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A/N: 19.10.20
Chapter 5 & 6 will be uploaded on my Patreon soon. For early/quick updates, click the link to my Patreon in my Wattpad bio 💕
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There was a loud banging noise that came from above. During the first night that I had spent in my new apartment, I found out why Parker had dark circles under his eyes. Instead of sleeping, he was doing other activities in bed.
The walls were so thin that I could hear everything that was going on upstairs. I could hear his voice and a woman’s, sometimes there would be two, others, multiple. There was a lot of creaking, banging, and other noises that I’d rather not mention. I assumed that it was these night activities that kept him awake, and was why he was always grumpy and moody during the day. I read that humans should have at least seven hours of sleep to lead a good and healthy life. Parker had four at most. Then again, I wasn’t any better.
I dug my head under my pillow in hopes to block out the noise but I could still hear him. Well, them.
This went on for the rest of the week.
On Sunday, I finally decided to go up and ask Parker if he could be more discreet. Tomorrow was my first day of college, and I didn’t want to fall asleep during class. Teachers spent so much time preparing their classes, and they never got enough credit or recognition for the amount of effort they put into their work. It would be hurtful if a student fell asleep in class.
I went upstairs in my sheep patterned pajamas and shark slippers. The fifth floor had a long corridor with one door on each side. I pressed my ear against the one on the right.
This was Parker’s house.
I gently knocked on the door but he must have not heard, so I tried again, this time, a little louder this time. The noises stopped, followed by footsteps. The door clicked open and standing in front of me was Parker. He was wearing nothing but black briefs that he was still adjusting around his waist. The elastic band gently slapped against his skin, and his briefs properly secured around his hip, but I could still see the sharp V cut of his abs.
It was dark, and the only source of light was the moon that shone through the windows. Parker was half shadow, every muscle on his torso flowing from the light into the dark. Every move giving away his strength. His strong, round shoulders, hard chiseled chest, and his abdomens that cascaded to a V cut that disappeared into his briefs. Parker wasn’t the bulky kind of muscular, nor the lean kind; the perfect in between.
He smelled like cigarettes, alcohol, cologne, and sex. Lots of it.
Parker casually ran a hand through his hair, before wiping away the sweat that trickled down the side of his head. He was panting, still trying to catch his breath. He didn’t look flustered or embarrassed by the situation.
“Good evening Parker,” I said, taking a step back from his dangerous body. Fortunately, he didn’t notice.
“Yes, hello, how can I help you?” he asked impatiently.
“I was wondering if everything was okay. It sounded like you were fighting someone.”
This brought a smirk to his face.
“I guess you can put it that way,” he said, winking so quickly I almost didn’t catch it.
“I hope no one got hurt,” I said, trying to wink back. He scowled at the poor attempt.
‘It’s a good kind of hurt.”
“A good hurt?”
“A pleasurable one,” he said.
“Oh, okay.”
I didn’t know what to say after that. I had imagined a conversation in my head, practicing it over and over again, but all the questions and words I had were left blank and I didn’t know what to say anymore.
“Do you need anything else?” he asked.
“Your pleasurable fighting is very loud, and I can’t sleep,” I told him.
Parker’s long dark lashes fluttered.
“Right, I forgot how thin these walls were. Sorry ’bout that, dandelion. Do you have any earphones? Maybe you can listen to some music until I’m finished?”
“My name is Conan, and I don’t have any earphones.”
He stared at me. “What?”
“I said I don’t have-“
“I heard what you said,” he interrupted me, which was when I remembered that ‘what?’ could mean multiple things. There was ‘what?’ as in “what do you mean?” Then there was ‘what?’ as in ‘could you repeat what you said?’ And then there was Parker’s ‘what?’, the ‘Are you crazy?’ Kind of what.
“Did your earphones break or…?”
“No, I’ve never owned a pair.”
Parker gave me The Look again. He seemed so shocked that I think he forgot that he was standing in front of me in nothing but his undergarment to hide his private part.
“Why?” He asked.
“I like listening to music without earphones.”
“What about when you’re outside? How do you listen to music then?” He asked, leaning against the door frame and looking at me as if he was genuinely concerned about my wellbeing.
“I don’t listen to music when I’m outside. I like listening to what’s around me, like the birds or the wind, or the leaves that rustle in the trees. Though, I don’t really like the sound of cars.”
Parker blinked.
“I feel less disconnected to the world when I’m outside listening to what’s around me,” I tried to explain.
“That’s, uh, great. Super spiritual. Peace and love, all that hippy chakra stuff. Anyway, do you want me to lend you some earplugs?”
Before I could answer, the door across us swung open.
“No, dumbass, he wants you to shut up,” snapped his neighbor who was wearing a pink robe. The corridor lights flickered on (it took a moment for them to activate), revealing his bright orange hair. They were sticking out in all directions, but it was such a pretty shade of red. Freckles were sprinkled over his pale face, and he had a nice button nose.
“Oh great, it’s Freddie the Troll,” Parker grumbled under his breath.
“Yes bitch, it’s me. Now keep it down. There are people in this building who are trying to sleep. Like me and-” the neighbor, who’s name was apparently Freddie, glanced at me as if he was waiting for me to fill in the blank.
“Hello, my name Conan,” I waved at him.
“Exactly. Like me and Conan,” Freddie said, his brown eyes flickering to Parker. Parker rolled his eyes.
“There are more important things than sleep.”
“Like what?”
“Like sexual pleasure.”
“Do they teach that in bio-chem?” Freddie scoffed.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, they do. Don’t be jealous just ’cause you can’t get any.”
“Get any what?” I asked curiously.
“Hush Conan, the adults are talking,” Parker snapped, his eyes still locked on Freddie.
“Oh, okay.”
“At least I have enough self-respect not to invite any random chick to my place just because I’m horny, unlike someone.”
I think this was what people called passive aggressiveness. Or irony. Or perhaps both.
Parker and Freddie continued to bicker, and I couldn’t quite tell whether they were really good friends or if they absolutely despised each other. The hallway lights flickered off, so I hopped three times and they turned back on.
“Jesus, Parker, are you drunk?” Freddie asked, squinting his eyes. I turned towards him and noticed how dilated Parker’s pupils were.
“A couple of shots,” Parker shrugged lazily.
“You said you’d stop drinking.”
“I say a lot of dumb shit.”
“So I guess you’re back to smoking too, huh?” Freddie smirked darkly.
“Get off my back Fred, not everyone is a stuck up loser like you.”
“That’s not very nice,” I frowned.
“Shut up, Conan.”
“Hey, don’t talk to Conan like that,” Freddie snapped.
“Parker, where are you?” we heard a girl shout from inside Parker’s apartment room.
“He’s at the door. He’ll be with you in a minute!” I replied.
Parker and Freddie’s stared at me. Did I say something wrong? Freddie then turned his attention towards Parker.
“Seriously Parker, we don’t need to hear your amazing sex life at 4 a.m. You can slowly kill yourself with alcohol and nicotine for all I care, and you can try to feel less miserable with empty sex, but leave the rest of us out of it and at least do it quietly.”
Maybe it was my lack of sleep but for a second, I think I saw a trace of pain register on Parker’s face. The hallway lights turned off, but when I jumped, Parker’s face went back to his usual scowl.
Freddie slammed the door so hard that the walls shook.
“Damn redhead,” Parker grumbled.
“You mean Freddie?” I asked. He looked down at me with narrowed eyes.
“You’re still here?” He sneered. I patted my body to make sure I was.
“Yes, I’m-“
“It was a rhetorical question. Gosh Conan, what’s wrong with you?!” He barked, slamming the door so hard behind him that I jumped.
I think he did it to annoy Freddie. I felt like I needed to slam a door to join in on their game, but there weren’t any open doors for me to close. I turned towards Freddie’s door.
“Goodnight, Freddie.”
And then I turned towards Parker’s door.
“Goodnight, Parker.”
Then I headed downstairs to my own house. I climbed into bed, pulling the sheets over my chest, and wriggled my toes. I thought I’d have to pull my pillow over my ears again, but to my surprise, the noises and creaking from above stopped. Despite his annoyance, Parker didn’t wake us up for the rest of the night.
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A/N: Please don’t forget to leave a vote, loves 💫
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