The Mystery Guy Next Door

√ 7) Bad Timings

Two hours would be enough to get ready, I decided. I wasn't the type to take ages getting ready anyway.

Mum called me downstairs and offered me some dinner. The grilled juicy chicken seemed so tempting but I refused it, only eating a small portion of potato salad. I wasn't going to fill myself up and then potentially be sick all over the party floor.

Mum asked me why I wasn't eating so I reminded her about the party and how I was going with J. Mum eyed me suspiciously when I said I was going with J.

"Mum he's only going with me to the party. He isn't going to eat me."

She laughed. "I hope not, wouldn't want a cannibal for a next door neighbour."

Getting into the shower and washing my hair, was the first thing I did. After getting out, I dried myself and went to decide what to do with my hair. Finally deciding on having my hair tied in a high ponytail, I began the job of curling my hair so it mirrored loose waves. It took me ages to curl my hair and I made sure I had done it perfectly; not a single strand of hair was out of place. Why was I taking so much care in my appearance? It was only a party.

Twenty minutes later, I was getting agitated by the amount of time I had spent on my hair alone. I quickly moved on to my makeup. I put a subtle layer of makeup on, not wanting to overdo the look. After the makeup, I changed into my blue dress and admired myself in the mirror. I slipped on my silver heels which made my tanned legs look longer. I had found them in the back of my mum's wardrobe. It was like they were made for me, they fitted perfectly and the pattern on them matched the one on my dress.

Glancing up at the clock, I noticed the time slowing coming up to 7:45pm. My heart beat quickened knowing that within the next half hour, I would be with J.

Spraying myself in a coat of perfume and grabbing my clutch, I let out a breath of satisfaction. Once satisfied with my look, I texted Kathy to tell her I was ready and that I was heading next door to J. She texted me back almost instantly,

Will see you later hon, and I am making sure that by the end of it, you've had a smooch with J. - Followed by a thousand winky faces.

I texted back,

Haha. Will see, were only friends!!

I sat back until a ping came from my phone, I checked it to see Kathy's message,

You wish it was more babe.

I didn't reply. Instead just laughed and shook my head whilst making my way downstairs.

I went downstairs towards the living room where I could hear Nate and mum talking. I went in and told them that I was heading out.

"Honey, you look beautiful." My mum expressed. I straightened out my dress and smiled sweetly.

"Thanks mum, I borrowed these heels that I found in the back of your wardrobe. I hope you don't mind."

"No dear, its fine don't worry. Just be back my midnight alright?"

"Okay mum." I glanced over at Nate. He was rubbing his eyes fiercely. "Nate? Is everything ok?"

Mum laughed at my half confused and half worried expression.

"Yeah, just got something in my eye. Bit of dust thats it..." I bent down and hugged him. He hugged me back but mum broke the hug quickly.

"Alright. Alright that's enough, your gonna mess up her hair Nate!" He let go of me and I gave mum a grateful look.

Nate kissed me on the cheek.

"Now your licking off her makeup." Mum scolded jokingly. Nate rolled his eyes.

"Enjoy yourself." I nodded and began to get my phone out of my clutch. I called J but his phone went straight to voicemail. By now, it was 7:55 the party would start in 5 minutes but I wasn't bothered. Usually, people didn't start arriving until at least an hour into the party.

Instead I walked over to J's back door and it was surprisingly open. I crept in quietly. Half of me was telling me to get out, mind my own business and knock on the front door but the other half was begging me to carry on. So, I carried on. That's when I heard J in a low gruff voice.

"I'll tell her in my own time; whenever I think is right."

"I want you to bring her here within the week and if she doesn't come, well.. you know what the Master will do to you." The voice was loud and clear despite the loud speaker not even being on.

"But.." The caller hung up and J cursed loudly. My phone pinged, signalling a text which most likely, Kathy must have sent me.

"Oh, Shit." J spun around and he was overwhelmed. By what? I don't know but he seemed shocked when he saw me. His gaze took in every inch of me longingly. I however also took in his every detail. He was wearing a pair of brown chinos and a short sleeved shirt which was checked blue. On his feet, he was wearing grey pumps. My eyes worked their way back up to his face. His hair was ruffled messily as if he had just woken up. Ouch. He looked awesome. If I was a wolf, I would have pounced and sank my teeth into his neck.

"Done checking me out?" He asked with a smirk plastered on his face.

I groaned. He walked to me and brought both my hands up to his chest. My heart fluttered just by his touch. His hand reached out and caressed my cheek. He used his thumb and forefinger to slowly lift my chin to meet his gaze. Once I looked into his eyes, I could see excitement and something unknown. Pity, lust, desire, sadness.- A mixture of those.

He scratched the back of his neck. That, I found adorable. I looked at J and smiled. At that moment, he looked up and blushed slightly.

"Y-you look beautiful." Suddenly it dawned on him exactly what he said. So, he changed the subject. "Um.. we don't want to be late.. lets go." He reached for his car keys and also managed to grasp hold of my hand. Our fingers intertwined with each others and I felt myself blush.

"Come on." He whispered and I could feel his hot breath on the back of my neck. Once we sat in the car, it was too awkward but it wasn't the type of awkward where you want to jump off a cliff. It was pleasantly awkward. I was the one who broke the silence. " Since when did you have a car?"

"My car was in for repair and I hardly use it much. I only use it when I'm out and about." He replied.

"Since when did you hide behind doors and listen to other people's conversations?" He asked.

I gulped. "Oh yeah. About that. I came through the back door cause I found it open. I heard you speaking on the phone to someone about bringing someone somewhere." He twitched but I continued anyway. "But honestly I didn't hear anything else."

"Good. You better not have heard anything else." He mumbled but I managed to hear him say it. He seemed to have noticed by sudden change of mood.

"You know, I would never do anything to hurt you right?"

"Yeah. I guess."

"And you know that I consider your my.. friend and that I wouldn't risk your safety for anything right?"

"Yeah."

"And... You know that you look super cute in that dress right?"

"Yeah." I realized that he had just tricked me. "No! I mean.. I don't know."

He laughed. A real actual laugh, it made the hairs on my neck stand up.

"Well then, You should know. You really do look beautiful tonight." He almost whispered the last bit but there was no mistaking it.

"You look great too." My hoarse voice replied back. I looked out the window and tried to think about something other than my hero next to me..