The Nerd Next Door

(2) "Ever Heard of Headphones?"

A month had gone by it was three days into summer vacation. Isobel was enjoying the quiet sound of summer. Most of the popular kids lived in their neighborhood. When her cousin Liam Berkley a line backer on the football team told her about the yacht trip.

She was beyond thrilled to have a quiet summer. Sloane always had to spend her summers in Texas with her dad so Isobel didn't have anyone else to hang out with. As she was lounging in the hammock reading a book.

Bucky was next door he fixed the speakers they normally have outside during the summer. He wasn't allowed to even go to the weight room at school. So he had to use his home gym which was outside.

Bucky hooked up his ipod to the docking station. In the quiet summer air "My House" by Flo Rida began to blare. Which scared Isobel half to death causing her to jump and flip the hammock.

She pushed her glasses up. "Who is playing music that loud?" She whispered as she got up.

She dusted herself off and picked up her book. When she got up to the top patio of her house. She looked to the left of her where Xavier Jones' the corner back lived. There was no one in his backyard so she stood on her toes to look to the right side.

She spotted a shirtless Bucky doing bench presses. "Liam said the whole team was going why is he home?" She thought to herself.

She walked out of her gate and saw that his gate was like hers. So she lifted the lock and walked through his gate. She stood over him and he looked up.

"Who the fuck are you?" He said as he put the weight in the holder and sat up.

"Hi..Im your neighbor on your left. Ever heard of headphones?" She said with her hands on her hips.

"My neighbor?" He said confused as he turned down the music.

"Yes. I live in that house." She said as she pointed to it.

"Did you just move in? Cause I have never seen you before." He said

"No. I have lived over there since I was 2. I go to Ridgeview Academy and I know your name is Bucky Barnes." She said

"Okay. Well I will try and keep the music down." He said

"Thank you." She said

She started to walk off. "You really have been over there this whole time?" He said

"Yes I have lived next to you this whole time." She said as she kept walking.

Once she was gone he turned the music on and down. He got a drink of his water and went back to his workout. That night as he was eating dinner with his parents.

"Mom did you know the Berkleys had a daughter my age?" He said

"Isobel Berkley? Yes I knew why?" Winnie said

"I had my music up to loud earlier outside today. It was disturbing her so she came over to tell me to turn it down. I wasnt aware that Liam had a cousin our age." He said

"Yeah. She wont be 18 for another few months." Winnie said

"Oh. So Im the only one that didnt know." He said as he picked up his empty plate.

"You would if you party less." James said

"Im going to my room mom." Bucky said ignoring his dad.

Bucky hadn't spoken to his dad in over month. James grounded him from his truck even went as far letting the air out of his tires. So they only thing he could drive was his motorcycle.

Next door Isobel sent a text to Liam.

" I thought you said the whole football team was going on the trip. Why is Barnes home?"

"Something about being grounded for eternity is what he told us."

"🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️"

"Sorry Cuz. Just ignore him.."

She locked her phone and started to binge watch "The Crown" on Netflix. Bucky was watching Sportscenter as he slowly fell asleep.