Just as Lena and I were having a great conversation, I heard a door open and close across the hall.


    Ms. Brown had mentioned a new tenant was moving in today, so I figured my new neighbor had


    finally arrived.


    “Do you think I should introduce myself? You know, just in case something likest night happens


    again. It might be easier to ask for help,” I asked Lena.


    “If your new neighbor’s a guy and you go knocking on his door right after he moves in, he might


    think you’re either way too friendly or, worse, a total creep,” Lena said, making meugh.


    “Really?” I asked.


    “Really,” she confirmed.


    Alright, I guess I’ll just wait for a random run–in.


    You’d think I’d bump into someone living right across the hall, but nope. For the next two days, I


    didn’t see the new neighbor even once, and Hayden didn’t show up either.


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    So, the hero saved the day once and then just dipped, not caring if that blind date guy mighte


    back for round two?


    Yeah, that definitely knocked Hayden down a peg in my book.


    By the time the weekend rolled around, I still hadn’t gotten a call to cancel, so it looked like I was


    starting the job tomorrow after all.


    As I was picking out my outfit for my first day, Demi called. “Keira, why don’t you care about the


    amusement park anymore?”


    “That’s not my problem now,” I teased.


    But, honestly, how could I not care? Hayden had left me a note saying everything was going


    smoothly, so there wasn’t much to stress about.


    That’s when I realized just how much I trusted Hayden.


    Demi scoffed, “Keira, Mr. Hart’s been acting super weirdtely. He doesn’t make us workte


    anymore.”


    “Huh?” I was confused. We usually did the initial lighting tests during the day, but the final checks


    were always at night. How could we just skip the night shifts?


    “Mr. Hart said we should just do the adjustments for now and save the final checks forter,” Demi


    exined, making me frown.


    How was that supposed to work?


    If something went wrong during the final checks, it could mess up everything we’d already adjusted.


    Hayden and I had agreed on this process together–testing as we adjusted–so why would he change


    it up like that?


    Even though I’d just said it wasn’t my responsibility anymore, the second I hung up with Demi, I


    called Hayden.


    I was the type who would get anxious easily, and even my room felt too cramped at that moment,


    so I


    moved to the balcony while waiting for Hayden to pick up.


    As soon as I stepped outside, I noticed a tall figure on the neighboring balcony. I turned to get a


    better look, but they quickly slipped inside, leaving me with just a glimpse of their profile.


    Even so, I was stunned.


    Was that Hayden? Did I seriously just see him?


    But then I thought, nah, that couldn’t be right.


    Just as I was getting lost in my thoughts, Hayden’s familiar voice came through, “Hello-”


    “Where are you?” I didn’t bother asking about the amusement park; I went straight for the question


    that was bugging me.


    Because I was pretty sure I hadn’t imagined it. My eyes weren’t ying tricks on me.


    That person just now totally seemed like him.


    He didn’t answer right away and instead asked, “What’s up?”


    I hesitated for a few seconds, then made up my mind. I walked off the balcony, left my apartment,


    and headed straight to the door across the hall. I spoke into the phone, “Open the door.”