All Chapters of The Guy Who Lives Next Door : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Ruby balanced a cardboard box on her hip, her fingers going numb from the weight. Morning heat pressed against her skin as she kicked the front door shut with her heel. The moving truck had already driven off, her mom had rushed out early for paperwork at her new job, and now it was just Ruby—sleep-deprived, disoriented, and drowning in boxes.She took a steadying breath.Okay. Two more loads. I can survive this.But when she stepped outside, her resolve dropped straight to the floor.There, parked diagonally across the driveway like it owned the entire property, was a shiny black car. Sleek. Expensive. The type of car someone buys when they want everyone within a two-mile radius to know they have money.Ruby blinked at it.“Seriously?” she muttered. “Of course this would happen.”Because why wouldn’t her very first morning in this new neighborhood start with someone blocking the driveway? Why not add that to the growing list of things testing her patience?She shifted the box higher

The next night, it began again.Ruby had barely finished brushing her hair when she heard it — that familiar, taunting clink of a balcony door sliding open. She froze, staring at her reflection in the mirror. No. No way. She wasn’t doing this again.But then the muffled laughter.And the voice she was learning to hate on a cellular level drifted across the humid night air.Ruby sighed, marched toward her own balcony, and pushed the door open.Right on cue, Kai stepped out of his — as if the universe had written them into the same script and was determined to see what chaos they’d create. He leaned casually on the railing, a bottle of sparkling water dangling from his fingers like it was part of his personality.“Princess,” he greeted, smirk firmly in place.Ruby didn’t even hesitate.“Spoiled brat.”Kai actually laughed — a low, warm sound that carried across the space between them. “Wow. Upgrading already. Last night it was ‘annoying.’ I feel honored.”She crossed her arms. “Do you a

The whispers didn’t stop.By second period, Ruby felt like she was walking with a spotlight glued to her forehead. Everywhere she went, conversations paused. Heads turned. People leaned together like she was a rumor that had suddenly grown legs and started walking around.“She lives next to Kai.”“She yelled at him.”“She thinks she’s special.”Ruby wanted to scream, I’m not special! I just want to survive the day!But screaming would only give them more content to gossip about.By third period, she was exhausted—mentally, socially, physically, spiritually. She just wanted to shove her books into her locker and breathe for five seconds without someone whispering her name like it tasted sour.She didn’t even get one second.As she opened her locker, a shadow moved into her peripheral vision. Ruby glanced up—and her breath stuttered.Brielle.Tall.Perfect hair.Perfect makeup.Perfect everything.She looked like the kind of girl who woke up with naturally curled lashes and a fan club.

Ruby tried to forget the moment. Kai didn’t. By the time lunch rolled around, Ruby was exhausted from dodging him in every hallway. She felt like a mouse living in a school filled with very large, very smug cats.She stepped into the cafeteria clutching her tray, eyes scanning the room for one single safe place to sit.Zara spotted her first.“Ruby! Over here!”She waved with a bright smile.Ruby exhaled with relief and started walking toward her. Zara was kind, sweet, and actually warned her about Brielle yesterday. She felt safe there.But halfway to the table, Ruby’s stomach dropped.Because sitting right behind Zara…Kai.Beautiful, infuriating Kai Kingston.Leaning back in his chair.Laughing with his friends.Eyes flicking upward—catching hers like a magnet.Ruby froze.Zara mouthed, It’s okay, but Ruby wasn’t sure.She gathered her courage and kept walking.One step.Two.Three.Almost there.Then—A shoulder brushed against hers.Hard.Ruby wobbled—but didn’t fall.Kai had s

Ruby didn’t leave the bathroom stall for a long time.She stayed there, knees pressed to her chest, listening for that silent person who had knocked. Nothing. No footsteps. No voice. Just the strange pressure of knowing someone had stood on the other side of the thin metal, breathing, waiting, then disappearing without a sound.Her pulse wouldn’t slow. The whole building felt colder. The light hummed above her, sharp and bright against her headache.When she finally forced herself to unlock the stall and step out, she did it slowly, like she expected someone to jump out from behind the hand dryer. Her fingers shook. Her throat hurt from holding back tears.She splashed water on her face. It didn’t help.Her reflection looked wrong—fragile, scared, red-eyed. The kind of girl she never wanted anyone to see.She grabbed her bag and pushed out of the bathroom.The hallway wasn’t loud anymore. Most students had gone to lunch, leaving only echoes and scattered footsteps. She kept her head d