My Cute Neighbor Invited Me to Watch the Meteor Shower… Then Whispered, “Stay After Everyone Leaves.”
Chapter 1
The first time Emma noticed the lights on her neighbor’s rooftop, she thought someone had forgotten to turn them off.
It was almost midnight.
She had been standing at her kitchen window, drinking tea and trying to finish a report for work, when she saw tiny warm lights glowing across the street.
The house belonged to Noah Bennett.
Her neighbor.
Twenty-nine.
Tall.
Quiet.
Always wearing a baseball cap when he watered the plants.
And, in Emma’s private opinion, unfairly attractive.
They had lived across from each other for nearly a year.
They said hello.
They occasionally borrowed packages.
Once, Noah had helped her carry a broken bookshelf upstairs.
That was it.
They weren’t friends.
At least, not yet.
Emma had noticed the rooftop lights before.
But tonight there were dozens.
A small telescope stood near the railing.
Chairs had been arranged in a circle.
A blanket covered part of the roof.
Emma smiled.
Then her phone buzzed.
Noah.
She stared at his name.
They had never texted before.
She opened the message.
Meteor shower tonight.
Want to come over?
Emma looked at the clock.
Then at the rooftop.
She typed:
Sure.
His reply came almost immediately.
Bring a jacket. It gets cold.
Twenty minutes later, Emma stood outside Noah’s house.
He opened the door wearing a dark sweater and jeans.
“You came.”
“You invited me.”
He smiled.
“Fair.”
Emma stepped inside.
The house smelled like coffee and cinnamon.
“I didn’t know you were into astronomy.”
“I’m not.”
She laughed.
“Then why are we watching a meteor shower?”
“You’ll see.”
There were six other people on the rooftop.
Two couples.
A woman named Rachel.
A man named Eric.
Everyone seemed friendly.
Noah handed Emma a blanket.
“Stay near me.”
She looked at him.
“Why?”
“It’s windy.”
“Oh.”
She smiled.
“Right.”
They sat side by side.
The city lights dimmed in the distance.
Above them, the sky was clear.
Then the first meteor crossed the darkness.
Everyone gasped.
Emma smiled.
“Wow.”
Noah looked at her instead of the sky.
She noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re staring.”
“I know.”
She laughed.
Another meteor appeared.
Then another.
The group began talking.
Someone opened a bottle of wine.
Music played softly.
It was almost perfect.
But Emma noticed something strange.
Noah kept checking his phone.
Every few minutes.
Then looking toward the street.
Once, he walked away to make a call.
When he returned, his expression had changed.
“Everything okay?”
“Yes.”
“You sure?”
He nodded.
The evening continued.
Around eleven, the guests began leaving.
Rachel hugged Noah.
“Thanks for having us.”
“Anytime.”
Eric waved.
“See you tomorrow.”
One by one, they went downstairs.
Emma stood.
“I should probably go too.”
Noah looked at her.
For a second, something unreadable crossed his face.
Then he stepped closer.
“Actually…”
“Yes?”
He lowered his voice.
“Stay after everyone leaves.”
Emma stared.
“What?”
His eyes moved toward the staircase.
Then back to hers.
“There’s something I need to show you.”
Her heart skipped.
“What is it?”
“I can’t explain yet.”
“That sounds suspicious.”
He smiled.
“It is.”
Emma laughed nervously.
“Should I be worried?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
Noah leaned closer.
His voice became almost a whisper.
“Just trust me.”
She watched him walk toward the rooftop door.
Then he stopped.
Without turning around, he said:
“And lock the door behind us.”
Emma’s smile disappeared.
Something was wrong.
Because Noah wasn’t joking anymore.
