Chapter 3: Chapter Three — A Crazy Neighbor

Will’s POV:

In the space of 1 year I’ve had to move out of 3 neighborhoods and gotten a refund from the care takers. No matter how hard I tried to be friends with the neighbor’s so they wouldn’t throw a fit when I hosted my parties they just couldn’t bear it. I had to search carefully for a neighborhood where having a party wouldn’t be a problem. I loved throwing these parties, seeing people have fun all because of me, made me so happy and was sort of a safe place.

I moved into to a new neighborhood three days ago, making it the fourth neighborhood I will move into this year. I was told the people who own the houses around do not live in them and are in another country and The only person I had to deal with was the lady who lived opposite mine so I decided to go talk to her, since she was a young lady who should be about my age or maybe younger, I felt she would understand me and maybe I could easily convince her with my looks but to my surprise she acted like a crazy person and asked me to mind my business. Just when I made up my mind to give the longest distance possible, she turns up at my house and finishes my expensive bottle of scotch, gets drunk and starts screaming and hitting me, telling me I’m just like him and asking what she ever did to me as she cried. I made up my mine she was a psycho, thankfully the alcohol was too powerful for her and she slumped right after that. I was nice enough and dragged her by her leg to the living room where a few people who passed out like her were sleeping. I was hoping she’d be gone by morning before I wake up and thankfully she was. I wasn’t ready for another episode of whatever happened last night.

I fell on the couch after taking out the last set of trash from the house. I could hear my father’s words at the back of my mind, 'When you’re ready to stop throwing those childish parties, you can resume back to your position as CEO.'

“Never will I go back there” I said to myself. I wasn’t wanted there, and the company didn’t deserve me. Yes. I mean, why would any father chase his son out of his company just because he throws party every day? I did my part as the CEO and worked hard, these parties were like therapy. I couldn’t care less though, I was doing just fine on my own as a freelancer and I had saved a lot during my time as CEO.

I was snapped out of my thoughts by the piercing sound of the doorbell. I was expecting a delivery of burger and fries so my first guess was the delivery guy. I approached the door to see my crazy neighbor. I let in a gulp as I forced a word out.

“Ha…hi,” I said. Looking confused and staying on my guard. Who knows what she was up to and wanted to say to me?

“Uhm, hey” she replied, with a smile that seemed obviously fake.

“How can I help you?” I said, still standing by the door. There’s no way I’m letting her in. If her mental health wasn’t stable she could hurt me and nobody would know.

“Uhm, look, I just want to apologize about last night, I was drunk and heartbroken and I just” she sounded sober. I could see a cloud of tears form in her eyes. What on earth was wrong with her, did I actually do something wrong to her, maybe it was my parties.

“Do I know you?” I asked. I had to be sure, maybe she knew me from somewhere before.

“Yes, we’re neighbors” she replied confidently.

“I mean, did I know you before now? Because yesterday you kept hitting me and asking what you ever did to me"

“I know, I’m really sorry, I just, I got drunk. I wasn’t in the right state of mind” she replied, as she massaged her for head with her fingers.

“You shouldn’t take alcohol you know you can’t handle. And apology accepted” I replied.

“Yeah, it’s just…never mind,” she said as tears filled her eyes. The dark circles around her eyes made it look like she hasn’t slept in years. I didn’t give a reply, as I went back in and closed the door.

I had a lot to ask her. Like what brought her to my house in the first place, why she drank my expensive scotch, and why did she drink when her system couldn’t handle it. But she seemed like she was going through a lot and I decided to let it slide.

Irene’s POV:

I can’t believe I almost cried in front of that guy. Mark has literally almost ruined my life. I mean, I got drunk on his favorite drink, screamed and hit someone just for bearing the same name as him and I don’t even know what I am doing with my life anymore. I think it’s high time I see a therapist. I don’t deserve this, all this pain and sadness, Mark is probably very happy with his new found love while I’m still here crying over him. He really doesn’t deserve my tears.

I brushed my hands through hair, and let out a deep sigh. I had to get my life in order. I heard my phone beep and picked it from the table to see one new email. It was an email from the company I and Mark’s ‘new girlfriend’ applied to. They thought I did great but didn’t meet up with what they were looking for. Turns out she was right, it was all about connection and her boyfriend who was to help her get the job and was mine for 3 years never helped me, he never even told me he knew anyone who could help, I wonder if they had both been meeting secretly even while I was dating him. “All these things hurt” I muttered to myself as tears rolled down my face, I don’t think I can move on anytime soon, I just want to stay away from everyone and sleep.

While I was still sulking my phone started ringing, I checked to see the name displayed on the screen. It was my closest friend Felicia. I thought I could handle all I was going through alone, but seeing her call me just reminded me about how much I need her.

“Hey” I answered.

“Why didn’t you tell me you and Mark broke up? What happened?” she said.

“He…” I tried to reply but everything that happened at his house became very fresh in my memory again. I paused and battled the tears preventing them from pouring.

“He got a new girlfriend. Said I was too thoughtful and would understand he was going after his heart"

“Wait! What??? Is he mad? He’s very useless. Irene, why didn’t you tell me this? When did it happen?” She sounded very concerned.

“Two weeks ago."

“Oh, My God.” I could feel the tears in her voice, she was crying already. This made me too weak to fight the tears back and burst into tears as well.

“Look he didn’t deserve you, and he doesn’t deserve your tears, please don’t let this stop you from doing the things you should or make you feel like you’re not good enough, because you are and you were just too good for him Irene.” She added.

“Okay” I say through my tears and snuffled.

“Oh, God I wish I was in the country right now. Look I need you to be strong because he never deserved you. It’s okay to cry. Cry for as long as you want but make sure those tears wash all memories you have with him and all the pain he ever caused you. I’m so sorry."

“Okay” I nodded, and snuffled.

“I love you.” “We love you” I could hear her fiancé shout from the background. “Babe you don’t even know who I am talking to, you just got here” She whispered.

“It could only be Irene you would tell you love over the phone” I hear his voice.

“Please stay safe and don’t think about it too much, I will call you once I get home” she said. I didn’t give a reply and just nodded then ended the phone.

I forgot to ask her how she found out, maybe through one of his posts on I.G. It’s funny how he blocked me on all social media platforms and made his account private.

There’s something about heartbreak and each day moving slowly. I remember how the days went by fast when I had things going pretty well for me, now I was going through a lot and it seemed like each day took up to a year before it ended.

I just want this pain to end. And now that I can feel the determination in my heart I know it would end soon enough.

*****

The day went by fast. It was night time already and from the kitchen I could hear the music playing from opposite my house, and even louder this time. My new neighbor was at it again. Now I remember I wasn’t able to tell him to turn down the volume of his music because I got drunk. I guess I’d have to go there again and if he doesn’t listen I’ll call the cops. I have a session with my therapist in few minutes and I need silence.

I approached the entrance of his house and this time there wasn’t a drunk person by the door, just a cup with the spilled drink splattered all over the floor. I crossed over it and walked in. he wasn’t anywhere around downstairs, so I decided to make my way upstairs.

I almost threw up at the sight of a couple having sex, couldn’t they use one of the rooms? I looked around and still couldn’t find Will. He was probably in one of the rooms but the doors to all the rooms were closed and I wasn’t ready to walk in on whatever he was doing because it obviously wasn’t going to be good. I checked the time on my phone to see I had just 5 minutes till my session, now I was losing my patience, my therapy session was in a few minutes time and here I am trying to make my crazy neighbor turn down the volume of his music or stop the unnecessary party he was having. I rushed back downstairs and made my way to the living room where the speakers were and before I could convince myself to wait and talk to him my hands were taking out the plug.

There was complete silence and after a few minutes of rambling about what just happened, everybody’s eyes were on me.

“Are you fucking drunk?” a blonde guy shouted from the crowd; his accent was British and beautiful. Right after he made his remark, I heard a few people giggle. This made me even angrier, and I tried cutting the plug so they could never use it again.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I heard a voice shout. I looked up to see Will walking out of the kitchen. So he was there all along, but why didn’t I see him when I checked earlier. I really don’t care though, he needs to learn some manners.

“Well…I’m trying to teach you how to be more human,” I shouted back.

The look on his face changed, like I was the crazy person. “What are you talking about?” he asked as he walked close to me.

“You’re not the only one living in this neighborhood, Will. Whatever these speakers are, they are waaay too loud and should only be used in a club."

“Don’t you ever call me Will. I’m Mark, and you’re crazy! It’s official now,” he scoffed. Before I could speak he continued, “You were just at my place yesterday for this same party. You drank my most expensive scotch and got wasted, yet today, you suddenly realize the music is too loud?"

I don’t know what was happening to me now, maybe because he called Mark’s name or because he shouted and called me crazy, I could feel tears form in my eyes. But I was too determined to fight them back, I can’t break down here.

“I was only here yesterday to tell you to turn down the volume of your music but I got distracted. I would never actually come to a childish and lame party like this, It’s high time you grow up and stop using it as an escape from your reality and I’m very sorry about your scotch, I’d buy that back.” I shouted. I don’t know why I felt so much rage towards everyone.

He looked at me like I was some sort of strange creature “You” he nodded “Are crazy. And just so you know I would rather throw these parties than act miserable like you. You look like your boyfriend just left you and you’re too obsessed to move on."

“Yes, you’re right, he left me and Yes, maybe It’s driving me crazy” I shouted back “That’s why you need to turn down the volume of your music so I could talk to my therapist and find time to heal” I threw the plugs down as I made my way out of his house. I could feel the tears pour down. He didn’t know anything about me or my life how could he speak like that. Acting miserable? Too obsessed to move on?

I scoffed as I reached for my card from my shorts to open the door.