Meet Me At My Level

Chapter 1 - Punk and Roll

It was currently 2 am, I was sitting crouched at my makeshift desk re-vamping my resume for another round of "let's apply everywhere and hope I get an interview". The odds have been stacked against me lately, I guess having a Bachelors in Human Science and Family Development wasn't getting me many callbacks. Screw the way the world worked, how is it a field that is all about helping people, caring about their wellbeing and sanity-makes so little money? Thinking about these things truly pissed me off. But I was 25 going on 26 soon, barely making it through my master's courses in Marketing, for a long time now I felt as though my life wasn't headed in any particular direction and it added to the level of frustrations I was feeling lately. 

I stood up and tried to fix my type 3B curly hair, the humidity has gotten to it lately and the only way to control the frizz was by pooling the curls up into a messy bun. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, wanting to cry looking at my reflection. There was nothing special about me, I had dark brown curly hair that frizzed more than it defined. I was pale, with thin eyebrows, dark brown eyes, striking cheekbones, and a jawline with a scarred nose. Sometimes looking in the mirror really made me want to check out of the world and just sleep. I was tired of trying, I honestly was.

The noise next door grew louder, the music suddenly rumbling the wall we shared. Living in my apartment complex wasn't so bad, I actually enjoyed the quick commute to work and how I could make it to the gym before then. But a new neighbor moved in while I was at work the other day and since then I've heard nothing but music blaring loudly every night and only at night. I didn't understand why they couldn't play their music like other people during the day and unluckily for them, today was not the day to piss me off. 

Sliding on my slippers and putting on my sweatpants under my incredibly oversized pajama shirt I decided I would pay them a visit. After adjusting my glasses, taking my keys and my phone, I headed into the hallway. Looking right and then left I shuffled to the apartment to my left. My heartbeat steadily increased and I could feel the anxiety before I raised my hand to bang on the door.

"Calm down Kat, it's okay. We're just asking them to lower the volume. It's okay" I breathed trying to calm myself down. 

Banging on the door to get the attention of the concert hall going on inside, I rolled on the back of my heels as I waited for someone to answer the door. Just as I was about to raise my hand to knock on the door once more, the unlocking of its handle was heard before the door opened up letting the music flow out from the apartment and into the hall. The guy who stood in front of me was 6"9 to my 5"5, I slowly looked up to meet his eyes which were soft hazel. His hair longer than mine and a wavy light brown. He had an olive complexion that went well with his style choice of classic rock meets modern. 

"Hi, your music is too loud for a moderately normal human being to fall asleep at 2 am" I informed.

He held up his index finger to me before disappearing into his apartment, a moment later the volume of the music was lowered causing the thumping in my head to relax. Thank God. When he returned to the door he pushed his hair from his face which revealed his strong jawline and immaculate definition. 

"Sorry about that, I couldn't hear you. What did you say?" he asked attentively.

I scoffed, "My point exactly, I came over to complain about the volume of your music" I then pointed to the apartment next door, "that's me. I'd like to keep my peace intact if you don't mind. I mean you have great taste in music, loving the electric guitar but I'd prefer it at a sane hour ya know?"

He smiled, "yea you think it's good? me too. Although it could use some fine-tuning. But 2 am isn't too early into the night, so I didn't think it was a problem". 

I couldn't help but make a face, "Umm well for people with an 8-4 regular job and not living the rock band-styled life, I would say otherwise".

It was his turn to scoff, "You shouldn't hate on art that you seem to like, not very attractive in a lady".

I rolled my eyes, "Just so we're clear, I don't care to come off attractive, to anybody. In fact, please never find me attractive. All I'm asking is that you just be considerate, my job is mentally exhausting, and walking in with no rest at all won't help my clients". 

He sighed then, "it's cool, I get it. I'll be sure to remember that".

"Thanks" I responded before shuffling off to my apartment. 

"Tye" he called after me. My face scrunched up in confusion,

"Huh?" I responded before turning around to glance at him. He smiled, then, his hazel eyes dazzling, cheeks flushed from the heat. 

"My name is Tye, your new neighbor"

"Okay," I said as I continued to my door, hand on the handle. I turned the handle and pushed the door slightly open before hearing Tye ask, 

"So you aren't going to tell me your name?"

Closing the door behind me I made sure to lock the door. Sighing I sat down on the floor and stared at my phone. My sister, Dana, left me a message.

Hey, you up?

I stared at the text a second longer before setting my phone on the ground, bringing my knees to my chest, and placing my head on my knees. 

The remnants of the old me that still floated in the abyss that lay in me felt bad for cutting Tye off that way. But too much has changed since the old me had the reigns to my life, and this evolved Kat was someone who lived to survive. Surviving didn't mean making friends with neighbors, it meant keeping everyone away. Everyone was a threat at this point, and threats need to be nipped in the bud as soon as you noticed their sprouts. 

My heart was still beating frantically and I needed to focus on my breathing techniques to calm myself. It's okay Kat, it's okay. You're safe in your apartment, name 5 things you can see. 

Looking around my apartment I called out the five things I noticed,

"Laptop

Coffee mug

Couch

Picture 

Stars in the sky"

Getting up from the floor and taking my phone with me, I set my keys on the counter before heading into my bathroom, opening my med cabinet and taking some melatonin. Sleep needed to find me and without some aid to do so, my mind would wander and replay that night. Something I would consistently analyze in the past. Something I wanted to forget but seemed to be the only thing I could remember in exact detail.

Shuffling to the couch, I grabbed my blanket and lay underneath it knowing that my bed would be more comfortable but it also contained more shadows than I wanted to see.

I stared at the wall until sleep took me over and the fogginess like a wall of defense blocked my imagination from reenacting that night. Protecting the iron soldier I was morphing into.

Chapter Questions!

1) Whenever you feel anxious, what are your coping skills?

2) What do you think Kat is running from?

3) Do you guys like rock music? I'm wondering if there will be a lot of Tye fans 

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