chapter one
The Neighbor from Room 9B
"If this man doesn't stop making noise, I'm going to prison."
Zara Bennett dropped her suitcase onto the polished floor of her brand-new apartment and let out a long sigh of relief.
Finally.
After three years of working overtime, surviving terrible roommates, and living in a tiny apartment where the ceiling leaked every time it rained, she had finally moved into Skyline Heights—one of the most luxurious apartment buildings in the city.
She spun around with a huge smile.
Floor-to-ceiling windows.
A beautiful modern kitchen.
A cozy living room.
And best of all...
Peace and quiet.
"This," she whispered, stretching her arms, "is exactly the fresh start I need."
At that exact moment—
BOOM!
The walls shook.
Music exploded through the apartment so loudly that one of her unopened boxes tipped over.
Zara blinked.
Another loud beat rattled the picture frame she had just placed on the counter.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Her eye twitched.
"No..."
The music only got louder.
Someone was singing terribly at the top of his lungs.
"No, no, no..."
Then came laughter.
Followed by what sounded like furniture being dragged across the floor.
Zara looked at the ceiling.
She looked at the wall.
Then at her coffee cup, which was vibrating on the counter.
Her smile disappeared.
"I paid this much rent for this?"
Five minutes later...
She marched into the hallway wearing fuzzy slippers, an oversized hoodie, and the expression of a woman ready to start a war.
The music was coming from one apartment.
Room 9B.
She knocked.
No answer.
She knocked harder.
Still nothing.
Finally, she began banging on the door.
The music suddenly stopped.
The door swung open.
Standing there was the most annoyingly handsome man Zara had ever seen.
Messy black hair.
Gray sweatpants.
A black T-shirt.
Barefoot.
He looked like he had just stepped out of a fashion magazine.
He leaned against the doorframe with a lazy grin.
"Can I help you?"
For two whole seconds...
Zara forgot why she was angry.
Then the bass started thumping again behind him.
She remembered.
"Yes," she said sweetly.
"You can turn your music down."
He tilted his head.
"My music?"
"No," she replied. "The music being played by invisible ghosts."
A smile tugged at his lips.
"I'll ask the ghosts."
She stared at him.
He stared back.
She forced a smile.
"I don't think you're funny."
"I think I am."
"You've been making noise for the last hour."
"I was celebrating."
"What exactly?"
"I finally beat my best friend at a video game."
Zara blinked.
"You shook the entire building because you won a game?"
"It was an important victory."
She took a deep breath.
"Listen, Mr..."
"Noah."
"Well, Noah, some of us would like to unpack without feeling like we're inside a nightclub."
He folded his arms.
"And some of us would like our new neighbor to introduce herself before declaring war."
"I'm Zara."
"Nice to meet you."
"It isn't."
He laughed.
An actual laugh.
That somehow made her even more annoyed.
"Fine," he said. "I'll turn it down."
Her shoulders relaxed.
"Thank you."
"...Tomorrow."
She gasped.
"What?"
"Kidding."
He reached inside and lowered the volume.
Silence.
Beautiful, wonderful silence.
"There."
"See? Was that so hard?"
"No."
"Then why didn't you do it earlier?"
He shrugged.
"No one asked."
Zara narrowed her eyes.
"I already don't like you."
He smiled.
"That's impressive."
"What is?"
"You've lived here for exactly twenty-three minutes."
She folded her arms.
"And you've already become the worst neighbor I've ever had."
He gave a playful salute.
"I'll try to live up to your expectations."
She turned on her heel and marched back toward her apartment.
Just as she unlocked her door, Noah called after her.
"Hey, Zara!"
She looked back reluctantly.
"Welcome to Skyline Heights."
Before she could answer...
A bucket of water sitting above his own doorway suddenly tipped over.
Splash!
Ice-cold water poured all over Noah from head to toe.
His hair clung to his forehead.
His shirt was soaked.
For a second, there was complete silence.
Then Zara burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Noah looked down at himself, sighed dramatically, and muttered,
"I knew I shouldn't have trusted Mason with my welcome-home prank."
Zara laughed so hard she had to hold onto her doorframe.
Maybe moving into Skyline Heights wasn't going to be peaceful after all.
Maybe...
It was going to be unforgettable.
