Where Shadow Chases Light - Sweet Pea x Heidi Dean [OC] multi-chapter Lux Series AU
Heidi Dean looked up at her neighbour’s house, the dark and looming building making her chest ache. Standing on that doorstep was the last thing she wanted to be doing right now, but there she found herself with her fingers crossed behind her back, hoping that whoever was inside wouldn’t answer.
Heidi was new, having moved next door to the impossibly large house a few days before, and although she’d managed to keep to herself so far, there was only so much subtle hinting about meeting her neighbours that her Mum could do before it became not-so-subtle hinting and borderline harassment. Heidi didn’t want to meet whoever lived next door- she was more than content with keeping cooped up in her room all summer until the new school year came around, but she knew the chances of her Mum giving up with her pestering were slim, so, reluctantly, she decided she needed to bite the bullet and make some kind of effort with her neighbours.
The Dean’s had used the food they’d brought with them, and so Heidi needed to go to the store to get some more food. She was hoping she’d find some flowers there too, to spruce up the less than lacklustre flower bed that adorned the front bay of their house. The problem was, being new to Riverdale, Heidi didn’t know where the closest store was that would sell both food and flowers, and so all she needed to do was to quickly ask her neighbours for directions, hope her Mother would be satisfied, and never speak to them again.
Sucking up all her nerves, Heidi banged the knocker hard against the door three times and took a step back, rocking on her heels as she chewed her lip, her hands reaching behind her back with two sets of crossed fingers. The Riverdale sun was beating down hard on her as she stood awkwardly at the door, and she felt like she’d been standing there for an eternity when it finally opened.
On the other side of the door was an Adonis of a man. He was well over six foot, standing in a tight pair of black boxers, rubbing his eyes. Heidi unabashedly let her eyes roam over his form. His hair was a charcoal black which fell messily on his face, his eyes were adorned with thick, sooty, blackened eyelashes and he had full lips which were slightly parted.
“What do you want?” He asked bluntly, looking down at the unfamiliar girl in his doorway, his vision slightly blurred from sleep and his voice deep, with a tired husk.
Heidi took no notice of his question, continuing to appreciate his form. He had broad shoulders and strong arms, with skin that looked like silk. There was a wisp of hair trailing from his belly button into his boxers, which were tight against his thighs.
He was beautiful, the most beautiful boy she’d ever seen, and he lived next door.
“If you’ve come here to stand and stare at me, you can get off my porch,” the stranger shook his head, beginning to shut the door. “There are websites for stuff like that.”
“No!” Heidi called out loudly, a flustered blush creeping up her chest and neck before settling onto her cheeks. “Sorry, I was, um, I was hoping you could give me directions to a store where I can get food and maybe some flowers. I just moved in next door, I’m Heidi.”
“Ah, she speaks,” the boy laughed sarcastically, an amused half-smile weaving its way across his face. “So you’re my new neighbour? That’s a real shame, I was hoping to actually like the neighbours this time.”
Heidi’s face dropped, her eyebrows flicking together into a scowl before smoothing back out again. “What do you mean you were hoping to actually like the neighbours this time?”
The stranger laughed again, louder this time, rolling his eyes as he put all his weight on the door frame and crossed his feet. “I mean that my last neighbours were the most gigantic assholes in the Northern Hemisphere, so when I saw that they were moving I was, quite frankly, overjoyed at the thought of having someone new next door. Now, it turns out my new neighbour is a pervert- talk about soul destroying.”
“Overjoyed? I can’t imagine you being anything other than cynical if we’re being honest with each other.” Heidi cocked an eyebrow, her hand settling on her hip. “And besides, I’m not a pervert; you’re the one decided to open the door half naked.”
“And you’re the one who was so impressed that she had to pick her jaw up off the floor before she could use her words.”
There was a moment of silence between the pair as they stared at each other, neither one wanting to fold and look away, but Heidi had grown tired of her neighbour’s quips and digs from the moment he opened his mouth and she didn’t want to spend any longer on his doorstep than she had to.
“Look, I just wanted directions, but clearly now is a bad time so don’t worry. I’ll ask someone else.”
“I hate to break it to you,” the boy started slowly, his voice laced with a harsh sarcasm. “But any time you come knocking on my door is going to be a bad time.”
Heidi rolled her eyes with a deep sigh, as she turned and walked away from the house as fast as she could.
“What a dickhead.” She murmured under her breath, unclenching her fists and shaking her head. She had only gone over to satisfy her Mum and instead she’d ended up leaving, embroiled in some stupid feud with the beautiful boy next door that she’d have to keep up for as long as they remained neighbours.
“Before you go,” the stranger called from his front door, stopping Heidi in her tracks as she reached the bottom of the path. “Drive down Route 3 west for about 15 minutes and you’ll get to Greendale. I’m sure you’ll find something there; they have way more stores than we do.”
Heidi stood for a few moments, contemplating how to respond. “You’re still a bastard.” She shouted over her shoulder before carrying on towards her house.
“I may be a bastard, but at least I’m a beautiful bastard.” He called over to her with a low rumble of a chuckle.
“A bastard is still a bastard, regardless of how beautiful he is.”
“Wow, that is profound. This conversation has been truly stimulating, Heidi, I’ll hold it dear until the day I die.” The boy grinned with laughter, taking a step back and shutting the door with a loud thud.
Coming soon
