Jude

I separated some garbage bags to put the papers. It was around some of the things I brought in the boxes and put them in a corner of the kitchen so that I could take them out and put them in the garbage can.

I look at the clock. It's almost five in the afternoon. I didn't even stop for a drink of water after I got here earlier when I brought my things in after going to the lawyer's to sort out the last few things.

Thankfully, I only had a few things and could bring them here in my old car.

I didn't need much.

I noticed that when I came here last week before that rehearsal.

I go into the kitchen, open the fridge, thank God it's still working, take out a bottle of water  I bought and left there earlier, and take a long sip. Moving for the second time in such a short time was tiring, but I needed to get well for a while.

I finish drinking the rest of the water in my bottle, put it on the table, and head for the garbage bags I need to leave outside.

I put the bags in the garbage can and looked around the block. There are so many beautiful houses here. I think my mother's might be one of the simplest. I don't remember much from here, but I know there were fewer residents than there are now when I lived here.

It's very different from the center, but I know I'll get used to it here, and the thought of no longer having to pay rent makes me much more excited. I'm back at home. I still need to finish a few things there.

...

After several hours today, I've finally put some things around here. Everything is a mess, but that's okay. That's what happens when you move.

I wish I lived here under different circumstances, but life wanted it this way. Who am I to say anything?

It wouldn't do any good even if I wanted to.

Unfortunately, my mother, whom I hadn't seen for a long time, passed away a year ago. She was in a clinic for drug addicts, the same addiction that took me away from her when I was nine years old. I went to live with my father in another town nearby.

She left this house to me, her only daughter. At first, I was reluctant to move here, but my modeling career hasn't given me the financial independence I want and need.

And going back to my father's house isn't really in my plans. He has his own family to look after. I don't want to feel any more of a burden than I have over the last few years living there with them.

I'm in my 20s now. It's time to look after myself, and since the rent on my old apartment wasn't within my means, here I am after claiming my inheritance in my mother's old house.

Jude

I already had my mother's things here, all in the same place as far as I can remember. She didn't change the house much or like to do any decorating. As I'd also brought some of my things and it took up my time tidying up, I've been doing that for almost the whole day.

It's finally Friday night. I will rest a bit. After that, I will call Roger, my agent. Maybe he'll have some news for me about a job. I need one.

I don't have many memories of here, but I find myself looking at the kitchen, where my mother used to stand with her old hobby and shabby sandals, making cereal with milk for me.

I picked up a photo of her that I found on the living room table earlier. She's smiling and holding me. We could have been happy if she hadn't let herself even worse after the divorce.

Strangely, I find myself wanting to eat and go straight to the kitchen to do so. I finish my cereal and wait for Roer to reply after I've sent the question, as he hasn't returned my calls. But he only replies that he still needs to confirm something tomorrow.

I decided I'd better go to bed. I was too tired. It was after nine at night. I know it's early, but not for a day like today. I need to rest.

...

I wake up to people arguing outside.

Despite being groggy, I stagger over to the window. I take a look around.

A woman wearing a pajamas gestures to a guy standing outside his car with a sound box. Even though he has his back to me. I notice he completely ignores her.

She gives up talking and goes towards her house. He dances on the side of the car that looks like a Ferrari and drinks something from a bottle.

What follows is the terror of anyone tired and wanting to sleep. He turns on the stereo inside the house next to mine, which is more like the other side of my bedroom. I find this strange because our homes are quite a distance apart.

Unfortunately, I know it's him, the guy who doesn't care about rules, his neighbor asking him to turn down the music, which is what that lady was trying to do. I saw him next door. I was worried that I would have this guy as a neighbor.

The worst thing was when he came in.

He turned the sound back on and was blasting my ears. I get up, put on my slippers, and head for the yard. It's only now that I realize he's not at home, more like at a pool house a few meters away from my house.

I shout:

"Hey! Hey!"

Seconds later, I see him coming out of the house. He is wearing gray sweatpants and no shirt. I look him up and down. The guy looks like a Greek god of beauty in human form.

Jude 

"Are you going to stand there and stare? Are you going to say what you want?"

Unfortunately, when he opens his mouth, I also realize that he's quite an asshole. I even swallowed after that. Then I say:

"Could you turn that down?"

He looks down at his pants and says:

"Unfortunately not."

I swear I'm redder than a ripe tomato right now.

I then say:

"I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about the volume of the music."

He laughs mischievously, running his tongue over his lips. I stare at every detail, not understanding why he's so mesmerizing. Then he goes over to the volume and turns it down.

He asks:

"Who are you?"

I say:

"I'm your new neighbor."

I swear he's running his eyes all over my body, analyzing me, and only then do I remember that I'm wearing pajamas with very short shorts. He smiles mischievously once again and says:

"Okay, new neighbor, do you need anything else?"

I realize that this question is my cue to get out of here. So I say:

"No, thank you."

He smiles. I turn to walk back to the house when I hear him turn up the stereo again. When I turn to him, already feeling the rage rising inside me, I see him dancing. I shout at him to turn it down. He says:

"Sorry, I can't hear you. The sound is too loud!"

He laughs, and I realize right away that he's drunk. There's no point arguing with drunk people. I go home. I'm going to have a shitty night. I can see that even more when I go to bed. The noise continues as if it were right next to me in bed.

Does the sound seem even closer?

I don't doubt that he's brought that speaker even closer. I'm not even going to get up to confirm it.

...

I wake up to my phone ringing several times. I see that it's Roger, my agent.

I see it's still six in the morning.

"Why are you calling me so early?"

"I've confirmed a job for you. Get dressed and meet me here in half an hour."

My head feels heavy. I stagger out of bed, happy to have a job. I'm angry at my neighbor for depriving me of a good night's sleep.

...

"Honey, what are those horrible dark circles under your eyes?"

At least I can cover them with make-up. We can do a good photo shoot.

When I get home, I take a nap from four until four-forty-five. After that, I decided to go for a run.

I put on my headphones and walk around the block. It's a quiet place, great for running. My neighbor next door is too noisy.

Maybe. I wonder if that guy has a headache right now. It's terrible to imagine another specific part of his body throbbing at the thought of it. Oh my God, what am I thinking? I rest for a few seconds to catch my breath. When I look back, his car is coming to a stop just a few centimeters from me.

"The street is for vehicles too, not just runners."

I swear I'm closing my eyes now and taking a deep breath.