The Boy Next Door

| 5 | STEPHAINE |

It was late, about three in the morning, when I heard the door to the apartment open. I walked out of my room and looked out to see Jenn run into her room, locking the door behind her.

"Jenn? Are you okay?" I asked, but no response. "I thought you were staying at Drew's tonight?"

"I-I uh, was, but he had to go- out." She said rapidly.

"Oh, okay then, well I'll get back to work," I said, but again she said nothing back and I just sighed and went back to doing my work.

Apparently, I fell asleep on my desk because I woke up to poking. I creased my eyebrows and mumbled a stop, but the person just kept at it. I frowned and turned towards the other direction so they would stop, but sadly they didn't and I was getting annoyed.

"Leave me alone," I whine, only to hear a husky chuckle.

"Stephy. Babe, time to wake up." I hear, but I stayed down. "But I don't want to," I whined.

That's when I felt fingers against my stomach, and I fell to the floor, laughing. "No, stop!" I laughed as Noah tickled me. He just kept at it and I was literally dying here.

"NOAH!" I screamed as I tried to give my lungs the amount of oxygen they truly need. He laughed and finally stopped. I laid on the floor, my back against the cool hardwood floor, arms spread out trying to catch my breath.

I mumbled. "I hate you." He grinned and hovered above me. "We both know that's not the case."

"Jerk." I pouted as he kissed my cheek. I was going to get up, but he kissed my other cheek, then my forehead, then my nose. "Noah," I giggled, "I'm trying to get up." He kissed my lips, and I automatically fell at his mercy.

After we broke apart, he smiled. "Good morning princess."

"Good morning." I smiled.

"How'd you get in?" I asked as he waited for me in the living room. I finished taking a shower and brushing my hair.

"Well, I was going to knock but Jenn was leaving in a hurry, saying she forgot to give in some report last night and just ran out, letting me in." He explained while eating my cereal.

I placed my hands on my hips. "You and Drew have a serious cereal problem." He just chuckles and I smile at him, giving his cheek a pink lipstick-stained kiss and grabbed some cereal myself.

"So, I see you were writing last night." He says as he places his bowl in the sink.

"Really? What gave you that idea?" I teased. "Oh, the fact I found you drooling on top of your paperwork, not to mention you fell asleep at your desk...again."

"Hey! I do not drool and blah!" I said childishly, as he chuckled and walked over to me. "You're so easy to tease." He said, hugging me, and I frowned at him.

"Okay, well, come on. We're both free, so let's go out."

"Out where?"

"Well, first, how about I take you for some proper breakfast and then we can go shopping if you'd like? I have to pick up Emma later but-"

"You're picking up Emma? Can I come!" I ask excitedly.

Noah has an extensive family. Emma is his youngest and last sibling. She's the most adorable thing ever. She's currently eight and reminds me of Ana, like Ana from Frozen, but instead of orange hair, she has light chocolate locks and the cutest dimples. She is super smart and an energetic ball of sunshine. When Noah brought me once to his apartment, it surprised us to find his mom coming to visit him and, well; I guess that's when he introduced me. She then dragged me and Noah to her house and there I was properly introduced to both of Noah's parents and his siblings; Ashton, Tyler, Gavin, Logan, Abigail, Dylan, and Emma as Noah's girlfriend.