Page 4 of My Rock Star Neighbor
“Indeed.You’re a natural pest controller,” she says.
I laugh.“Anyway, I’m sorry you missed it.MusEn was there, and Amira said they seemed keen on us.”
“That would be amazing,” she says.“I can look forward to your moving out soon.”
“Won’t you miss me?”I ask.
“Not as much as I miss sleep,” she says.
“Have you ever thought you put too much priority on sleep?You’re young.You should be living it up.”
“Like you?You work as hard as I do.Harder.You’re always working on another song.”
“That’s not work for me,” I say.
My phone buzzes.I read Amira’s text, but it doesn’t make sense.
“What?”I ask.“No way.”
“What?”Maddie asks.
“Some unhinged woman is claiming I’m her boyfriend, and Amira says a news outlet picked up her story.”I show her the article.“Amira is putting out a denial.”
Maddie peers at the photo on my phone.“You don’t know her?That photo looks like…”
“I know.It’s manipulated.She grabbed me, and I was asking her to release me.”
“Wow.That’s scary,” Maddie says.“I’m sure Amira will get the denial published in reputable news sources.”
We reach the front door of our apartment building.We both love living here.For one, there’s a former speakeasy in the basement.Maddie unlocks the door.I step forward to hold the door for her with my body.As she passes close to me, she looks up for a second.She has the biggest, softest brown eyes I’ve ever seen, and her cheeks are flushed from the cold.
“I need to pick up my laundry,” she says.The building’s laundry room is in the former speakeasy.She takes a book out of the bookcase that covers the back wall of the foyer, and the bookcase (a hidden door to the speakeasy, now laundry room) swings open.It is still the coolest thing ever.She doesn’t look back as she disappears down the stairs, and the door shuts behind her.I go up the stairs alone.
She also barely tolerates me.
And Maddie is a reporter—like my ex.Christina did an exposé on what it’s like to date a wannabe rock star.It wasn’t pretty.So, I learned that lesson…the hard way.Don’t date a reporter.
Chapter two
Maddie
Thesoundofguitarchords being strummed echoes through the thin walls separating my apartment from Nick’s.
“I’m going to kill Nick.”I stick the earplugs back into my ears.They keep falling out.I hit the pillow again and turn onto my side.My sleep schedule is also off because I stayed up too late last night for New Year’s Eve, celebrating at my friend Lily’s party hosted at her fiancé’s place.
The earplugs hurt.I take them out.
I sit up and decide to work on one of my little felted miniature creatures.I’m selling them at the New Jersey miniature show in two weeks, and I need more stock.I take out my wool, needles, felting mat, pull on my finger protectors (before I poke my fingers with the needle because I’m tired) and start working on a little black dog.
Nick’s voice carries through the paper-thin wall that separates my apartment from his.He’s singing about not being able to trust anyone and worried someone likes younotfor you, but for what you represent.
That’s not something I have to worry about.But it makes me sad that he does.
I know he’s not dating that woman claiming to be Cara.Our wall is so thin, I’d hear any other activity.I should be grateful I only hear music.
He’s singing about loneliness and feeling like you can’t share your deepest feelings and fears because you’re afraid that person will turn away and never want to talk to you again.
I can’t help but listen.
