique wants me to do some shots of LA for their store. They are redesigning the store. I asked for their colour theme. They sent over samples, so I went with that. I invited the manager to come and we discussed what sort of things she was looking for. As she left, Tom ran past again. We both waved, and I got myself ready to go and work. I then realised I had a problem. I had no one to cover the store whilst I went out. I hadn't wanted to hire someone else yet because I wanted to see how things would go.
20 minutes later, Tom called into the store.
"How are things going?" He asked, and I told him about my dilemma. " I can do it."
"No, I couldn't ask you to do that." I protested.
"You didn't ask, I offered." Tom simply said.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Now go do what you need to do." He laughed, practically shooing me out the door.
"Thanks,Tom. I won't forget this." And I left.
I returned, and the client was at the store waiting. We went through the shots I had taken, and she chose which ones she wanted. She left, and Tom said he would go and get us some lunch.
We chatted and ate.
"Oh," Tom said, "the guy from pest control came, so I let him into your apartment."
"Let him in? How?" I was confused.
"Spare key." Tom simply said.
"I have a spare key?"
"Yea, on the door frame."
"Ohhh." I would be removing that. Nothing against Tom, but nope. "What did he say?"
"He had a look, and there was nothing up there." Tom said nervously. He wouldn't maintain eye contact for some reason.
"Hmm, ok." I said and continued to eat my salad.
I worked all afternoon on the images for the new client. I had them resize to their requirements and then framed. At about 4.30 pm, the door opened, and Brendon walked in.
"Hey baby." He said, embracing me and kissing my cheek.
"Hi B." I closed the store and thanked Tom once again for his help. Tom left and sort of smirked as he opened the door. I locked up, and we went upstairs so I could retrieve my bag. As I opened the door, I couldn't put my finger on it, but it didn't feel right in my home. I looked but couldn't see anything out of place. It felt creepy. I just had no reason why it felt that way.
I picked my bag up from out of my bedroom, and we left for Brendons house.