I became aware of my upstairs neighbours' penchant for having lively company over. Their laughter and loud music often resonated through the ceiling. And after their guests had left, late at night (or early in the morning), Daniel and Amanda would have their little afterparty in bed.
Given how they had complained about my loud fucking that one time, those noises were irritating, yet comforting. After all, if they did not care, they would not care about the sound of my sex anymore, right? Even more so, it made me horny. Knowing that Daniel was doing something good to Amanda made me even a little jealous sometimes. My own friend (with benefits) was great, but there was something about Daniel's naturally commanding presence - and hot wife - that turned me on. But sometimes, it was simply annoying to not be able to enjoy my silence.
Tonight - Sunday night of all nights - was one of their party nights. The thumping bass made ripples on the surface of my tea. I had to turn on subtitles to watch my TV show. I had planned a cozy night in - my favorite pastime - but it had been made very difficult. So difficult that I crawled from under my blanket, and went upstairs. To complain.
One flight of stairs later, I stood in front of the doorway with a heart that was beating louder than the bass. After all, my past two encounters with my neighbours had been rather unusual. But I took a deep breath and bravely knocked on the door.
Nothing at first, of course. My knocking, or pounding after a minute was drowned out by the music. But after a little while I heard someone entering the hallway, still loudly talking to someone in the living room, and I tried again. The door opened.
"Hey," said a guy in an orange sweater that I didn't know. "Here for the party?"
"No," I said. "Just wanting to speak to Daniel or Amanda."
"Ah, okay," he replied. He stepped aside and made the motion of welcoming her through the door.
I felt nervous actually coming in, especially with that many people there. I had a few seconds in the hallway to reconsider my choices, but Orange Sweater closed the front door behind me and led me to the living room.
The music sounded a lot better here, and the ten or so people in the room seemed to be having a good time. Some were standing at a kitchen island, others lazily drank their beers on the couch. People took notice of me, but weren't all that interested. Orange Sweater pointed toward the kitchen. Behind the kitchen island stood Daniel and Amanda.
Amanda noticed me immediately and smiled happily.
"Hey Rosaly!" She gestured me closer and poked her husband for attention. He looked in my direction and raised his eyebrows.
"Hey guys," I said as I walked over to them. The other people hanging around the kitchen stopped their conversation. "Having a nice party?"
I was as polite as I could, as though they were reasonable people who wouldn't bend me over to fuck me whenever they heard anything downstairs.
"Absolutely, love," Amanda smiled. "Come for a drink?"
"Well, uhm, actually..." I stammered, "I was actually looking forward to a quiet night and going to bed early. You know, work tomorrow morning."
"Ha," Daniel snorted. "We all know what good times you have in bed, yes."
I blushed.
"I was hoping you could maybe turn down the volume?" I did not sound confident. "If that's alright with you?"
Amanda touched my arm, sweetly.
"Oh my," she said. "I didn't realize sound goes both ways."
She winked. I wasn't sure whether that was a snide remark or a friendly apology, but she seemed relaxed.
"Daniel?" she asked her husband. "Do you think we can turn down the volume?"
"Hmm." He looked at me. His stare was intense and made me feel... things. "Last time, you failed to apologize to my wife for your washing machine's loud and very annoying drone."
"Huh?" I was confused. "She didn't come to, uhm, complain with you that time..."
"How convenient of you to come by then!" he said as a thin and mischievous smile appeared on his face. "Amanda, did you know how extensively she apologized to me?"
"Yes, you told me all about it," she replied, and it sounded as though she liked the story. "I was a little jealous, you know."
"Oh, I'm so sorry," I said, even though her tone had been happy as could be.
"No, no," she laughed. "Not of you. Of him!"
"Oh?" I said.
"That was an apology I would have liked too," she said with a wink. Her husband nodded, and looked at the three guys standing listening to our conversation.
"Guys," he said to them. "If someone bothers two people, and apologizes to one of them, what should they do when they meet the other?"
Orange Sweater guy raised his glass to Amanda and said: "Apologize to her in the exact same way, ha!"
The other guys laughed, and one of them whistled at me. Wait, they all knew that story?
