cingulomania // a.i

PART ONE // CHAPTER TWO

juliet

"so, why did you come here again?" i whispred, passing him a cup of tea.

i sat down, looking up at the familiar stranger in front of me. he sipped a little bit of his tea, touching his tongue and putting it down beside him. i retreated into myself a little as i watched him get comfortable.

"you always seem to be moving your furniture around - it annoys the heck out of me." he mumbled.

"sorry," i pathetically answered, "i can't help it."

"do you have some type of ocd or something?" he asked, running a hand through his hair.

i shook my head, looking down at the hot tea in my hand. i could feel the tears brimming in my eyes already and it made me feel even more pathetic than i had already previously been feeling.

"i...um...i can never ever keep things the same for a long period of time." i laughed awkwardly.

"that's a bit weird." he shrugged.

"i think i know that, thank you." i hissed, glaring up at him.

he shuffled awkwardly, his eyes looking down at his hands. he had been messing with them since he had sat down. maybe he was feeling as awkward as i was feeling.

"i can't help it okay? i've tried - i honestly have. look, i can look for another apartment if i'm that annoying." i sighed.

he put his hands in front of him, shaking his head, "no - don't move. i didn't know this was such a problem for you."

"well it is. it has been for years now. at least you know."

"how many people have you told?"

"not many," i smiled sheepishly, "they already think i'm some type of freak."

"that's not true. you're very beautiful."

"you can be beautiful and a freak, ashton."

ashton

i was a little taken aback when she said my name. my eyes looking directly into hers before she moved them away. i didn't know how she knew my name - sure, we only properly met 15 minutes ago. i had no idea where she would have learnt it.

"how do you know my name?" i asked, cocking my head.

she laughed slightly, "your friends are very loud. i'm juliet."

"that makes sense."

"i honestly will look for new homes - if you want me out of your hair. because, lets face it, this isn't going to stop anytime soon." she smiled, moving her hands around her.

i nodded, "i don't want you to move because of me."

i felt extremely guilty. whatever made her always want to move her things around must be pretty bad if she does it basically every week. if i was in her position, which i'm not thank god, i would dislike someone turning up at my door and hating of my problems too. but, it is annoying - i can't deny that.

"i usually like when things are kept the same." i smile.

she shivered a little, shaking her head, "no way. there is nothing worse than seeing the same boring thing every day."

"it's not exactly a bad thing."

"it's not exactly a good thing either."

i nodded, "i suppose."

she looked at her watch, rubbing her arms awkwardly. she stood up, taking her cup and pointing towards mine. i nodded a little, watching her take the cups away and into which i guessed was her kitchen. i stood up too as she walked in.

"if you ever need help getting things around," i smiled, "you can always knock on my door."

"i will." she nodded.

i smiled at her awkwardly, trudging into the hallway and opening her door a little. she waited at the entrance to her living room, picking at her fingers.

i nodded awkwardly as i fumbled out, my hand holding onto the door firmly.

"ashton?" she asked, popping her head in the gap of the door.

"yeah?" i asked.

"if you ever want help changing things up - you can always knock." she smiled.