My Crush, My Neighbor

Sydney's POV.

I had just returned from school, and I stepped into my bedroom, quickly placing my school bag on my study table, letting out an exhausted sigh.

As I sat on my bed, intending to rest for a moment before changing my clothes, I was taken aback to see Ethan Carter on a phone call.

Through my window, I had a clear view of his figure in his room, holding a phone as he pressed it against his ear.

And I smiled adorably as I watched him, batting my eyes. He had been the handsome neighbor I had admired since seventh grade. Despite being two years my senior at the same school, my affection for him never waned.

Yes, I have liked him since the first time I saw him. No, I loved him! Because he was handsome, so handsome that he gained popularity in the school, wherein he was also the captain of the school's basketball team.

In my eyes, he was perfect. Yet, I believed he had never so much as noticed me. We hadn't spoken or shared a glance, which saddened me deeply. He seemed aloof, truly indifferent, and I was at a loss on how to catch his attention.

Despite his handsome looks and popularity, his reputation as a playboy didn't dampen my feelings for him. I held onto the belief that one day he would notice me, fall in love with me, and eventually, we would marry. Together, we would have a family with one daughter and five sons.

We're going to create a basketball team, and our daughter will serve as the muse. That has always been my dream, and I believe it will come true one day.

Roused from my daydream, I abruptly stood up to head to the bathroom when his voice stopped me. "Hey!"

I spun around and locked eyes with his deep, chocolate-brown gaze. I was really taken aback, since it was the first time he had attempted to strike up a conversation with me. "M-Me?" I stammered. Could this be the start of something? Oh God, I needed guidance.

"Yeah, who else?" His voice carried no emotion, tinged with irritation. Yet, I disregarded it, happy that he was finally speaking to me after five damn years!

"Why?" I chastised myself silently for stuttering once more, which only served to make his lips twitch into a slight smile. Breathe, Sydney. You have to breathe to stop yourself from being nervous.

"What's your Wi-Fi password?" he inquired, causing my brows to knit and my eyes to narrow at him instinctively.

"What?" I repeated, under the impression that I had misunderstood him. Had he really just asked for my Wi-Fi password? Here I was, thinking he wanted to get along, but perhaps I was mistaken.

"My internet connection was disconnected because mom didn't pay the bill on time!" he yelled, and I rolled my eyes at him.

Now, it was clear! Wi-Fi password, my *ss!

With my arms crossed over my chest, I walked closer to the window, but then I heard mom calling me. "Sydney, dinner is ready!"

"I'm coming, mom!" I shouted back and ran my way towards the door, and just as I grabbed the doorknob, Ethan yelled again.

"Hey, wait! Hey!" he called out, irritation lacing his voice. I paid him no heed, closing the door with a loud thud behind me.

"How's school, Sydney?" Mom inquired about my day as she filled my glass with water.

"It's fine, mom." I answered shortly.

My mom was the greatest mother in the world, even if her job didn't allow her much time with me. As a nurse, she often worked 12 hours a day or longer. I understood she was doing it all to secure a better future for me.

After dinner, I went back to my room to do my homework. Following that, I took a quick shower and prepared for bed. I spent a few minutes scrolling through my phone, fighting the temptation to peek at Ethan's Instagram, which was filled with his selfies and pictures of various friends, predominantly girls from school.

I still can't get over the things he said to me earlier. I felt upset, angry, and disappointed in him.

I set my phone on the nightstand and compelled myself to sleep, pushing thoughts of Ethan aside.

Engrossed in a delightful dream, I was abruptly awakened by loud music. Irritated, I sat up to glance at the clock, which displayed 1:45 AM. Getting up, I trudged to my window in a daze, only to see Ethan bobbing his head to the music.

"Hey!" I shouted, but he didn't hear me. "Hey, Ethan Carter!" Yet, he ignored me still.

His head was still nodding to the beat of the loud music emanating from his large speaker.

I grabbed a piece of paper, crumpled it, and tossed it at him, hitting the top of his head. I grinned as I scored a bullseye on him.

"What the f*ck?!" He lifted his gaze and looked up at me. "What do you want?"

Those beautiful eyes met mine again, and my world just stopped. What now? My cheeks flamed with heat, and I swallowed hard, struggling to find my voice.

He gazed at me, expecting me to say something, but when I remained silent, he shook his head and shifted his attention from me to the laptop screen before him.

"C-can you lower your music?" I finally found my voice, but it was quivering.

"What? I can't hear you!" I knew he was teasing me because I saw the smirk on his face as he glanced at me, his finger clicking the mouse, playing on it.

"Lower your music, Ethan!" I called out again, louder this time, but he just waved his hand, dismissing me.

I stomped back to my bed, teeth clenched in annoyance. Frustration growled within me as his loud music still pierced the air, so I buried my ears under my pillow in a futile attempt to silence the sound.

Suddenly, I felt an impact on my feet. Rising slowly, I discovered it was the crumpled paper I had tossed at him. He had thrown it back! Retrieving the paper from my bed, I unfolded it to reveal the words written on it.

"Wi-fi password for a kiss?"

What the actual f*ck?!

My cheeks felt searingly hot as I gazed at the paper, feeling foolish. I read it over and over, confirming that it wasn't just a dream.

A chill from the cold breeze prompted me to stand up and close the window, just as I noticed Ethan scaling the tree bark. I observed him grasp the ledge for balance before leaping into my room.

My eyes widened, and I took a step back as he moved closer to me. Oh my God! Was he really going to kiss me?

"So, you want a kiss, or will you give me your password?"

Sydney's POV.

"What did you just say?" asked my best friend Josh, almost spitting out his coffee as he listened to my story.

As we sat at the cafeteria table during our morning break, I recounted the events of last night to him. He had always known that Ethan Carter was my attractive neighbor, and that I've had a fondness for him since my transfer here.

"He barged into my room, but I refused to let him kiss me," I reiterated, pausing to take a sip of my soda.

Indeed, I refrained from letting Ethan kiss me last night due to my nerves, which I now regret. I could have experienced my first kiss, and with Ethan, the man I cherished! I realized it was foolish to push him away, yet I didn't want to be perceived as just another one of his easy conquests.

Josh shook his head, yet his smile made his eyes vanish. "But you gave him your password, which is 'thanie.' That's his name!" he exclaimed. I sighed, remembering the events of last night.

I gave him my password, feigning disinterest in his kiss. The memory of my face flushing beetroot red last night lingered. Ethan was grinning throughout, and his breathtaking smile persisted even after he left my room, leaving me restless for the remaining hours.

"Yeah, and I was thinking of changing my password, but what if he barges into my room again, and he'll kiss me this time?" I whispered, leaning closer to him, and he was suddenly stunned, his eyes traveled from my eyes down to my lips. "Hey, Josh!"

"Yeah, what?" I frowned, noticing his sudden unease.

"Are you even listening to me?" I rolled my eyes at him.

"O-of course!" he stuttered, tearing his gaze away from me. "Isn't this what you've always wanted since the day you fell for him? His kiss?"

My eyes sparkled instantly. "Yes, Josh, he's just so perfect!" I confessed, followed by a deep sigh, pondering what might have occurred if he had kissed me last night.

I was still wondering what would be the taste of those red lips of his.

My smile vanished as I caught sight from the corner of my eye of the man we had just been talking to, and his friends approaching our table. "Oh my god, they're coming!"

I let my hair fall like a curtain to cover my eyes, stealing a secret glance at him as they walked past our table. I caught the curve of his lips as he turned to look at me. My breath hitched when our eyes locked. Why was he so breathtakingly beautiful? A blush crept over my face, and I quickly hid my face behind my hair even more.

"I saw that," Josh said, clearing his throat. I covered my face with my hands, unable to contain my happiness. "Stop it, Sydney. You're embarrassing yourself!" he warned. Ethan and his friends were only two tables away, and he might sense that we were talking about him.

A few minutes later, a girl just sat on his lap and gave him a sloppy kiss.

My heart tightened, and tears threatened to fall. I could never grow accustomed to seeing him surrounded by different girls.

That girl was none other than Brittany, known as the team's flirty cheerleader. "Oh, great! That bitch just can't control her raging hormones." Josh rolled his eyes as he watched them kissing in front of many students inside the cafeteria.

Unable to bear the sight of him kissing another girl, I abruptly stood up. "Let's go, Josh!" I announced, grabbing his hand as we made our way out of the cafeteria.

Josh exhaled deeply as he withdrew his hand from mine and casually placed his arm around my shoulders. "If I were you, I'd stop dreaming about him," he murmured. In response, I playfully hit his chest and hastened my steps to walk away, but he only chuckled and matched my pace.

*********

While I was engrossed with my book inside my room, I heard a moan of a girl from my neighbor's window, and when I looked up, my heart skipped a beat at the sight of Ethan kissing Brittany on the lips.

Oh, great! Just great! I was aware that watching was a mistake, yet my feet remained rooted, and my mind was spinning out of control.

What the fuck was I watching?

I exhaled sharply in irritation, rose from my seat, and was on the verge of shutting my window when, inexplicably, I found myself rooted to the spot.

Ethan pinned Brittany to the window, and he was now facing me. My eyes widened as he looked up, and his smirk suggested he was teasing me while he sucked Brittany's neck.

Panic surged through me as I stepped backward until my knees bumped against the bed. I collapsed onto it, yanking the covers up to my chin.

Why was he so mean to me? I knew he was aware of my feelings for him, but why would he act this way towards me?

Lying on my bed, I felt a burning sensation, and upon focusing, I realized it was my heart that was aflame. I brushed away the tear that had slipped from my eye, stood up, and closed the window, drawing the curtain without casting a glance at my neighbor's room.

Stomping my feet, I decided to change the password of my Wi-Fi to Asswipe. I got back to my bed with a wicked smile on my face before I drifted off into a victorious sleep.

I woke up in the middle of the night because my throat suddenly felt dry. I realized I needed some water. I mentally noted that starting tomorrow night, I would set a glass of water on my bedside table before going to sleep.

Rising slowly from the bed, I halted mid-motion as a distinct silhouette appeared through my curtains. Clutching my blanket close to my chest, I gasped as I watched Ethan jump into my bedroom. His anger was palpable; lips pressed in a thin line, fists balled at his sides as he advanced towards me.

"What do you want?" I swallowed hard, my fists tightened from clutching the sheets.

He didn't answer me. Instead, he sat on my bed, pulling me closer as he crashed his lips onto mine. I was utterly shocked, my heart seemed to stop in its tracks. Butterflies churned wildly in my stomach.

He started to move his lips, but I was still so stunned that I didn't even know what I was going to do. It just told me how inexperienced I was.

I believe I've obtained the water necessary for my parched throat. He then withdrew, and my gaze followed him. His eyes sparkled with amusement, yet it was overshadowed by the desire he had been displaying towards me.

"Now give me your new password!"