BATIM Adventures

Nosy neighbor

Norman lives in a rundown apartment building. A408. It was ok to live there. It was comfortable for just himself and affordable. He didn't mind it. He spends most his time at his job working on cars anyways. The only problem is that he recently gotten new neighbors in A409. and the walls were paper thin.

He could hear one yelling at the other sometimes, Calling him nasty names and saying some horrible stuff. He hears stuff being thrown around and stuff blacking. He occasional thumps on the walls that would shake his things. What worst he can hear is the beatings. At lest twice since they moved here this month one of them had beaten the other.

He had seen them only a few times. One was around his 40s. Tall. Around 6 feet. The start of graying hair. The other was around his 20s. Long blonde hair. Around 5 feet. But Norman hasn't talk to them before.

  It was just like any other night. Norman was grilling himself a stake and making some noodles in the kitchen. And he could hear the yelling again. The older voice slurping for so much beer. Then the door slams close out front.

  A few minutes later they're balcony door open and the blonde one walks out on it, sitting down. He sighs and digs into his pocket, fetching out his cigarette box. Norman saw him light it and huffs the smoke, leaning on the wall.

"Everything ok in there?" Norman ask. The blonde glares at him and Norman can definitely see his black eye.

"Everything's fine. Stop being so nosy!" The blonde snaps.

Norman didn't take it by heart. He understands that the man was avoiding the fact that he can hear it all. "Listen. If you need somewhere safe to stay. You can always come to me alright?"

"I said everything's fine! Mind your own damn business!" The blonde man went back inside slamming the door.

The next morning Norman grabs his keys and walked out. To his left he saw the older one cornered the blonde one and was speaking in hushed voices to him. But Norman could see the fear on the blonde ones face.

The old one stops mid sentence and turns to Norman. "What the hell you want?! Mind your own fucking Business you creep!"

Norman glances at the blonde one who just looks away then he turns and leaves. He knew if he did or say anything the blonde one would get it worst.

That night while he was in the middle of cooking the cooking a knock came from his door. Norman went to it and opens it. "H-hi. Uhh..y-you said I can come here if I need some to..."

Norman nods and moves aside to let him in. "What happen tonight that made you come here?"

"Nothing ...yet..." the blonde looks away. "It's joeys pocker day...after the game they all come back drunk and Uh....why am I telling you.-" the blonde laughs in his hands that was my pain then funny.

"Because your suffering...and you need someone to talk to. You don't have to tell me but just know I'm here for you."

Sammy stares at him. Like he actually considers this. "Please don't fuck with me..."

Norman looks at him. "I'm not. I wouldn't ever." He went back to cooking. "Names Norman. Do you want some?"

"Sammy...and no thanks." Sammy stands to the side of him watching him cook. They booth hear the door to Sammy's apartment open and close. Then joeys friends drunkly laughing after wants says what there going to do to Sammy.

Norman understood what he meant earlier now. He glances at Sammy and sees he folded his arms around himself. "You can stay here. I'll be ok"

Sammy nods " t-thank you."

Norman smiles at him. "Here. Try this." Norman gives him a peace of food to try.

Sammy try's it. "Mmm! that's good. How's it made?"

"That is the polk family secret." Norman replies. Sammy smiles.

Then he jumps at the sound of joeys angry voice screaming his name in there apartment. Norman felt so bad for him. " I should go back.."

"No. It's to dangerous. Stay here."
Norman replies. I

Sammy's phone begins to ring. "Don't answer him." Norman says trying to help.

" I'm scared not to...." Sammy whispers.

"I know...but trust me. It's not going to end well if you do." Norman grabs his hand.

Sammy glances at it and grabs his back. They sit there for a long time listening to joey yelling and screaming. Stuff being destroyed. Call after call. Text after nasty text. Sammy ends up having a panic attack.

Norman holds him in his lap, trying to keep him as quiet as possible. He was afraid Joey would hear and found out Sammy was here. Sammy cliches his shirt, crying in his chest. Norman sits there thinking what all has then man been through.

Sammy ends up falling asleep on him. Norman gets up and carries Sammy to the bedroom. There he tucks Sammy in bed then went to the couch where fell asleep.

When Norman woke he found Sammy gone. But a plate with waffles on the table for him. A note was next to it. Norman picks it up and reads it.

-Thank you for last night and being there when I needed it. I had to go to work. I'll
See you later-
———
Should there be a part two?