The Blonde Choch Next Door

Chapter 3 - New Neighbor

BEEP BEEP BEEP

Oliver groaned. It was Friday morning, and she had class in an hour.

Why did she never feel like getting out of bed?

She shivered as she rolled out of the sheets, grabbing her fuzzy pink blanket sprawled on the armchair next to her desk.

She padded over to her dresser and pulled out a pair of black tights, hopping around the room in circles to get them on. Why is it always so hard? Once they were successfully on both legs, she went to her closet and pulled a black skater skirt off its hanger, tugging it to the top of her waist. She dug through her jackets for the black crop top hoodie that read 'Cool' on one arm and 'Vibes' on the other, then threw that over her head and adjusted the sleeves. After shoving her black combat boots on her feet, she threw her purse over her shoulder. Perfect.

On the way out the door, she plugged her headphones into the iPhone jack, pulling up Spotify as she locked the front door. Music was a must while walking to class.

She was only a few steps down the hallway when stopped in her tracks by a sudden, sharp crash.

It sounded like shattered glass.

It also sounded like it was coming from...next door?

Oliver froze, peering with caution at the front door to complex number six, the apartment across from her and Ivy's. It looked like any other door, wooden and bare, except for the golden '6' that hung in the center. The unit had been vacant for a couple of months now, and she had gotten used to the silence.

She took a few steps towards the door, tilting her head in confusion. She hoped to god her potential new neighbors weren't some psychopaths or something...

After a few more tentative steps, she backtracked out of fear.

Who am I kidding?

She didn't have the guts to confront these strangers on her own—she needed Ivy.

She proceeded to turn around and go wake her up, when a loud voice burst through the other side of the door—

"AYOOO Logang, what's poppin'!"

Oliver froze.

It couldn't be.

Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god.

She tried to remind her lungs how to breathe.

She heard his voice getting nearer and nearer the door, but her legs wouldn't allow her to move.

She was rooted in place, mouth gaping open when he finally burst through the door, and stepped—no leaped—outside.

"Lydia, I need—!"

He stopped mid-sentence, eyeing her up and down with that same goofy grin across his face.

"Heyyy!"

Oliver blushed.

Logan. Alexander. Paul.

How was he even more good looking in person? Shirtless, in sweatpants and gucci slippers, hair a floppy mess—he looked perfect. She tried not to stare at his abs, keeping her focus down at his feet.

Logan turned to face the inside of the apartment.

"Brendan—quick sidebar, quick sidebar..."

She caught a glimpse of Brendan behind the door, laughing as he held the camera steady in front of Logan's face.

Logan disappeared into the apartment, breaking into a chorus of hushed whispers and muffled laughs.

Oh no. Oh no no no no no.

Was she just another stupid joke for one his vlogs now?

Nice. Nice one Oliver.

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment as she heard even more laughter from behind the door. Who was she kidding? Maybe he was just an asshole in person.

She turned on her heel, and sped down the rest of the hallway, determined not to be the laughing stock of millions of viewers. And to think she had been waiting so long to finally meet him...

"Heyy! Hey wait! Stop!"

She started walking even faster.

"Damn, you're fast! Stop, just wait a minute!"

This could not be happening. She willed her legs to go even faster.

"Come on, I just want to talk!"

She heard his pounding footsteps from behind, but continued to focus on her exit. Only ten more steps...

She reached the door at the end of the hallway, hand coming into contact with the silver knob. Just as she was beginning to pull it open, a large hand reached past her head and slammed it shut. His shoulder brushed against hers as he leaned forward—she smelled a mixture of cologne and sweat.

"Where are you off to in such a hurry?"