A ‘new’ neighbor

“JUST A MINUTE!”

You shout, as the doorbell keeps ringing. You’re going to kill Stella if it’s her, since you gave her a spare key for this exact reason. Okay, not this exact reason, but for there to be no need for her to use the doorbell, at least.

You look back at Cassie who is just laughing at this whole scenario.

“I love you too.” you tell her which takes her by surprise, and you give her a quick kiss before you stand up to go to the bathroom in your room to grab a bathrobe to cover yourself up. Once you’ve gotten the bathrobe, you see Cassie laying on your bed naked and still breathing heavily; but more noticeably, she’s just staring at the ceiling with a wide grin on her face.

You can’t wait to tell Stella she has the worst timing in the world and make her feel guilty, so you rush outside to get that over with. It doesn’t escape your notice that the door to your bedroom is apparently slightly ajar and you may have failed to close it properly earlier.

“Be right back,” you tell Cassie as you make your way out of your bedroom. As you get out of your room and rush to the main door, you slip on something wet on the floor by your bedroom’s doorway and you almost fall. Luckily, you keep your balance by holding onto the wall before you completely faceplant.

The doorbell keeps being rung as if Stella just wants to annoy you and Cassie now. When you open the door, you’re surprised to see it’s not Stella at all.

“Hi, I’m really sorry to bother you…” and you phase out the rest of what she’s saying as an incalculable amount of rage and annoyance swells up inside you as this random person had the audacity to ruin such a wonderful moment you were having with Cassie.

Once you snap back into reality, you realize this person hasn’t stopped talking, “... I have a ball gag you could borrow if you really don’t want to stop—” you cut her off and ask, “I’m sorry, who are you?”

“Like I said a few seconds ago, I’m your next door neighbor. From 303? Name’s Vivian.” she tells you.

“Paul and Eric live in 303.” you reply, not sure why she would lie about that.

“From what I was told before I moved in last month, they were moving to the suburbs.” she tells you.

The information shocks you a bit as you didn’t even realize that somebody else moved into the apartment next to yours for an entire month already. “I’m sorry, I haven’t been updated for a while, but why are you here?” you ask her.

“Oh wow, you really didn’t hear a word I said did you?” she says, a bit offended. “Look, I know I didn’t ring your doorbell at a particularly good time, and you’re probably annoyed with me, but your bedroom noises kind of penetrate the walls to my bedroom.” she informs you.

“Oh… shit. I’m sorry. I never knew that was a problem.” you tell her honestly. You really didn’t know since Paul or Eric never complained to you and Diane before; but you’re not surprised as to why that is.

“Hey, like I said earlier, I normally wouldn’t give a shit and let you guys do you, but it’s kind of the second night in a row where someone’s screaming their lungs out, and it’s Monday tomorrow, so I have to get up early for work. I hope you understand.” she informs you.

“Fuck. Yeah, of course. I’m sorry again.” you tell her. You outstretch your hand to offer her a handshake, and so you can introduce yourself as well, but she curls her lip in slight disgust, and you realize it’s probably because she knows where your hands have been just a few minutes ago. You wipe your hand on your bathrobe but don’t offer her another handshake.

“I’m Jay by the way. I’m sorry again for this. Weird way to introduce myself to my new neighbor.” You tell her.

“Don’t worry about it. Honestly, I thought nobody lived in your apartment before tonight.” she admits. You rub the back of your neck out of embarrassment, not really sure how to react to that. You have been a recluse these past few months, but discussing the reason behind that would be awkward at this time.

“Anyway, like I said, I really need to go to bed. Sorry again for cutting your night short.” Vivian tells you before walking back to her apartment.

“Good night!” you yell out just before she enters her apartment, and she waves a hand at you in response.

Wait… did she just say she has a ball gag you could borrow!?