Phonocorn wrote the start to what seems to be a love story full of coincidences! It is beautifully written and very engaging.

    It was time. I'd fought against it for so long. I had to go grocery shopping. After finally moving into my small, but livable, apartment, I hadn't moved a single inch from my room. I had, or at least thought I had, enough food to last me the month but I was wrong. Dead wrong. I had enough money to get me another month supply of food but for how long would that last? What about rent? I'd have to find a job eventually. My savings weren't going to last forever.

     I grumbled as I grabbed my keys from the island counter. I hated the grocery store. Not only the grocery store, all stores. I couldn't stand shopping. Not in the slightest bit. It was too time-consuming. I know it wasn't the best idea to put it off because then it took up even more time but damn it, I would die before I got my lazy self off my couch to go shopping unless I absolutely had to. Like now.

     I marched myself out of my door and slammed it shut behind me. I made my way to the elevator and pressed the down button, tapping my foot impatiently as I awaited the soft ping, alerting me of the tiny room's arrival.

     I made my way down the building and through the lobby. I had noticed my cute neighbor chatting it up at the front desk. I willed myself to walk faster. As attractive as he was, I wasn't about to get caught checking him out. He almost caught me once actually. As I continued out the lobby and into my car, I could see his features burned into my mind. He really was gorgeous. He looked like one of those up and coming models. You know the kind. With the perfect bodies that were perfectly toned, and perfect skin that was gorgeous and almost impossible.

     I made my way to my car and yanked open the door. I was really dreading this trip to the store. After finding a parking spot and grabbing a shopping cart, I realized that most of my list was junk food.

     "Man," I muttered to myself, choosing a big bag of chips from the shelf and placing it into my basket, "I need to get better food." I went to and from aisles, searching and picking the items off my list one by one until I was just about finished.

     I had one item left: ice cream. And not just any ice cream, there was a kind that this store sold for a limited time. (Nutella. It was Nutella flavored.) I knew because my mom told me about it and bought it for me. It was still on sale but only for the rest of this week. I seemingly got lucky that I ran out of food early.

     I smiled as I made my way over to the frozen food aisle, my mouth watering at the idea of having that heavenly creamy goodness shoved into my mouth. I opened the freezer door, the chilly breeze tickling the hairs on my arms. I went to reach for the tub of ice cream, the only one left, and everything seemed to go in slow motion as I did. Another arm, not mine by the way, reached above me and stole my dessert right in front of my very eyes.

     I felt angry. And crushed. But mostly angry.

     My head snapped in the direction of the thief. "Excuse me," I began but I swallowed my next words. My neighbor, the exact hot neighbor I had been ogling and swooning over earlier, was standing there, his perfect eyebrows furrowing.

     "Oh," he looked at his hand, then back at me, "did you want this?" His voice was deep and masculine.

     He held it out to me as if he was offering. I nodded, my mouth refusing to work, as I reached for it. He pulled it back, a faint smile on his face, his eyes gave a glint of mischief.

     "Oh, I'm sorry. Too slow." He reached it out again and I shot my hand out. He pulled back once again, "Ah, damn. Still too slow."

     I scoffed, crossing my arms. I couldn't help but laugh a tiny bit. "The one time I go shopping by myself."

     "I'm just messing with you," he laughed, a deep velvety, milk chocolate laugh, "Here," he placed it carefully into my basket and smiled at me. "It was nice to meet you."

     He passed by me, pushing his little cart along. I watched his retreating back, a familiar pull in my heart. Only one thought was going through my mind as he left.

     Oh my god. His eyes are green.

     I pushed my cart over to the check-out and was surprised to see him enter the line next to me a few minutes after. He noticed me and started waving like an idiot. I gave a small wave back and looked into my cart to put my items on the conveyor belt. After finishing up with the cashier and paying for my items, I nabbed my bags, rushing to get to my car.

     My neighbor was following close behind me, his keys jingling as he struggled to lift them from his pocket. I got to my car and lo and behold so did he. He was next to me?

     "What do you know? Our cars are right next to each other," he laughed a bit, his laugh just as awkward as I felt. I sighed to myself, enjoying the view but hating the atmosphere.

     "Yeah," I chuckled nervously, setting down my bags to open the trunk, "So coincidental." He put his bags into his backseat, humming a little song to himself. "Well. See you."

     "Yeah. Maybe I'll see you at the store again sometime." I already knew he lived in my building but the chances of him seeing me there were slim. I barely saw him there as it was and when I did he never even noticed me.

     I slammed my trunk closed and made my way to the driver's seat, ready to go home. I peered through my window, noticing how he still looked gorgeous starting up his car. He should model that car. You know, just take pictures with it. Maybe shirtless? Oh wow. Did I really think that.

     I shook my head and drove off. After a few minutes, I realized that I was behind him. Directly behind him. I panicked a little. He had no idea that I even lived in the same building. If he had noticed I'm sure he thought I was a crazed stalker. I prayed that he wouldn't call the cops just yet, just so I could make it home.

     We arrived at our parking structure and he rushed out, looking a bit pale. I parked in my spot before slinking out of my seat. "Hey," he called, "Why did you follow me?"

     "I um...I live here."

     "Live here? Really?" He rose an eyebrow, questioning me.

     "Mhm," I nodded, I could feel my face go hot.

     "You sure you're not just some stalker?" He gave me a bright white smile, trusting and happy.

     I laughed nervously, placing my grocery bags into a bigger carrier bag, one to carry my groceries in one fell swoop. "Oh yeah, I definitely like to stalk random strangers that I just met. It's my kink."

     It was his turn to laugh as he slammed his trunk shut, his muscles working as he held his many bags in his hands. Oh boy, was that a sight.

     We headed into the building together, silently of course, but it was less awkward than I expected. Compared to a stalker, I'd rather awkward acquaintance any day.

     We both made our way to the elevator and I asked him, "Which floor?"

     "Um 5," he stated, setting some bags down to fiddle around with his phone.

     "Oh what a coincidence," I said, pressing the button and backing to the wall, "I live on that floor too."

     "Today's just filled with coincidences, huh?"

     I gave a slight nod, removing my phone from my pocket. After a silent minute, a soft ping notified us of our floor. We went to exit together but then he stopped and raised an arm, indicating he wanted me to go first.

     "Ladies first."

     I muttered a quick thank you and exited the elevator, grateful that my apartment was almost directly nearby. As I neared my room, I noticed he was starting to reach for his keys. I stopped at my door. So did he.

     No. Effing. Way.

     Because I was cooped up in my room since I got here, I never knew he even lived on my floor. Let alone right across from me!

     I heard his door unlock. He didn't look at me. Not that I wanted him to. It was just getting way too weird at this point. I unlocked my door and bent down to pick up my bag. He cleared his throat before I could open my door and I could tell he turned to me. I could feel his gorgeous green eyes on my back, their gaze hot and stinging.

     I smiled and turned my head slightly to look at him.

     "Howdy neighbor," he held out his hand, inching closer to me, his eyes sparkling, "The name's Taylor. Taylor Gibson. I'm afraid I haven't ever noticed you here. I'm sorry."

     "Oh," I looked at his hand before slowly shaking it. His handshake was firm and sure, making me unconsciously strengthen my own. "I'm Valentine Moreau. Just call me Val."

     "Well Val, I feel awful," he laughed, pulling his hand away from mine. My hand instantly missing the heat it gave but my cheeks made up for it in blush, "I really believed you were low key stalking me but you really do live here. I wonder why I never noticed you before?"

     So he was the talkative type, not that I minded. I could talk someone's ear off if they'd let me.

     "Well, I didn't exactly come out much. I was," I coughed, stopping myself from spilling that I was a good for nothing lazy ass who refused to leave my room, "Uh...still getting used to the place, you know. I have the worst sense of direction so I wasn't about to go exploring in unknown territory."

     "Oh I see," he nodded his head, almost knowingly, "Would you maybe want to come inside? I make it a habit to know all of my neighbors. I'd love to get to know you more."

     He was putting me off a bit. On one end, he could be a super psycho killer luring me into his apartment. On the other, he could really be a super nice guy who just invited me to get to know him. I thought a moment before giving my answer.

     "I'd love to but I wouldn't want to impose-" He put his hand up and cut me off, "I know what you're thinking. 'Man, this guy is way too nice to be sane. It might be best to bail.' " He smiled politely, "Am I right?"

     I nodded, feeling guilty. He rubbed his neck nervously, "Sorry, I know I can come off as a bit weird but I swear my kindness is genuinely me. I don't have any other ulterior motive. So please, would you come in?"

     I read about this before, that a liar would try their best to persuade someone into doing something for them. But he seemed so genuine. And I was really feeling guilty. I know it was stupid but I nodded my head.

     "Okay. Just let me put up my groceries first."

     "Great. I'll do the same. I'll get some tea ready. Wait, you do like tea right? Are you a coffee person because I can make coffee instead."

     I chuckled a bit, "Tea is fine."

     He smiled again, "Okay cool. I like tea better myself." He looked so excited, "I'll see you."

     "Yeah," I watched him quickly enter his apartment with one last shimmering smile before I went into my own.

     What have I just got myself into?