1 ~ Noisy Neighbors

The bass thumped through the thin walls of the cramped apartment, vibrating the mismatched furniture and the two young men sprawled across the sagging couch.

Eli kicked his feet up on the coffee table, a controller gripped tight in his hands, his lean frame twisted in concentration. His messy dark curls fell into his eyes as he mashed buttons, letting out a triumphant whoop when his character landed a combo on the screen.

“Take that, you fucker!” He grinned, elbowing Noah beside him.

Noah, broader and more solid from his kinesiology classes and weekend runs, chuckled deep in his chest. He leaned back, one arm slung...