Louise's friends were weird. Funny, but weird.

I didn't know if it was a good idea, walking Louise home like this, but we were going to the same place anyway so we couldn't really avoid it. Just like I couldn't seem to avoid her.

When she'd text me the night before, I thought about ignoring it. Sticking to my plan of trying to ease her out of my life. But in the end, I did say I'd be there for her if she needed to talk so I couldn't really go back on my word could I? As it turns out, she only really wanted to see that I was alright, and to apologise to me. She didn't have to but I appreciated it all the same. It's amazing what can come out of a conversation when you aren't able to interrupt each other or to longingly stare into each other's eyes, losing what you were thinking of saying as you do. It only lasted five or ten minutes but I felt as though we'd gotten a month's worth of tension out of the way.

I'd meant what I said about Holly too. Sure, I was surprised to see her with Brandon. I was more annoyed at myself though, for not figuring it out the night before when he was telling me about her. From that morning on I made a decision to listen to everything anyone said to me, no matter how drunk they were. But the thing is, I've come such a long way since she broke up with me. I live by myself for Christ sakes. And I'm considered one of the most useful people at work, and I've even managed to make Scott proud of me. Probably the biggest achievement of all. It took me a while to realise the other reason I didn't care, or at least a while for me to accept it. It was Louise. She made me see that I was ok just being myself. Holly had made me feel as if there was something wrong with me, like something about me made me unlikeable, or someone that you wouldn't want to settle down with. That's why I shut myself off. I didn't want anyone else to be burdened by me. But Louise liked me for everything I was naturally. Even when I didn't realise it, she saw something in me. People will say that because she's only sixteen that she's easily influenced or whatever but I want to give her more credit than that.

I was out for another run when I saw a group of teens in the distance. Some people may have been scared of the large group, but I wasn't. Not because I'm fearless, but because I used to be in a group like that, and I know their weakness. All these bad boys that think they're tough only do so because people don't challenge them. They fear them without any reason to. I knew that if I just jogged past them then there wouldn't be an issue. I wouldn't be "the guy that got mugged".

However I stopped when I saw someone who looked a lot like my neighbour. I then recognised the shiny blonde hair of her friend Lily that I'd seen all over Louise's Facebook page. I hid behind the street corner like a cheap hooker as I tried to figure out what was going on. Louise and her friends didn't seem like the type to be hanging out on the streets after dark, especially with a huge mob of guys. I wasn't entirely sure what was going on; all I could tell for sure that it was definitely Louise. I was glad to see that she was smiling. It'd been too long since I'd seen that.

Her smile disappeared almost as soon as I noticed it as I heard one of the guys insulting her. As soon as the sound hit my ears, it stirred an emotion in me that I was unsure I'd felt before. I'd been angry before but never quite . . . enraged.

I marched straight over to the kid and basically told him to back off. That's the polite way of putting it anyway. As much as I felt that I did the right thing, there could probably be an argument made for the fact that I shouldn't be threatening sixteen year old boys. But I was pretty sure that the dude wasn't going to go telling anyone. He didn't strike me as someone who'd like the fact that he'd been punked out to be common knowledge. I told myself that it wasn't just because it was Louise; that I'd have done it for anyone, but I didn't really believe it.

So there I was, alone with Louise again. The electricity between us made it feel as if the last few weeks hadn't happened.

"So where were you tonight?" I asked.

"We went to see a movie. Then we ran into the squad back there" She replied.

"What did your friend mean when she said we had things to discuss?" Louise looked at me as if she was about to burst into a fit of giggles. "Sorry, that was a bit blunt wasn't it?"

"No, it's not that. I think she only said that because she likes Mason"

"What?"

"Yeah so like this is kind of a cover for her to be alone with him" She said brightly.

"That's bizarre" I chuckled. "So Mason has no idea?"

"He might now!" Louise smirked.

"So you're . . . you know, shipping them?"

"Oh my god. You did not just say that?" She laughed.

"What? That's what everyone's saying these days, isn't it?" I couldn't help but laugh along with her.

"Just stick to being an old man, it suits you better" She smiled.

"Duly noted" I smiled.

We continued walking through the dimly lit streets. Night had fallen on Baltimore and a light fog was surrounding the city. I barely noticed it though. I'd walked this way probably a hundred times by now and I knew the way without looking. Plus, I was so wrapped up in my conversation with Louise. We spoke about everything that was going on in our lives, her school, my work and her flickering bathroom lights that I was apparently going to be fixing after all. I even told her about Brandon perhaps not loving tennis as much as everyone seemed to think. I wasn't sure if it would be considered unfair to Brandon, but I trusted Louise to keep her brothers secret.

We arrived at our floor and stopped in the middle ground between our two homes.

"So . . ." She said awkwardly.

"Do you think you're friends have got it on yet?" I asked with a smirk.

"Please don't say "got it on"! It sounds creepy as hell" She laughed.

"Ok, let me rephrase. Do you think that they are calling each other "Bae" yet?"

"Don't ever say that either!"

"Can't a guy say anything these days?"

"Nothing weird!" She argued.

"Tough crowd. You're getting me right in the feels" I continued to joke.

"Stop it!" She dramatically threw her hands over her ears.

"Alright, alright, I'll stop" I chuckled. I hadn't laughed this much in what felt like ages.

After the laughing fit had ended for both of us, we fell into the kind of silence that always follows these moments.

"I had fun tonight" She finally softly told me.

"Is that before or after I saved the world?" I joked.

"Both" She smiled. "I've missed hanging out with you"

"Me too" I grinned back at her, stopping myself as soon as I realised that this could maybe be considered as us "having a moment". Louise seemed to notice my change in expression.

"You feel it too huh?" She almost sighed. I thought about lying to her and telling her that I felt nothing. I thought about telling her off again, reminding her that we couldn't let anything happen. In the end I didn't do either.

"Yeah I do"

"Don't worry, I'm not going to jump you or anything" She smiled painfully.

"We'll get there" I told her, not entirely sure what I meant by it.

"Can we at least hug? You know, one where we're both awake?" She laughed.

My answer was to cross to her half of the hallway and wrap my arms around her hips, hers crossing over behind my head. Our eyes met for either a second or a minute, I couldn't tell, but then she tore her gaze away from mine and pressed her forehead against my chest, tightening our embrace. I thought that I was too hot the night before but this was a different heat altogether.

Eventually she loosened her grip on me and pulled away, a regretful look in her eye.

"Goodnight Lou" I hoarsely whispered, my throat dry.

"Goodnight Jason" She responded before planting a soft kiss against my cheek. I didn't say, but I felt that perhaps there was something symbolic about that gesture. I watched her enter her home and close the door, before standing alone in the hall, watching the door in case it opened again. It didn't.

The next morning I was up early, despite it being a Sunday. I doubled the distance for my run, trying to sweat out the thoughts that were swirling in my head. It was time for me to get over Louise, just like I'd done with Holly. I could do that right?

It was a shame that she was just sixteen because if she was even a little older I felt as though we'd be great together, maybe even perfect for each other. But she wasn't and I had to accept that. If I took things further, I'd be past the point of no return and I'd already hurt her enough. I didn't want to do it again.

I got home and showered and was about to make myself some breakfast when I heard someone banging on the door. I really need to get a doorbell.

I crossed the living room and opened up to find Anna standing before me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked in confusion.

"I've just been visiting the folks and thought I'd come and say hi" She smiled conspiratorially.

"O...k" I waited for her to elaborate.

"I heard what happened last night" She said, her voice rising like a wave in the ocean as she practically barged into my apartment. "Nice place" She noted.

"Look, I know I probably shouldn't have said anything to that kid but I couldn't just stand there and listen to what he was saying about your sister, ok? So if you're going to go on about prosecuting me again –"

"Relax Jason. I came over to thank you for standing up for them. I heard you were quite the hero" She smiled; her eyes finally focused on mine having finished their scan of my home.

"Who told you that?"

"You don't have Lily on Facebook do you?" She giggled.

"No?"

"Don't do it. It's not worth it, trust me!"

"Has she changed her relationship status yet?" I asked curiously.

"No, why?"

"Just wondering" Clearly their plan to get her and Mason together hadn't worked.

"You can't have my sister so you're moving onto her friend instead, is that it?"

"What? No way!" I protested.

"Relax! God Jason, the way Louise talks about you I thought you'd be able to take a joke better than this!" She laughed.

"You're hilarious" I answered sarcastically.

"I know right!" She smirked again. "But seriously, thank you for what you did. I appreciate it, and so does Louise. So would my parents if they knew"

"You didn't tell them?"

"You're kidding? You've seen how much they over-react right? Do you really think that that's a good idea?"

"Fair point" I finally smiled.

"But listen. If for some wild reason that kid decides to tell his parents anything and they want to charge you; give me a call and I'll get someone from work to help you out. Discount" She winked as she said the last word.

"Thanks" I mumbled, not really sure if she was still joking or not. Either way, I was glad that she seemed to be on my side now. With Anna in my corner, Brandon apparently being a big fan of mine and things in a better place with Louise, things were looking up as far as my relationship with my neighbours went. However, there was still one huge obstacle for me to overcome. I had to talk to Mr and Mrs Lane.