All Chapters of THE BOY NEXT DOOR: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

12 Chapters

Chapter 1: The Savage Beneath the City

Night had swallowed Los Angeles whole.Beyond the glittering skyline and celebrity-lit streets, in a forgotten pocket of the city, a squat concrete building hunched in the shadows like a bad secret. Its walls were cracked, its windows dark. Motorcycles lined the narrow alley outside, parked haphazardly, their engines still warm, ticking softly as they cooled.At first glance, the place looked abandoned.It wasn’t.Muted voices seeped through the walls—low laughter, hurried whispers, the clink of glasses. Beneath it all came the dull, unmistakable sound of flesh colliding with flesh. A body hitting the ground. A groan swallowed by cheers.Inside, the air was thick with sweat, cigarette smoke, and cheap alcohol. A makeshift fighting ring sat at the center of the room, its frayed ropes sagging slightly, the canvas stained with the remnants of fights no one spoke about in daylight.Rows of folding chairs circled the ring. Men leaned forward in them, eyes sharp, cash clenched tight, betting

2. The New Neighbor

A new family had moved into Rosewood Hills this morning, causing some curiosity among the neighbors. A big truck loaded with cheap plastic furniture was parked outside an old double-story house, signaling the arrival of the newcomers. As they peered through their windows, some of the neighbors bounced on their toes and craned their necks to catch a glimpse of the new residents. Excitement built as rumors spread among the neighbors. "It looks like someone has finally bought that house!" they whisper to each other. One of the neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Bansal, a couple in their mid-50s, can't contain their curiosity any longer and decide to go meet the new family. They walk through the gate and find the owner of the new house instructing the movers on where to place the furniture. Mr. Bansal greets the owner cheerfully, saying "Good morning". The Bansals turned to the owner, and as he smiled, they realized he was the Security Head of a US security company. He was dressed in a haphazard m

3. The Morning After

Maya Suri stirred in her sleep as sunlight streamed in through an open window and fell upon her face. She lay on the cold, hardwood floor, just beneath the window from where she had watched Liam last night. The harsh light was disturbing. It finally got her to open her eyes and cast her weary gaze around the room. It took a moment for her to come to her senses and figure out where she was. She quickly sat up in a state of panic. Last night’s cringe-worthy events and the close shave she had come flooding back. Still in panic, she quickly checked the bolt of the door just to make sure it was locked. That it had indeed been locked all night. When she found it securely bolted, she leaned onto the door with her back, sighed in relief, and sank to the floor. Safe. Yes. For now. What worried her was this - she couldn’t hide in here forever. “Maya…” Dread washed over Maya’s pale face. It was her mother’s call from downstairs. She fidgeted a bit and wondered what to do. If only she could w

Chapter 4: What She Never Talks About

Maya felt lighter the moment she stepped onto the college campus.Here, the air felt different. Safer. As if the weight she carried at home couldn’t follow her past the iron gates and glass buildings. For a few precious hours every day, she got to pretend her life was normal.“Maya! Over here!”Abby’s voice cut through the morning noise. She was waving wildly near the steps, curls bouncing, smile bright enough to draw attention from half the courtyard. Abby always looked like someone untouched by shadows—loud, confident, unafraid.Maya smiled back, relief warming her chest as she hurried over.“How was your morning?” Abby asked, looping an arm through hers.“Good,” Maya said quickly. “I’m just glad to be here.”She meant it more than Abby could ever know.As they walked, Maya’s gaze drifted—and then stopped.Liam Parker had just entered through the gates.He stood out without trying. Tall, broad-shouldered, sleeves rolled up to reveal strong forearms. His movements were controlled, pur

5. Shifting Perspectives

Liam gazed at the curtains fluttering at Maya’s window; his thoughts consumed by what he had just witnessed. To him, she was just another neighbor, someone who happened to live in the house next door. He never really paid much attention to her before. But now, after seeing what her father had done to her, everything started to shift. He didn't know what to do, or how to help her. But one thing was certain: he felt disgusted. Disgusted by what she had been forced to endure. Liam's thoughts shifted to his encounter with Maya that morning. He remembered how she seemed to be running away from something or someone, and he couldn't help but wonder if it had been her father. The way she had flinched when he touched her made him uneasy. Was it fear or just her natural shyness? Now, witnessing what her father was doing to her, Liam couldn't shake off the feeling that Maya had been trying to escape from this man. He felt a fierce protectiveness surge within him, one that he had never fel

6. Taking A Stand

Maya rushed down the stairs, her tears blurring her vision. She had to be somewhere more private, where she could breathe, preferably behind those manicured shrubs. She stumbled and nearly fell but caught herself on the banister. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't see the tall, muscular guy coming her way until it was too late. She collided with him, and his cup of Starbucks went flying, spilling hot coffee all over his chest. “You stupid bitch!” he snarled and grabbed her by the arm. Maya's heart raced. The guy Jake was at least six feet tall with a chiseled jawline and piercing blue eyes that bore into her. His friends, equally beefy and intimidating, loomed behind him. Maya stumbled backward, almost losing her balance. "I'm sorry," she stammered, "I didn't mean to-" They circled her, making her feel so small before them, so trapped, like helpless prey in the face of a pack of predators. "I didn't do it on purpose," Maya insisted, her voice barely above a whisper.

7. Unveiling The Scars

Liam walked out of the principal's office; his eyes fixed in the distance as he tried to process the suspension. As he walked past Abby, she looked up at him in awe, impressed by the way he had stood up for Maya. But Liam didn't even notice her, lost in his own thoughts. Just then, Maya burst out of the office, her eyes searching for Liam. "Liam!" she called out, her voice shaky with emotion. He slowly stopped and glanced at her; his expression unreadable. "I'm sorry," Maya spoke after a lot of hesitation, wringing her hands nervously. Liam was a little surprised but did a good job at hiding it. He didn't say anything, waiting for her to continue. As they stood there, some students passed by and commented on Liam's fight with the jocks. "Dude, you were so cool!" one of them said. "We didn't know you could do that," another added. “You were a beast, man!” one of them exclaimed. "Jake deserved it, that guy's a total jerk," said another. Liam didn't react to the comments,

8. Getting Ready

Maya watched as her mother’s nurse exited the front door, and she closed it behind her. She walked down the hallway towards her mother's room, but her eyes were drawn to Liam's house across the street. A loud, constant thud had been echoing from his house for a while before it finally stopped, and Maya couldn't help but wonder what was going on. She strained her ears to listen for any other sounds, but there was only silence coming from the house. Maya's eyes shifted to Liam's bedroom window, which was partially covered by a thick curtain. She could see a faint light glowing through the fabric. Suddenly, the hammering sound stopped, and Maya's heart sank. She couldn't hear Liam's father anymore, and her mind immediately began to wander. Was Liam okay? Was his father hurting him? The sound of a distant car engine broke Maya out of her thoughts, and she shook her head. She didn't want to think the worst of Liam's situation, but the constant noise and her own fears were getting the bes

Chapter 9: Behind Closer Doors

Maya stood at the stove, stirring the dal slowly, methodically, as though the rhythm alone could keep her thoughts from drifting too far. The kitchen was warm, heavy with the scent of cumin and ghee, the familiar sounds of home wrapping around her like a habit she could never quite break.In the next room, her mother lay in bed.Always there. Always watching the ceiling. Always listening.Maya inhaled—and froze.Another scent slipped into the air, foreign and achingly familiar all at once. Not the dal. Not the spices she had grown used to.Chinese food.Her hand stilled. Her chest tightened.For a moment, the years peeled away cruelly. She was ten again, sitting between her parents at their favourite restaurant, slurping sweet corn chicken soup while her father laughed at something silly she had said. Chicken fried rice shared from the same plate. Gobi Manchurian eaten straight from the box on the drive home.Sanjay Sharma.Her real father.The man who had loved them gently, completely

Chapter 10: What Silence Costs

Maya walked briskly down the college hallway, her footsteps echoing sharply against the tiled floor. It was still early in the first half, and she slowed near the admin office, scanning the notice board for updates she might have missed.A yellow sheet titled ATTENTION stood out immediately.She leaned closer—And that’s when she noticed Liam.He stood inside the admin office, shoulders squared, hands shoved into his pockets, facing the administrator. His posture was rigid, his expression unreadable.“You haven’t cleared your last semester’s fees,” the administrator said sharply. “This was supposed to be settled weeks ago.”“I will pay,” Liam replied. His voice was calm, but something tight coiled beneath it. “I just need more time.”“That’s what you said last time.”“I know.”The silence that followed was heavy.Finally, the administrator sighed. “Until the dues are cleared, you’re barred from attending classes. No access to facilities. No exceptions.”Liam gave a brief nod. No argume

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