Something Somewhere's Gotta Give

      I had started living in San Diego, California on the outskirts of the city for about eight years now. My neighborhood was peaceful with no crime, no drama, where everyone got along. The house next to me was empty. It was a nice place being a huge, white two-story with navy blue shutters, a nice big yard, decent size deck outback. The previous owners decided to move to another state, so they sold it. I didn't know the person who bought it, but at least the house wouldn't go to waste. My house was a three-story, including the attic. It was white with gray shutters, in-ground pool in the back yard, as all the houses do, huge yard and deck with a horse barn outback. It had a balcony leading from my bedroom, looking out over the front of the house. I love my house and I don't ever plan on moving. I had decided it was time to eat, but instead of cooking, I figured I would just go to McDonald's. When I back home, I went to the living room to eat as I watched creepypasta. When I had eaten all my food, I decided to sit on my front porch and just take in all of my surroundings, as I always did. By the time I was ready for a nap, it had just turned eight-thirty. I slept for at least two hours. I got up and went to the kitchen for some more coffee. Again I stood on my bedroom balcony and sipped my coffee. As I sipped my coffee, I looked around the street and noticed a Uhaul sitting outside of the house next to mine. I didn't see the person as they had movers unloading stuff from the truck. I kept watching hoping to see who had moved in, but no luck. I hoped it was a guy as I live alone. No husband, no boyfriend, no children, and no roommate. I completely lived alone. It was always lonely. I never really had any visitors except for my best friend Rylie, who lived two houses away opposite of the once empty house. Most of the neighbors were either married with children, married with no children, or just had boyfriends or girlfriends. I was the only single in this neighborhood. I had decided that I had enough excitement for one day and to go back to my room and binge-watch my favorite tv series, The Walking Dead. I had watched so much tv, the day went by in a blur. I finally decided to head to bed, so I quickly got changed into my nightclothes and went to lie down in bed. I tossed and turned all night, thinking about the new neighbor. It bugged me badly because I didn't know who it was. I didn't know if it was a guy or a girl or even a whole family. After being up for a few hours after lying down, I finally drifted off to sleep, but that was about two years ago. It was 2011 when all of that happened. Payson's Perspective It was now 2013 and I still hadn't seen the neighbor who moved into the house beside me. I shrugged it off and slipped on my robe to go check my mail. I walked towards the mailbox as I stared at the house next to down trying to see if I can spot someone and unfortunately, I still hadn't. I opened my mailbox and pulled out the big pile of envelopes that filled my mailbox so that it wouldn't shut. As I looked through it, I noticed that the address on some of them wasn't mine. It read, "Liam Nash, 9282 Sutor Avenue, San Diego, California 92114. Instantly, I knew who the mail belonged to, the house next to mine. So now, I know his name. I looked back over at the house and thought for a moment whether I should go and knock on the door, but then I hesitated. I thought for a moment longer, then just shrugged it off and went for it. The closer I got, the more nervous I was. What if he didn't like me? What if he didn't answer? What would I tell him? I shook my head, getting rid of the thoughts and when I reached the door, I saw a doorbell button, so I pushed it instead. No answer. I pushed it again. Still no answer. I was getting ready to turn to leave the door opened and I swung around to see the hottest guy I'd ever seen. My mouth hung open and eyes wide. I was surely shocked. I couldn't move. I was glued where I stood. I've never seen such a good looking guy before. He had dark brown hair, a decent six-pack, he had the cutest baby face and a noon shadow. He was perfectly tall and fit. I felt like I was going to collapse. "Hey, can I help you?" he asked. His voice sounded like calm water in a river. I was still frozen in place, trying to speak. He gave me a curious look as I tried to speak. Finally, I found my voice. "Hi, I'm Payson. I live next door. Your mail was placed in my mailbox." I said shyly. I couldn't quit staring at him. He was so hot. "Oh. Thank you. I'm Liam." he said as he looked at me. I just nodded and was lost for words again. I stood there still staring at him. I shook myself back to reality and smiled. "You're welcome. I thought I'd bring it to you. Well, I'd better go....bye." I still smiled as I was getting ready to leave, I heard Liam say something. "Hey wait. Would you like to go out sometime?" He said as I turned back to face him. "Yeah....um, that sounds like a plan," I answered as I smiled. We waved and I walked back over to my house. That night I couldn't stop thinking about him. I thought about him until I fell asleep. Liam's Perspective I thought about Payson all night. I couldn't get her out of my mind. The moment I'd opened the door, I felt a connection and knew that I had to create a relationship with her. That night I ate dinner, watched a little t.v, then headed to bed as I had to get up at 5 am the next morning to go to work. I dreamt about her that night and it was the best dream I'd ever had. She was my wife and we had an amazing life with a nice living situation, kids, and a carefree life. It was good until something woke me up. I looked at the clock and it read 2:30 am. I sat up in my bed and looked around wondering where it was coming from. It sounded as if it were coming from the outside or something. I got up wearily and stumbled to the window and looked out. I saw a car in front of Payson's house. I quickly slipped on my shoes and ran out to check to see if she was okay and sure enough she was standing at the passenger side of the car talking to the unknown person inside. I looked harder and it was some guy. I walked toward her and she saw me, so I motioned for her to come to me. "Are you okay? Is that guy bothering you? I asked as I looked into her beautiful brown eyes. "Yes....yes he is. He's my ex-boyfriend, Christian. He keeps trying to get me back, but we weren't meant to be, so I left him and now he comes over here every night, waking me up to start trouble with me." She explained. Then the light bulb above my head lit up. I put my arm around her and walked her to the car. "Are you okay? May we help you?" I asked him as he stared, noticing my arm was around her. "Yes, she's my girl and you are hanging all over her. Now if you don't mind, I would appreciate it if you would go back into your house and leave this up to Payson and I." He said being cocky. "Sorry mate, I can't do that. She isn't your girl." I told him. "What do you mean she's not. You wouldn't know that." He said getting angry now. "I would know that because she's my girlfriend," I told him now getting angry as well. "Buzz off and don't come back," I warned. He sped off so fast that the taillights disappeared in an instant. Payson turned to me with a wide smile on her face. "Thank you so much. He has been harassing me for so long." She said now wrapping me in a tight hug. I smiled, then hugged her back. We sat on my front porch talking. Our time together seemed to fly by when I noticed that it was now 4:30 am. I jumped up quickly. "Shoot, I have to go," I said as I started up the porch steps. "Are you okay Liam?" She asked with a concerned look on her face with her head c****d slightly to the side. "Yeah, it's just I have to get ready for work," I admitted to her. She shook her head in understanding motion. I helped her up and the feeling of her hand in mine and gave me an electrifying feeling and as I watched her walk off slowly sliding her hand from mine, the feeling disapeared. Once she reached her door, she looked back at me, smiling and winked at me, then disapeared through the door. I just smiled back and went into my own house to get ready for work. Fast forward to when I walk into work. I work in a warehouse for car parts. I am a supervisor for the transmission lines. My brother, Dean too is a supervisor for the engine lines. As I walked through the doors and headed to my area, which was the same area as Dean, I saw him look up and wave at me and I smiled and waved back. We spent about three hours doing our job and by the time I checked my phone, it appeared to be lunchtime. Dean and I walked to my car to go out to eat somewhere. We chose to eat at a fast-food joint, we ordered our food and found a place t sit while we waited for our food. "So uh, Dean, did you get all of your stuff out of mom's house?" I asked breaking the silence. "Yeah. The moving truck will be at your house tonight." He explained. Our mother passed a few months before I bought the house I was living in at the moment. Dean was moving in with me, so we'd be closer to work. "Okay well, there is someone I want you to meet when we get home. She's amazing, I think you'd like her." He looked at me curiously. "She?" He asked, giving me his full attention. "Payson. She's such an amazing girl." I admitted. We talked and then we went back and finished our work. We went home at around 4:00 pm and when we pulled into the driveway, I noticed a car in front of Payson's house. It was the same car as her ex-boyfriend had. That's when I'd had enough already. I walked straight to Payson's house and noticed Christian wasn't in the car. I turned to look over at her house and noticed the door was hanging wide open. I ran inside and looked around calling for her, but I didn't see her anywhere. I searched the whole downstairs, but nothing. I suddenly heard a muffled scream and ran up the stairs and what I saw made me act fast. Christian had Payson by the throat against the wall. I ran toward them and shoved him off her. She collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air, then fainted. I picked him up off of the floor and carried him down the stairs and threw him out the door. I ran back up to Payson as Dean ran inside to see what was going on. I carried her down the stairs and laid her on the couch. I sat beside her on the floor as I waited for her to wake up. Dean ran into the kitchen to get a damp rag. He ran back into the living room and handed me the rag. I folded it and started lightly rubbing it on her face until she woke. "Liam?" She called my name. I grabbed her hand and held it. She turned toward me and held my hand tighter. "Are you okay Payson?" I asked concerned. I leaned in further and kissed her forehead. She weakly smiled at me and stared at me. She then leaned to me and pressed her lips against mine. At first, I was shocked, but as the seconds passed, I kissed her back.