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Moving out of your parents' place was the best thing you have ever done– the privacy that you are able to live in now is irreplaceable. But with the pros, came the cons. The landlord for the apartment you’re residing in is a cheapskate. Despite having so many people paying for rent, the said landlord expects the tenants to mow the lawn and shovel the snow. Which would be something normal, if you owned a house, but this is an apartment building– there should be people hired for that.
Normally, you would suck this up– well you did. The first couple of months you resided there, you had mowed the lawn, and you continued to try to do so, except with college and then work– you were too tired to.
You pull into your driveway, turning your car off, you reach for your tote bag. Upon making it to your front door, you notice a note, which was basically a small warning to mow your lawn as the grass was getting too long. You sigh, letting your head bang the apartment door.
“You okay there?” a gruff voice from behind you pulls you away from your thoughts.
The unfamiliar voice makes you immediately pull yourself together and look at the man. You’re met with a slightly concerned, yet amused look.
You chuckle awkwardly, somewhat hesitant on what to say, “Uh, yeah.”
He raises his eyebrow, making you chuckle once again, “It’s just,” you look at the note at your door again, “I haven’t mowed the lawn in a bit.”
“Oh, I see,” he rubs his chin, “Say, you’re the person who moved here not too long ago, right? Like three or four months ago?”
“Yeah, about that much time.”
“Well, I’m usually not home that’s probably why we haven’t met.”
“Oh! Are you my neighbor?” you smile.
“Yup, that’s me,” he moves his hand forward for a handshake, “Dante.”
You shake his hand, “Y/n,” letting go of his hand, you let yours rest back at your side, “So you’re the guy always bothering the landlord?”
He gasps dramatically, resting his hand on his chest, “Me? God, no. I would never.”
You let out a laugh at his antics, “Well, it was nice meeting you, Dante. I should get going.”
He nods, as you turn around to open your door, not before peeling the note off, he speaks, “I could do it, you know?”
“Hm?” you turn around to look at him.
“Mow the lawn for you, I mean.”
You immediately decline, “I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
“I don’t mind, I don’t have much going on anyways.”
“But I thought you said you aren’t usually home?”
He merely shrugs, “I have to mow mine at some point too, I can mow yours along with it.”
“Dante, it’s fine really, I don’t want to be a bother.”
He clicks his tongue, “I’m the one offering.”
You think about it– you could use the help, “Are you sure?”
He rolls his eyes playfully, “Yes princess, I’m sure.”
Your eyebrows furrow, “Don’t call me that,” to which he only gives you a playful smile, “Okay fine, in that case, I’ll pay you.”
“No arguing with you, huh?”
You shake your head, he sighs, “Fine then.”
Your landlord was pleased with how the grass looked now and didn’t have any further complaints for you. You were at least glad that the rent was cheap.
Your problem was solved and with that you had also made a new friend. It was weird, since you met Dante, you started seeing him around more. For a man who said he wasn’t home much, he started to be. Usually it would be you leaving for work or a class and he would be coming home, or the other way around. Either way, you were able to see him twice a day, even if it was for a minute or two.
Soon enough, you two had made it routine to hangout on Fridays. You two would usually eat takeout and watch a movie or two.
It was around 7 o’clock on Friday night when you knocked on Dante’s door.
He opened the door, looking somewhat sleepy, until his eyes landed on the pizza box in your hands. He immediately looks up at you, “What’s this?”
You hold it out for him, “It’s for you, a small thank you for all the work you’ve been doing.”
“How’d you know?”
You hum confused, “How’d you know I like pizza?”
“A part of the landlord’s complaint was how messy your place is– how it’s littered with pizza boxes.” you smile sheepishly.
“My place is just fine,” he rolls his eyes, “Well, what are you waiting for?” he opens his door.
“Oh– I bought this just for you.”
He wraps his arm around your shoulders, bringing you inside, “Nonsense, we’ll share.”
This Friday, you were extremely tired. You weren’t able to sleep well the night before and it was super busy at work. You were thinking about skipping out on hanging out with Dante. However, upon making it home, and him sitting outside your door, you weren’t able to say no to his cute face. Usually, you two would be hanging out at his place, but today, it was yours.
“Wow, I can’t believe your apartment looks this nice.”
“Because I clean.” you say amused.
He scoffs, “ I clean.”
“Yeah yeah,” you point towards the couch, “The TV remote should be somewhere, put something on. I’ll be right back.”
He nods, immediately throwing himself on the couch. When you come back, he has some random movie on.
You sigh sitting next to him, immediately leaning your head on his arm, to which he peeks down at you, “Tired?”
“Yeah.”
“Better not fall asleep on me, princess.” he jokes.
You grunt at the petname, “That’s more your job anyways.”
“That was one time!” he says, to which you laugh.
You both watch the movie for the next couple of minutes, before Dante breaks the silence, “You know, it’s supposed to snow next week.”
You hum quietly, he takes that as a sign to continue, “I was thinking– I could shovel the snow for you. We could keep the same thing going as we did for mowing–”
He notices you’re oddly quiet, he looks down at you and scoffs amused, “Ha, knew it.”
He stares at your slightly mushed face against his arm. His hand reaches out, and with his finger he traces your eyebrow softly, which twitches at the contact. Dante could stay like this forever.