Loneliness Contract

New Neighbors

Finally, the week is up. Today I got new neighbors. I’d been depriving myself of sleep by staying up all night. I have got to use my surround sound as much as I can because today is my last day. Which reminds me I haven’t been doing my schoolwork. So, I decided to spend today catching up on it. I do my usual routine: shower, coffee, markets, and instead of TV, I hit the books. After about two hours of non-stop studying, I decided to take a break. I walk into my bedroom and out onto my balcony. I breathe in the fresh air and look down to see a moving truck. I assume they are my new neighbors. I watch as multiple trips are made in and out of the building.

I’m dreading the moments leading up to this. I head back inside and get back to studying. My alarm started to go off. I grab my mail key and head downstairs. I peep out the stairwell to make sure the coast is clear. I rush to my mailbox and head back into the stairwell. I get ready to go back up when I realize something. I haven’t been to the garage in a while. I take the stairs to the garage to check on my car and bikes. I don’t use them often, but I always run them, so they don’t break down. I have a black Mercedes convertible, a Harley, a Dodge challenger and a Suzuki Katana. I can’t ride the bikes, but I really enjoy having them. I ran them for a while before heading back upstairs. I’m tired by the time I make it back up the five flights of stairs to my apartment.

The moment I sat down, I got a knock on my door. I check the peephole to find Miss Lundy. I open the door to greet her. She has a big smile on her face.

Me: Afternoon Miss Lundy.

M.Lundy: Afternoon deary. How are you?

Me: Just studying.

M.Lundy: Ah well, spare an old lady a moment of your time.

Me: Ok. What can I help you wi--

M.Lundy: We’re going to greet your new neighbors.

Ughhhhh. I’m not trying to meet them, plus I’m not dressed decently. I’m in shorts and a sweatshirt. I try to come up with some excuse, but she won’t hear it. She grabs my arm and pulls me behind her. We reached their door, and she knocked. A guy opens the door. He’s tattooed head to toe. OK, maybe not head to toe, but his neck and arms are completely covered. He’s about 5′9, hair is cut short, brown eyes, the same complexion as me, and a well sculpted body. He looks right at me. I turn away and grab my arm. I have a habit of doing this in uncomfortable situations.

M.Lundy: Hello deary. I’m Miss Lundy and this i--

Guy: A fine piece of a*s.

I’m shocked by his comment. This guy thinks I’m fine? Dressed like this? This must be some joke. Next thing I know, Miss Lundy brings her cane down on his foot.

Guy: Ouch!

M.Lundy: How rude. You don’t interrupt people and that is not how you address a lady.

Guy: I was complimenting her.

M.Lundy: Well, that’s not how you compliment a lady.

Guy: Well, that’s what I do.

M.Lundy: Well, you're not a gentleman.

Guy: Never said I was.

Guy 2: I’m sorry about my brother.

Another guy comes to the door. They look just alike. Damn near identical if the other one had tattoos. He looks over at me and smiles. I grab my arm tighter.

Guy 2: Hi. I’m Ethan. And this is my brother Chase. And you must be Miss Lundy.

M.Lundy: I am. And this young lady is your neighbor Layla.

Me: H-Hi.

Ethan: Nice to meet you.

He reaches his hand out to me. I just look at it. Miss Lundy pushes me forward and I shake his hand. They’re so soft, but at the same time you can tell he ain’t afraid of hard work. Neither of us breaks eye contact, making the handshake last longer than it should.

Chase: Jeez. Is that a mating handshake? I’m here too, you know.

Ethan: Right.

He slowly releases my hand. Almost like he didn’t want to. Chase immediately grabs my hand and brings it towards his lips. I snatched it away immediately.

Chase: Feisty. I like it. So, Layla, when you gonna let me lay--

Miss Lundy brings the cane down on his foot again. She gave him a glare I didn't know she was capable of. I do my best not to laugh.

M.Lundy: I’ve had about enough of you. One more comment like that, and you're out of here.

Ethan: I’ll take care of him.

M.Lundy: See that you do deary. Or else.

Chase: Or else what?

Ethan elbows him in the gut. He winces in pain. Serves him right. Since greetings are over, I head back to my apartment. I try to go back to studying, but it’s interrupted by a knock on my door. I check the peephole to find Ethan. I watched him knock again before answering.

Me: H-hi.

Ethan: Hi. I want to apologize again for my brother's behavior and rude comments.

Me: It’s not your fault.

Ethan: Well, my dad told me to keep him out of trouble, and he’s already about to possibly get us kicked out.

Me: Yeah. Miss Lundy is big on manners and respect.

Ethan: Ok. We’ll again. It was nice meeting you, Layla. Maybe I’ll see you around.

Me: Yeah. Maybe.

I close the door and look out the peephole. I see him still standing there, then he walks off. I go sit back down and start studying again. I finish studying and watch some TV. I make sure not to cut it up too loud now that I have neighbors. But apparently the same doesn’t apply to them. There’s loud music shaking my walls, making my surround sound fall and hit the floor. I walk over to pick it up and notice a c***k in my speaker. I’m not a confrontational person, but for things I work hard for, I am. I leave and go knock on their door.