The Boys Next Door

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I was walking back to my house, when a dark shadow dropped down in front of me. I shrieked, swiping at it. The shadow ducked, moving so fast I couldn't process it, and then their hands were gripping my shoulders. "Rape!" I yelled.

"Taylor," I opened my mouth to scream again, but they cut me off, "Taylor..." My attention snapped to the attacker's face, and I turned bright red. Cayden stood in front of me, dressed in all black. Black leather jacket and t-shirt over dark wash jeans. How did he wear that in this heat? His grip on my arms tightened. "You done waking the neighbors?" I nodded, eyes wide. "Okay," he said, squeezing my arm once more, before slowly, reluctantly, pulling his hands away.

"Where are you going anyway?" I asked, looking around, frown on my face.

"Gee Taylor, I don't know. I just snuck out of my bedroom window, fell from a fucking tree, just for a nightly stroll."

"My bad." My cheeks felt like fire.

Suddenly, another figure dropped down in front of me. I screamed again, and on instinct slapped them. This person wasn't lucky as my hand connected with their face with a satisfying crack. "Oh, shit," Tyler mumbled, rubbing his cheek, where a red handprint was slowly fading.

Cayden doubled over laughing. "Did you honestly think I wouldn't notice a rapist sitting in your tree and not say anything?"

I shrugged, "Just want to be prepared." My heart was still hammering in my chest.

Cayden finally straightened. "I like you," he stated. "This should be fun." Fun indeed. He winked before strolling to his Audi, shoulders back and head up.

Tyler was about to follow, but I stopped him. "Sorry for slapping you."

He grinned. His teeth were a flash of white in the darkness. "It's fine. It's nice to know you put up a fight."

What?

I shook my head, releasing the thought. "Who's party is it anyways?" I usually was one of the first people to hear about a party. I was surprised that Tyler and Cayden even heard about a party considering they only really got settled in today. But as I glanced at Cayden again, it was easy to imagine some girl batting her eyelashes saying just how it would just be so fun if he could drop by tonight, before scrawling her phone number on his arm in a desperate attempt to get him to call her later.

"How would I know? I'm just the designated driver."

I rolled my eyes and shoved him to where Cayden was impatiently waiting, leaning up against the hood of the car, tapping his foot, and looking at his wrist where a watch should be but wasn't. "Have fun."

A wicked grin devoured his face, "Oh I will."

Okay then...

***

A light tap sounded on my window, waking me from my sleep. I rolled over, groaning, and buried my face in my pillow. A screech sounded, followed by swearing, and then silence. Curious, I looked over my shoulder to find the window half open, and Cayden straddling the sill. Tyler gave me a three fingered wave behind him from his perch on the giant oak. Holy Crap.

I scrambled backwards, clutching the blanket to my chest, "What are you doing?!" I whisper-yelled. The cool wood of the headboard groaned as I leaned against it. By now both Cayden and Tyler were in my room. I glanced nervously at the door where I was sure that someone would come barging through, yelling about all the noise.

"Tylenol," Tyler explained before collapsing on the floor, one arm strewn over his eyes.

I frowned, "I thought you were the designated driver."