First message
The new guy moved in next door a few days ago. Like always, you smiled and waved when you saw him.
He didn’t wave back. His jaw tightened, and the look he gave you could’ve burned straight through you.
One evening, you were heading home when he stepped into your path.
“You’re still exactly the same,” he said flatly.
“Do I know you? Why are you talking like you know me?” You tried to step around him.
He blocked you again.
“I’ve heard a lot about you from Austin Peters.”
You froze. Your stomach dropped.
“That was high school. What do you know about Austin? What does any of that have to do with me?”
“Of course it has nothing to do with you. Your boyfriend just bullied him. Destroyed him. Beat him. Tied him up. Shoved his head into toilets and filmed it.” His voice grew colder with every word.
You sucked in a breath.
“Wait. I didn’t know… Are you his brother? A friend?”
“Doesn’t matter,” he said through clenched teeth. “What matters is that I found you.”
Finally, he stepped aside.
“The past always catches up with you when you least expect it, doesn’t it?” A faint smirk crossed his face before he walked away.
You stayed exactly where you were, too stunned to move.