Neighbor Calum

Chapter 4

I wake to the sound of music playing softly from across the way. One eye peeks open first like maybe it's still deciding whether or not we want to acknowledge it, then the other opens as I sleepily blink around the room. It's dark and I want to get up and sit at my window seat and talk to Calum about anything he's willing to share but I don't. I don't because all I can see playing in my head is Calum giggling and leaving with a girl and his friends, not even bothering to introduce me or even say goodbye.

So I don't move, not even to get comfortable again because I'm sure he's watching. Waiting. And I don't want him to know I'm awake. My clock says it's 3 in the morning and this is usually the time we call it a night. The thought alone sends a frown to my face and I can't help but think about where the hell he's been all this time.

Probably out with that girl, I grumble bitterly to myself.

Whoa, maybe I'm just really tired because I certainly wasn't jealous.

Not at all.

Not even a tiniest bit.

Really.

Closing my eyes again, I try to get back to sleep and forget about the stupid non-jealous feeling growing deep inside me.

The music gets louder and it physically pains me to ignore it because he clearly wants me to hear, to wake up and talk to him but I just can't. I ignore it, knowing any minute now one of our parents is going say something and they do. It's Calum's dad tonight, I can hear him go into his room and stamper on about how it's three in the morning and they have neighbors.

The music stops mid verse and the door slams before I hear Calum's window shut. I wait a few minutes before turning over and looking toward the window where Calum's shades are still wide open and for some odd reason the sight of it and knowing he's there sets a calmness through me and soon I'm drifting back to sleep.

-

The next morning - or rather, afternoon - I wake up with a stretch and a groan and immediately eye the window. I wonder if he's awake yet, if he's already gone for the day to do god knows what with god knows who. When my mind starts to go into thoughts of him and the girl again and how she's probably the one he's been spending his days with, I decide to check my phone as a distraction.

There's a couple texts, one of which is a group text, my friends wanting to go do something for the day which honestly couldn't have come at a better time. I quickly text back letting them know I'd just woken up and are getting ready now then lay in bed a few more minutes before actually getting up to shut the curtains.

I catch a glimpse of the sleeping boy across the way, tucked into his bed with his dark hair a complete mess and I can't help but think how cute and cuddly he looks. He shifts and I snap out of my daze, shutting the curtain and going to get ready.

-

I get home late, sneaking back into the house oddly enough, not because of my parents but because I don't want to risk seeing or hearing from Calum. As soon as I walk into my room the first thing I do - before even turning on the light - is peek out the window. His shades are drawn and the lights off which is both a relief and an insult. He just went out again? Didn't even faze him? But of course it wouldn't he had friends and a girl of his own.

I do my usual nightly routine muttering under my breath about how annoying my stupid cute neighbor is and by the time I'm done I've worked myself up so much I switch the light on and open the curtains but go straight to my bed.

Fine if Calum can go about his life without our little time together having a part in it then two can play that game. I put my headphones on, turn the music all the way up and flip through one of my very many magazines.