Next Door || HAMZAH THE FANTSATIC

𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝟐𝟒

HAMZAH

▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||||။‌‌‌‌‌၊|• 0:24

Two weeks.

I glance at her door one last time before shutting mine. She should be landing soon.

Her gallery opening was just a few days ago, but somehow, it feels like a lifetime. Maybe it's just the aftereffects of how quiet everything's been. 

I let out a small sigh, shoving my hands into my jacket pockets as I headed down to my car.

Martin and Mandy are in London, so I've been tasked with feeding their pets. It's not exactly the most exciting way to pass the time, but it beats sitting around. 

When I pull up to their house, I unlock the door and am immediately greeted by Rudy, who's clearly too overly excited. I give him a quick scratch behind the ears before heading to the kitchen.

Fish is already sitting by his bowl, watching me expectantly, while Carl lounges on the armrest of the couch, giving me a casual glance. I grab Rudy's food first, pouring it into his bowl and setting it down gently.

Once they're all settled, I grab my phone and check for messages. 

Still nothing. 

I know it's probably too soon for her to text, but the quiet feels heavier than usual. She should've landed by now, which is comforting at least. 

I hover over the keyboard, quickly typing out a message. I hesitate before hitting send, staring at the words for longer than I should. Once the message goes through, I shut off my phone and tuck it into my pocket.

I glance around the living room again, letting out a small sigh as I pick myself up. 

As I step outside, the crisp air feels like a jolt to my system. I lock up and walk to my car, pausing before getting in. 

Just before I start the car, I feel a small continuous vibration in my pocket. It's embarrassing to admit how quickly I whipped out my phone. 

As if my prayers had been answered, Y/N's name flashes across the screen. I pause for a moment, taking a breath to gather myself, before answering.

"Hello?" Her voice comes through first, soft and close, like she's speaking right into the speaker.

"Yeah, hi," I respond, maybe a little too quickly. She lets out a small laugh, the kind that sounds relieved.

"I'm waiting for my Uber right now, so I thought I'd call you. It's probably, what, seven for you?" 

"Yeah," I say, glancing at the dashboard. "So, it should be like four for you. How was the flight?"

"It was alright," she says, her tone light. "I slept the whole time. Barely even noticed the flight."

"You didn't even wake up for snacks?" I reply, smiling to myself. "Obviously I woke up for the food, it wasn't that good though." She lets out a small sigh. 

"Did your parents text you yet?"

"Not yet," she says, her voice quieter now. "But I'm sure they're busy. I'll see them soon enough anyway."

There's a small pause, the kind that doesn't feel uncomfortable but still holds weight.

"You were quick to pick up," she finally says, a teasing tone slipping through.