Life Beyond The Window (Ft. Chris Sturniolo)

✮A Thoughtful Stranger✮

Chapter 3~Rose:

I woke up to pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream. It's my favorite breakfast EVER. My dad knows this. Whenever we talk about my 18th birthday, he has this made for me the next morning. It's his way of trying to make me stop talking about it. It never works though. I ask him about every 4 months. And the answer never changes. 

Today I decided that I was going to paint. I started a painting of a mountain and lake scenery a little while back, but I never finished it. The only thing that I don't like about finishing my paintings is that Father insists we hang every single one up. We still have some paintings that I made when I was like 8. 

When I finished my breakfast, I went to the kitchen. Larissa was there. She was the cook when Father couldn't be. 

"Well, good morning darling! I didn't expect to see you this morning, but I'm glad I did!" She said excitedly. "I was just about to leave. How were the pancakes I made you?"

I smiled as I hugged her. "They were amazing, as always."

"I'm glad you liked them," she replied. "I'm happy that I got to see you sweetheart, but I have to go now."

"No worries! Have a good day!"

"You too!" she said as she walked out the door. I have known Larissa for as long as I can remember. 

I set my plate in the sink and went upstairs to my bathroom to brush my teeth and take a shower. I never really liked mornings. I would rather stay up late at night. But then again, I didn't have anything to do if I stayed up. 

I stripped out of my PJs, got in the shower, and turned it as hot as it would go. I looked down at my naked body and watched the water run over my skin. 

Was this normal? Is this what I should look like? Am I underweight? Am I overweight? I never had anybody to compare myself to because I was never around anyone my age. Was I ugly? I never felt like I was ugly but I didn't know what other girls looked like, so I had no idea. 

After I washed my hair and my body, I stayed in the shower until the water ran cold. My fingertips were starting to prune, so I decided that I should probably get out. I dried myself off and put on my robe. It was old and the pockets were tearing, but it was my mother's so I could never bring myself to get rid of it. 

I went to my room and picked out an outfit for the day. I had WAY too many clothes. Father is a brain surgeon, so he buys me everything I want and more. Today I decided that I'd just wear a T-shirt and some loose jeans. Father didn't like me wearing these jeans, but I liked them so I didn't really care. 

I went back to my room and sat down at my vanity to brush my hair. I never liked the color of my hair. It was bright red, like my mother's. 

I had almost finished when I heard a tap on my window. I was on the second story so I don't know who it would be, or why they wouldn't just knock on the front door downstairs. 

I got up from my vanity and walked over to my window, opened it, and looked down at the street. There was a boy there. He looked like he was about my age. Very handsome

"Uhm...hi," he said nervously.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" I asked the mysterious boy. 

"Uh, no." He looked around, then back up at me. "Sorry, I know this is weird. Are you busy right now?"

"Uhm...no. Why?" I asked him. 

"Sorry, can you come down here for a second?"

"Uhmm..." What would Father say if he knew that I was talking to a boy?  "Sure." What Father didn't know, didn't hurt him. 

I closed my window and left my room. As I walked downstairs I wondered what he could possibly want. Did he know me? If he did, how? I was never allowed to talk to anyone. 

My heart was racing as I walked to the door. I peeked out the window while I unlocked the door. He was standing in the street looking around. He looked nervous. I couldn't blame him. 

I opened the door and stepped outside. As I closed the door he started walking towards me. 

"Hi," he said. "Sorry, I'm Chris."

"Oh, hi. I'm Rose," I said awkwardly. 

"I was on a walk with my brothers last night, and I saw you crying. I just wanted to make sure you were okay," he said, his cheeks turning slightly pink. 

"Oh," I said, shocked. "I didn't think that anyone saw that. Nobody ever does."

"Oh. Well, are you okay?" he asked. 

I felt my face heat up. "Yeah, I'm okay. Just life."

"Okay," he said awkwardly. His eyebrows scrunched up. "How old are you?"

"I'm 17."

"So how come I've never met you before? I'm 18 and I know almost everybody that's around my age."

"Oh, I'm homeschooled. I'm rarely ever let out of the house," I said quietly.

"Why not? If you don't mind me asking," he said innocently.

Why did he care? "I don't know. I guess my father is just really protective of me."

"Huh. Do you have any friends?"

"No. I'm not allowed to talk to anyone." Much less boys. I thought the last part to myself. 

"ANYONE?!?!" He said loudly. "Well, do you at least have a phone?" he said quieter than before.

"No. My father says that social media is pointless," I replied.

"Really? How does your mom feel about this?"

"Oh..." I was not about to tell a stranger that my mother was dead. "Sorry, what's your name again?"

"Chris," he said.

"Well, Chris," I tell him as I open the door to my house. "It was nice meeting you, and thank you for your concern." I stepped inside and shut the door before either of us could say anything else. 

--------------------

Thank you for reading this chapter! I know this one was a bit longer, so thank you for sticking around!