I've Been Waiting For You

Chapter 8

Mitchell stood at the foot of his bed and released a sigh mingled with slight delight. He walked to the window, and pushed the curtain aside to look outside. 

  A shudder passed through him as though he was being watched, which was weird because he was alone inside the house.

  No visible light could be seen except for the glow from the moonlight. Beyond the house, he knew there was an unused graveyard but you could hardly see it since a few Yew trees blocked it from view. He hadn't seen it up close as yet. Mitchell started to close the curtain until he caught sight of the blue sedan across the street.

  The windows of the vehicle were tinted dark, so he couldn't make out if there was someone in the car. But he knew he had seen that car somewhere before but he couldn't remember where.

  Suddenly bright lights from the vehicle 's headlights shone straight towards his window.

  Heart thudding, he quickly closed the curtain, taking deep breaths to calm himself. It could be nothing. Mitchell counted the seconds in his mind. Five. Ten. Fifteen...

  He peered out the window, hoping that whoever the vehicle belonged to wasn't a danger, but the Sedan was gone. A ripple of unease fluttered through him. He slumped against the wall, wondering if it was just his imagination or was he being watched. 

  Mitchell went downstairs to get something to drink. He poured some water into a glass and took a bowl of grapes from the refrigerator. After putting the water and grapes on the small table in the living room, he went to make sure the doors and windows were properly secured. 

  Raven's yellow eyes never strayed from him. "I bet you can understand everything that's going on with me?"

   Raven meowed her reply, licking her paws.

   Mitchell laughed softly, picking her up into his arms. "I'll take that as a yes."

  Moments later, he went back upstairs to brush his teeth. He was walking back into his  bedroom when his phone suddenly started ringing. He glanced at the screen but it was a number he didn't recognized.

  He hesitated to answer the phone, letting it ring until it went silent. A few minutes later the phone rang again, showing the same number. This time, he answered. 

 "Hello."

 "I thought you weren't going to answer." The husky voice at the other end send tingles shooting down his spine.

 "Markus. How did you get my number?"

 "I have my ways. I couldn't wait until tomorrow to talk to you."

  Mitchell got into his bed, pushing the covers to the edge. Raven curled into his side, resting a paw on his stomach.

"Really?"

 "You were on my mind for the whole day."

  The vehicle from earlier came to his mind. "Were you anywhere near my house tonight?"

"No I wasn't. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything 's fine. Thought I saw something earlier. It's probably nothing."

"Are you sure?"

  Mitchell glanced at the time, it was after nine. His mom should be on her way home. 

"How old are you Markus?" He asked to shift the conversation.

"Eighteen. I'm going to be nineteen in June."

  Mitchell eyes widened in surprise. He thought he'd be a little older, but that was only because of his height. 

"I'm eighteen also. I'll be nineteen in July."

"We're one month apart."

"How tall are you, Markus?" He asked.

"Why are you asking?"

"No reason."

"You like tall guys, Mitchell?"

  Mitchell was speechless at his perception.  

"I don't have to answer that."

"No, you don't have to, but you just did." 

  Soft laughter sounded over the phone, sending tingles over his body.

"I'm going to hang up."

"No, you're not going to hang up."

"Why wouldn't I?"

"The same reason I couldn't wait to hear your voice."

"What's the reason?"

"You're feeling the same spark."

  Mitchell bit his lip between his teeth, wondering if he should just say it out loud, but he kept silent. Back and forth they continued their conversation until Mitchell glanced at the time. 

   He didn't want to end their conversation but he knew it was time for him to go to sleep.  

"Hey, Markus, I'll see you at school tomorrow.  " 

"Wait for me at the football field tomorrow. Goodnight." He said before ending the call.

  Mitchell looked at his phone with amusement, shaking his head. Ten minutes later, there was a knock at his door. 

"Mitchell, are you awake?"

"I'm awake. How was the meeting?"

"Is the door locked?"

"No."

  She opened the door slightly. "It was good. I'm going to bed early tonight. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, mom."

  Sarah closed the door softly behind her. Her footsteps echoing as she walked away from his door. He got up to lock the door. It was then, with his fingers on the light switch, that he hesitated, frozen in a web of awareness.

  For a second, something arrested his attention. It was nothing tangible, nothing he could see or hear. He felt it more than sensed it, felt it on his skin and in his bones. His eyes had glimpsed something, a shimmer of light, a rustle of movement.  

"Is someone here?" he asked in a low voice. 

  He looked around his room and stared at the window. The answer flashed into his mind. He was being watched. Someone's eyes was on him, he could feel it.

  He went back to bed, eyes still looking around. Satisfied that he wasn't being watched anymore, he switched off the light. A yawn escaped his mouth so laid down, burrowing into his pillow, facing the window.

  The feeling dissipated.