Deer in the Headlights

Part 4 - Date

[Adam's POV]

The drive home from the depot was relatively quiet despite it being rush hour when everyone would be getting home from work, the roads were pretty peaceful.

I leant over the dashboard and flicked a switch on the stereo. The soft crackle of static noise met my ears, turning a dial I changed the radios frequency till it had picked up a clear signal, in all honesty I wasn't bothered about listening to any music I just wanted something to distract me from my own thoughts.

Flicking the indicators on, I turned off of the main road and onto the quaint suburban streets of my neighbourhood. The sun was just beginning to set, casting long lazy shadows across the road as it began to dip below the horizon. The warm glow of orange made me feel better as I recalled blustery autumn days like this spent with friends, it reminded me how happy I was to have seen Brielle again after the month or so we had spent apart.

Easing my foot off the accelerator pedal the car slows down and I turn into the driveway of my house, putting the handbrake on I turned the keys in the ignition and cut the power to the engine, sitting for a moment as I listened to the last whirs and roars die down.

Unfastening my seatbelt I opened the door and got out.

Immediately I took a deep breath savouring the crisp evening air, the twilight hours had to be some of my favourite times of the day, it was like the whole world was just pausing to think before time shifted and it was day or night. Everything was so still and peaceful, it didn't half make me think what other amazing places around the world there must be, and here I was standing on my driveway in chilly Owatonna.

I chuckled at my bizarre thoughts and shut the car door behind me before walking up to the front door. After a moments rummaging around for the house keys I eventually found them and quickly slotted them into the lock with a satisfying 'click'.

Stepping in and shutting the door behind me and threw the bunch of keys in a bowl that sit on a small table in the hallway and made my way into the delightful warm comforts of the living room. Waltzing over to the fireplace I smoothly removed the fireguard and gently stoked the embers with a poker before placing on some thick chunks of coal and replacing the guard and stnading back. Taking a good moment to savour the pleasant heat the hot coals gave out.

As I stood there I breezily looked round the house.

It was a tip.

The evidence of my insomnia was clear for the world to see. Countless sheets of paper were scattered all around on every available surface, there were odd piles of books and magazines sat on the floor, not to mention the layer of dust that had enveloped everything. I let out a sigh. So much for a relaxing night in.

Moving away from the fire I walked across the room and began to sort out all of the clutter. After a good few minutes I had organised the papers and books and returned them to where they came from, though this had alerted me to the fact that I'd not just left the living room in a state. Practically every room in the house needed a good clean. Returning to the living room I went to the broom cupboard and took out the vacuum cleaner.

I hadn't planned to spend my evening cleaning the entire house but I admit it felt good once it was all clean and tidy. I returned the vacuum cleaner to the cupboard and turned round to survey my handiwork, the house was now sparkling clean, all floors vacuumed, almost all surfaces dusted.

My stomach let out a low whine. I'd been so focussed on cleaning I'd forgotten entirely the hunger I had when I first came home, though now of course it was a lot deeper. I glanced up at the clock on the fireplace. 5.37pm! I couldn't believe I'd spent almost one and a half hours cleaning the house without seeing the time go by.