The Boy Next Door| Book 1 [✔️]

the boy|the end of escapades

❝What's wrong with your face?❞ I chuckled softly looking over at him. Shrugging lightly, he scoots closer to me and sits up, bringing his hand to my face, poking my swollen cheeks.

❝You hit me! Remember?❞ he retorted, with a cheesy grin to accompany it. The pounding in the inside of my skull seemed to think that it would thump to the beat of my heart. Cradling my head in my palmed I glared down at the pattern on the bedsheet.

I groaned loudly, ❝Why were you in my house?❞, ignoring his question and swatting away his fingers before he poked me again. Shrugging his shoulders, he pointed his thumb over his shoulder in the direction of the door.

❝As I said earlier...I was hanging out with your brother, and how I got into your room without being strangled? You're father actually let me in. Told me to head straight up here. At first, I thought it was a trap and he was going to shoot me in the back or something.❞ He chuckled lightly, scratching the back of his neck,

❝Nah, he wouldn't shoot you in the back.❞ Julian expelled a long sigh, ❝He'd shoot you in the legs so you can't run away when he's ready to torture you.❞

I offered a smile before turning back to the mirror, to see a set of bags sitting on the ground. ❝Julian...❞ I started off warily.

With a pat on the back, he shushed me and urged me to get ready. ❝Your dad kind of filled me in on your idea.❞ I lifted my gaze from the bags on the ground to look him in the eyes. With a small shrug and a soft smile, I turn to look at him only to see him frowning down at the bags. As if feeling me looking at him, he smiled sadly at me and waved me off. ❝Come-on, you gotta go and get ready before you miss your flight.❞

Throwing my arms open widely, I mutter softly,❝Julian...❞

Chuckling to himself and shaking his head, he stands to his feet and walks into my embrace letting out a soft sigh. ❝I know you're not running from your problems, but I really wish it wasn't you that was leaving.❞

Nodding into his chest, I sighed softly as my chest ached. I needed a break from all of it but it felt like I was saying goodbye to everyone. Pulling away from him slightly, I smiled up at him to find him frowning down at me. Looking closer I saw his eyes looking a bit glossy. ❝Oh, Jules.❞ I cooed, reaching up with one of my hands, cupping his face lightly to which he leaned into, a small sad smile appearing on his face.

❝Come on loser we gotta go pack...❞ Julian responded gruffly, clearing his throat as he stepped away from my touch and returned to my bags. Smiling sadly, I made my way to my closet, begrudgingly pulling the doors open.

This was it. I was really leaving.

****

Slipping out of the passenger side of Julian's jeep, I glance towards the airport while making my way to the back of the car, only to find Julian with my two suitcases in hand. Smiling at him, I shake my head and turn to close the door. Sighing softly, I leaned against the side of the jeep and stared at the airport with a sickening feeling from the hangover poking me from within.

❝So your flight is going to be called in two hours and you checked in online, but now you have to check in here❞. Julian rambled on, which I zoned out on because he had been muttering the same thing four hours earlier. Alex rounded the jeep with my duffle bag in hand, and my flight snack in the other;❝Yo Jules, can I finish this burger in your bag?❞ Snapping my attention to him, I all but growled at him as he sunk his teeth into my burger, taking about half of it in his mouth. ❝You asshole, you can get one from one of the restaurants here.❞ Rolling his eyes,  he waved me off and shoved the remainings of the burger my way. ❝Just finish the thing and stop whining.❞ Groaning I push myself off of the car and stalk towards him and snatch the bit of burger left from his possession and angrily take a bite out of it. Glaring at him as I angrily chew, he stands there with a raised brow and chuckles. I take another bite and pause to swallow. I look down at the burger in hand and the back to Alexander, who's turning his attention to Julian who looks at me worriedly. ❝You look like you're about to throw up...❞