Summer's Winter

Chapter 7 - Anise

I'm still thinking about how last week I brought flowers to the Falters and Tucker Falter opened the door for me, carried the flowers for me, and asked me to drink water with him. It makes me feel giddy. I imagined his reserved nature and aura surrounding the areas. I looked at one flower and it reminded me of Tucker. Tucker Falter. I hear his name everywhere. I grabbed a glass of water. My brain went to Tucker Falter. Tucker Falter handed me a glass of water. I look down at my right hand that was holding the glass. Tucker Falter again slid his cold fingers over mine when he grabbed the flower. 

My curiosity strikes, and I head to my room open the blinds, and watch out into Tucker's backyard. I haven't opened the blinds in so long since I stalked him. It was just him cleaning his pool. I look at him. His ash blonde hair is slicked back. I feel interested. I feel the sun's rays shine more radiantly when I see him. I closed my blinds before he even saw me staring at him. 

DING. I got a text from Janella. She hasn't texted me in a while. The last time we talked was at the beginning of summer. What does she want this time? She ignored my texts for a month. 

"Hey, I know you think I was ignoring you but, I was grounded." Janella texted. 

"Oh! I thought you ignored me." I texted and giggled. 

"Nope, never. We have been friends for 2 years. I can't ignore you that easily." She texted. 

"How's life" I texted. 

"Boring. I did meet my family during the summer. How about you?" She texted. 

"It was interesting." I texted and then spammed emojis. 

"Oh! Tell me I am bored" She texted and spammed emojis like I did. 

"you know that old house that no one touched for 2 years?" I texted.

I see a typing sign on my phone. 

"Yeah what about it?" she texted a few moments later. 

"A new family moved there and renovated it. It has a pool in the backyard now." I texted.

"Does the family like you?" She texted. 

"I think so" I texted.

I paused for a moment. Should I tell her about Tucker? Like how I felt him everywhere. I don't know what is this feeling. It's infuriating. 

"Do you like their family" She texted.

"Yeah." I texted. 

"Okay, ttyl. I have to go" She texted.

"Alright," I texted. 

I don't know what to feel. Tucker is crossing my mind. His cold gesture is everywhere. He is on thin ice. 

I heard a lawn mowing. I open my blinds again and see Tucker mowing it. He's in a tank top. I can see his veins on his arm. I shut the blinds hard. Plopped on my bed. Why am I feeling a sense of stalking him? I apologized to him about it. 

A stupid idea came to mind. What if I can ask for his number and social media? That will take long though. I gave up. I went downstairs and got to the living room. I see Amy throwing the white tulips away. Maybe it is rotten or wilting. It's normal for flowers to do that. I see his mom on the phone. I am wondering who is she calling. I stop looking through the window and look at my phone. 

I went to take a shower. The water suddenly became cold. I got chills down my spine and I shivered. The cold water reminded me of Tucker swimming in the pool. I turned the water to lukewarm. I feel Tucker everywhere, the air, the water, my actions, and the flowers. I feel stumped. I want to see what Tucker feels about me. I dried myself and combed my hair. It's night now. My mom came home this time with 3 dozens of tulips. I ran downstairs and was astonished by the many tulips I saw. 

"Mother, how was work?" I said. 

"Great as always, Mrs. Falter asked for white tulips again. This time 3 of them. Her first one was rotten and needed to be replaced." My mother said. 

I look at the flower. My brain flashed again. It went to Tucker holding the white flowers. 

"Will you get these to the Falters?" My mom asked. 

"Yes," I said quickly and rushed to my slippers. 

Thank god this time I look neat. My hair is combed, and I'm wearing a shirt and shorts. I carried the flowers and carried them to the Falters. I felt a burst of energy when I approached the Falters' door. 

Tucker opens the door again. He is looking at me. I feel something. His cold stare is levitating my heart. 

"Hey, your mom orders flowers again," I said. 

He grabbed the flowers from me. He placed it in the vase. I see his back. I want to hug him behind. I felt his strong cold aura. My face got pressure again. This time it was a warm pressure. That was my pressure. Every time I am near Tucker, I'm like this. I'm weak. I'm burned. I'm helpless. 

"Thanks," Tucker said with a cold tone and looked at me with a blank expression. 

He closed the door on me. A thanks? That's it? I don't question things though. I stand there on his porch facing the door a little more. He closed the door on me. Maybe he is shy. He will thaw or melt one day. Trust me. 

I went home put my slippers to the side and ran up to my room and closed the door. I plopped on my bed.  I look at the ceiling. Why am I feeling I want to be closer to him? I'm confused. Is it just hormones that make me like this? I need help. I got on my phone quickly. 

"Janella. I need help" I texted her. 

"What." She texted back.

"I don't know my feelings for the new neighbor. I think he is cute, I always want to go see him, and I feel him everywhere." I texted.

Janella sent a skull emoji and then a laughing one. 

"I hate to break this to you but, you are having a crush." She texted. 

"How?" I said. 

I paused for a moment before she answered. Shit me having a crush? I thought having a crush would be finding someone cute and just asking them out. I didn't know crushes would lead me to stalk, be too fond of him, and always want to see him. 

"If you have stalked, always make ways to see them, and have thoughts about him, well friend, you have a crush." Janella texted. 

"I'm going to go now ttyl" I texted. 

"Alright," she texted. 

I turn off my phone and slam my head against the pillows of my bed. This crush isn't like the movies at all. This was so different and confusing. My mind and heart are beating to the flames of the bonfire outside Tucker's house. My body is melted all over the place when I am away or near Tucker. I closed my eyes. I can't sleep. Tucker, Tucker, Tucker, flow my mind. I'm in love with his stoic face. What not to like about him? He is handsome, tall, and strong, and he can make his own decisions. I slammed my face against the pillow and kicked my legs.