The Boy Next Door

ｔｈｒｅｅ

Rachel

After another long, tiring day of cheer practice, I listened to some music and tried to take a nap before I had to go to Colton's house. Something was hitting my window. Every time I was trying to relax or sleep, someone or something was there to interrupt that. The someone messing with my sleep this time was Colton. Colton was sitting on the ledge of his window with a bowl of little pebbles. That was what was making the noise. I opened the window. He was getting ready to throw another one.

"Don't fire!" I said. He lowered his arm. "Come on, Colton! I am trying to take a nap or something. What could be so important that it requires throwing rocks at my window?"

"I wanted to talk to you."

"You could have called or texted me." I said. "Or, you could have waited until I got there later."

He interrupted me. "I don't have your number. You never gave it to me."

I wasn't sure if I should give it to him or not. I didn't want to give him a way to constantly find a way to get on my nerves.

"Oh. You're right. Do you want it?" I said hesitantly.

"Yeah, that would be nice. I am running out of pebbles to throw. You know, it isn't nice to ignore people."

"Or you could get up off of your ass and come to my front door if it is that urgent." I said.

"Do you realize how much effort that would take?" He said. I rolled my eyes.

I stuck my head back inside my window. I walked over to my desk, but I didn't have any sticky notes left. I ripped the corner off of an old homework assignment. I could have verbally given it to him, but I doubted he would remember it. I reached out my window with the paper that had my number written on it. The length of less than two arms was how ridiculously close the houses in my area were together. He reached out to grab it, but instead of grabbing the paper, he grabbed my wrist.

"What the hell are you doing?" I asked. I thought he was going to pull me and cause me to fall.

"Can you come in my room for a minute?" he asked, with an "innocent" smile. I was not feeling good about this situation. I had no idea what he might do to me. While I had discovered yesterday that his way of flirting creepy, I still didn't know if I trusted him.

"Um, sure. Just let me grab my shoes, I'll be over in a minute." I said, unsure of the decision I made. It was most likely an awful choice.

"No, just climb through the window." he said.

"You are crazy! I'm going to fall." If I was on the lower level, maybe it would be okay, but I was on the top floor, so far from solid ground!

"Please? For me." He grinned.

He looked cute the way he was grinning. I hated myself for saying it, but it was true. "Uh..."

"I'll help you; I won't let you fall. Trust me. There isn't even much distance between the two houses." He said looking into my eyes. My fear of falling suddenly intensified.

"Okay." I said with a shaky voice. I was so stupid for letting him talk me into doing this.

He didn't let go of my wrist. He grabbed the paper with his other hand and moved it so that his lips were holding it. I reached out my other hand, grabbing the trim that lined the outside of the window. I felt my body start to shake. I do flips out of pyramids, having to trust that there will be people below to catch me in cheer. I wasn't sure why this was so nerve racking for me. With him still firmly gripping my wrist, I put my one foot at a time onto the windowsill. I was in a weird position where if he wasn't holding on to me I would fall backwards.

His other hand ended up around my waist. He pulled me into his room. I was now standing on the dark hardwood floor. He let go of my wrist and put his hand other around my waist, pulling me even closer. I squirmed in his grip. We were so close I could feel his cool, minty breath on my forehead. I definitely was not comfortable with a guy who I barely know holding me so close. I wondered what was so important that couldn't be said through the window, and why he was still holding me so close. I felt a chill go through my body as he rested his chin on the top of my head. "You already interrupted my nap, and you wanted to talk to me in your room, and I am here now, so talk." I couldn't find the words to ask him to let go.

He pulled his head away, but he still wrapped his arms around my waist. He could tell that I was uncomfortable and let go of me.

"What's your brother's problem with me?" he asked.

"What are you talking about?" I said in a soft voice.

"Yesterday after I whispered in your ear, he was staring at me like he was getting ready to kill me or something."

"Oh... he's really protective of me. He does that with every guy that talks to me. But that probably wasn't the best way to start out with him. Whispering to me shirtless none the less. You are lucky that he doesn't know about your little note that you sent flying through my window the other day. He would really hurt you if he found out that you were looking into my room."

"Oh! I'm so scared!" He said sarcastically.

"Maybe I should tell him. There is nothing on the line for me." I said.

"You wouldn't do that." he said.

"Oh, but I would." I joked.

His eyes narrowed. "Don't."

"We will have to see about that. I'm not very sure about you. My only interactions with you have been so strange." I winked.

"I'm sorry I have come across like that."

I tried to remember back to yesterday. What I had noticed then about Wyatt staring was that he looked really concerned. "He just has to get to know you. Once you guys talk and get to know each other, I'm sure he will be fine with you. Why don't you try to talk to him while we are at the water park?"

"We are going to the water park?" he asked.

"Oh, your mom must not have told you. My mom invited your family to come with us to the water park this weekend."

"That sounds fun, sweet pea." He said.

"What happened to 'towel girl'?"

"You were. But I changed my mind. You aren't as much of a bitch..."

I cut him off. "Don't even say any more."

"...as I originally thought you were, so now I am going to call you sweet pea."

I started to open my mouth to say something, but he put his finger over my lips.

"Go home and do whatever you need to do to get ready to come over. I don't want you to leave my sister hanging. She's really excited about hanging out with you."

I had just realized I was still in my after-practice clothes and that I was supposed to watch Hanna tonight. "I wouldn't leave her hanging. As for you, that is a different story." I said. "Goodbye, Colton."

"Goodbye, Rachel. I'm sorry I made you come into my room. It was pointless. I'm sorry I was touching you like that. I should have asked." He said. Again, he seemed very embarrassed.

I climbed back into my room with his help. As I shut my window, I saw him smile before he opened his door and walked out of his room.