'What business could he possibly have here that he would risk running into us?'

'I don't know, Appie. I didn't stop him to ask.'

Joost had made sure that Elke's windows were shut when he lit his cigarette. He peered around Ms Brauwer's kitchen, the only thing that seperated Elke and Joost's walls, to see the lights on but the windows closed. Her curtains were open, most likely so she could see the cities lights off in the distance, but Elke was safe from his smoke and his conversation.

'He has to be in trouble. He has to owe someone. Maybe Donnie?' Apson rambled through into Joost's ear. With his phone in one hand, Joost took a drag of his cigarette. The nicotine did nothing for his churning stomach and he let his hand hang out into the dimming evening.

'Donnie would kill Acid on sight. Maybe he's lost his mind and doesn't care anymore,' Joost listed with little interest.

'Alanis is looking into Roan Colijn. I'll let you know if anything pings. It might be a good idea to see if your neighbour knows anything-'

'No. I'm not doing that.'

'Why not?'

Irritated, Joost finished his cigarette and exhaled the last of its hit. He threw it into the street but remained leaning on the window's frame. Apson waited for a response on the other end, eyebrows raised and his suspicions climbing. Joost let him wait out of spite and found himself looking to where Elke's windows would be. What was she doing right now? Why had she let that evil, putrid man into her apartment? Letting Roan inside after what happened at the car meet was bad enough. The only answer Joost believed was that Elke didn't know who it really was that she said had been particularly nice to her.

'Because she doesn't know anything,' he said into his phone.

'How can you be so sure?'

'I just know. I'll talk to you tomorrow.'

'Alright. Bye, Joost.'

He was an idiot. Joost should have listened to his instincts when Elke mentioned the name. He should know by now that no one ever just appeared in his life by coincidence. There was always more at play, whether it be from someone's interference or from God's own will.

His neighbour tantalised Joost with her large eyes and pretty smile. At first, Joost thought that he was going to enjoy the next time he saw her in the hallway or in the underground carpark. Then Roan was mentioned and it put a damper on his hopes. Elke's obvious unhappiness with her boyfriend revived Joost, but with another twist of the sick game, he was back in a state of disappointment, anxiety and a crippling fear.

The next time Joost saw Roan, he had to say something. He hated the man and wouldn't care what he was involved in if Nathan hadn't been seen in Joost's apartment building. But at a corner shop in the middle of the day, when Joost was sure that Elke wasn't with him, he stepped into the aisle where Roan grabbed something off the shelf.

When Roan spotted the blonde, he clicked his tongue and tried to walk the other way.

'Roan,' Joost called his name, hiding his disgust.

'I don't want to talk to you,' he snapped back.

'Me neither so I guess there's no problem.'

Roan recoiled, turning to head down the aisle once more. Joost rolled his eyes and said,

'How do you know Nathan?'

The man paused, his chosen packet of crisps loosening in his hand. He turned back for the second time and eyed his girlfriend's neighbour.

The cashier scanned items at the front of the shop, the beeps interupting the radio that played a classical station. The aisle with the two men was undisturbed and they stared at each other, wondering if either of them were going to speak first.

'What's it to you?' Roan worked hard at keeping his composure.

'If you're not going to answer, I'll call him and ask-'

'I met him at a party.'

'Where?'

'Belgium.'

'Why were you in Belgium?'

'And I'll ask again, why do you care?'

Joost didn't have Nathan's number but it had gotten what he wanted out of Roan. He learnt more about the situation just by the man's quick response after the seemingly innocent threat. Roan was uncomfortable, his tough demeanour having faltered at Nathan's mention. Joost could tell that despite Elke's surprising admission at the Belgian's character, the man still unnerved those he wanted fearing him.

'I'll tell you what,' Joost closed the space between him and Roan in the shop aisle. 'You drop this act you're convinced is working for you and I'll see you at the next meet.'

He knew it would work because Joost knew men like Roan. They thought that by striding around with their shoulders back and their stare mean that they would be respected. They thought if they had a beautiful girlfriend that they treated like shit that they were envied. Joost wanted information and the only way to get it was to stoop to Roan's level.

Just as he thought, Roan practically jumped at the opportunity.

'10pm? On Saturday?' he made sure and Joost nodded, cringing at the thought of Elke coming along. There was no doubt that she would be dragged by her boyfriend, confident that he would embarrass the Klein who had done nothing to threaten him.

'Listen, mate,' Joost lowered his voice and leaned forward so his words wouldn't carry into the next aisle. 'I don't know what Nathan's promised you, or what story he has you believing, but he is not a good guy. He shouldn't even be in the country.'

'What, you scared of him?'

'You're out of your mind if you're not.'

Roan's smirk faltered. His attempt to insult Joost only ruptured his facade even more. The crystal eyes and tight lips dissatisfied Roan. Now that he knew that Joost would be put in his place at the next car meet, Roan wanted to continue on his high. It was the only thing that stopped the feeling in his stomach that had plagued him for weeks.

When he and Nathan got back into his car on Tuesday, Roan grumbled at how much he hated Elke's neighbour. As he put the key into the ignition, Nathan's calm, toneless voice interupted the engine's roar.

'Does he live on her floor?'

'Yeah. He's a fucking prick. He was the one that I said was at the meet on Saturday.'

'You didn't say it was Joost Klein.'

Roan looked away from the windshield as he drove out of the carpark. Nathan didn't meet his eye and it put Roan on edge.

'Do you know him?'

Nathan stayed silent.

'Is he going to be a problem?'

'No.'

In a way, Roan was thankful that Joost bothered him so much. If Elke hadn't introduced him as her neighbour, Roan feared that his recent obsession and problem would have eaten away at him. It gave him something else to think about, to hate, something that wasn't life threatening but irritating all the same.

'You're even more out of your mind if you think taking him to Elke's apartment was a good idea-'

'Don't talk about my girlfriend, you son of a bitch,' Roan was riled up once more and growled. 'I know what you're playing at and you better keep your fucking distance.'

Joost's eyebrows rose at the sudden hostility and he gave up with his attempt at being civil.

'That's kind of hard when she's on the same floor as me,' he said and relished in the way Roan's face reddened in anger. Joost wanted to prod even more but resisted, turning his brash mood to what mattered.

'I'm telling you, Roan, if you can get out now, you do it. Don't drag anyone else into your shit.'

Roan wasn't listening. He was furious. He wasn't sure if he could wait until the weekend to embarrass Joost in front of his friends and Elke. His fist tingled and he even considered going to his car to rummage through his glove compartment. There, Roan would find the thing that Nathan had told him was only necessary for the plan. But in the corner shop, in front of the tall blonde that was everything Roan wasn't, he was prepared to risk it all.

'See you Saturday, cunt,' Roan seethed and collided with Joost's shoulder as he left. Without paying, Roan left the corner shop.

With blood boiling, Joost stared at the spot where Roan had been. He had done his best to be helpful and as polite as he could manage. But all it seemed to do was increase his hatred for Elke's boyfriend and secure him a race that he didn't want to do.

Joost headed towards the cashier and paid for the crisps that Roan left with. He then pulled out his cigarettes and smoked on his walk home.

---

'You're an idiot, El. A classic idiot,' Arabella insulted the Swift driver.

Elke had no comeback because it was true. She drove the two of them along the streets with a deep frown. She expected nothing less from her friend after telling her about Tuesday night. Arabella had thrown herself into the passenger seat with a demand to hear all about the breakup. She wanted to know what Elke said, how she said it and what Roan looked like when he got on his knees and begged her to reconsider.

But Arabella cried out in frustration when Elke met her eye for a mere second before giving a crooked smile.

'He turned up with one of his friends. I couldn't do it with him in the room,' Elke tried to defend.

'Sure you could have! His friends barely acknowledge that you exist! They would have been none the wiser,' Arabella cried. 'I give up with you. You've sullied my good name with your toxic relationship.'

Elke rolled her eyes at her friend's dramatic tones. She went to respond as they went over a speed bump but her words never made it out. On the sidewalk, bright blonde hair and a broad, tall frame caught Elke's attention. Smoke bellowed into the air above his head and as she drove passed, Joost looked up and recognised the square car.

They waved to each other with smiles. Joost's sunglasses covered his eyes but it wasn't hard for Elke to guess that his wave was to her. She continued over another speedbump and tried to recall what she was going to say before.

'Who was that?' Arabella asked, twisting to look through the back windshield.

'My neighbour, Joost.'

'Your neighbour, Joost?' her friend repeated mockingly. Elke nodded, glancing to Arabella with nothing else to say. She heard the scoff and saw the shake of her head in the corner of her eye.

'You're unbelievable.'

'I thought I was an idiot?'

'That, too. You're an unbelievable idiot with too many handsome men in your life.'

Whether it was a backhanded compliment or an outright insult, Elke laughed. Arabella followed while still in disbelief.

For months, if it wasn't for the few times Elke had spare to see her best friend, she was convinced she would never laugh. Arabella was the only one that Elke was ever excited to see. She didn't drag her to car meets and they both liked eating out, shopping and running errands together. Their full-time jobs meant that their weekends were sacred and they had to use what they had to see each other. But they didn't mind, because Elke could be herself and Arabella could ridicule her friend's boyfriend to filth.

At the sight of her neighbour, Elke realised that she had laughed more since moving into her new apartment than she had in a while. Joost emitted a similar comfort that Arabella did with his witty humour and interest in her as a person. She was sure that her friend and neighbour would get along, maybe to the point of finding an affection for each other.

The idea was squandered and kicked out of Elke's head in an instant. When Elke left her apartment every day, she couldn't stop herself from looking to 406. When she saw the Impreza in the carpark, Elke hoped it would roar to life and she would see Joost in the driver's seat. The thought of seeing another woman, even if it was her best friend, stepping out of the green door or out of the silver Suburu put a great weight on Elke's heart.

It was selfish and Elke was ashamed to feel it, but that was for her to think and keep to herself.