The girl next door

Chapter 15 - Heather

Humming I climb the stairs to my apartment and am happy to live on the first floor again. I hold two big bags in my hand, which don't make the ascent any easier. Because although my fridge is not empty for a long time, I decided to get some snacks. After all, thanks to Sebastian I now know where to find the nearest supermarket. I also bought frozen pizzas for Ava and myself. The right ones might have been better, but I asked her extra and she said that pizza from the supermarket would be better because the delivery service usually takes years.

Arriving at the top, I briefly put both bags down to get my apartment key out of my pocket. "Well, who have we here?", suddenly a voice sounds behind me and I drive around slightly startled. Sebastian is standing there at the landing, leaning relaxed against the railing. But who else did I expect?

"I haven't seen you since last night", he grins at me smugly, whereupon I can't help but roll his eyes. He's really the last person I expected to see here. Somehow it's embarrassing that he saw me drunk. And the way I've met him so far, he only uses it again to tease me. Besides, I can't afford him to stop me right now. "Thank you for picking me up yesterday", a little embarrassed I scratch the back of my head.

"It's a matter of honour", I notice how he lets his gaze wander up and down my body: "You've already been shopping again? "Yes, why not?" I ask and start to take both bags in my hand again. Apparently he notices that I don't really intend to continue our conversation for a long time, which is why he tries to stop me: "Wait! In his voice there is something so firm and soliciting at the same time, which doesn't make me just go on. Instead, I stop and slowly turn around to him: "What is it?

For a moment he just looks at me and it almost seems like he has nothing more to say. But there is an expression in his eyes that makes me stop anyway and tells me that he is just looking for the right words. The fact that he doesn't just start talking makes me really listen. Normally he just seems to say what he thinks, no matter if he could be considered an asshole.

It's only now that I notice that he's gotten closer and has detached himself from the railing. When he takes another step towards me, I feel that only a few centimeters separate us from each other. His gaze is on my face and I notice how he seems to be looking at every inch.

"The next time you need help," he begins and seems surprisingly serious, no trace of ridicule or sarcasm can be seen in his voice: "Please call me." Normally I probably would have objected, trying to make him understand that it was just an exception and that I could take care of myself. Instead, I just nod quietly and slowly look up at him. A smile appears on his lips, but he doesn't seem to be amused by the whole situation. Instead he radiates contentment and his whole facial expression shows that my answer to his request seems to calm him.

Then he suddenly turns around, without any warning, and walks towards his apartment door. "Where are you going,' I ask, although it shouldn't bother me that he is going. In reply, he rattles with his bunch of keys and then unlocks his door.

But before he goes in and closes the door, he briefly leans against the door frame to catch another look at me: "Now I still have something to do, but don't worry. See you around, sweetheart." Immediately I open my mouth to reply that perhaps I am not out to meet him in too long a time and that he should not call me 'sweetheart'. But before I get a chance to speak, he enters his apartment completely and closes the door without another word behind him. He just winked at me with a broad grin when I said goodbye.

For a few seconds I just stare at the white door and am stunned. How does this guy manage to mutate into an asshole within seconds? Especially if you think that he might not be what you thought he was, he will ruin everything. And what should this 'sweetheart' do? In high school, most of the boys had already somehow shot themselves into this name. So Sebastian doesn't have to start now.

Annoyed and sighing, I open my door and step into the apartment. With my foot I close the door behind me again and go over to the kitchen, where I put the bags on the counter to unpack them in the next minutes and pack them into the, still quite empty, cupboards. While doing this I try to solve Sebastian's thoughts and concentrate on the preparation for the evening with Ava. After all, this is my first movie night with another person in my new apartment.