When it was finally time to go home, I sighed in relief and stepped on the bus. Then, out of the blue, guess who entered the bus right after me. Colton. He smiled charmingly at me, “Hi, how are you?”
My lips twitched, “Fine, thank you.”
“I noticed that we had a lot of classes together, but we never got a chance to talk. Tell me more about you, I don’t even know your name” he seemed genuinely interested.
I thought for a moment, “Well, my name is Ella Heardt, but my friend calls me El. I’m on the school swim team, and first chair flute in senior concert band. My family is kind of messed up so I have to take care of myself.” I wasn’t about to spill my family problems to some random guy who I met today. I’m not that desperate.
I saw my stop coming up and said, “Well, my stop is here.”
His eyes widened, then he chuckled. “I, coincidentally, stop here as well.”
I frowned, then quickly straightened my expression. I glanced at him to see if he caught the slip, but if he had, he didn’t show it. We chatted all the way to my house, then I stopped. “Not to sound rude, but why are you still here? Where do you live?”
He made his way to the house next to mine and and slipped a key in. “Hello, neighbor.” he chuckled, then disappeared inside.
I gaped after him, not wanting to believe it. Colton Hunter was my freaking neighbor.
---
When I got to my room, I put down my backpack and made my way to my work table, right next to my window. Out of habit, I glanced out and screamed. A shirtless and pantless Colton was lying on his bed, throwing a ball into the air with one hand.
“Hunter!” I yelled at him while averting my eyes. “Why are you in your boxers? Put some clothes on!” I could feel my cheeks burning.
“Never seen a guy shirtless, Heardt? I thought you swam?” Colton answered with a smirk in his voice.
“I’ve seen a guy shirtless and pantless but NOT NEXT TO A SWIMMING POOL!” I screamed back.
“Close the curtains, then.”
“I like the breeze.”
“Then get used to the view.”
I groaned. This boy was impossible. “I’m trying to do my homework here,” I pointed out.
Now I could hear him laugh, “Am I distracting you Heardt?”
“At least put on a pair of pants before I jump over and knock some sense into you!” I snapped. It was true, you could just reach over my balcony and touch his.
He clucked, “Touche, amour.”
He shut his curtains just as I retorted, “And don’t call me love.”
I could still hear his laughter behind the curtains. Insolent brat. Why did I ever think he was nice? And this was only the first day he was here.
