Lilies And Smoke

CHAPTER THREE: Blind date

It has been five days since she met Alex, he was on her mind as she lay down in bed. Should I offer him a welcome meal? She wonders to herself. She rotates her thumbs in a circular motion, thinking of all the ways she could invite him over for dinner. She hears hear phone ring and pats the surface of her side table for it, hits her phone and grabs it in her hand. "Hello?" she answers.

"Nita, it's Jan. I met this guy called Tony on this job I've been doing, he seems nice he says he's really into bouncy, smart blonde girls and I tell him, 'well, I know just the girl for you' and guess what? I've got you a date!" Janice announces excitedly over the phone. Anita smiles a little, "thank you Hun, when is it for?".

"When are you free?" Janice asks, her voice fluttering.

"I work from home, so all the time" Anita gives a short laugh.

"Right then it's set, I'll come around tomorrow and do your make up- ".

"Not a lot of- ".

"I know, I know. Anyway, he's charming, he's really cute. Kind of cocky but in a good way, if it doesn't go well, I promise I owe you one. I just want you to go out more". Anita hums, knowing that this was true, and it was not the best idea, but she did it to cheer Janice up and to take her mind off it. "I'll see you tomorrow, thanks again".

"It's alright! So excited for you, see you in the afternoon!", Anita hangs up the phone and taps it on her hand. She wasn't sure what to do, she doubts anything would happen between her and Alex, they were neighbours and had barely spoke more than a handful of words together. She lies back down, her mind spinning. A scratching noises slowly builds its way up to her ears; she sits up in bed. Leaning forward as she focuses her breathing. The noise continues for a good minute and finishes with a clicking noise. There was a deafening silence for a full minute and then a small tapping noise rang out through her house. She carefully steps out of bed, making as little noise as possible. Her cold feet press gently against the cool wooden floor. Anita walks slowly out of her room, listening for the source of the sound. The tapping continues and then a thud. Anita jumps, placing her hand over her heart and tries to calm her breathing.

It's just the pipes, she tells herself. She listens closely, it seems to be coming from down stairs. She descends the stairs slowly, steadying herself with each step. The sound was coming from the living room and the sound had come to a stop. She walks to the living room, tilting her head to listen in closely. There, somewhere on the floor came a tiny tapping, then a scratching and then something brushes past the side of her ankle. She squeals loudly and jumps, rushing past towards the kitchen. "Oh my gosh!" she says breathlessly.

Rats? Mice? They must be making the noise! She thinks to herself in horror. It took her seven and a half minutes to build up her courage to run up the stairs, tripping on the second to last step as she does so. "Ow!" she calls, rubbing her knee. That's it! She thinks to herself stubbornly, I'm calling pest control in the morning.

The morning came and Anita felt drained, having hardly slept all night in fright that whatever animal or pest was in her house could crawl on her in the middle of the night. She didn't even leave her bedroom until she hears the knock on her front door. She gets out of bed reluctantly, but she knew that it would be Janice on the other side. She breathes heavily, frightened at the thought of accidentally stepping on one of them or worse, their droppings. Anita opens the door and hears Janice squeal, "I can't believe it! I'm so excited! What on earth did you do to your hair?" her voice made Anita's ears ring. Anita blinks a couple of times, "yeah-yeah I am too, and I think there may be pests in my house" she says dreadfully.

"Pests?" Janice repeats, her face paling at the idea. Janice pushes into her home and scouts the area vigorously, "I can't see any droppings!" she calls as Anita shuts her front door. "Well, something brushed past my ankle last night and I hear these small tapping sounds, probably them scurrying around my feet". Janice grim-faced, starts examining her house top to bottom. Anita sat on the stool in between the kitchen counter and the sofa, she waits there anxiously for Janice to return. A couple of minutes goes by before she hears Janice's footsteps thumping down the stairs. "No pests here, no sign from what I can tell" she declares.