The Boy Next Door

Chapter 3 - Crushed

Jade's POV

I woke up this morning to find Carrie and Dan hovering over my bed. They simultaneously spoke to one another. Words such as, "I think she's waking up." Or, "No, I think she's just moving." Rang through my ears as I tried to close my eyes once again.

"Guys." I touched one of their faces. And noting that there was no curly hair surrounding it, I knew it was Dan. "I can hear you."

"We just stopped by to say Happy Birthday. Even made you a cake." There was a pause. "Well. Phil is making a cake. In your kitchen. So don't go in there."

We heard a clanging of metal, and Phil's voice screaming, "BLOODY HELL THAT FUCKING HURT. SHIT."

"Yeah. I don't think you should go in there." Carrie laughed. "So, how was your little concert?" Carries teased, "Hit it off with a tall, blonde, Irish, bloke?"

Dan rolled his eyes, and walked out of the room, "I'm going to go check on Phil. And that cake."

I sat up, "Well. He wasn't blonde and Irish. But certainly he's tall." I smiled thinking of Alfie. My smile slowly faltered when I realised he was probably with Zoe as of now.

"What's wrong, sugar plum? Didn't get his number?" Carrie plastered on her concerned look and open ears.

"No, no." I shook my head. "It's--it's not that. It's just.." I looked down at my thumbs, whom suddenly became interesting to me, "He belongs to someone else."

"Oh.. Jay, I'm so sorry to hear that."

"What's even worse.. Is that the girl he's with... Is Zoe."

Alfie's POV

As soon as Zoe gave me a little more motivation to talk to Jade again, I rushed there right after we had breakfast.

But as soon as I knocked on the door, there stood in the doorway, my good mate, Dan Howell.

"Dan." I half-heartedly smiled. "What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Oh. Just baking Jade a birthday cake with Phil."

"Oh. Has he screwn it up yet?"

"Yeah. Actually. He's burnt it.i. And himself trying to get it out of the oven. But. Wait. Why are you here? You know Jade?"

"Yeah. I actually wanted to talk to her.." I bit my lip in nervousness.

"Oh. Well I think she's still having girl talk in her room with Carrie. I left when she started talking about this guy.."

My heart sank. She was already interested in someone else. "Oh. Well. I'll just... Come back later then. Thanks, man."

"No problem. I'll tell her you stopped by."

Jade's POV

"But. Alfie and Zoe aren't a thing, love. Why are you so worried?"

"No, but they are, Carrie. I know they are. I can see it in her eyes whenever she's near him.. And she's always talking about him.. I know she's interested in him... And it's only a matter of time before she---"

"Jade, you're over-reacting about all of this. I really don't think it's any problem. I think that they have the same kind of relationship that I share with Alex. They're best friends. And I can't picture them anything more than that."

"Thanks." I enwrapped Carrie into a tight embrace before mentioning the boys. "So. Let's go check on my kitchen."

Alfie's POV

"Well, did you ask her?" Zoe questioned me.

"I was about to, but Dan was there. And so were Phil and Carrie. And Dan said he overheard Carrie and Jade talking about some guy."

"Well then you better step up your game, Alfred. You better say something before it's too late."

"What if i'm too nervous to say anything?"

Zoe thought for a moment, "You can practice what you're going to say."

"But that isn't--"

"Tell me what you're going to tell her. I'm a girl. And I know Jade very well. I can help you."

"Okay." I sighed. "Here it goes." I closed my eyes tightly, and opened them. I focused on my words, and said them to Zoe. "Hey, Jade?"

"Yes?" Zoe filled in.

"I need to tell you something."

"What is it, Alfie?" She smiled just as Jade would. Zoe really captured Jade's expressions perfectly.

I sighed, "The truth is. Yesterday wasn't the first day we met."

Zoe blinked, pretending to be confused, "Really?"

"I met you once when you were getting your mail. I don't think you remember though. But I do." I paused, remembering the day. "You forgot your key in the mail slot and I ran it back to you. But I never got the chance to say a word."

"What are you saying, Alfie?" Zoe asked as Jade would.

Jade's POV

As I swallowed the last scrap of cake in my plate, Dan mentioned, "Oh. Yeah. Alfie stopped by earlier. He came to chat. But I told him that you and Carrie were talking about something. He seemed kind of nervous about something though."

I looked at Carrie with wide eyes, and she returned the expression. I ran to my room in a second's notice, and changed clothes. I brushed my teeth and did my normal morning routine.

I ran back into the kitchen, passing my friends, "I'll be back!" I yelled as I ran out the door.

I ran to Alfie's house and primped myself one last time. But as I was about to knock on the door, I heard Alfie's voice. "I really did like you from the start. You captivated me from the beginning. I just never had a chance to say anything until now. And I know this seems sudden, and kind of strange, but.. Will you go on a date with me?"

"Yes." I heard Zoe's voice respond.

I knew it.

"I knew it." I muttered to myself as I walked aimlessly back home. "I knew it."

Author's Note:

Well there's your update for The Boy Next Door! Please give me some feedback on this story because I love hearing it, and it gives me a drive to continue the story! Don't forget to also give this chapter some votes, and don't forget to follow! Thank you for all your support! (: x

Please also go check out my other stories, "5 Minutes," a story about the Harries twins, and "Skinny Love," a story about Niall Horan.