I flop onto my bed, letting out a long breath. It's now been a week since Ethan barged into my room, and so far he's been respectful...

To an extent, anyway.

He's still been being very flirty, winking and smirking at me whenever our eyes meet- usually when I go outside to check the mailbox or go somewhere with my mom- but he's kept his distance.

Every time he and my mom interact, he's very polite and friendly... the polar opposite of what he's like with me. And my mom loves it. She's constantly gushing about him to me, about how nice he is, how polite he is, and how she just can't understand how we're not friends already.

If you only knew, mom. If you only knew.

Don't get me wrong. He's not necessarily rude to me. He just treats me and her differently, and I don't understand why he's trying to suck up to her. He's not the 'friend' type. More like the 'good-looking creep next door who won't stop flirting' type.

I check my phone for notifications, raising an eyebrow when I see a text from an unknown number. I open my texts, clicking on the unread one.

Unknown: Hey, gorgeous.

I frown, blocking the number and deleting the text from my phone. I exit the texting app, clicking on YouTube and putting my headphones on.

I'm halfway through a Bible podcast when my phone pings again. I squint at the number, frowning again.

Didn't I block this number?

I swipe the notification, deciding to deal with it later. I set my phone down, lay back against my pink pillow and close my eyes, focusing on a man's soothing voice reading me scriptures from the Bible.

Until my phone goes off again. 

I groan, grabbing my phone blindly and squinting at the screen. Unknown: Why ignore me?

I roll my eyes. Ugh, that number again? I click on the notification, curious now.

Me: Who are you, and what do you want?

Unknown: Well, I don't want anything at the moment.

Unknown: And I'm your neighbor.

Me: Which one? I have a lot of neighbors.

Unknown: The one next door.

Me: Oh, that one.

Me: How did you get my number?

Unknown: I have my ways.

Me: And that doesn't sound creepy whatsoever.

Me: Did you hack my phone?

Unknown: No. I asked your mom.

Me: Seriously?

Me: You didn't have the guts to ask me?

Unknown: I figured my chances of survival were higher if I asked your mom.

Me: True.

I sigh, saving his number to my phone and making his contacts name "ACND (Annoying Creep Next Door)".

ACND: Can I ask you something?

Me: Depends.

ACND: Well, it's nothing bad. I just wanted to know if you have any siblings.

I wrinkle my nose. Who asks people that?

Me: Odd question.

Me: I don't have any. You?

ACND: Yeah, I have a little sister.

ACND: She's the sweetest thing. Most of the time, anyway.

ACND: Her name's Bella.

Me: How old is she?

ACND: She's seven.

He sends a picture of his little sister. I glance at it, respond, and toss my phone on my bed.

Me: Cute

I stand up and peek out of my window, looking into the window opposite mine. My eyes widen when I see Ethan's face at the window.

He smirks at me, waving at me.

I huff and pull away from the window, closing my curtains and flopping back down on my bed.

Note to self: Always check to make sure the curtain is closed before getting dressed.

I lay there for a minute, staring at the ceiling, before I hear Mom calling me from downstairs. I jump up and run down because in this household, if you don't come running at their every beck and call, you're in huge trouble and I don't need yet another thing taken from me today.