The Bad Boy Across The Street (ON HOLD)

One - I'm fine with knowing you as 'guy-across-the-street'

I wake up to loud noises. At first I think it's my father looking for more aspirin for his hangover or looking for more alcohol. But these are different noises. They're louder and sound like they're combing from outside of the house.

Ugh. I hate being woken up on weekend mornings. Weekends are for sleeping in and watching NCIS Los Angeles later in the day. I roll over and look at the time on my alarm clock. It shows the unholy hour of 5:00 am. Freaking neighbors.

I try to get back to sleep but it's no use, I'm already awake. Grumbling about unholy hours and weekends I roll out of bed. Literally. I fall flat on my face.

I wish I could say that was I looked like one of those girls in the movies when they wake up, looking perfect. But then I'd be lying. My dark brown hair is tangled and frizzy, I have drool on my chin, and...well... all in all I look like like crap. This is why I don't go to sleepovers with my friends. That and I don't have any friends.

I somehow drag myself off the ground and stagger to the small bathroom that connects to my room. How I manage to wake up before the crack of dawn on weekdays still amazes me. I start the shower and let it warm up while I pick out my clothes for the day. Since I'll be staying home today I choose an outfit that could be considered pajamas. With my black yoga pants matched with my white, long-sleeved 'Shadowhunters: looking better in black than the widows of our enemies since 1234' shirt sitting in my bathroom counter, I step into the warm shower.

The shower wakes me up a bit more and my mood has improved because the stupid noises have stopped. I slip on my clothes and walk downstairs. I find that my father has already left for work. There's a note from him and some money on the kitchen counter. The note reads:

Brice,

I'm going to be gone for a day or two for a business trip. Here's some money for food.

Love,

Dad

I read the note again, puzzled. My father has never gone on a business trip before. His job has specific people for that, and I know for a fact that he isn't one of those specific people. I start to get angry. Does he think I'm stupid? Where is he going that makes him have to lie about it to me?

Whatever. He can do whatever he wants, I'm not the boss of him.

I see how much money he left for me. I sigh, exasperated. I went to the store and stocked up on food yesterday so I don't need it. Does my father ever pay attention?

I make some cereal and walk into the living room to eat. I turn on the t.v. to the Investigation Discovery channel. I'm addicted to this channel. I would watch it all the time if I could. That and NCIS Los Angeles.

I eat my cereal and watch 'Wicked Attractions'. I would rather be sleeping but this episode is pretty good. I set my empty bowl on the coffee table in front of me.

"Don't go in there. I'm telling you, that's a bad idea," I say out loud. The actor does the exact opposite of what I say. She's kidnaped and I shake my head. "I told you not to do that."

Just then the doorbell rings. I stand up and turn the t.v.'s volume down. I start to walk toward the front door but trip and fall on the floor. Nice one Brice. The doorbell rings again and again as I stand back up.

"Alright! I heard you the first time!" I yell. What was so important that I had to be there right when they rang? Jeesh. Some people, I tell ya.

"What is sooooo important that you had to ring the doorbell multiple times in under ten seconds?" I asked as I opened the door.

A boy about a year or two older than me stands with his hands in his pockets. His slightly curly, dark brown hair looks almost black and is tousled in a cute way. Long, thick and dark eyelashes frame his chocolate brown eyes. His features look like they belong to a greek god. He's muscular, but not to the point of disgusting and self-confidence emits from him. He's handsome and he knows it.

I can already tell he thinks he's all that and a bag of chips. He's wearing a stereotypical leather jacket over a well fitted black teeshirt, ripped jeans, and black converse shoes. He leans against the doorframe, hands still in pockets, he flashes me a smile. It's one of those cocky yet stunning smiles that every girl would swoon at the sight of. Luckily, I'm not like every girl.

"Isn't that a great way to welcome your new neighbor," The boy says sarcastically.

"Yup. And here's another way," I say with a smile and try to shut the door in his face. Surprisingly, he puts his hand out and stops the door from closing. I glare at him.

"Aren't you a little ray of sunshine," another sarcastic comment from him. "Don't you want to know what the guy across the street's name is?" he says with another blindingly white smile.

"No. I'm fine with knowing you as 'guy-across-the-street'," I say and try to shut the door again. For a second time the boy stops the door from closing. Now I'm getting angry. "Get your freaking hand off the door before I break it!" I yell at him. This only seems to amuse him though.

"Okay," his says with smirk. He then pulls his hand away from the door, but before I can close it he barges right past me and into the house. He sees the living room and makes himself comfortable on the couch. Looking around he says "Nice place."

"What the heck are you doing?! Get out!" I yell angrily.

The boy mocks being offended. "How rude! And just after you invited me in!"

I have an idea. A very evil idea. I pretend to be embarrassed and timidly walk over to him. He seems to fall for my little act.

"Sorry. Where are my manners? Let's start over. My name is Brice Williams," I say a little shyly as I stick my right hand out to shake his. If he's surprised from my sudden change of attitude he doesn't show it. He smirks, I can tell what he's thinking. He thinks he has won over another girl. Wrong.

He puts his hand in mine to shake it. Bad move. "I'm Antonio De Luca. But you can call me-" His sentence turns into a yelp as I turn the handshake into a judo-flip. Antonio lands hard on his back and groans in pain. "-Tony. you can call me Tony," he grunts, flinching and finishing his sentence.

Before Tony can start to get up I pin him to the ground. Tony try's to push me off and get up but can't since the wind has been knocked out of him. I smile sweetly and batt my eyelashes at him. Tony smirks, thinking I'm flirting with him.

"Tony?" I whisper, leaning closer. I look into his eye and smile a bit. He's actually falling for my act! I can't believe he's that gullible!

"Ya?" Tony asks, his voice deeper and a little huskier than it was earlier. His eyes seem darker than before too... Does he really think I'm going to kiss some guy I just met? Really? Well, isn't he in for a surprise.

"That hurt a bit, didn't it," I say softly. It's not a question, it's a statement. Tony continues to smirk and it's starting to get on my nerves. Is he used to girls throwing themselves at him? Even if they just barely met? Ew. Just ew. And boy is he in for a rude awakening.

"A bit," Tony admits. I lean closer until we're a few inches apart and look at his lips. I swear his breath hitches as I do this. I look back up to his eyes and find that Tony is now looking at my lips. I smile mischievously and lean in more until our noses are almost touching. Tony starts to lean in too and I decide now's the time to end the performance.

Just before our lips touch I pull back and smirk at him. The look on Tony's face is priceless! At first he's stunned and confused but then he's angry when he realizes what I was doing.

"Well, then maybe next time you'll listen to be when I tell you to do something," I say smirking and trying not to laugh. I grab Tony's ear and haul him up to his feet. He flinches as my nails dig into his flesh. As I lead Tony to the front door I loose control and start to laugh at him.

"Wow! You really thought I was going to kiss you!" I said between gasps. Tony gives me a dirty look and I tighten my grip on him. "A piece of info for you: I don't kiss guys I just met. Especially if those guys are a-holes," I say as I shove Tony out the door.

Before I slam the door in Tony's face, I wink at him and smirk. Today just got a whole lot better. I don't know why but messing with jerks always makes me happy. I just hope Tony doesn't try for revenge.

- Hey! Hope you like this chapter! I know it's weird but at least you got to meet Tony, right? Well, comment and tell me what you liked/didn't like or what I need to work on! Thanks for reading!

-Jo