Saturday was laundry day. I usually hired someone to do it but after lying around all day yesterday I woke up extra early and decided to do it myself. I had already finished washing and was headed up the stairs back to my room carrying my laundry basket. I was wearing flip-flops, a baggy T-shirt with tight shorts underneath and my braided hair was in a neat bun. When I reached my floor I saw something that made me come to a sudden stop. The thing I had been praying not to happen since yesterday was happening. Gabriel was moving next door. Why was this happening to me? The one guy in this whole campus to ever turn me down was actually moving in next door. We were going to be neighbors.

I quickly composed myself and put on a straight face before continuing walking. Since Gabriel and all those helping him move had gone inside the room I was just going to silently enter my room and pray they never see me. Maybe I would be lucky enough to never run into Gabriel. Wishful thinking. I grabbed my keys from inside the laundry basket and inserted it quickly into the keyhole. Someone must hate me somewhere because just as I managed to open the door I heard a someone whistle behind me.

"Gabriel you've gotta let me move in with you. You've got one hot neighbor." Someone commented.

I was going to ignore what he said and just go in when what he said next pissed me off.

"Or I can just move in with you mama. Or into you if you prefer it." He added and I turned around with the most pissed of expression on my face.

His eyes went wide when he recognized who I was.

"Keep dreaming kid. I wouldn't allow you to touch me even with a ten foot pole." I said.

I heard a few ooh's and aah's inside the room and scrambling before six bodies all rushed to the door bumping into each other to see the girl who had just put their friend in his place.

"Miss. Daring. I should have known it was you. How are you doing pretty lady?" Paul asked.

"My morning was starting off good till I saw all of you. Now it's just going downhill." I replied honestly.

"Don't say that beautiful. You've got a new neighbor." He said with a knowing wink.

That was in reference as to how I expressed my interest in Gabriel at the party. I gave him a confused look pretending not to know what he was talking about.

"So which one of you is moving in next door?" I asked pretending not to know.

Parting like the red sea they all moved aside to expose Gabriel who was standing at the back of the group dressed in a black T-shirt,black jeans and a pair of white sneakers.

"That would be me." He said raising his arm before scratching the back of his head awkwardly.

"Oh you." I said letting disappointed drip from my tone of voice. I saw his face fall but I quickly ignored it. "Well you guys have fun scratching each others balls or whatever it is that you men do. I have stuff to do." I said turning away from them opening my door.

"Why don't you join us for drinks? I'm sure Gabriel would love to know his new neighbor." Paul said inviting me in.

I opened my door and got in before turning to them.

"Not gonna happen. See you around boys. I hope not though." I replied closing the door behind me with a little slam to emphasize my point.

I heard something from one of the guys that made me smile before I moved away from the door.

"Oh man you've got one hot neighbor but she icy as hell though. It's like Elsa from that frozen movie."

Keep that in mind boys. I had to find a way to keep my distance from Gabriel. He seemed like a nice guy and we would have been friends under any other circumstance but we had almost slept together and that fact changed everything. Not exactly, almost had sex considering the jerk rejected me but you get my point. He also looked like one of those shy good boy types and I didn't like that. I liked my men to be freaks or at least a little outgoing. He looked like the best friend type and I didn't do male best friends. Things got complicated because they always ended up catching feelings that I couldn't reciprocate. I just had to stay away from that guy and we slowly we would be back to strangers again.

My room was pretty messy having spent all day yesterday lounging around so I decided to tidy up. I hated a messy room. My theme was pink and white except for the brown study desk that came with the room. I had switched out my wooden study chair for a more classy comfortable one that fit with the rooms theme. Since my room was pretty big I was able fit a two-seater sofa with fluffy pillows, a glass table and mount a TV on the wall. Told you my sister was loaded and this rentals were really expensive so the space was adequate.

Two hours later I had scrubbed the bathroom clean, vacuumed the carpet, cleaned the kitchen, and washed and dusted every available surface. Since I had stripped the bed and windows bare earlier while doing laundry I put up fresh curtains and bed sheets and covers.

After making sure that everything was tidy and my room smelt of fresh apples like my air freshener I decided to take a much needed shower. I was sweaty and dirty. I stripped, grabbed a fresh towel and entered the bathroom.

Thirty minutes later I emerged feeling refreshed. I put on a clean pair of panties before I picked up a pair of floral tights and pulled them on together with a matching crop top. I wasn't going anywhere though so I didn't want to dress fancy. I had a few text messages about a party tonight but I wasn't sure if I was going to go or not. I really wasn't in the mood but it would all depend with how my afternoon turned out.

I decided to watch a movie to pass the time. Twenty minutes into the movie there was a knock on my door. I paused the movie before putting on my fuzzy house slippers and heading towards the door.

I opened it to reveal Nancy bringing me lunch. I allowed her to come in. She uncovered the trey to reveal some fried fish, chips masala, Kachumbari and some fresh juice.

"Asanti Nancy inakaa tamu sana." I thanked her and checked out the receipt to check how much I owed her.

Thanks Nancy, it looks very delicious.

I got her the money as she grabbed the dishes I had from the kitchen.

"Karibu ." She replied taking the money.

Your welcome.

As I opened the door to let her leave I realized that the boys were still helping Gabriel move in. How much stuff did he have? It's been hours.

"Kwani hawa hawamalizi?" I asked Nancy shocked.

They aren't done yet.

"Ata mimi ndio nashangaa but huyo kijana ako na vitu mingi." She replied.

I'm surprised myself but that guy has a lot of stuff.

I really felt sorry for them. I knew how hectic it was to move especially up three flights of stairs carrying heavy stuff.

"Nancy mlitengeneza pizza leo?" I asked her.

Nancy did you guys make pizza today?

"Eeeh ata zimebaki tatu pekee."

Yeah, actually we only have three left.

"Fanya hivi. Shika hii pesa uletee hawa vijana hizo pizza tatu na zile soda mbili kubwa za litre mbili." I said handing her the money.

Do this. Take this money and bring these boys those three pizzas and two bottles of the two litre sodas.

"Sasawa na si wewe ni mzuri. Lakini hii pesa bado ni excess. Nitakuletea change nikiwaletea food." She explained.

Okay. Your so nice but the money you've given me is excess. I'll bring you the change as I bring up their food.

"Weka change na usisahau chakula ya Oba." I instructed.

Keep the change and don't forget to get Oba some food.

She nodded with a smile before leaving. I realized I hadn't told her not to tell the boys that I was responsible for the food but I brushed it off. I didn't want to seem nice but I also felt bad for them. They must be so tired and hungry. I went back inside my room and closed the door. I grabbed a bottle of water from the kitchen before sitting on the carpet. I pressed play on the movie before I dug into my food.

I knew how to cook. My mother made sure of it but it doesn't mean I like it. She sent me money for groceries and food every week and so did my sisters but I just ate at the cafeteria or anywhere else but I rarely cooked. I had dishes that were still brand new and unused. I had this thing let's call it a quirk where I didn't like eating food that I cooked myself. So I barely cooked unless it was something simple like sausages, eggs or making popcorn. If you wanna judge me and call me spoilt fine. I prefer to say I'm blessed enough to help other people by buying their food instead of cooking for myself. It gave people like Nancy a job and a means to provide for her family.

After clearing my plate I cleaned up my mess and washed the used dishes and left them to dry. Nancy would pick them up later or I would deliver them myself.

I then decided it was time for a smoke. I grabbed a roll and my lighter and sat on the balcony. Just as I was about to light it there was a knock on my door. I was going to ignore it but the person just kept knocking.

"Give me a minute damn. It's not like I was by the door waiting for you to knock." I shouted.

My roll and lighter still in hand and I yanked the door open.

"This had better be good enough coz you just interrupted me from something very important." I said coming face to face with a shocked Gabriel.

He looked disheveled with his cute locks in all directions and dirt on some of his clothes. He was still dressed in what he had when I saw him earlier minus the shoes.

He gave me a once over and I saw him lick his lips. Gay my ass. This dude was full on male. I cleared my throat snapping him back to reality. He scratched the back of his neck which I had come to realize he did when he was nervous.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your uhh..." He hesitated looking at the joint I was holding in my hand.

"What is it Gabriel?" I asked him getting impatient.

"Sorry...."

"Stop apologizing and just say it."

"Sorry.. Shit." This boy was a mess.

Was he always this nervous around people or was it just me? It'd be flattering knowing I had this effect on him.

"Okay so umh. The boys asked me to come thank you for the pizza and drinks." He finally managed to say.

"So if they didn't make you it means you wouldn't have come to say thank you?" I asked teasingly.

I didn't really care if he said thank you or not. It was just fun messing with him.

He scratched the back if his neck again in nervousness looking down and I smiled to myself. God this boy was cute. He was more than a foot taller than me yet I still made him nervous. That was really something. I was used to making people nervous but Gabriel's was whole other level.

"I didn't mean it that way. Thank you for the food and drinks." He said finally looking me in the eye.

"You're welcome. Now is that all. I really need a smoke right now unless you want to join me." I invited jokingly knowing he would say no.

His reply did shock me though.

"Maybe another time. It's rugby season and we have drug tests."He explained.

"You smoke weed?" I asked shocked.

"Don't look so shocked. I'm a comrade. Of course I smoke week just not regularly or during the game season." He replied.

That really was a shock to me.

"You just struck me as a goody two shoes. Maybe there's more to you than meets the eye. See you around Gabriel."

"Thanks again for the food and drinks." He said with a smile.

I have never seen anyone with a smile as beautiful as the one that just graced that beautiful man's lips. Unable to control myself and properly react I just nodded gave him a thumbs up and closed the door on his face. I quickly walked to the company lit my joint and took a long much needed drag. As the smoke filled my lungs I felt a sense of calm wash over me. I dropped to the beanbag I had there and let my mind soar. Gabriel was getting to me and I needed to erase all of that. Especially with that smile. Damn! He looked even more handsome when he smiled. I think I would die if he actually did more than smile. What if he laughed? Oh Lord. That would be the end of me.

Why was I so affected by him? No other guy had ever occupied my thoughts this much. I even bought the guy and his friends food. I needed to calm down and relax. I took in another drag before puffing out the smoke drawing shapes with the shape of my lips. As the weed kicked into my system I thought of other things to distract myself from Gabriel. It would only work for a while before it faded off but I needed the break. I didn't need thoughts of a guy invading my mind. A very hot and sexy guy to be honest but a guy all the same. Here I was again thinking about him.

I think I needed to find new dealer. This shit wasn't working anymore. Weed was my escape from my own mind but at the moment it wasn't working when I needed it to the most. Let's hope getting some new stuff would give me the escape I needed. But would it? I would find out then I guess. Now let's see how much of these I can smoke before I stop feeling my face. Let's see if I can break my own record of three or was it five. I couldn't remember anymore. Look at that it was working. Later peeps. Time for mama to join the clouds.

*****************************************

Vote

Comment

Share

Love@Lyssah.