Ana's POV

If you are attending WSU, but don't want to live in the dorms, you are lucky if you find an apartment within 30 miles reach. I don't even know how to classify myself, living in five minutes walking distance from campus, lucky doesn't seem to fit.

On the other hand if someone would call me lucky I would send this person to a mental facility with a one-way ticket. Non-stop-flight.

My realtor told me that my new neighbors are moving in today, let's hope that they'll have more luck than the previous owner. Jenna – my only friend in Seattle – rest in peace.

It's all about the first impression, be open, smile, make them feel welcome and then you can leave. You know the apartment like you know your own. Face them now on your terms so they won't surprise you later…

After my five minutes prep talk I finally ring the bell at my new next door neighbors' place.

"Coming" a deep voice calls and before I can get cold feet and leave as fast as I can, the door open and a bear of a man is facing me.

"Hi, I'm Ana, your next door neighbor and I wanted to welcome you." Good Ana, you made it! A whole sentence without stuttering, stammering, spluttering or vomiting! My inner goddess is proud of me.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Emmett, wanne come in?" Well that's kinda surprise, what's the protocol? It's rude to reject an invitation and as it is a verbal invitation I can't turn him down via text or e-mail - damn. I can't do this.

My inner goddess is holding her to-do-list and circles point 7: be spontaneous.

"Sure, why not. Thank you." and I follow him in.

Emmett is this typical big, muscular sports type of a guy with dark, curly hair. He is about 6'5" tall and looks really impressive with his strong build, but he seems to be laid back, too, as if nothing could seriously worry him.

He leads me through the apartment and I must say they did a really good job. The rooms are looking much brighter, everything is in white and crème color, but still look warm and homey. We are arriving in the kitchen where a blond top-model stores one last box.

"Hey Baby, that's Ana, our next door neighbor. She wanted to welcome us. Ana meet my wife Rose."

"Hey Rose, how do you do?"

The top model shakes my hand and she definitely is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Even if she scrutinizes me coldly. Don't worry I'm not interested in your husband, not my type, my inner goddess shouts.

"Nice to meet you. How long are you living here?" "Ever since I started college. So 4 years."

"So you know what happened with the girl who lived here?"

"Yeah" I sigh "Jenna. She was my best friend."

"I'm sorry! We didn't meant to be insensitive. We were just curious after the realtor hinted some kind of scandal." Emmett said.

"No blood, no fool." Rose and Emmett chuckled – weird, since when is Ana Rose Nordström-Steel funny? Well they are living in her apartment they should know the truth. At least they will know what really happened. If I don't tell them they might believe the rumors, my subconscious argues.

"Well, it's actually kinda sad story, there are different rumors circulating, but don't believe this crap. It is true, that Jenna committed suicide, but don't worry she didn't do it in here, but nobody knows the real reasons."

"And you do?" Rose asked me skeptically?

"I do and I'll tell you, but I'm asking you not to broadcast it, kay?"

"Sure" Emmett claimed and Rose nodded.

"Five month ago Jenna was on the way home from a party and she was raped. Obviously it was hard for her, but she managed it. We spend nearly every minute together and she got better. But after a few weeks she started to feel nauseous. As you can imagine she was pregnant with the rapist's baby.

This was a huge step back, but eventually she decided to keep it and started to love her kid. She lost the baby and that was the final straw for her. She jumped of a bridge a few days after her miscarriage."

Rose has tears in her eyes and Emmett hugs her. "Well that sucks." he exclaims, like I said, you can't really bring him down, can you? On the other hand the ice queen seems to melt a little.

"Yeah, well I better be going, ring if you need anything. I'm kind of the perfect neighbor: no animals, no children, no music instruments, no boyfriend, the walls are kind of thin, but I'm a deep sleeper and as I don't have a family I can even check your mail or water your plants when you visit yours."

Emmett started to laugh "sounds good, did you memorize that?"

"Kind of" I shrugged "it's part of my prep talk".

"Sounds like the begin of a wonderful friendship" he stated, still laughing and with this I left their apartment – for now.