Emily Hayes had always been a creature of habit. She had lived in the same cozy apartment for three years, a quiet little studio on the third floor of an aging building in downtown Maplewood. The building wasn't much, but it had character. And it ha...
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Chapter 1: The New Neighbor
Emily Hayes had always been a creature of habit. She had lived in the same cozy apartment for three years, a quiet little studio on the third floor of an aging building in downtown Maplewood. The building wasn't much, but it had character. And it had peace-something she'd come to cherish after a rough year. Her days were spent writing at her desk by the window, watching the world go by as she typed out her thoughts, creating stories that lived in her mind but never quite made it past the screen.
But lately, that peace was being disturbed.
It wasn't loud neighbors or parties-Emily had learned to ignore those over the years. No, it was something else.
It was the new neighbor.
At first, she hadn't even seen him. There had been vague noises-furniture being dragged across the floor, boxes being unloaded-but nothing that had piqued her interest beyond a mild curiosity. It wasn't until she bumped into him in the hallway that she realized how striking he was.
He stood there, a few feet away from her, a duffel bag slung over his shoulder. Dark hair, slightly tousled, eyes a deep brown that seemed to soften as they met hers. His smile was quick, almost apologetic, as if he were as surprised as she was.
"Hey, sorry," he said, his voice a little gruff but warm. "Didn't mean to block the hallway."
"Oh, no, it's fine," Emily had replied, stepping to the side. "I didn't even see you."
"I'm James. I'm moving into 3B." He gave a half-nod, and his smile lingered, almost as if he were waiting for something.
"Emily," she said, her voice a little softer than usual. "I live in 3A."
"Nice to meet you, Emily."
And then, just like that, he was gone. But there was something in that brief encounter, something that lingered in her thoughts long after he disappeared into his apartment.
Chapter 2: The Unexpected Encounter
A few days passed before Emily saw him again. This time, it was in the small laundry room on the second floor. She hadn't expected him to be there, hadn't expected anyone to be there at all. But there he was, standing at the dryer, pulling out a load of freshly dried clothes.
"Ah, hi," she said, trying to sound casual, even though her heart was beating faster than it should.
"Hey, Emily," James greeted her, his smile easy and warm. "How's it going?"
"Good. Just... you know, laundry day." She tried to smile back, but it felt a little forced. Why was she so nervous around him? It wasn't as if they hadn't already met.
"I was wondering if you were one of those people who makes sure their laundry is always folded perfectly," he said, eyeing the pile of clothes she'd just pulled from the washer. "I always end up with wrinkles no matter what I do."
