The old lady, Malissa, turned out to be my landlord, she helped me settle all my things into the brand-new apartment. She is telling me all about the old couple who lived here, "but they moved out for some odd reason." I settle the last of my boxes onto the kitchen counter and leaned down onto it.

"Moved out? Why?" She sighs, scratching the back of her hands. She looks like she was contemplating the idea on telling me, Malissa faces me.

"Because of Alexander." She whispers, my eyebrows rose, and I look at my front door.

"What did he do?"

"They never told me, every person that moves into this apartment moves out the next few months. This room has been on rent display for two years...and then you put up an offer and it shocked me. I took it right away, maybe you can be the first to no move out." She chuckles, sliding of the chair of the dining table. "Nova, it has been a pleasure to meet you. Settle in well love."

I give her a grateful smile; she leaves the apartment and closes the door behind her. The apartment was stunning, it had such a clear view of the city and I just know rent is expensive. But the will my mother left me, I can be set for life.

The apartment was small but suitable for me, the kitchen was on the right of the hallway, and the living room was beside it. It was an open plan apartment floor; the two doors was the bedroom and the bathroom.

I began to unpack my boxes during some of my free time, but I could already feel the car lag hitting me. However, I started school in exactly one hour from now. I walk to one of the boxes, taking out the bath towel before entering the already clean bathroom.

I turn on the shower, grab my toothbrush, and do my business. After finishing, I step into the steaming hot shower and let it burn through my skin.

I finished conditioning and washing my body, I dried myself and my hair, which only took a few minutes because my hair only reached my elbows. I plat it and proceed to prepare for my classes. I'm applying some makeup and changing into a pair of jeans and a red crop top.

I leave the apartment after gathering all my things, closing the door behind me. I make sure to lock it and double check it before turning around and staring at Alexanders door.

I stood there for a good ten minutes, thinking if I should knock on the door and welcome myself. But the moment my knuckles was two inches from the door, I frightened myself and walked of towards the elevator.

I get into my car and start the engine before driving to university. When it finally comes into view, my fingers tap against the steering wheel.

My eyes widened as I realised how large this place was, with students scattered all over the place. Cars parked everywhere. I enter the parking lot and continue to look around for available spots.

When I see a free parking space, I turn left in my car. Before a loud car interrupts me and parks, I smile to myself. I mentally scream and slam my steering wheel; I decided to leave the arguments for another day and parked somewhere else.

I had to park on a road, so the walk back to camp was long. I eventually arrive, twenty-three minutes late. I leer as I approach the reception desk "You must be Nova given that you are late. That does not work particularly well for your scholarship."

"I know I'm sorry, I couldn't find any parking spaces around-" She interrupts me by sliding a white sheet over the reception desk, I look down to see it was my timetable for the year. I watch her stand up and take it as my chance to follow her.

She is showing me to my classroom, my hands tighten around my backpack and the nerves slowly begin to creep up into my veins.

During the walk, I noticed that I have not even called Jane to tell her I arrived. She must be worried sick. Gosh, aren't I stupid? The receptionist then stops at a certain door, besides the door had the words- Theatre Four-she pushes it open and nods her head for me to enter.

All eyes were on me, "And you are?" The male teacher asked, his hands tucked into his pockets. I look up and suddenly feel my voice get stuck in my throat.

"Nova, Nova Johnson." I speak, he slides his glasses from down his hair and checks his list.

"Johnson, come take a seat at the front." He orders me, I come down the steps of the theatre before reaching the seat he has assigned me.

"Alright, the name is Mr Harold. Not Mr Haro- Not Mr Old- Mr Harold!" He turns to face his huge green board, grabbing chalk from the desk as he begins to write his name. "I have specific rules in my classroom, and one of them is- not being late!" All eyes were one me yet again. Good indirection Harold.

Class went on okay; the first lecture was easy and to be honest, I revised it all before he taught it. Once the lesson was over, I began packing my things away.

I wanted to go home and sleep, and call Jane to catch her up on my weird neighbour or should I say rude neighbour. What if...I got him cupcakes! Everyone likes cupcakes. That's it! Just as I am about to leave the lecture room, I am stopped by the one and only Mr Harold.

"Nova, stay after class please."

The rest of the class chuckles at me, and I sat back down onto my seat. I have never gotten in trouble before, and I do not intend on starting now.

Once the class is empty, Mr Harold leans against his black leather chair. "You are two years ahead of everyone in this class, and all your years you have been top of your class, not a single complaint from a teacher and not a single late detention." I shuffle against the plastic chair.

"Yes sir."

"And your mother was Lisa Johnson? The writer of The Silent Neighbour?" Oh God. Of course, he knew.

"Yes sir, she was." My mother did write a book about the Silent Neighbour, and she became Seattle's number one seller.

"Yes, I heard about her passing. I'm sorry for your loss Johnson."

Why did he bring her up?

What was the reason of him bringing up my dead mother?

My jaw tenses, my grip around the handle of the bag intensifies. What right did he have to bring up my dead mother? "Do not be late again." He notices my uncomfortable features; I did not take another second before exiting the theatre and rushing towards my car.

The moment my body falls inside, I break down.

I break down with every broken heart in me.

I scramble for my phone, and call Jane. She does not pick up; I take a breather and drive to the local supermarket. My fingers tighten around the steering wheel, my mother was a good person. A good person who did not deserve what happened to her.

A good person who was only trying to follow her dreams of becoming a writer. But people hate when other succeed, so they try to tarnish them. That is exactly what they did to my mother. I park up and exit my car, only holding my keys and phone. I make my way inside and grab a basket, I had a list of items I needed.

I reach the vegetable isle and begin picking all the things I needed, my eyes look to the side, and I see a tall man. He wore a black hoodie that was thrown over his head, preventing me from seeing his face.

He also held a basket filled with Chinese take out and drinks, I glance back at my own hands as I pick out fresh lettuce. But my eyes betray me, and I look back to see his hood falling down. My eyes widen once I realise it was my neighbour.

Alexander Solonik.

He looked like he came out of the gym just a moment ago, I would not lie to anyone if I said he was beautiful. The way he stood, the way he analyses every little thing with those baby blue eyes.

Then he walks away; should I catch up with him? No, the man is looking for Chinese takeout, so leave him alone! But I really want to be friends with my neighbour, like really good friends. "Alexander," I said as my feet started walking in his direction.

He does not return his attention to his own name. Did I say it correctly? I reach behind him and gently pat him on the back; his head turns and his blue eyes lock with mine.

"Hello, Nova, your next-door neighbour." I already regret it; he looks at me as if I'm fangirling him.

He rolls his eyes as he walks away from me, he drops his keys on the floor but does not seem to realise as he walks away. I pick it up from the ground and run after him, "Alexander." I reach his figure and pat his shoulder; he looks at me.

"What do you want?" He asked, clearly annoyed. As I examined his face, I notice one of his ears have a hearing aid. Maybe that is why he did not respond to me.

"I- You dropped your keys, here you go." I hand it over to him, and it hit me-I notice his hands filled with scars. He takes his keys away from me and walks away, I just stood there in shock of what I saw. They looked old, the scars looked old.

They were all over, shock was clearly printed on my features and this time I decide to walk away and go back to my shopping.

Alexander Solonik.