the boy next door// e.dolan

o n e

"haven, sbrigati che andremo a essere l'incontro con i vicini!" my dad hollered from downstairs, gripping the railing.

{translation: haven, hurry up, we'll be late meeting with the neighbours.}

he only spoke in italian when he was angry, and around my mom, she is were I received my italian half.

I groaned in distraught, taking a quick glance around my room and eventually reaching for my leather jacket slung across the seat. flinging the fabric around my shoulders, I trotted down the creaky stairs with white knuckles and steady breath.

"I'm ready," I sighed as my dad opened the door, following swiftly behind me.

I knocked on the olive green door only to see a woman that looked to be in her forties in a black dress.

"come in, come in!" she flashed a white smile to my dad and he exchanged the same.

I stuffed my hands into my leather jacket hastily, and looked up and down the red victorian walls. pictures of family friends and a boy cascaded down the stairwell and so did the boy from yesterday, fantastic.

"I'm Dave, this is my daughter Haven," my dad introduced, making me shove my hand into the husbands hand and shake it vigorously.

"I'm Lisa, and this is my husband, Sean. oh, honey come down. my son, Ethan."

we shared long glances which subsided to stares eventually. he licked his plump lips and I shifted positions to the elegant chairs that surrounded a black table.

a whirring filled our ears along with several beeps.

"the casserole is done!" Lisa exclaimed before disappearing once again into the kitchen.

I sat down in a seat, hearing the seat beside me scrape the wood floor and Ethans face came into my view milliseconds after. he bunched up his face into a fake smile as he slumped down.

I winced as something came into contact with my sneaker. Ethan mumbled a cuss and reached under the table. he set his hand on my thigh, causing me to jump. Ethan reached for the dropped silverware, his hand not leaving my thigh afterwards.

Lisa arrived with the casserole, the aroma filling the room completely.

"dig in!" she smiled, filling her plate first.

Ethan reached for the spoon and grasped onto it, his right hand still strongly gripping my thigh. even though I had tried to wipe it off a couple of times he wouldn't oblige. in fact I'd noticed that it had traced up a few inches.

he used his right hand to serve him something else, thankfully enough. yet, as of so far my luck hadn't been put to good use. his elbow trailed back hitting the glass that held my water over my white shirt.

"Ethan! sweetie the bathroom is upstairs at your first left. Ethan, go help her, please," Lisa said through gritted teeth.

I clambered up the cherry red stairs, Ethan's loud footsteps behind mine. the door to the large bathroom creaked open, the sink coming into view first with a towel holder behind the door. I shrugged off my leather jacket and shut the door behind Ethan grabbing a towel.

"I don't know who the hell you think you are, but that move back there wasn't slick."

he let out a low chuckle before pushing me up against the sink and lifting me onto the counter, handing me the towel. I let out a breath of air after he let go of me, making him smirk and press his lips against my ear.

"I'm the president, princess."

I shivered as he removed himself from me. he gave me a smug smile and traced his finger on my cheek. I smacked it away and attempted to dry off my shirt some more.

"I have a shirt that you can borrow-," he shrugged as I raised an eyebrow.

Ethan's eyes trailed down my torso anyways, licking his lips.

"-or you can keep that see-through shirt on. which I have absolutely nothing against."

I smacked his face lightly making him laugh as he exited the room. I looked down at my sneakers as I trailed my fingers down my white shirt. I lifted it over my head and felt cold hands come in contact with my skin, feeling goosebumps rise.

"Ethan, what are you doing?"

my black laced bra seemed to have a small affect on this guy since he shifted around uncomfortably. I knotted my lips into a thin line as Ethan gave me a green shirt. it had an camouflage print on it and it was definitely going to be a little large on me.

"thanks, I guess."

he nodded as I reluctantly put it on, watching my every move. he helped me off the counter, back down the stairs. dinner hadn't been very eventful other than the shirt dilemma after that.

I refused to let someone like him in my life no matter how much he deserved it.

even ethan.