Love Your Neighbour

Chapter 4

I hoped the week would go slowly, but it seemed to be going just as fast as any other week.

Before I knew it, it was Sunday and Mike and Miles were coming in an hour. My mum was flustered as she hurried to get everything ready. My dad was still grumpy - I heard him and my mum talking in the kitchen earlier in the week:

I paused halfway down the stairs. I could hear voices talking.
"I'm not sure I want that boy anywhere near Lauren." My dad grunted.
"She's old enough to have a boyfriend, Richard."
"Louise, he's a nice boy and we've known him for a while, but I don't want Lauren to rush into anything."
"Why don't you talk to her about it then?"
"No, I don't think so. I don't want to interfere too much. It doesn't seem that she's that keen on him though. She swears there's nothing going on..." My dad said.
"Well even if there isn't, you can't deny that they would be a perfect couple. Something's bound to happen." She replied.
I had heard enough and quickly ran back up the stairs.

I hoped my parents wouldn't be too embarrassing about the whole thing going on with Mike. There was nothing going on with Mike and I, it was just a misunderstanding...

"Okay, I think we are all done. Beds done. Mike will be sleeping in the spare room on the first floor and Miles will be in the second floor spare room."
"Can't you swap them around?" Louis complained.
Our house had three floors and I slept on the first floor where there were two bedrooms and a toilet. I was on the first floor and Louis was on the second as he always played loud music and I had refused to have a room next to him. My parents were also on the second floor in the master bedroom. I had the whole first floor to myself usually, and I wasn't looking forward to sharing it with Mike. I was sure my mum had set it up so Mike would be right next-door. Louis was obviously not pleased he was next to Miles.

Miles was a very whiny child. I knew my mum was not looking forward to looking after him, however excited she seemed.

Louis was still whining.
"Why does she get to be next door to him? She hates him. I'm the one who's his friend. He should be next to me." Louis argued.
"Well I'm sure he'd love to camp in your room then." I said sarcastically.
"No one is camping in anyone's room. Lauren, I expect you to... behave."
"I can't help it that I hate him..."
"I wasn't talking about that. No sneaking into each other's rooms or... inappropriate actions..." I mentally cringed, remembering my dream.
"Ew! How can you even say that? Of course I'm not going to have sex with him!" I screamed.
"We have neighbours, stop screaming! Eurgh, sick image!" Louis whispered.
At that moment we heard the doorbell and everyone flinched. My mum muttered something like 'I hope they didn't hear that...' under her breath before hurrying down to answer the door. Louis ran down the stairs and I stayed where I was.
"Come on, Lauren, at least be polite. And what are you wearing? That's highly inappropriate!" My dad cried.
"You think everything's inappropriate!It's a skirt and a top!" I pointed down to my outfit. My skirt was a bit short to be fair, but I was taking Tara's advice when she said to flirt back at him, and I needed to be dressed at least nicely for it... It wasn't that inappropriate though. The shirt wasn't that low-cut and the skirt wasn't ridiculously short...

"Are you dressing up for him or something?" My dad asked suddenly.
"No! This is what I always wear around the house. How many times do I have to tell you that I do NOT like him!" I hissed.

I heard voices in the hall so I stopped talking abruptly.
"Louis, do you want to show Miles his room?" I heard Louis come up the stairs and I quickly ducked into my room, but not before my mum called me.
"Yes?"
"Lauren, please come down here." My mum shouted and I ran down to meet Mike.

He was looking as good as normal in one of his plain light blue shirts. His hair was slightly ruffled and his dark brown eyes met mine as he took in what I was wearing.
"Hi Mike." I said smiling.
"Er, hi." He looked a bit shocked of my clothes, I never wore skirts. I preferred leggings and jeans.
"I'll take Mike up to his room then, shall I?" I smiled.
"Thanks." He followed me up the stairs.
As he put down his bags I leaned on the door.
"Should I leave now, or...?" I asked him.
"Is there a toilet on this floor?"
"Yep. It's right next to you."
"Why did your mum put me next to you?" He smirked.
"I don't know, you ask her." I said matter-of-factly. He moved closer to me but I didn't step back.
"Maybe I will. You know I heard the comment that you said earlier when we were waiting outside the house..."
He smirked.
"Did, did you?" I stuttered. His breath fanned across my face and I inhaled his male perfume scent. It was intoxicating. His eyes locked with mine and when I realised what he could do. We were so close. I didn't want him to kiss me, this was the person I hated!
"Mike, do you wanna go watch TV?" Louis' voice wafted down the stairs to the second floor and Mike stepped away from me quickly. I blushed.
"Yeah, sure." He said as if nothing had happened. I stepped back to allow him to pass.

Why was Mike so persistent to kiss me? He always seemed to get me in these situations so quickly that if he really did kiss me I probably wouldn't be able to stop him. He had me in a trance. I ran my hands through my hair, and realising I was still in the spare bedroom I hastily walked out and back into my room, closing the door behind me.

It was time to clear my head of Mike and make final arrangements about my birthday sleepover tomorrow.

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Song: Kiss You by One Direction