1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,440 I am not fine. This morning I woke up and took a shower. I'd completely forgotten about the 2 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:11,680 hot water not working and stepped into the shower with pride. Let's just say I woke the fuck up. 3 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:17,680 The water was so cold my teeth shattered. I couldn't even stay a full five minutes. 4 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:22,480 I washed the important parts and ran out. Since I won't return to work until Monday, 5 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:28,320 which is exactly four days from now, I'm working remotely. I don't have to worry about smelling 6 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:34,160 funky. A knock sounds on my door and when I look up it's Alex wearing a plain white t-shirt and 7 00:00:34,160 --> 00:00:39,600 cargo pants. He has cleaned his beard and looks much younger, even more handsome. 8 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:44,960 Had I been at my home and seen him outside, I likely wouldn't have recognized him. 9 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:52,320 Hey, I say. We begin talking about my house and how everything is going with my claims. 10 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:56,400 He even asked if I wanted him to accompany him to the insurance company, 11 00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:02,000 but I figured he wouldn't like the outside idea. I didn't want to put him in an awkward position. 12 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:06,960 He's already done so much for me, but it was nice of him to ask. 13 00:01:08,320 --> 00:01:13,280 Every waking moment I spend with this man, I realize he's nothing like what the neighbors 14 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:19,440 described. Alex is only a guy grieving his wife's loss and prefers the comfort of his home over the 15 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:25,280 company of many. It had taken me weeks before I got back to a normal life after my mom died, 16 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:31,600 so it's sort of understandable. Now it's past lunch and I haven't seen Alex since 17 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:35,920 yesterday morning. I want to take a shower and head into town to run some errands, 18 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:43,360 but I dread taking another cold shower. Yes, it's that bad. I've never ventured upstairs and I don't 19 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:48,800 feel like it's my place to be. I'm already living in his space and I want upstairs to be his safe 20 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:56,560 haven. Besides, it might get a little awkward since his wife had been up there. I don't know. Maybe I'm 21 00:01:56,560 --> 00:02:02,320 overthinking things. I linger in the living room for as long as I can and then contemplate going 22 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:08,160 over to my house. I want to salvage anything I can find, but I know it's not safe to go there. 23 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:15,120 It can collapse at any minute. When I couldn't take the boredom any longer, I put on my big girl 24 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:21,120 panties and take a cold shower downstairs. Three minutes. That's how long I stayed in there. 25 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:29,680 Nothing more. Nothing less. Two days later, I've been through hell. It's Saturday and I can't 26 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:36,000 honestly tell the last time I've taken a decent bath. If I keep this up, I'll develop PTSD. 27 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:43,280 I need to do something. Usually I take long baths, long baths where I block out Caleb and 28 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:49,120 fantasize about Alex. But given my situation with the cold water and living with the same guy I think 29 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:56,160 about, it's not going to be easy. I mean, Alex has been treating me exceptionally well, making sure 30 00:02:56,160 --> 00:03:01,120 I'm well fed and comfortable, and I've gotten to do a lot of stuff on my house the past few days, 31 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:08,400 but it all feels eerie. One, I can't deny the growing tension between us, and two, 32 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:15,680 he's been avoiding me. I see him, but it's for a brief moment, and now I feel like I'm holding 33 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:22,480 him captive in his own home. I need to get an apartment. That and the fact that I'm terrified 34 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:29,840 of cold showers and going upstairs. I need a long, nice, hot bath in the tub, but going upstairs when 35 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:35,040 he hasn't shown his face for the entire morning is pure sin. I don't even know if he's in the 36 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:40,160 bathroom right now. But I'll be damned if I let this day pass and not take a proper bath. 37 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:46,880 I head to my room, change, and slowly climb the carpeted stairs. Did he say left or right? 38 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:53,040 All the doors are closed, so it's hard to tell which is which. Biting my lip I reach for the door 39 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:58,880 on my immediate left. That's where my bathroom is. And if all the houses are basically the same, 40 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:06,240 then it'll make sense, right? I turn the knob and push the door. Bingo. Then I enter, locking it 41 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:13,120 quickly. The bathroom is almost exactly like mine. The tub is on the left with a wide window above, 42 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:17,840 and the shower is on the right near the toilet and sink. I put the tub to full, 43 00:04:17,840 --> 00:04:23,760 sighing with relief as the warm water glides through my fingers. And when it's full, I sink 44 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:33,440 into the bubbly goodness. I'm ten minutes in when the door rattles. Oh. Hello? Hi. Yeah. I'm 45 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:40,240 borrowing your bathroom for a warm bath. I hope it's not a bother. No, that's good. I'll just use 46 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:48,560 the one downstairs. Sorry. Enjoy. That indeed. And when I think I've soaked long enough and my 47 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:54,960 fingers have wrinkled to capacity, I take a quick shower and head out. To my surprise, Alex is in 48 00:04:54,960 --> 00:05:00,720 the kitchen stirring a pot, and the place smells goddamn good. I pause in the hallway wrapped in 49 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:08,880 my towel and my hair dripping. Cooking? Yeah. Uh, do you eat pasta? I'm making Alfredo. 50 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:17,520 My favorite. Great. I'll go get changed and see if I can come help. Before he can object, 51 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:21,280 I rush off. I return to the kitchen to find him plating the food. 52 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:31,120 Wow. So you didn't wait on me? He smiles. I wanted to impress you. Oh, really? Yes. 53 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:36,080 He sets both plates in front of me on the kitchen island and pushes one towards me. 54 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:41,040 I know you haven't seen much of me, but it's only because I had work stuff to do. 55 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:47,440 I take a seat on the bar stool. That's okay. Alex hands me a fork. 56 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:54,480 And we haven't really talked. Any updates? If you're wondering, I'm looking for a place to stay. 57 00:05:55,280 --> 00:06:02,800 I say, for safe measure. He eyes me. I didn't mean it like that. You can stay as long as you want. 58 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:07,680 Alex and I are eating, but he is still standing behind the island in the kitchen. 59 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:15,680 Maybe he doesn't want to sit next to me. I know, but I think it might be best if I find a place. 60 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:23,440 I don't want to impose. Alex sets his fork down. I don't want you to leave, Freya. 61 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:30,960 My body stiffens at his words. Well, uh, you can leave, but I enjoy having you here. 62 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:42,560 And then like a fool, I ask, why? He looks at me confused. Why? I shake my head. Nothing. Never mind. 63 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:51,280 There's something I need to tell you. I swallow. I swallow hard. It's the way he said it. 64 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:57,440 Like a warning or an impending doom. When he walks around the counter to meet me, 65 00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:02,240 I push my stool back. Wait, no. He rubs the back of his neck. 66 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:07,920 Okay, that may have come out wrong. I just need to be honest if we are to move forward. 67 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:14,720 I narrow my eyes at him. Move forward with what? What's the real reason I'm here, Alex? 68 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:22,560 He raises his hand in surrender. No. No, not like that. Then he sighs. 69 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:27,200 The only reason I'm particularly fond of you is because you look like her. 70 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:36,400 I blink. My wife, Alicia. You look just like Alicia. It's scary, but you do. 71 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:43,680 I look like your wife? He nods. Alex reaches into his back pocket and pulls out his phone. 72 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:51,600 He then pulls up a picture of a woman. She… she does look like me. What? What the fuck? 73 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:56,400 I move away from him. What does this mean now? 74 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:03,360 You reminded me so much of her. I felt like I'd gotten a second chance. I didn't plan on watching 75 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:09,200 you naked like some fucking creep on the balcony. But it just happened. And then you saw me and 76 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:15,360 didn't do anything. I… I just went along with it. I exhale a deep breath. 77 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:20,240 So the only reason you stayed on the balcony was because I looked like your wife. 78 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:29,120 He nods. Oh. Maybe I'm mentally ill. Maybe I deserved all the bad things Caleb did to me. 79 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:35,920 Maybe I'm just addicted to chaos. Because even though my mind is telling me that this isn't right 80 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:41,920 and he's using me to numb his grief, I see it as something good for this man. For this beautiful, 81 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:48,000 sad, and detached man. I have this innate urge to comfort, to make him feel good, 82 00:08:48,560 --> 00:08:53,360 to give him everything and more. I… I'm sorry, Freya. 83 00:08:54,480 --> 00:09:00,800 Don't be. His head whips up at me. If that's what makes you feel alive and whole again, 84 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:07,680 then I want to be the one to do that. Maybe it's better to live in someone else's shadow than 85 00:09:07,680 --> 00:09:13,280 to be my true, broken, and battered self. It might be better than being the girl who couldn't stand 86 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:18,080 up to her boyfriend. The girl who allowed him to step on, trample, and beat on her. 87 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:25,360 Alex shakes his head. Freya. We are both broken. We can heal each other, I say. 88 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:32,720 Not like this. You came out of your house to rescue me. You stayed with me at the hospital. 89 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:39,040 You even offered me your home, Alex. You have made progress with your life. Tell me it isn't true. 90 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:43,360 Only because I felt like I was letting my wife down. 91 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:47,760 You just said you didn't want me to go. What did you mean by that? 92 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:54,800 I… I like your presence. I like seeing your face. It's like having my wife in the house again. 93 00:09:55,360 --> 00:10:00,800 It's like you're filling a void. This man is spitting facts and waving all the red flags, 94 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:05,040 and here I am still wanting this mess. Then I'll fill the void if you let me. 95 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:09,840 Not like this. This isn't good. You'll lose yourself. 96 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:15,440 I rather lose myself to find myself. You're going to feel trapped with me. 97 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:20,880 When you were watching me from the balcony, who did you see? Alicia or me? 98 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:25,120 You. Well, her, but mostly you. 99 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:28,480 It's the start. Freya. 100 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:35,600 Then I'll go. He shifts in place. I'll find a place and you'll never see me or your wife again. 101 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:43,680 It's wrong. This is wrong. I shouldn't be baiting him. I shouldn't be using his weakness 102 00:10:43,680 --> 00:10:49,920 against him, but it's the only way to know what he wants. He scratches the stubble on his cheek. 103 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:55,040 I don't get you. You don't want me to go, but you don't want me to lose myself. 104 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:58,240 I'm confused, Alex. What is it that you really want? 105 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:03,120 I don't know. He moves across the room and then faces me. 106 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:09,440 I want you to stay with me, live with me, pretend you're her, be you, something. 107 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:14,720 He drags his palm down his face. Having you around makes things easier. 108 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:23,200 I feel better. Alive inside. Like I have a purpose. But I don't want you to stay because I feel like 109 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:29,760 I'm only using you because of Alicia. It's wrong. But I don't want you to go because my life will 110 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:36,000 become empty again. We are getting nowhere with this. When you were cooking, who were you cooking for? 111 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:42,000 You. But I know my wife loves Chicken Alfredo. Some part of me hoped you liked it because she liked it. 112 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:48,400 Some part of me wanted to please you. I stepped towards him. Why did you want to please me? 113 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:55,040 Because you've been through enough. And as I said, I haven't been around in the past few days. 114 00:11:55,760 --> 00:12:02,880 I didn't want you to feel like I didn't care. Did your wife feel like that? He shakes his head. 115 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:10,960 No, never. Well, there's a difference. See? You were thinking about me and not your wife. 116 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:18,000 I take another step closer to him. And when you were on that balcony watching me that Saturday night, 117 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:22,400 who did you wish you were inside of? His voice rasts. 118 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:28,000 You. Me. I repeat. Who are you seeing now? 119 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:35,920 You. I take two steps away from him. I'm wearing a cropped t-shirt and I pull it over my head, 120 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:40,320 exposing my bra and skin. Was it this you liked watching? 121 00:12:41,680 --> 00:12:47,040 Alex's eyes rake over my body. I peel off my shorts and let it fall to the floor. 122 00:12:47,680 --> 00:12:53,440 I had no plans of seducing him, of having sex with this man. But hearing him talk about how 123 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:59,280 much he wanted me and how much he wanted to please me makes me want to do the same for him. 124 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:04,960 There's no denying that this man is attractive and there has been sexual tension between us since 125 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:10,720 the hospital. But after having such a long bath in the tub and fantasizing about all the things 126 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:18,720 he would do to me, I am ready for the taking. You don't have to do this. I'm not doing anything 127 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:24,400 I don't want to do. When he doesn't make a move, I take it that he isn't ready for this kind of 128 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:31,840 commitment. And it's understood. He hasn't been with anyone but his wife, and it's easier to 129 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:39,120 watch someone from afar without feeling any guilt. Okay. I say reaching for my clothes on the floor. 130 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:46,240 I'll stay. I'll fill that void. But I suggest you fill mine too. With that, I grab my plate 131 00:13:46,240 --> 00:13:52,880 and walk off. I awake in the middle of my dream, panting and sweating. It's the second night this 132 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:58,560 has happened, and it's the same dream from last night. Caleb had broken free from jail and come 133 00:13:58,560 --> 00:14:03,680 to finish me off. This time he shoved me down a flight of stairs and gutted me with a paring knife. 134 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:09,600 I get out of bed and head for the kitchen for a bottled water. I don't bother turning on the 135 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:14,400 lights because I practically know my way around now. And what's the use when I'm just going to 136 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:20,560 get something to drink quickly? I fetch the water from the fridge and almost scream when I turn around. 137 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:27,840 What the fuck? Alex is sitting at the bottom of the stairway, his dark silhouette facing me. 138 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:33,520 He stands and makes his way over to the unlit kitchen. Why are you just sitting there? 139 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:39,680 I couldn't sleep. I came for water. He lifts his hand, showing me the bottle. 140 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:45,440 And then I heard you screaming and talking in your sleep. I knew I couldn't wake you so I came back 141 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:52,480 here. I peer at him, and even though we are clouded with darkness, I can still see something of his 142 00:14:52,480 --> 00:15:01,760 tall frame. Oh. Was your dream about him? I nod, unsure whether he can see me. Bastard. 143 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:08,400 Why were you sitting in the dark? Because it's night. Well, you can turn it on now since the 144 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:17,520 both of us are up. I rather not. Why? Two things. One, there's some nosy neighbor who's awake 145 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:21,280 right now that will wonder why the lights are on in my house at this ungodly hour. 146 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:29,840 I laugh. True. And number two? This. Alex reaches for my free hand and passes it 147 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:35,280 against his lower abdomen and over a huge bulge. He's hard as fucking steel. 148 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:45,760 Want to know why I couldn't sleep? I nod. Why? You fucking you, Freya. I thought you didn't want me. 149 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:52,480 Of course I want you. It's just that I'm battling so much right now. And I have no fucking idea what's 150 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:58,320 right from what is wrong, what's real and imagined. I set the water on the counter and reached for 151 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:05,600 his groin, sliding my palm inside and over his erection. Alex is unshaven, making this even more 152 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:12,400 interesting. I touch him at the tip of his penis and he inhales sharply. I make circles with my thumb, 153 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:17,680 feeling the slick wetness around his head. It's dark, but one thing's for sure is that I'll 154 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:23,440 find every part of his goddamn body if I have to. I free my hand from his pants and put it to my 155 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:29,600 mouth, making loud sucking sounds. He exhales again and I use it as ammunition to push his pants down 156 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:35,280 and get on my knees. I take his heavy cock in my mouth and suck, stroking the length of his girth. 157 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:44,480 Alex is huge. He's a fucking gem. I pass the tip of my tongue over the opening of his penis and then 158 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:50,000 kiss it with my lips. He lets out short, shallow breaths and before I can deepen him into my 159 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:57,040 mouth, his hand reaches for the back of my head and shoves me onto his cock. He's rough, strong. 160 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:04,000 I choke on him, not for once thinking about letting up. He jerks his hips into my mouth, 161 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:13,280 faster, faster. I cough and he lets out an erotic moan. Alex grips me by my hair, letting me up 162 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:19,280 and pressing me against the counter. He bends me over, pushes my silk nightly up and yanks down my 163 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:27,680 panties. I like this, Alex. This savage, thirsty and unforgiving beast. He slides his wet cock up my 164 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:33,520 dripping entrance and presses his palm into my lower back. There's no time to be nice, no time to be 165 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:40,480 coy or timid. This man is being straight up feral and I fucking love it. He plunges into me and lets 166 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:47,600 out a loud cry. Then he stills, making sure I can feel every length of his sweet cock. He sinks 167 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:53,680 deeper, squeezing my butt cheeks together. I rock back onto him, tensing my pussy against him. 168 00:17:54,560 --> 00:18:01,840 This feels good. So fucking good. If this is what his wife had been getting, then I want it all. 169 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:08,160 Alex is over me, his huge body shielding me on the counter as he enters me fully from behind. 170 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:14,160 Then he moves slowly, in and out, in, out. 171 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:26,720 Oh god, I moan his name. He whispers. He quickens his pace, slamming into me like an irate woodpecker. 172 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:31,440 I'm on the edge. He's hitting every possible spot I can imagine. 173 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:38,800 Fuck, my body trembles. Alex pulls out and when his hot tongue feeds on my pussy like a fucking 174 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:46,800 incubus, I climb onto the countertop. He spreads my cheeks wide and digs his sweet tongue into me. 175 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:56,720 My body convulses. Don't run. He yanks me back and pushes his cock inside me again. 176 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:04,320 This will be the death of me, to feel, to endure, to taste something so fucking good like this. 177 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:10,560 Alex moves hard and fast, sending me unhinged, and just when I feel like I can no longer continue in 178 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:17,200 this life, that I can die happy, he grunts out loud, pulls out, and comes all over my ass. 179 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:24,720 Jesus Christ, he smacks my ass. Still want to stay? I slide off the counter and face him, 180 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:31,360 and even though it's dark, I can still see the outline of his handsome face. Definitely. 181 00:19:31,360 --> 00:19:41,120 His warm, soft lips cover mine, and all I want to do is melt away. We kiss like this for some time 182 00:19:41,120 --> 00:19:49,440 until he pulls away. You were exactly as I imagined. I smile at his words. But deep down, 183 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:56,080 I wonder if his imagination led him to believe that it was his wife, or genuinely me. I want to 184 00:19:56,080 --> 00:20:01,440 ignore the fact that he'd called me Alicia while balls deep inside me, but it's still lingering 185 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:07,920 in my mind. Alex takes my hand and guides me out of the kitchen. Let's get you cleaned up. 186 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:15,120 I gladly oblige. However, as he leads me down the hallway back to my room, I can't help but wonder 187 00:20:15,120 --> 00:20:22,320 if he thinks he's talking to his wife, or me. Only time will tell. But in the meantime, 188 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:27,520 I'm going to enjoy every length and breadth of him, even if I lose myself in the process, 189 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:33,600 because Alex Horstford is the next best thing in my shattered life, and I'll be damned if I let this 190 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:46,400 pass me by. Hey Raiders, you have met the end of this four-part episode of The Neighbor. I hope 191 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:50,800 you enjoyed it and stay tuned for the next episode. And don't forget to subscribe for 192 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:55,040 episode updates. Highly recommended. See ya, bye!