Love Your Neighbour

Chapter 6

He stared at me, as if he was shocked of what he had just done.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."
"What the hell is wrong with you?" I said angrily pushing past him.
"I'm sorry!" He called after me.
I paused outside my door. I could hear Tara laughing. I didn't want to go in there and spoil the mood. I saw Mike run his hands through his hair and slam his door next to me.

I composed myself and opened the door to my room.

"Hey! What took you so long?" Celine looked at me smiling.
"I just went downstairs to get some water and talked to my mum." I lied. It was stupid. Why was I lying to them? I never hid anything from them. I just didn't want to share what had happened. I was ashamed that they would say 'why did you just stand there and let it happen?'
I could imagine Tara saying, 'Personally I would have slapped him.' And it was strange that I took it so calmly. And I kissed him back. What was wrong with me?

Celine's eyes darted to the TV and I flinched remembering what had just happened to me. In the film, the main characters were about to kiss, but then they didn't and Angela cried out in frustration.
"Why couldn't they just kiss? They so obviously like each other!" I couldn't help relating the film to Mike and I. Why did we pick this film?
"You'll see later on." Tara said in a 'just wait you'll find out' voice.
"What's wrong Lauren? Is Mike getting on your nerves again?" Celine asked. She was so close to the truth. I swallowed.
"Well he always annoys me." I said, not directly answering the question.
"Yeah right. You know you secretly love him." Tara laughed. I faked a chuckle.
"Nope." I sat back down and tried to enjoy the movie, but I didn't laugh in the right bits and my mind kept wandering elsewhere.

I laid awake that night, just thinking and wishing the kiss had never happened. It was a bad ending to my birthday and I can't believe he had the nerve to do it on my birthday! It was so unfair, did he have to ruin my life constantly every single day? Part of me enjoyed the kiss and part of me hated him for it. I couldn't deny the connection we had but I didn't want to give in to it. I would not let him get to me that easily. This was probably what he did with loads of girls. I had seen him kissing Christina a month ago again and I hadn't cared. Well I sort of had...

"She doesn't care about anyone. You shouldn't be so annoyed at Lauren. Come on, what happened to what we had once, Mike?" Christina said flirtatiously.
"Well that's gone now." He looked annoyed.
"Nothing's changed. I'm still in love with you." She said passionately. I didn't think she sounded like she knew what she was saying.
"No, you're not, you're deluded." He looked angry.
She looked at him, annoyed that he didn't feel the same way.
"You obviously just have a crush on someone else. Don't you?"
"Maybe. It's not you though." He said flatly.
She quickly looked around and I flattened myself against the wall, not wanting to be seen spying on them.
Christina then pulled his head down for a kiss. I didn't see whether he kissed her back, and he muttered something as I quickly ran away back across the grass, in the opposite direction to where they were kissing. I didn't look back. Something inside of me had changed. I hadn't been able to stand Mike kissing another girl. I burst into tears as soon as I got home.

From that day, a month ago, I had convinced myself again that I did not like him and I was just confused after giving up the crush I had on him.

"Lauren, are you still awake?" Celine whispered.
"Yep. I can't sleep." I answered truthfully.
"You're thinking about Mike, aren't you?" I could almost see the smile that was probably plastered on her face right then.
"You know me too well." I chuckled.
"Did anything happen between you two tonight? You had a weird look on your face after coming back from the toilet." I debated whether to tell her and decided to just do it. It was going to come out at some point.
"I... had a stupid encounter with Mike and he... kissed me." Tara and Celine sat up and Tara flicked on the lights.
"Why is everyone awake? Were you listening to the conversation?" Tara was so sneaky!
"YOU KISSED MIKE!" Tara screeched.
"I was just getting to sleep when you shouted that out." Angela groaned.
"Wait, you did what?" Angela suddenly realised what had happened.
"Oh My God." Celine said, looking shocked.
"Why didn't you tell us before?" Tara exclaimed.
"Because I knew you'd react like this!"
"It's great!" Tara said happily.
"What? How is that great? I thought you would be screaming at me! I thought you'd hate me forever for it!" I was relieved, to be honest...
"No offence, but you are pretty blind when it comes to the connection Mike and you have." Tara stated.
"I am not blind. I know the connection, I just don't want it to happen. Let's not forget what happened between me and him a few years ago..." I said but I knew I really had no case against him after four years!
"That was four years ago. Are you sure he hasn't apologised by now?" Angela said tiredly.
"Actually he did apologise tonight, but I didn't really take it in as he was a bit... distracting." I admitted.
"I wonder what happened..." Celine's voice suggested something more.
"What? No! We just kissed... For a while!" I sighed.
"How was it? Kissing Mike."
"It was... nice..." I giggled.
"You so obviously like him..." Tara laughed.
"You kissed Mike! You kissed Mike! Mike and Lauren sitting in a tree K-I..." Tara started.
"Stop it!" I laughed.

The mood was instantly ruined when we heard movement outside the door.

Mike opened the door and stepped into my room without even knocking.
"Can't you keep it down? Some people like to sleep." He smirked. My jaw dropped. He was half naked with his God-like perfectly toned body and messy hair and looked like he'd literally just stepped out of one of those Abercrombie and Fitch magazines, rather than just stepping out of bed.

"Do, do you know how to knock?" I tried to sound confident but I stuttered and failed miserably. He smiled.
"No I do not. Now I'm going back to sleep. Anyone want to join me? Nope? Lauren? What a shame." He grinned, closing the door. We stared after him.

I had totally forgotten he now lived in the room next door...

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Song for first part: Only Love Can Hurt Like This by Paloma Faith.
Other song: The Scientist by Coldplay.