"If I buy a car, will you take me on late night drives?" - Part 1
Jake Sim x Fem!Reader. Where 2 neighbors befriend one another because of his dog, and she doesn't have any friends.
TW: Isolation(?), mentions of being a lone(r), mentions of parent death
Jake liked to think of himself as a disciplined man. When he had a goal and set his mind to it, nothing could stray him and he always managed to achieve it. He came from a good home, good family, he had good friends, and attended University and has a good job. He works hard. He worked incredibly hard to get the nice studio loft he had been dreaming of since he saw it. The location was perfect, near his University and by the College of Engineering where he was doing his internship. He was on cloud 9.
When he moved in he loved how quiet things were. The first week of moving in he wondered if he had a neighbor across the way or if the place was vacant and that's what made it so quiet. He figured that's what it had to be and every time he took his dog, Layla, out for a walk he would look at the door across the way and have this odd feeling that he wasn't alone. Because he wasn't. One day, he came home later than usual and he heard the faint noise of music playing. He was familiar with the sound, it was “Cry” by Cigarettes After Sex which so happened to be one of his favorite artists. He stood outside his door just listening to the song, until suddenly the door across the hall swung open and one of the most beautiful people he had ever laid eyes on stood in front of him.
She had a trash bag in her hands, her hair was tied up, glasses framed her face, and she was in a pink overalls and a white tank top. Her whole being was covered in paint. She stared at him before shrugging and walking to the trash shoot to dump her trash. Jake snapped out of his zone, amazed he did indeed have a neighbor he finally confirmed after being there for a month, he just had to get her name.
“So there IS someone that lives across from me,” he smiled.
“You talking to me?” she asked, stunned as she stopped in her tracks and looked around.
“Well, we are the only 2 people here. I'm Jake, it's nice to meet you,” He held out his hand.
“Y/N. See ya!” And with that she waved goodbye and quickly went back inside and closed her door.
Jake was left speechless. Did he do something wrong? Is she afraid of him? Maybe she just needs to warm up to him. He couldn't help but have her on his mind, and for the rest of the night she was flooding his mind. When he laid down to go to bed, he stared up at his ceiling with his neighbor across the way still on his mind.
He didn't see her for another 2 weeks after that. He was so curious about her. Who was she? What did she do? Did she go to school? One thing he assumed was that she liked art or was an artist given she was literally covered in paint. One day, he opened his door to take Layla for a walk when he ran into her coming home. She had a duffel bag on her and Layla got out of his grip and ran straight to her.
“Layla, no!” He ran after his dog. Layla, was fine as his neighbor, knelt down on the floor petting the white creature.
“Layla, I think he's talking to you,” He heard her say. “It’s okay, I don't like to listen either.”
“I'm sorry about her, she gets excited especially with new people,” he explained as he grabbed Layla’s leash.
“Hm. I love dogs, so you can stay I guess,” She stood up not taking her eyes off Layla. Jake tilted his head, finding it a bit odd but moved on.
“Ah, thank you for the approval,” He jokes.
“Really, thank your dog, she can stay, you're just a plus one. See ya around!” She waved before opening her door and closing it in his face. Did his dog just one up him with the pretty neighbor?
To Jake, it didn't seem like you were scared to speak to him, but you avoided him it seemed like. He also noticed how he almost disappeared when Layla was around, your attention fully on her and her only. This became a habit. Every so often Layla would escape and run to your door scratching or barking until you opened it. You would open the door and let her in only to close it in his face and not open it. The first time it happened Jake was mad, he thought you kidnapped his dog.
“You can't just take someone's dog without permission! How do I know you're not going to harm her?” He voiced.
“Oh, I would never do that! We had some things to discuss. She's welcome anytime!” You smiled, finally reaching his eyes before going your way.
He got used to the way you were around him. He would let Layla go as it seemed she truly enjoyed your company and you hers. She was never harmed and always seemed to be around no more than 10 minutes at most. He would wait until you opened the door and you would be in a full conversation with the dog as if you two were actually speaking to one another.
“You know, some people might think you're crazy for talking to a dog,” He had his arms across his chest.
“What do you mean a dog? Layla’s not a dog, she's a friend,” Again, you left Jake laughing at your words. Your mind stunned him.
There wasn't anything wrong with you, you just didn't have many friends and you lived a very isolated lifestyle with just you and your cats. You prefer the company of animals more to the company of people. After 4 months of this going on, you started talking to Jake more too. He wasn't so bad and he always seemed to try and stay on your good side which you appreciated. You didn't understand why he tried so hard, but he started understanding your language more and so I guess he was a nice neighbor. Then one night, everything changed for him and for you.
He came home late. It was actually very late but he got stuck with things at the University and so he was forced to stay longer. When he got home the moon was bright and the hall was dark. He was so focused on getting to Layla to check on her he almost missed your form leaning up against the windowsill at the end of the hall. When he opened his door, Layla immediately ran out and ran straight to you. It's like she knew something was wrong and when he approached you the tears down your face really struck a chord in his heart.
“Y/N? Are you okay?” He asked quietly, not wanting to disturb you.
“It's just SO sad! Isn't it sad, Layla?” You turned to the dog before crying again. He then realized your slurred words and concluded you were drunk.
“What’s sad?” He knelt down to your level, not once leaving your side.
“I don't have anyone to go on late night drives with,” you admitted.
“Late night drives? You want to go on a late night drive?” He frowned, feeling confused but also wanted to understand more of what goes on in your head.
“I want to go on late night drives, but I have no one to take me,” You hiccuped clutching your cheeks in your hands.
“Well, I'll go with you,” He offered and your face perked up.
“You will!?! C-can you drive?” You asked him and he nodded.
“Yes, I have my license,” he chuckled. “My only problem is I don't have a car. I never needed one.”
“Oh no, that's not going to work. If I buy a car will you take me on late night drives?” You asked.
“Buy a car? You want to buy a car just to go on late night drives?” His eyebrows raised in disbelief.
“Yes, yes I will. I want to go on late night drives, it's my dream,” you cried again leaning your head on his shoulder as he started comforting you.
“Well,” he cleared his throat. “If you buy a car, I'll take you on late night drives.”
And that's how it started. It was 4 nights later and Jake hadn't seen or heard from you so he assumed you were too drunk to remember. That was, until he heard a knock on his door at 10:30 PM at night, currently a Thursday and he was just about to go to bed. He opened his door to a very excited you. You were dressed in jeans with a black leather jacket and white tank underneath. Your hair was down and you looked awake and ready for something.
“Oh, this is a cute look! It's time to go,” You held up a key, not just any key: a car key.
Jake's mouth dropped, he was in the middle of brushing his teeth and he couldn't believe you were here in his presence being serious.
He ushered you to come inside as he quickly went to clean up his face and rinse his mouth. You took a look in his apartment and noticed how clean it was, neatly decorated and it smelled like cedarwood and grass. Layla came running to you and you quickly embraced her, giving her hugs and pets. You and Jake seemed to be the opposite but you didn't mind.
“You were ACTUALLY serious?” He asked you.
“I'm always serious, I never lie,” You said.
“You ACTUALLY bought a car? Who are you? You're like this...this person I can't figure out,” He was in such disbelief, he really could not understand you.
“Well, I'm Y/N. I got a large inheritance after my parents died and I just bought a car, now let's go!” You hopped up in excitement. “You told me you would take me on a late night drives.”
Jake felt sad. He didn't know your life story or who you actually were but sharing little details here and there just made him want to embrace you even more. You were such an enigma to him, and now he was afraid that if he poked too much you would run away.
“Okay, I did yeah. Let me get changed and we can go.”
And so that's how it started. Almost every night for 3 weeks straight you would come to him and say you wanted to go for a drive and he would take you. He learned you had your license but you hated driving. You prefer to be driven around and he didn't blame you. You don't go out much and he learned you have an Estate that you look after that's outside the city. He also learned you were indeed an artist and sold paintings to your parents wealthy elite friends and made a good living from that.
“Can I ask you something?” Jake spoke up.
It was a Saturday night, almost 3 AM and you and Jake were out strolling around the City.
“Whats up?” You looked over at him, giving him your attention.
“Where are your friends?” He asked.
“I don't have any friends,” You said.
“What do you mean? Like…at all?” He frowned.
“Well, if you count the people at my family's estate then they're all there. That's where they are,” You shrugged. “My butler I grew up with, he's more like an Uncle now.”
“You didn't have any friends at school?” He asked.
“I didn't go to school, I was tutored at home,” You said. “Well, you're my friend too, right?”
“Yeah, I guess I am,” He smiled looking over at you.
“Then you're right here. Here is where my friend is,” You smiled at him. “Oh, I miss Layla.”
Of course, Layla.
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