Trouble Next Door

chapter fourteen

I hadn't spoken to Lucas in almost a week because i was doing a very good job of avoiding him. I caught glimpses of him from my bedroom, moving about in his room. My avoidance plan was working well because lately he wasn't around. He and his dad travelled two days ago. I decided not to think much about Lucas and busied myself with college stuff.

Kathy thought i should do volunteer work in a nursing home. I had never really been around old people much mostly because i was a little weary of them. Taking care of old people felt like babysitting. But i decided to think about it.

I was in my room going through my f*******: page when i had a strange curiosity. I decided to f*******: stalk Lucas. Not like anybody was going to know. And i knew his name and surname thanks to my aunt who never stopped going on about the Donnovans. It was all she ever talked about. Thankfully Lucas used his real name unlike me whose f*******: name was 'vixen'. Fat chance of anyone finding me with that name.

I clicked on his profile. It was the picture of a bikini model. Typical. He's such a guy. I began scrolling through his page and noticed that Lucas rarely posted pictures of himself. At last i came across a picture of him, Pip and Reggie wearing bathing suits and handling surf boards. They were in a beach area. They stood close together, Reggie in the middle grinning from ear to ear. I continued scrolling until i came across a picture of him shirtless. I gaped at the picture. He looked like a male underwear model, not too muscled, complete with six packs.

Modest much. I snorted, noticing the smug grin he had plastered on his face and also the confident look. Of course he knew he was hot. I felt my face heating up just by looking at him. Well thank God i was in my room alone. No one could see me online stalking my hot neighbour. Yay for social media! It really does bring people together. I thought sarcastically. I scrolled through the comments from clueless random girls.

>wow Lucas, lukin hot as usual...

>I wish i can run my hands over your body....

Seriously? Why're girls so dumb? Lucas replied with a wink. Urgh. Yep. Typical guy. I decided i was done with stalking and angrily moved out of the comment section into the pic. As I clicked the back button my finger accidentally clicked the like section. I almost shrieked and unliked it immediately. The last thing i wanted was Lucas knowing i was social media stalking him. I sighed in relief at how quickly i had side stepped that awful mistake and went back to my f*******: page, liking and criticizing pictures. I had a grin on my face from watching a cat video Kathy had posted online when i received a notification. I entered it, and my face almost drained colour when i read the notification.

Lucas Donnovan likes you pic...

What the...

I entered it. It was an old picture of about two years ago where i stood in front of a shopping mall wearing crappy clothes, holding shopping bags and grinning from ear to ear. Kathy had taken that picture and i wondered why i even posted it. I was dressed in awful oversized clothes.

How the hell did Lucas find me on f*******:? I didn't have to wonder long. I received a message immediately. Of course it was Lucas. Damn f*******: and its lack of privacy! Then I thought ironically that it had helped me stalk Lucas. The message was directly to my inbox.

>Hey Luv, even in grandma's clothing you look cute. Tell me. Did ur aunt lend it to u?.

Urgh! That annoying boy. He never stops making jokes. I decided not to answer but was in for another shock when he messaged again.

>Seriously Maury. If u wanted to see me shirtless all u had to do was ask, not stalk me on f*******:. I'd happily strip for you. ;

He gave a winky face at the end. What? How did he know about that? Lucas wasn't done.

>Common stalker, dnt ignore me now. I totally saw you like and unlike my pic. You must have really been enthralled by my great body for you to have mistakingly done that. Miss me too much?

Before I could stop myself i clicked the reply section.

>You wish.

>Knew you were reading this. A moment ago you were busy stalking me.

>wasn't. I came across your page by accident.

>Oh really? Then u decided to take a sneak peak at my shirtless pic.

Urgh!

>Will you ever let this go?

Of course not.

>Never.

I could almost imagine him smirking. I was pretty sure that was already what he was doing. Obviously he was still scrolling through my page because he commented.

>Lol Maury. You and that dog are doppelgangers.

I felt my face heat up in embarrassment. Why the hell had i not taken down that picture? It was the picture of me and Kathy's dog Bruce, wearing matching colors. I thought it was cute. People commented that it was. But because of this doppelganger stuff, not so much. I'm definitely taking it down.

>will u quit scrolling tru my page

>Neva. Der are som hilarious stuff here. Can neva pass up that fun.

I snorted and teased.

>What? Miss me, ur favorite clown?

>You av no idea love.

What? Miss me? Yeah right. He had girls online and offline fawning over him. I wasn't about to let that get to my head.

>Find sometin beta to do.

>Like what?

>Oh i dnt knw. Maybe take anoda shirtless pic fr ur fans.

I regretted that comment immediately i hit sent. But it was too late. The damage had already been done. He replied almost immediately.

>Aww Love. U totally want to see me shirtless.

>You wish.

>Dnt worry. When i get back i'll perform a strip tease for you.

Urgh!

>The last thing I want to do is see u n***d. I think am havin constipation jus thnking abt it.

>Really Maury? But i wouldn't mind seeing you n***d. You hurt my feelings.

He sent me sad emoji face. What the hell?

>I'm so done havin dis conversation Perv. I'm already irritated jus talking to u.

>Common Luv dnt act up now. U totally enjoy dis conversation.

Urgh!

>I'm going offline now.

>Now i knw u came online jus fr me.

>Moron.

>Still urs. Giv me ur number.

>Neva.

>Lol. Really Maury. Thought we were friends. We went to a party togeda.

>First of all, we didn't go together. Secondly, i was totally blackmailed.

>Lol. Seriously giv me ur number.

>Oh so u can torment me. Neva! I dnt want to av to change my line cus dats exactly what i'll do if i giv it to u. U will pest me.

Before he could reply i went offline, mostly because i knew he would convince me to give him my number if i continue chatting with him. Just then i heard a knock on the door.

"Maury!" Aunt Mary called. "Lucas is downstairs waiting to see you!"

What the...When did he get back? That meant he had been chatting with me while in the house. But why did aunt Mary let him in? I thought she hated the Donnovans. I sprang up from bed and opened the door.

"Why did you let him in? I thought you hated him".

" Hate? I have no business hating a kid."

"But you...you don't like the Donnovans.

" Well i don't dislike him anymore, since he was a gentleman and helped me carry the shopping bags inside." She smiled suddenly. "I didn't know he could be so well behaved. And he promised not to throw anymore parties and even apologized. He even offered to help me mow the lawn!"

What the...What the hell was Lucas up to? Definitely nothing good. I could not believe how easily Lucas had charmed my aunt. But i wasn't surprised. Lucas had that way with people. My aunt was oblivious to my discomfort and rattled on.

"Lucas isn't so bad after all." Then a scowl appeared on her face. "Can't say the same for his father though. Go ahead Maury, go say hi to him. He's a total charmer."

I couldn't believe my ears. I didn't like this at all. Months of dislike an contempt forgotten just for a little help with shopping bags? Yep! Lucas was definitely trouble and he was up to something.

I made my way downstairs, not at all prepared for the sight of him standing in our living room, looking around timidly. He was totally gorgeous with a blue hoodie on ripped jeans. He was smoking hot. Probably why my aunt could not stay mad at him. I mean who could stay angry at that? Humans are usually favorable towards beautiful people and my aunt was no exception. It was appropriate using the term beautiful to describe him because he really is. I didn't think he would find it flattering though.

I loved the vulnerable uneasy look on his face as he looked around. There was no need for him to be intimidated by our humble abode. It was nothing compared to his house. He sighted me and the look was immediately replaced with a smirk.

"Hello love!" He chirped "You're here!"

My face heated up in embarrassment. How dare he call me "love" in presence of my aunt.

I braved an uneasy glance at my aunt who to my horror was smiling.

"Oh don't flatter Maury so early in the morning Lucas dear."

What the hell? Why was my aunt so cool with it? I scowled at the green eyed devil who was unfazed by my reaction. The smirk turned into a full grin and he winked at me.

Yep. Lucas was definitely up to something and it wasn't good.