The Boy Next Door

~ Skye

"Skye..." I hear Mum's voice calling me from the kitchen. It's a Monday morning, and I'm still in bed, which is probably why she's riled up. Ugh! Mothers? A bunch of perfectionists, who couldn't stand seeing one thing go wrong. That's my Mum, 'Olivia'. The slightest mistake puts her off every time, and she's never tired of yelling.

"Skye Anderson! Get down here this instant!!" Another yell!

I place my pillow over my ears so I don't have to hear the sound of her feet climbing up the stairs. I know she's on her way to my room. But I don't care. All I care about right now is how to get off my bed and get ready for school. Something you'd think is as easy as ABC. Well, news flash! It isn't!

"Skye!" I hear my door creak open and I shut my eyes, pretending to still be asleep. Not that I can fool Mum though.

"Skye, I know you ain't asleep, so get the hell up and get ready for school," Mum says in a harsher, tighter tone. I recognize that voice; it's her voice when she's about to lose her cool, and I can't let that happen.

"Fine, fine, I'm up. Happy now?" I lazily drag myself out of my bed, a scowl on my morning face. Mum isn't smiling as she stares me up and down. What now?

"Did you put on some weight? Your boobs are bigger..."

I don't wait to hear the rest of her comment before rushing off into my bathroom and shutting the door behind me. If anything, I disliked puberty. Who doesn't? You get to wear a pad when it's that time of the month, stupid cramps and acne? Plus bigger and tender boobs?

Sighing, I get myself cleaned up and wrapped up in my towel before I can hear any annoying comment from Mum. My school uniform is neatly placed on my bed and all I do is change into it and put on some lip oil. I know my hair is a mess but I'd do what I usually do to it later-after breakfast.

"I was right, your boobs are bigger," Mum says as soon as I walk into the kitchen where she's making breakfast, already dressed in her work clothes—jeans and a T-shirt. She works in a bookstore across the street and most times, she gets lucky in signing a book with an app. You see, Mum's a writer.

"Don't get too excited; it's my period," I tell her as I grab a plate and help myself to some breakfast.

"Eat up, I won't be driving you to school today." She says, her blue eyes watching me tenderly. I stuff more pancakes into my mouth, not caring if the sauce greases my lips or anything.

"Why not?" I ask, after a gulp and a sip from my apple juice.

"Well... I got a job interview and I have to report earlier... You know, impressing the boss and stuff."

I don't let her finish as I grin. "Wow, Mum, that's... great news." She grins wider and reaches for my hand across the table.

"I know Skye, it's a really good job and if I'm able to land this job... I'd give you a better life. A life you deserve... You know I love you, right?" Mum's eyes are glistening with unshed tears and I hate to see her cry.

"I love you more, Mum. And I believe in you, you're smart and most importantly... You're gorgeous," I tease, making her smile a little.

"That's okay, you're late for school. And since I won't be driving you... Oh! He's here." Mum smiles just as the doorbell rings, and I frown deeply as Mum leaves the kitchen to go get the door.

This better not be what I'm thinking! I follow suit and stop at the kitchen door, my arms folded. Mum opens the door and he walks in! Who's he?

Ethan Reid!

The boy next door!

My fucking nightmare!

I can't stand him! He's... he's so damn annoying and cocky and smug and infuriating and Ugh! I can't find the right words to say just how much I hate this guy. And Mum is aware of our constant fights! Why would she invite him over?

"I asked Ethan if you could drive with him to school and guess what? He doesn't mind!" Mum smiles tenderly at Ethan who smiles back at her. I swear it, that smile of his is fake! I've seen that smile too many times!

"No way! It's not happening!" I shake my head in disapproval.

"Skye, what is wrong with you?" Mum snaps at me.

I scowl. "Have you met that guy? He's so... so annoying. And I am not riding with him to school, Mum. I don't like him, and he doesn't like me either... Point is, we can't stand each other." I say breathlessly.

"I don't mind you riding with me to school, Anderson. It's just a day..." The fool speaks up.

I throw him a glare. "What are you up to, arsehole?"

"Skye Anderson!" Mum calls, and I grumble in frustration, stomping my feet on the floorboards in defeat.

"Come on, Anderson. I don't bite," Ethan twitches his lips in a stupid grin. My frown deepens because I can't find this funny. Not at all! But I grab my backpack and wheeze out of the house, not saying goodbye to Mum. Seconds later, Ethan appears and I get into his car, still putting on a frown. He doesn't seem to care as he gets in and starts driving. Stupid! Stupid cunt! I say in my head.

The drive to our school is forty-five minutes and I'm so upset I have to spend so much time with Ethan. I watch him as he drives with one hand while the other hand is in his tousled brown hair, ruffling it. His hair still annoyingly looked good, even when messy. I gulp, instantly looking away. No matter how hard I lied to myself, I knew Ethan was hot. Hot in a way that girls at school couldn't get over him. Girls except me!

"What are you thinking about, Anderson?" Ethan's smug voice cuts into my thoughts.

I turn to him, surprised that he's asking. "Since when did Ethan Reid become so interested in my thoughts?" I ask, pushing all the venom I had into my voice.

He smirks, and his dimples... I exhale. "You were staring at me so much that I thought you'd take a picture with your pretty eyes," He says.

I choke on my laughter. "Excuse me, is this you trying to flirt with me?" I ask, still laughing slowly.

"Yes, Anderson." He replies, and for a moment, I stop laughing, eyes on him, waiting for an explanation.

"Gotcha!" He bursts into laughter. "She thought I was flirting with her? Pity, I have a girlfriend and even if I didn't. You're not my type," He says and I can feel the rage in me. I'm not mad because he thinks he's above my class and can't even flirt with me. That would be gross though! I don't like Ethan alright! But being dismissed by a guy like that hurt my ego and I already had a comeback for him, so we'd be even.

"You're not my type either. I doubt you're anyone's type, Ethan. With your ugly face and small dick..." I laugh half-heartedly at my joke. But my laughter dies down noticing he has stopped the car. He turns to me, with a creepy smile on his stupid face.

"What? What's wrong with the car? Why did you stop?" I ask, ignoring the creepy smile etched on his face.

"Wanna see?" He suddenly asks.

"Excuse me?" I frown, unsure of what he means by such a question.

"My dick! You said it's small and figured out you'd want to see and prove yourself right. Right, Anderson?" His hands move to his belt and I swear I can feel the rush of adrenaline... I hold my breath, as Ethan undoes his belt.

"You're sick, you know that? What are you doing?" I finally found my voice. And it doesn't even sound like my voice anymore. It's a small, estranged sound.

"Ethan stop!" I raise my voice as he drags down his zipper.

I instinctively shut my eyes and place my hands over them. I don't want to see his dick! I don't want to! Ever!!!

"Open your eyes, Anderson. See for yourself! You can touch it if you want to... I won't mind,"

"You fucking psycho! I'll kill you once I'm out of this car, you'll see." I'm still rambling, even with closed eyes.

"I'd like to see you try. Get down," He suddenly says, and my eyes shoot open. Thank goodness there's no dick anywhere. An image I'd have never been able to erase.

"What..."

"Down! Now!!" He orders in a stern voice.

"You can't be serious, Ethan," I say, folding my arms in refusal to adhere to his order.

He shrugs and opens the car... It was right there I took in my surroundings and gasped, jumping out of the car in embarrassment. We were at school, and the fool didn't think to tell me. Where did he go? Who cares anyway? I rush down the hallway, to my locker, grabbing my history textbook and a mathematical set. I'd barely made it to the end of the hall when a familiar voice called me.

"Here we go," I mumble as Harper engulfs me in a tight hug. I hug her back, sighing in relief that the ride to school's finally over and I made it out alive.

Harper is my Best friend. We turned besties after our moms wrote a book together, and it went viral... Harper would pass for my twin except she has curly red hair that's always styled differently, and she's gorgeous freckles and green eyes. We are both petite and average in height. And while she prefers boho skirts, crop tops and funky accessories, I prefer oversized hoodies unless when forced to dress up.

"You better have a good excuse for being late, Skye," Harper says after the warm hug.

"What did I miss?" I ask absentmindedly.

"History class, plus..." Harper pauses, and I tilt my head at her. Because really? Since when did we start hiding things from each other? As long as I can remember, we'd make a pact to tell each other everything. Everything including the tiniest gossip.

"Harper, spill," I tell her and she looks hesitant. Whatever she wants to say must be a big one. My ears are straining to hear it. Might it be a gossip or something about me?

"Uh... It's Liam." She says.

"Liam?" I repeat, trying to keep calm. Liam is my boyfriend. We've been together for a year and a half and although Mum doesn't approve of my relationship with Liam, it didn't matter. I don't know why she dislikes my boyfriend and I have never cared to know.

"What about Liam?" I ask impatiently.

"Did you talk to him over the week? He's friends with Ava Mitchell. And I have a really bad feeling about it in my gut," Harper purses her lips. We are walking out of the hallway now and all I can think of is what Harper has just said.

Harper and I part ways at the end of the hallway and I clumsily walk into the basketball courtroom, hoping to see Liam in there. My instincts are right; Liam and some guys, including Ethan Reid, are in here. I rethink my decision of walking up to him and asking him about Ava.

But I am already stalking him before I can hold back. "Liam!" I call, in a loud voice. Loud enough for every guy in here to turn to me, some snickering...

"Hey Babe," Liam walks to me, pressing his cold lips to mine, not caring if the guys are watching.

"Explain Ava," I tell him after the brief kiss.

His countenance changes instantly, and I can't miss the reluctance in his eyes. My heart sinks to my knees as I watch Liam contemplate whether to speak or not. But I already know the answer to the questions in my head. I just need him to confirm it...

"Ava and I... are just friends," Liam says after some seconds have passed.

"What about Ava?" An unconcerned Ethan Reid asks, marching to us. Right! I forgot he and Ava were a thing. If what they were doing could be considered an actual relationship. Hell, I didn't care.

"Babe I'm sorry I didn't mean for..."

I hold up my hand signalling for him to stop talking. He'd done what I had been so afraid of since the onset of our relationship. And he'd be so damned if he thought I cared one bit.

Cocking my head to the side, I see Ethan and I don't think twice of the consequence of what I'm about to do as I pull him by his neck and slam my lips on his.

I hear the gasps from the guys.