BOY NEXT DOOR

Kaitiana

Mom is busy in the kitchen when I get home.

I creep up the stairs hoping not to distract her from whatever she's doing. I need time to think right now.

Walking into my room, I realize that the curtains are drawn back and light is streaming inside. I'm pretty sure I left the window closed. Seems like I'll have to talk to Mom about that.

I'm trying to avoid the boy next door.

Cautiously, I walk to the window and peer outside. Kain's window is closed all the way in.

I'm not sure just how long I stand there staring absently at it, deep in thought, until it's pushed open and Kain's face appears.

I want to shrink back and close the curtains but I can't. I'm fixed on the spot.

We stare at each other for a long second. When he doesn't say anything, I reach for my window to close it.

"Belle wait." His voice stops me.

"What."

"Can I borrow your notes from the class I missed?"

"Sure." I reply, gauging the distance between the windows.

"I'll just come over and get the notebook."

"No! You can't! Please don't come in here."

"What? Why?"

"Because my Mom will kill you slowly, then she'll kill me slowly, then she'll kill you all over again." I give him a pointed look. "Slowly."

The edges of his lips lift in an amused smile.

"Then bring it over. My Mom won't mind."

"Mine won't let me come over. Just meet me in the driveway."

He gives me another confused look before he nods.

"Sure."

I start to walk from the window but his voice stops me again.

"And Belle?"

"Hey, it's Bella."

"Don't stare too much, especially from a window. It's frowned upon."

"It is?"

"People have gotten restraining orders for that."

"That's a proven fact?"

"I'd hope so. I could use a referral."

He gazes at me for a second, like he's about to burst out laughing at the look on my face, but then he changes his mind when I scowl at him and pulls his window closed.

Sighing, I take my notebook and pad downstairs. Mom is still in the kitchen so I easily sneak out.

Kain is standing outside his house leaning against his car. I wave for him to come over but he doesn't budge. I don't want to yell his name because chances are, Mom is going to hear me then come outside, so I briskly walk towards his house.

My mom is a little too protective.

Kain keeps his eyes on me as I approach, so I make a point of staring at the pavement in front of me. I focus on making tiny steps, trying hard not to fall on my face.

When I hand him the book, he flips through it before he nods.

"Thank you. I'll give it back tomorrow in class."

Daniel just pulled up in the driveway.

I start to head there, but Kain suddenly grabs my hand.

I whirl around to look at him.

"What."

"What's the deal with your Mom?"

"Excuse me?"

"Why can't I come over to pick a book? We're neighbours, we're classmates-"

"You're a boy. That's what she cares about."

He nods as realization sinks in.

"I get it. She wants her little girl unscathed."

"Don't call me a little girl."

"Okay, shortcake."

"You can't call me that either."

"Why not? Jay does."

"You're not Jay, hotshot." I smile when he makes a face. "What, only Tatiana can call you that?"

"You heard her?"

"No, but I did hear her say not to talk to you again. You're out of bounds, apparently."

"Tatiana is crazy."

"Crazy about you? Yeah, I got that part."

"Why are you saying that like it bothers you?"

"Why would that bother me? I just don't want to get into trouble with Tatiana. Believe me, having coffee poured all over my hair is not my idea of fun."

"Here I thought you liked it."

I roll my eyes before I start to leave but then I remember that my hand is still lodged in Kain's. I glance at his fingers around my wrist, aware of him following my gaze, and my heart goes into a frenzied beating when he casually unwraps his hold from around my wrist and entwines his warm fingers with mine instead.

I raise my eyes to his face, swallowing hard when he stubbornly holds my gaze.

"What are you doing?" My voice comes out in a throaty whisper.

"For what it's worth, I don't like Tatiana. I never will."

"Kain, I don't care."

"I didn't think you did. I'm just saying that she shouldn't give you s**t for talking to me. I'll need you to let me know if she says anything to you because she has a history of being bat s**t crazy."

"Got it. Is this the part where you drop my hand?"

"Yeah, only because your face is red."

"It's the heat."

"The sun is setting, Belle."

"Bella."

"The difference is the same."

I pull my hand away.

"I'll see you around, hotshot."

"I don't think you will, since you might be getting grounded. Your father is still waiting for you. Looks like he doesn't want his sweet little girl getting hurt either."

"If you call me a little girl again...wait, what?" I whip my head around, and I groan when I find Daniel still in his car. His attention isn't on us at all, though. He's chatting with Ryan who's leaning over the open window.

I turn back to Kain with a grim face.

"If you think I'll be getting grounded, then you're outrageously wrong. I'll be getting murdered."

"I don't think he minds-"

"He doesn't. My Mom does." I smirk at Kain as I turn to go. "I heard you're a big deal around school. Will you be a doll and sign the notebook for me before you give it back? Unless you'd rather sign my boobs?"

"Huh?"

"Like an autograph or something. You can sign hotshot if you like. Or Kaitiana. The latter is a personal favourite of mine."

"What the hell is a kaitiana?"

"It's a ship name between you and Tatiana. I came up with it on the spot. Are you impressed?"

Kain releases his breath before he turns on his heel, speaking over his shoulder when I burst out laughing.

"What are you trying to do?"

"You have a lot of fun making me uncomfortable. Figured it'd be fair if two played the game."

"You suck at this. I'm not the tiniest bit amused."

"No?"

"Nope. Go away."

I take a deep breath as I head to Daniel's.

Shit!

I'm not sure what just happened.

All I know is that my heart is about to jump out of my chest. There's a slight buzzing in my ears and my legs feel weak and wobbly.

Beneath all that, though, there's an unfamiliar flutter in my heart.

It takes me a second to realize that it's all because Kain just held my hand for thirty seconds.

I slowly release my breath. I'm not known for holding a bunch of boy's hands in the past so that has to be it. I'm sure it's not personal at all. It's not about Kain.

My teenage hormones must be on a wild overdrive, so I'm convinced that I'll get over the sudden wave of butterflies doing back flips all over my stomach.

"Hey, Bella?"

I spare Daniel, who is just getting out of his car, a cordial smile.

"How was work?"

"Same old. Who was that?"

"Some boy from school."

Daniel's eyebrows go up.

"He lives next door?"

"Apparently."

"That's good. I'm glad you made friends who are so close to home."

"We're not friends."

"Are you..more than friends?"

I laugh as I walk ahead of him to the door.

"No chance. Mom would kill me."

"You know, she'll eventually grow comfortable with the whole idea of you dating someone. She just doesn't want you to get hurt."

"I know." I pause with my hand on the door handle. "Can you not tell her about..the..boy?"

His face creases with uncertainty but he proceeds to nod.

"Of course."

Mom, however, is on my neck as soon as we get inside.

"Where did you go? I got worried for a second there."

"Mom, I'm not a child. Surely I can step out of the house?"

"Of course you can. You just have to tell me first."

"Noted."

"So, where did you go? You don't know anyone around here."

"I was right outside."

She raises an eyebrow at Daniel, who just shrugs.

"She's almost an adult. I'd try to trust her a little more."

"I trust Bella. It's the boys I don't trust."

Daniel wraps an arm around her and kisses her hair.

"She's going to have to interact with them sooner rather than later. You've done such a good job raising her so I'm sure she won't disappoint you. Give her a break..maybe?..sometimes?"

Mom hesitates before she turns back to me.

"Fine. You can have boy friends-"

"More than one? I'm not sure that's my thing."

"Bella, I mean boys who are friends. Not a boyfriend."

"But?"

"But I have to meet them. All of them, so I'll know exactly who to kill if anything happens to you."

"About time. Thanks, Mom."

She pulls away from Daniel with a frown.

"There are boys already, aren't there?"

"A few."

"How many are we talking about?"

I ignore her question with a tiny smile. I head to the staircase, pausing to shout over my shoulder when I get to the landing.

"Jade is coming for a sleepover tomorrow!"

"Jade?"

"A friend from school!"

"A she?"

"Yeah. I'm not bringing boys over for sleepovers." I turn to smile at her. "Yet."

Her eyes widen.

"Yet?"

I burst out laughing as I rush up the stairs.

In my room, I pass Kain's window a quick glance, relieved that it's closed. I don't want him thinking that I stare a lot.

Oh, he already does.

I pick my phone from the night stand and I draft a text to Jade.

B: Wanna sleepover tomorrow night?

J: Can I bring Kara?

B: Sure.

J: Deal!

I smile to myself. I've never had any friends sleep over since a long time ago. My dad would allow me to go when I was little but Mom was never for it.

Tomorrow is going to be the best Friday night of my life.

I can't believe it's been almost a week since we moved here. Have I only known Jade and the boys for four days?

It feels like forever.

**

When I get to school on Friday morning, Jay and Zac are waiting for me in the parking lot. They said they wouldn't leave me all alone because, Tatiana, and I let them have their way. It's not like I don't like their company.

"What's going on between you and Kain?" Zac casually asks as we head to the classes.

"Nothing. Why are you asking?"

He shares an amused look with Jay before he talks.

"I saw you guys talking outside his house last evening."

I still in my step.

"How.."

"You are my neighbour, Bella. I live next door. The house on your right. Kain lives in the house on your left."