After a good night's sleep, I woke with a clear head and every intention of avoiding my new neighbors at all costs. All I had ever wanted was to be a published author and enjoy my photography quietly. Regardless of the somber circumstances that had provided it, I now had the opportunity to fulfill that dream, and that's exactly what I was going to do, damn it.

I took my time in the shower, letting the warm water wash away the last lingering bits of tension, and made up my mind to take two more days off before getting back into my routine and dedicating all my time to my book. Taking the weekend to get my garden started and let my myself relax would be a better idea in the long run.

I dried off, taking an extra moment to lather on my favorite lotion. It'd been so long since I'd had a moment to enjoy even that small luxury.

I stayed in a great mood as I pulled on a simple, green cotton sundress and threw my long brown hair into a loose braid, letting a few pieces stay loose to frame my face. I was never comfortable with all of my hair pulled back. It made my face feel too exposed. In all honesty, I'd rather have it down, but I was looking forward to hard work and warmth getting the garden together.

Deciding against makeup, I simply brushed on a bit of chapstick instead. It's not like I had anyone to look good for anyway.

I beat back the image of a certain three faces before it could fully surface.

No one. To look good for. I told myself adamantly.

I threw on my favorite comfy flats and snatched up my purse, heading down the stairs to the door. Just as I went to grab my keys from their hook-

Knock knock knock.

I froze, turning to look at the door as if I could see the culprit through the wood. Which I couldn't. Obviously.

I didn't even have a peephole.

I groaned inwardly and rubbed my temples. Couldn't I have one day without human interaction? Just one? The knocks sounded again, a bit more hesitantly this time, and I shook myself to my senses. There was no point in being rude or ignoring them, whoever it was.

I stepped over, unlocked the bolt and opened the door.

This had to be a joke.

I was being pranked.

There was no other logical explanation.

The man standing on my porch had the sort of uncanny, princely-type air and stature as you'd expect to find in an anime protagonist.

Tall, probably 5'10, and slender, he had brown hair, wide, handsome shoulders, flawless skin, and pretty, almost pouty lips.

He was wearing glasses, a pale pink t-shirt, and slim fitted black pants, and holding a covered casserole dish.

"This can't be serious."

He blinked, confused, alerting me to the fact that I'd spoken out loud. Before he could question me, I plastered on a smile and opened the door farther, stepping out to meet him on the porch.

"Sorry, still not totally awake. Hi, how can I help you?"

He smiled then, and my heart stuttered.

Stop. It. I scolded the pathetic organ.

"Ah, hi," he replied, "I'm Jin."

He bowed his head slightly, a polite gesture I recognized and returned.

"I'm Dezza. I guess you're one of my new neighbors?"

I gestured towards the house next door.

He nodded. "Yes. I live there with my brothers." He lifted the dish in his hands.

"Wanted to.. welcome you."

I suddenly felt extremely rude for making him stand there holding it the whole time.

"Oh, thank you so much. You didn't have to, but I really appreciate it," I babbled, taking it from him and smiling. "Uh, would you like to come in? I was just about to make coffee."

Liar, my subconscious taunted.

Jin smiled his too sweet smile again and nodded, holding the door open for me to pass through first.

I lead him to the kitchen, placing the dish on the island and starting the coffee pot while he took a seat on one of the tall stools, glancing around.

"Very nice kitchen," he said carefully, giving the impression that he wasn't completely fluent in English quite yet, though he seemed to be close.

I looked around myself. The kitchen was one of my favorite things about this house.

"Thank you," I replied. "It's my favorite room."

He smiled. "You cook?"

"Oh I love to cook! I'm going to work on making a vegetable garden today."

You'd think I'd given the man a puppy, his face was so bright.

"That's so cool."

His accent was so cute I couldn't help but smile at the remark. I distracted myself by lifting the lid of the dish to see if what he'd brought needed to be refrigerated, letting out a happy little gasp when I saw them.

Cinnamon rolls.

"You're awesome," I exclaimed. "These are my favorite!"

His face lit up again.

I set aside the lid and went to grab a couple saucers from the cabinet. Sitting the plates down, I turned to pour us both a cup of coffee.

"Do you like sugar or cream?" I asked over my shoulder. "I have french vanilla, mint, blueberry, and hazelnut."

"Blueberry! My favorite," he replied cheerfully.

I brought the cups over to the table, then grabbed the hazelnut for myself and blueberry for him, handing it over as I sat down.

"You can use as much as you like. I hardly ever crave it."

He nodded, still smiling (did he ever stop?), dumping a few spoonfuls into his cup as I set a cinnamon roll on both plates and slid his toward him.

We ate and sipped in comfortable silence, and right as I was thinking how nice it was and Jin was pouring his second cup, another knock sounded at the door.

He stood first. "Probably Tae," he said.

"Flower," he pointed to his ear, clarifying when I looked confused. "Probably to see what's taking long, I should go."

"Oh," I replied, not wanting to admit I was a tiny bit disappointed. "Okay. Thank you for the food. You can take the coffee with you if you're not finished. I have plenty of cups."

I stood, placing our empty plates and my cup in the sink. I might as well follow him out and head to the store like I'd planned.

He opened the door as I grabbed my keys and shouldered my purse, smiling and waving me through first and shutting the door behind us.

He was right, it was the flower boy from the day before, looking a little concerned. He beamed a smile and nodded at me before turning to Jin.

He spoke in Korean, but I could understand enough to know that someone named Namjoon had broke something and cut his hand, and someone named Yoongi couldn't find bandages.

Jin sighed and rubbed his forehead, responding that they would have to go to the store.

"I have a first aid kit," I volunteered.

They both looked at me in suprise.

I blushed. "My best friend from high school is from South Korea. I can't speak it very well at all, but I can understand some."

They both smiled and I ran back inside to hide my blush and grab the kit. I met them back on the porch, handing it over so they could go help their friend. They smiled, and Jin awkwardly shook my hand to say bye, but Tae grabbed me in a quick hug with an energetic "Thank you!" before running off to their house.

My face flamed red hot from the unexpected embrace and Jin cast me an apologetic grimace before heading after him.

I stood there for a moment looking after them before shaking myself from my daze and getting in my car. So much for avoiding the neighbors.

The trip to town took no time at all, and four hours later I had my tomatoes, garlic, carrots, and broccoli planted in their respective rows. I stood, removing my gloves and brushing the dirt and grass from my knees as I admired my work.

"Excuse me."

Startled, I whirled around to find none other than guy I'd humiliated myself in front of the day before leaning against the side of my house. He was wearing loose, low-slung pants and a plain white t-shirt, and his pale blonde hair was slicked to the side today. And I was staring. Again.

"Uh, hi," I managed, averting my eyes.

I couldn't help but despair over how messy I probably looked right now, compared to how effortlessly chic he seemed to be.

"Can I help you?"

He smiled, but it wasn't the self-satisfied look he'd had when he caught me staring yesterday. He looked a little nervous, or maybe embaressed?

"Uh, yeah. Dezza, right?"

I nodded.

"I came to return this, and thank you for letting us borrow it."

He held out my first aid kit, and I noticed for the first time that his right hand was bandaged.

Ah. So this was Namjoon.

I walked over, taking the kit from him and nodding. "No problem. How's the hand?"

He smiled sheepishly.

"It's fine, thanks. Nothing I'm not used too."

I cocked my head curiously.

He ran a hand over the back of his neck.

"I tend to break stuff a lot."

"Ah. Same," I replied.

"Yeah, I noticed."

I grimaced, my face flushing as I remembered that he'd seen me drop the flower pot from the balcony.

"Well, thanks for bringing the kit back anyway." We walked back around to the front.

He was quiet until we made it to the porch steps. I glanced over to say bye before heading inside, finding him staring at me with that intense gaze again.

"Do I have dirt on my face?"

He laughed. "No, you look fine. But hey. Since you're our new neighbor and all, you should come over tomorrow, let us welcome you to the neighborhood. We wanted to grill out anyway. "

"Oh, uh, thank you," I stammered, caught off guard by the sudden invitation. "But I don't like to impose, really."

He grinned. "Then don't impose. You can help Jin cook. He said you liked to, and he's the only one that would be cooking for the seven of us otherwise."

I groaned inwardly. I didn't want to seem rude.

"Come on," he coaxed. "Please?"

I sighed. "Okay. Fine."

He beamed triumphantly, wrapping me into a sidehug before saying he'd go let the others know and jogging back to his house.

Christ, what was up with these guys and their complete disregard for my bubble?

I dragged myself inside and slumped onto the sofa, wondering what the hell I'd just gotten myself into.

The conversation replayed in my head.

Wait.

I froze.

Did he say "the seven of us"?