A Rooftop Encounter (Short Story)

chapter seven.

After our little session of revealing our hidden talents to each other, Smitty and I decided to merely lay flat on the concrete roof and gazed in awe at the twinkling blanket above us. I found stars to be so interesting.

Just thinking about the fact that they are millions of light years away, they might not even exist anymore, yet we can still see them. They are nothing more than tiny pin-pricks of light to us, but in reality they are unfathomable sizes.

That's kind of how I sort of view Smitty and I. To other people we were nothing, just ordinary people that were lost in amongst everyone else, never having our own clear paths. We're never anyone's first choice for anything.

But to each other, we were different. And we allowed our personalities to spread out into each other's lives. We were each other's first choices. She had chosen me over her work colleagues, and I had chosen her over going home alone. I suppose to the world, we were pinpricks. But to one another we were giants.

Sometimes I had really deep thoughts and I don't know why. I wasn't exactly spiritual or anything. I wasn't religious either. But I liked to think there was something more out there than just this.

"Hey, what ya thinking 'bout?" Smitty asked, breaking the quietness between us. I didn't know how to really answer. What had I been thinking about? It all seemed like nonsense now.

"Err... just stuff..."

"What kinda stuff?"

"Deep stuff... I laughed, oddly not that embarrassed. We had spent our whole evening talking about serious topics together, such as the future and our aspirations. I just didn't want to admit to her what I was actually thinking because it was so incredibly cheesy. Viewing the two of us as stars. It sounded so childish inside when it was outside my head.

Smitty giggled, "Y'know I'm glad I met ya Elijah... Ya so vague about things, but that makes ya interesting... In a mysterious sorta way..."

I raised an eyebrow in amusement, "Mysterious? I'm not mysterious..."

"Yeah ya are!" She argued, her stomach vibrating with gentle giggles.

"Do you like mysterious then?"

"Yeah, I guess... I mean I love meeting new people and being surprised by them... It's excited y'know?"

"What if they're like... an axe murderer or something?" I joked, letting a blunt laugh escape my lips. It was quite weird that she wanted to be 'surprised' by new people. Not everyone was to be trusted. She just got lucky with me, because I was actually a decent person. Next time she might not be so lucky. I don't know why I was suddenly having such dark thoughts.

"Then I guess I'm getting murdered then..." She shrugged halfheartedly, "I'd rather meet someone and have a chance of being murdered than to never meet anyone at all... Don't ya think?"

It was a peculiar way to look at things. I guess she was sort of right though. What she meant is that you shouldn't be paranoid about absolutely everyone being out to kill you. If you lived your life in fear, then you would spend all your time in the dark, never finding the light. I still thought you should be somewhat wary though.

Before I got time to answer Smitty's physiological question, my phone suddenly began to buzz. I was taken aback slightly because I had totally forgotten it was even in my pocket.

It was also weird, because it was like being sucked back into reality. I felt like I had almost paused time whilst I was up here with Smitty. Like the rest of the world didn't even exist and my phone sucked me back in.

The caller ID told me it was, in fact, my dad. I debated whether or not I should answer. I knew he might be wondering where I was by now. So I didn't want him to worry him and make him think I was dead in a ditch somewhere. I don't think he would appreciate that much.

I gave Smitty a quick glance and she shrugged as if to say 'go ahead.' I liked how understanding she was about things. Hesitantly, I hit the accept button.

"Hi dad..."

"Where are you? It's late" My dad's voice grumbled down the line. I could picture his concerned expression vividly in my mind. He always seemed to worry too much about me, but I guess that's kind of a good thing. It showed that he actually cared, which was a rare thing in this day and age. However at eighteen years old, I would have thought he'd ease off a little. I was an adult after all.

"It's not that late..." I argued before I actually checked the time on my phone. It was one o'clock. One o'clock in the morning, I was quite shocked. I honestly hadn't realised it was that late.

I guess time just flew by when I was with Smitty. She pulled me away from reality and into our own little world, which was sort of strange but I wasn't complaining.

"It bloody is... I just wanna know when you're coming home..." My dad sighed.

"In a bit..." I replied halfheartedly, shaking my head in disbelief. It had been six o'clock when I had climbed up here. I had been on this roof for seven whole hours. I felt like seven minutes.

"Alright then, see ya son..."

"Bye dad."

I guess, when I really thought about it, my dad and I did have quite close relationship. Maybe he wouldn't be too disappointed when I told him I didn't want to go to university. If I ever did pluck up the courage to tell him that is. It made me think twice about it at least.

I hung up my phone, shoved it back into my pocket hastily, before giving Smitty a wide eyed glare.

"What?" She sniggered,

"Why didn't you tell me it was this late?"

"Well... because we were having too much fun!" She continued to giggle, scrunching her shoulders up to her neck innocently. I knew she had done it on purpose, because she was wearing a watch for god's sake. I wasn't angry or annoyed though. I had truly enjoyed the time I had spent with her.

She was unlike anyone I had ever met before and I couldn't put my finger on why. There was just something about her that I deeply loved. Could I be in love with her? I knew that sounded beyond ridiculous. Falling in love with someone in seven hours was absurd.

"I should get going really then..." I sighed, shooting her a regretful look. I didn't want to leave. I would stay up here with her forever if I could, although I think Smitty would eventually get bored of me. There are only so many pathetic scribbles I could show to try and impress her.

Smitty looked disappointed for a second, but I think she knew I was right. I bet her mum was wondering where she was as well. We had already been up here far too long. It was also bitterly cold and I was noticeably tired now.

"Hmm... you're probably right..." She agreed, returning a crooked smile.

I had discovered new things on this rooftop that I had never anticipated and met someone that enlightened me to the world. Staying up here would be the much better option for me right now.

But I suppose, in this grey, miserable world, all good things must come to an end eventually.