Halfway through the delectable muffin, I hear someone's footsteps echo down the hallway towards the kitchen.

Thinking it was Will back to steal my remaining breakfast I shove the remaining muffin into my mouth. Let's see how he's going to steal that now, I thought as I slowly chew it, regretting my choice to shove it into my mouth instantly when after what felt like minutes of endless pain, my mouth was aching.

Just as I was about to grab a tissue and spit everything out, I hear someone say from behind me, "Well, you're here early."

I freeze mid retrieving tissue.

Douglas.

Just as I'm about to turn around and face him he adds, "And I see you've already made yourself at home."

My face burns red at his words.

"What was I supposed to do? You were still sleeping!"

That was what I wanted to say, but with the muffin still in my mouth it sounded like gibberish even to my ear.

"What was that?"

That's when he finally walks past me and pulls open the refrigerator, only wearing his boxers that hung low on his hips.

And that my friends is how I had an Exo Next Door revised moment and spewed the muffin in my mouth two feet into the air from shock.

You might be like ' un-effing-belivable' but considering that little miss me had never been exposed to real life, high-def, breathing males with bodies that you only saw on Jane the Virgin (#TeamRafael) or on the covers of magazines, you would understand.

I mean, like those magazines were nothing compared to real life. And here I thought Photoshop was an exaggeration. No, what I was seeing was an exaggeration.

His back was all evenly tanned muscle that flexed as he moved. Broad shoulders that narrowed into a defined waistline.

Anyways, back to the muffin-spewing moment and utter shock from my exposure.

My eyes widened into tea cups. Did I just fucking do that? Then I turned to the male specimen ten feet away in front of the freezer who just happened to have turned around when he heard the sound.

His eyes narrowed to me before he noticed the half-eaten muffin on the floor, in a splattered mess. Surprisingly he burst out laughing instead of throwing me a 'are you crazy' look.

Maybe he was the crazy one.

"I," laugh "didn't," laugh "expect that reaction!" He managed out before he laughed again.

"Wait, you were expecting a reaction?" I asked, confused as I tried hard to not stare at his front view, which undeniably was a toned six-pack and broad shoulders that narrowed to a toned waistline. Then those abs that seem to go on until you came across the v-line that disappeared under the flimsy material he had on that no one was supposed to see out in broad daylight.

Yeah, nice job trying to not stare, Krystal, I thought when I noticed the cocky smirk that graced his face.

He nodded. "Its not everyday you see a fine specimen like me," he explained as he leaned forward and placed his hands on the countertop. "I expected a little staring just not that." He looked down at the gross splatter of undigested food.

Were we actually have a sane conversation right now? Albeit a 'increase his ego' type of conversation but an actual conversation where we were not thinking of each other being a nuisance?

I smiled slightly at the thought. Maybe this summer job isn't insufferable after all.

"Now," he continued, "since you finished all of that." He stared at the half-eaten food on my plate. "Why don't we take a little jog around to loose someone of those love handles." He flashed me a smile that told me I should be thanking him.

Correction. This job will always be insufferable.

"Are you insinuating that I'm fat?" My smile slipped away replaced with a frown. No girl liked to be called fat. I was definitely not runway model thing, but I had curves I was somewhat proud of, at least until Mr A-Hole said that.

"As I am handsome," he replied. He stood up straight and grabbed an apple from the plate in front of me. "You don't have any running gear, do you?"

"What?" The question caught me off-guard.

"Running gear. You got any?" I was just about to nod at the thought of my running shoes from track in high school when he held up a hand. "Forget it. We're going to go get you some as soon as I get some coffee in my system." He reached over for the remaining Americano and smiled. "Well, at least you can do this right."

As if he hadn't just insulted me several times in the span of two minutes and steal my coffee too, he walked off without another word, guilt free.

Why that over-privileged pompous-

"Krystal," he popped his head back into the kitchen.

"Yeah?"

"We have plans on Saturday. Tell Will you're cancelling."

-ass!

I guess I should probably clean up that goo now.

* * *

"I can't do this!" I snapped as I plopped down on the sofa two days later as my body just shut down. "I give up!"

"What happened, darling?" Nancy asked as she walked over and said down next to me, her 'Kiss the Cook' apron tied over her black blouse.

"Douglas!" I groaned as I thought of the insufferable ass.

"What happened this time?" She asked, an amused smile on her face.

"He had us run twelve miles today. Twelve miles!" I let out a groan as I placed my feet on the coffee table in front of me.

"I'm sure you're exaggerating darling," She shoves my feet of the coffee table and wipes it down with the cloth in her hand.

"Exaggerating? Tell that to my leg. Do you see my blisters?" I showed her my sock-clad leg.

She cringes her nose and she pushes my feet out of her face. "No. All I can smell is that you need a shower before dinner."

"Nancyyyy." I dragged her name out as I frown at her. "I need you to call Mr Burns right now and tell him you think this job is not for me."

She mirrors my face, a frown on hers now. "Why should I do that? Why can't you?"

"Because you're the bestest person ever and you love me." I show her a pout. This has got to work.

"And because you're scared of him?"

I nodded guiltily. Dang it! She saw through it.

She sighs. "Okay, fine."

Yes!

She adds, "But I never took you to be a quitter Krys."

I hold up a hand as I sensed where this was going. "Oh no. This is not a movie or book where that line is going to convince me to keep following that lunatic around. Do you know what he made me do yesterday?" I was so over the guy, not in the into him sense, but the whole knowing him sense. "He made me run to Starbucks because dear Prince wanted to drink Americano. Like what dog drinks Americano?"

Nancy doesn't say a word, her face decorated with an amused smile.

I continued undeterred. "Prince as it turns out! Apparently he won't drink water, only that's stuff. I'm telling you that little monster is a caffeine addict. I think he needs to go to those AA meetings. I really do and drag his pompous owner along with him because that guy needs more help than him. He is addicted to making my life hell. And it hasn't even been one week yet since I started doing this. I don't know how I'm going to survive this summer."

"But this is a great experience, Krys."

"How is following a spoiled, ungrateful jerk who deals out insults like he breathes in air, a great experience?"

She shrugs. "I think you can both learn from each other during the summer."

"Oh noooooo," Me learn from him? "I have no desire to become a bitch. Thank you very much, but he can keep his lessons to himself."

Nancy sighs as if this was frustrating her. "Give the kid a chance, Krys. Everyone have their reasons."

I roll my eyes as if that statement was bull crap. "So I take it you're not calling Mr Burns."

"What do you think?"

I got up from my seat and start towards my room. "I think I'm gonna skip dinner."