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NINE

last update Last Updated: 2025-03-11 02:16:41

For the third time this week, I found myself knocking on Archie's door.

He opened it almost immediately, standing in wrinkled pajamas and looking irritated, still half-asleep.

“You again?” he grumbled, rubbing his eyes. “Do you have any idea what time it is?”

“Yes. It’s two in the morning,” I answered, gently pushing past him. “Believe me, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t absolutely necessary.”

Archie sighed, closing the door behind me without protest. I guess he was used to it by now.

“What’s the emergency this time? I have an early shoot tomorrow.”

I turned around, arms crossed.

“The emergency is you and your brilliant performance with the paparazzi. What the hell were you thinking, throwing me to the wolves like that?”

He let out an exhausted sigh and leaned against the wall.

“I didn’t feel like dealing with them, Sofia. I’m tired of being followed around all day. What did you expect me to do?”

“Anything besides directly sending them after me!”

Archie ran a hand through his hair, fr
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  • My neighbor is famous   ONE

    "Sofia, wake up or you'll be late on your first day!"I groaned and rolled over, burying my face in the pillow."Sofia!""Don't wanna," I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep."Your father pulled a lot of strings to get you this job. Don't waste it. Get up!"I let out another groan and squeezed my eyes shut."But I don't even want this job…"Silence. Then, my mom ignored my whining as usual."I'm making coffee. When I come back, you better be on your feet."I heard her footsteps fade away. With a heavy sigh, I dragged myself up, moving like a zombie. I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the last remnants of sleep, and squinted at the sunlight streaming through the window.You know that feeling when you wake up and just know the day is gonna suck? Yeah… today was one of those days."So, what do these Walkers do, exactly?" I asked as I made my way to the kitchen."Ugh, child, you never listen. I already told you—they're stockbrokers. But what does it matter? You're just there to clean th

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  • My neighbor is famous   TWO

    After my dad left — and almost started crying for leaving me alone for the first time — I settled into the room.Mr. Walker mentioned that he had to go to work that afternoon and that his wife and son were out of town. They wouldn’t be back until the next morning, so for now, I had the whole huge apartment all to myself.What to do? I was dying to try the living room TV. It was so big it practically covered the entire wall. I rummaged through the kitchen cabinets and made myself some popcorn. If I was going to break in that screen, I was going to do it right.When I turned on the TV, they were playing Till the Dawn. I left it on. I’d seen it before, but two minutes in, I was hooked again. Then, in one of the scenes, he appeared.Archie Garland.I hadn’t remembered! It was one of his early movies, and he had a supporting role.And then, I also remembered Maddie.God.I had to tell her I met him. That he was my neighbor. She was going to flip!I called her immediately. She answered on t

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  • My neighbor is famous   THREE

    "So when will I get to meet him?" Maddie asked, already sensing the drama."Maddie, what part of everything I just told you didn't you understand? That guy doesn't even like me, how am I supposed to introduce you to him?"She puffed out her cheeks and clasped her hands together in an exaggerated pleading gesture."But I want to meet him! At least tell me which apartment he lives in... I’ll pretend it’s a casual encounter.""Stalker," I sang, looking at her like she’d lost her mind.Maddie snapped her fingers, her face lighting up with a mischievous grin."I’ve got it! Your bosses aren’t home this afternoon, right? You’re staying with the kid... So invite me over, and with some luck, I’ll run into him."I opened my mouth to respond but hesitated."I don’t know, Mads," I murmured, pressing my lips together. "What if they find out? My mom will kill me if I get fired."Maddie let out a groan and grabbed my jacket sleeve, shaking me."Please. I swear I’ll buy you all the comics you want. E

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  • My neighbor is famous   FOUR

    We arrived at Jackson’s school, and as we walked toward the entrance, I could feel Archie’s gaze fixed on me."What?" I asked, not even looking at him."Nothing." He shrugged but didn’t stop staring at me. "It’s just that you don’t seem like the type of person who likes kids."I furrowed my brows."And what type of person do I seem like?""Someone who would rather be anywhere else."I rolled my eyes."Well, that’s true," I admitted with an ironic smile, "but that doesn’t mean I can’t do my job well.""If you say so…"At the entrance, a woman with her hair up and glasses that had slipped down to the tip of her nose greeted us with a quick smile as she hurried to put on her jacket."Good morning. Who are you here to pick up?""Jackson Walker," I replied.The teacher nodded and looked toward the playground."Jackson, come here, please."A blonde boy came running over. His shirt was stained with paint, and his shoelaces were untied. He stopped in front of me and looked me up and down, lik

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  • My neighbor is famous   FIVE

    I closed the door and turned toward Jackson, who was trying to sneak toward the table, as if he hadn’t just committed a juvenile crime at the park."Don’t even think about it."He froze, the expression of someone who knows they’ve messed up but still holds out hope that they can get away with it."What?""Can you explain to me why you hit that kid with a shovel?"He shrugged."He was bothering me.""Ah, of course, then it makes perfect sense to smack him with a shovel." I crossed my arms. "Jackson, seriously, what’s going on with you?"He huffed and crossed his arms."He was bothering me.""And so? He probably just wanted to play with you."He looked down, dragging the tip of his shoe against the floor."I didn’t hit him that hard…""Oh, really? Then why was he crying?"He rolled his eyes, clearly without remorse."Look, Jackson, you can’t just go around hitting people with whatever you have on hand. Especially not a kid much smaller than you.""But…""No buts. Next time, you talk. Go

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  • My neighbor is famous   SIX

    If someone had told me a week ago that I’d be at Keanu Reeves’ birthday party, I would have laughed in their face. And if they had also told me I’d be going with Archie Garland, I would have personally checked them into a psych ward.Yet here I was, sitting in the backseat of a luxury car, on my way to the most exclusive party of the year. Maddie, in full fangirl mode, was practically vibrating with excitement, while Archie looked highly amused watching me squirm in my seat."Oh my God, oh my God, OH MY GOD!" Maddie screeched like she was about to have a meltdown. "Do you even realize how many people we could meet tonight? How are you THIS CALM?!"I wasn’t calm. I was just silently suppressing my existential crisis."Maybe because I shouldn’t even be here," I muttered, crossing my arms, already knowing this was a huge mistake.Archie, sitting on the other side, was giving me that smug “you're-dying-inside” smile he always wore when he enjoyed watching me suffer."Oh, come on, neighbor

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  • My neighbor is famous   SEVEN

    “I swear, tell me we lost them,” I gasped, hands on my knees.My lungs burned, my feet screamed for mercy. Mental note: if I’m gonna keep getting into these chase situations, I should at least start training.I lifted my gaze. Archie leaned casually against the wall, his soaked shirt clinging to his torso, his hair dripping. Not a single gasp, not a hint of exhaustion.“Relax,” he said with an easy smile. “Good workout.”I stared at him in disbelief.“Workout? Archie, we jumped fences, dodged cars, and almost ended up splattered on a taxi windshield.”He shrugged, that infuriating what’s the big deal? look plastered on his face.“Dramatic.”“Whatever. I’m out. I’ve had enough for today.”“And how, exactly? We’re in the middle of nowhere.”I blinked.Slowly, I took in our surroundings—a grimy bridge, a flickering streetlamp fighting for its last moments of life, and a single cricket chirping a little too confidently in the dark.Fantastic.“This is depressing,” I muttered.“I’m calling

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  • My neighbor is famous   EIGHT

    The next morning, I woke up to a bunch of messages from Maddie. I ignored them. I was still pissed. What was she thinking, telling the press I was dating Archie?I rubbed my temples, trying to wrap my head around the consequences. Would paparazzi follow me whenever I stepped outside, or would the rumor fizzle out on its own? Hopefully, the latter. There was no way I was opening Twitter or Instagram.I got out of bed and left my room. The house was empty. Good. I wasn't in the mood to deal with anyone right now.I went to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and searched for something to eat. Among the leftovers and food containers, my eyes landed on a few cans of beer.Was it too early to drink?Who cared? A crappy breakfast never killed anyone. Neither did a cigarette.I stepped onto the balcony with a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other.The fresh morning air hit my face, clearing my head a bit. Leaning against the railing, I lit the cigarette with a lighter I'd found in the li

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Latest chapter

  • My neighbor is famous   NINE

    For the third time this week, I found myself knocking on Archie's door.He opened it almost immediately, standing in wrinkled pajamas and looking irritated, still half-asleep.“You again?” he grumbled, rubbing his eyes. “Do you have any idea what time it is?”“Yes. It’s two in the morning,” I answered, gently pushing past him. “Believe me, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t absolutely necessary.”Archie sighed, closing the door behind me without protest. I guess he was used to it by now.“What’s the emergency this time? I have an early shoot tomorrow.”I turned around, arms crossed.“The emergency is you and your brilliant performance with the paparazzi. What the hell were you thinking, throwing me to the wolves like that?”He let out an exhausted sigh and leaned against the wall.“I didn’t feel like dealing with them, Sofia. I’m tired of being followed around all day. What did you expect me to do?”“Anything besides directly sending them after me!”Archie ran a hand through his hair, fr

  • My neighbor is famous   EIGHT

    The next morning, I woke up to a bunch of messages from Maddie. I ignored them. I was still pissed. What was she thinking, telling the press I was dating Archie?I rubbed my temples, trying to wrap my head around the consequences. Would paparazzi follow me whenever I stepped outside, or would the rumor fizzle out on its own? Hopefully, the latter. There was no way I was opening Twitter or Instagram.I got out of bed and left my room. The house was empty. Good. I wasn't in the mood to deal with anyone right now.I went to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and searched for something to eat. Among the leftovers and food containers, my eyes landed on a few cans of beer.Was it too early to drink?Who cared? A crappy breakfast never killed anyone. Neither did a cigarette.I stepped onto the balcony with a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other.The fresh morning air hit my face, clearing my head a bit. Leaning against the railing, I lit the cigarette with a lighter I'd found in the li

  • My neighbor is famous   SEVEN

    “I swear, tell me we lost them,” I gasped, hands on my knees.My lungs burned, my feet screamed for mercy. Mental note: if I’m gonna keep getting into these chase situations, I should at least start training.I lifted my gaze. Archie leaned casually against the wall, his soaked shirt clinging to his torso, his hair dripping. Not a single gasp, not a hint of exhaustion.“Relax,” he said with an easy smile. “Good workout.”I stared at him in disbelief.“Workout? Archie, we jumped fences, dodged cars, and almost ended up splattered on a taxi windshield.”He shrugged, that infuriating what’s the big deal? look plastered on his face.“Dramatic.”“Whatever. I’m out. I’ve had enough for today.”“And how, exactly? We’re in the middle of nowhere.”I blinked.Slowly, I took in our surroundings—a grimy bridge, a flickering streetlamp fighting for its last moments of life, and a single cricket chirping a little too confidently in the dark.Fantastic.“This is depressing,” I muttered.“I’m calling

  • My neighbor is famous   SIX

    If someone had told me a week ago that I’d be at Keanu Reeves’ birthday party, I would have laughed in their face. And if they had also told me I’d be going with Archie Garland, I would have personally checked them into a psych ward.Yet here I was, sitting in the backseat of a luxury car, on my way to the most exclusive party of the year. Maddie, in full fangirl mode, was practically vibrating with excitement, while Archie looked highly amused watching me squirm in my seat."Oh my God, oh my God, OH MY GOD!" Maddie screeched like she was about to have a meltdown. "Do you even realize how many people we could meet tonight? How are you THIS CALM?!"I wasn’t calm. I was just silently suppressing my existential crisis."Maybe because I shouldn’t even be here," I muttered, crossing my arms, already knowing this was a huge mistake.Archie, sitting on the other side, was giving me that smug “you're-dying-inside” smile he always wore when he enjoyed watching me suffer."Oh, come on, neighbor

  • My neighbor is famous   FIVE

    I closed the door and turned toward Jackson, who was trying to sneak toward the table, as if he hadn’t just committed a juvenile crime at the park."Don’t even think about it."He froze, the expression of someone who knows they’ve messed up but still holds out hope that they can get away with it."What?""Can you explain to me why you hit that kid with a shovel?"He shrugged."He was bothering me.""Ah, of course, then it makes perfect sense to smack him with a shovel." I crossed my arms. "Jackson, seriously, what’s going on with you?"He huffed and crossed his arms."He was bothering me.""And so? He probably just wanted to play with you."He looked down, dragging the tip of his shoe against the floor."I didn’t hit him that hard…""Oh, really? Then why was he crying?"He rolled his eyes, clearly without remorse."Look, Jackson, you can’t just go around hitting people with whatever you have on hand. Especially not a kid much smaller than you.""But…""No buts. Next time, you talk. Go

  • My neighbor is famous   FOUR

    We arrived at Jackson’s school, and as we walked toward the entrance, I could feel Archie’s gaze fixed on me."What?" I asked, not even looking at him."Nothing." He shrugged but didn’t stop staring at me. "It’s just that you don’t seem like the type of person who likes kids."I furrowed my brows."And what type of person do I seem like?""Someone who would rather be anywhere else."I rolled my eyes."Well, that’s true," I admitted with an ironic smile, "but that doesn’t mean I can’t do my job well.""If you say so…"At the entrance, a woman with her hair up and glasses that had slipped down to the tip of her nose greeted us with a quick smile as she hurried to put on her jacket."Good morning. Who are you here to pick up?""Jackson Walker," I replied.The teacher nodded and looked toward the playground."Jackson, come here, please."A blonde boy came running over. His shirt was stained with paint, and his shoelaces were untied. He stopped in front of me and looked me up and down, lik

  • My neighbor is famous   THREE

    "So when will I get to meet him?" Maddie asked, already sensing the drama."Maddie, what part of everything I just told you didn't you understand? That guy doesn't even like me, how am I supposed to introduce you to him?"She puffed out her cheeks and clasped her hands together in an exaggerated pleading gesture."But I want to meet him! At least tell me which apartment he lives in... I’ll pretend it’s a casual encounter.""Stalker," I sang, looking at her like she’d lost her mind.Maddie snapped her fingers, her face lighting up with a mischievous grin."I’ve got it! Your bosses aren’t home this afternoon, right? You’re staying with the kid... So invite me over, and with some luck, I’ll run into him."I opened my mouth to respond but hesitated."I don’t know, Mads," I murmured, pressing my lips together. "What if they find out? My mom will kill me if I get fired."Maddie let out a groan and grabbed my jacket sleeve, shaking me."Please. I swear I’ll buy you all the comics you want. E

  • My neighbor is famous   TWO

    After my dad left — and almost started crying for leaving me alone for the first time — I settled into the room.Mr. Walker mentioned that he had to go to work that afternoon and that his wife and son were out of town. They wouldn’t be back until the next morning, so for now, I had the whole huge apartment all to myself.What to do? I was dying to try the living room TV. It was so big it practically covered the entire wall. I rummaged through the kitchen cabinets and made myself some popcorn. If I was going to break in that screen, I was going to do it right.When I turned on the TV, they were playing Till the Dawn. I left it on. I’d seen it before, but two minutes in, I was hooked again. Then, in one of the scenes, he appeared.Archie Garland.I hadn’t remembered! It was one of his early movies, and he had a supporting role.And then, I also remembered Maddie.God.I had to tell her I met him. That he was my neighbor. She was going to flip!I called her immediately. She answered on t

  • My neighbor is famous   ONE

    "Sofia, wake up or you'll be late on your first day!"I groaned and rolled over, burying my face in the pillow."Sofia!""Don't wanna," I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep."Your father pulled a lot of strings to get you this job. Don't waste it. Get up!"I let out another groan and squeezed my eyes shut."But I don't even want this job…"Silence. Then, my mom ignored my whining as usual."I'm making coffee. When I come back, you better be on your feet."I heard her footsteps fade away. With a heavy sigh, I dragged myself up, moving like a zombie. I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the last remnants of sleep, and squinted at the sunlight streaming through the window.You know that feeling when you wake up and just know the day is gonna suck? Yeah… today was one of those days."So, what do these Walkers do, exactly?" I asked as I made my way to the kitchen."Ugh, child, you never listen. I already told you—they're stockbrokers. But what does it matter? You're just there to clean th

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