🎵CATBIRD!🎶

jake x reader

warnings: nothing yet, slow burn, eventual 18+

word count: 1.25k

summary: You move into a new apartment, with an unexpectedly attractive neighbor.

notes: Hi friends! This is my first fic, so let me know what you think. I'm leaning towards making this a WIP, but I'm just a baby and we're gonna start slow. All my Love, MM

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Finally. You stood in your soon to be living room with your new landlord. 

“Okay, everything should be set. The guy below you is named Jake, he’s been living here for the past couple of years. He’s a pretty nice kid. Generally, he takes care of the lawn and landscaping, so you shouldn’t have to worry about that. Once you move in your spare keys will be on the mantel. I’ll text you the front door code once you pay your deposit and the first month's rent. Sound good?” 

“Sounds great Rob, I look forward to it!” You had been looking for a place of your own for a while now. Never quit finding the right fit. You had moved to your new city a couple of years ago and moved in with some girls you found looking for a roommate, and you vowed to never do that again. Thankfully, after a couple of years karma finally flipped in your favor and you were given a promotion at work, allowing you to move into a new apartment all on your own. 

The apartment you found was great. It was a second floor duplex, you had the whole floor all to yourself and an attic. When you walked in the front door and to the top of the stairs you entered the living room, complete with bay windows and a fireplace. This led to a beautiful open dining room which led into the kitchen. It was small but perfect for one. As you continued walking through you entered the hallway which led you to the master bedroom, bathroom, and spare bedroom that you had planned on turning into an office. The last section of the hallway led to two doors. One door brought you to your attic, and the second door led you to the back stairwell you shared with your neighbor and down to the basement. It was old, early 1900’s, creaked a little, had beautiful wooden floors, and tall ceilings to match. It was perfect.

…

It’d been a couple of days since you moved into your new place, and boxes still littered the dining room and living room floor, but you were home. You had just come back from a walk, grabbing your mail on the way back up to your apartment. Shuffling through new bills and some junk from the old tenant you found a little piece of paper. Curious, you opened it, finding a note from the tenant below you, Jake.

Hi, I’m your downstairs neighbor. I’m going to be away on business all week but let me know if you need anything. (xxx) xxx-xxxx

Jake

You hadn’t seen Jake yet. Only heard him come in and out of the house a couple of times. Your job didn’t start until next week, and by the time you got up he was always gone. You were planning on introducing yourself, maybe making cookies, but you had forgotten up until now. That was nice of him to check in though. You can always make him cookies or something when he gets back. 

You had never lived on your own before, so it was nice to know the person you shared your house with was at least friendly. Sure you had lived with plenty of roommates, once you graduated college, bouncing around from apartment to apartment, but finally, finally you were able to save up enough money to get a place by yourself. 

Typing in his number you send a quick text,

Y/N: Hey! I’m y/n, thank you for the note. Let me know if you need any help with the yard work! I love gardening and I’m pretty decent with a weed whip lmao. Also, please let me know if I’m being too loud! Have a good trip!

Jake: Thanks! Same to you, if you need anything lmk

With that out of the way, you set down your phone and continue on with your task of putting away your new belongings.

...

The week went by and you were finally able to start settling in. It was a little weird being alone for the first time. Being in your apartment and knowing that Jake was living his life just below you was comforting, but once he was gone on his work trip the house got a little creepy at night. Sure it was old and bound to shift and move, but that didn’t make it any less unsettling. 

You had lost track of the days, coming up with a routine. Work, home, watch tv or hang out with friends, eat dinner, sleep, repeat. As the week continued it didn’t occur to you to be on the lookout for your housemate to come home, nor did you worry about what time he would return. 

BANG!

You woke with a start! What time is it? The rolling of suitcases accompanied heavy footsteps from the floor below. You had been doing laundry and must have fallen asleep. Shit. Your wet clothes had probably been in the washer for hours. 

Without checking the time you scurried down your shared back stairs to the basement. Throwing your clothes into the drier, you didn’t bother to look up until you heard footsteps coming down the stairs. You looked up and smiled at the descending man as he came into the basement with his hamper filled with clothes. 

“JESUS CHRIST” He jumped, throwing his clothes down the rest of the stairs and effectively falling on his ass. “You could have at least said something so I knew you were down here! What the hell are you doing up this late!” 

Shocked at the startled reaction of the gorgeous man in front of you, you only stared. Eyes wide in shock and awe. You looked him over as he stood there, his dark brown hair was thrown into a low bun, unkempt pieces framing his face. He wore an old long sleeve t-shirt with a circle logo on the front and sweatpants that hung just at his waist. He was breathtaking. 

You shook your head to compose yourself. “I’m so sorry! I just wasn’t expecting that reaction. I thought you knew I was down here because the light was on! Are you okay?!” You started towards the stairs to see if he needed help.

“No no! I’m fine.” He grunted as he stood back up, reaching down to start collecting his clothes. 

You hurried forward and started collecting items that had fallen at the bottom of the stairs. Throwing them back into the basket that was now resting on the step. Jake smiled at you as he leaned forward to pick up the basket.

“You must be y/n, nice to finally meet you! Even if you did scare the ever-living shit out of me. Why the hell are you still up at 3 am??” He looked down at his phone as he sat the basket on his dryer. 

“I… I fell asleep and forgot that I had clothes in the wash. Actually, you woke me up when you came home, so thanks, I guess. Otherwise I would have needed to wash them again.” You looked down sheepishly as you struggled to get your dryer balls out of their bag, throwing them into the dryer with the rest of your load. “Well, welcome back Jake. Have a goodnight!” You looked back up to smile at him before you left but found him already looking at you.