18 months later
The skies were getting dark, rain threatening to fall. I was pretty far from the apartment, so I picked up the pace. Smiling at the other joggers, I hoped they all made it home too.
Hmmm, I could stop for a bagel...blueberry with cream cheese. Geez Chelsea! If only my internal slaps to the face really hurt.
"What the fuck?!!" On the sidewalk in front of me, a teenager was texting and not paying attention, bumped into a large 20 some year old guy who was none to happy about it!
The guy grabbed his phone and slammed it on the ground, shattering it in pieces. "Let me see you text from that, asshole!" He walked away still cursing, while the kid just looked at his smashed phone, clearly shaken up.
I looked at him, shook my head, and smirked, "You're lucky. You coulda been drivin and hit a brick wall!" I walked away, mad, sad, and wanting to kick his ass then I heard him yell angrily,
"What do YOU know...bitch!!"
I stopped dead in my tracks, [ at the sky with pursed lips then calmly turned around and put a death grip on his arm. I glared and spit out, "I'll tell you what I know! My husband got killed by a punk ass little shit like you, texting while driving. Now," I squeezed his arm tighter, nails digging in, "do you want to say something else or just walk away?"
He forcefully pulled his arm back, smirked, and walked away. As did I.
*****
I concentrated on the buildings and skyscrapers on the way back to the apartment. I like to imagine the people who work there and what they do. Anything that won't remind me of Steve. Hell, I didn't even like MY cell for a while! Or anything for that matter! I wanted to chop off my long brown hair that Steve loved. Every time I looked at it, I'd go crazy, wanting to feel the touch of his fingers running through it. And even my green eyes. He'd croon about never seeing a more beautiful color. I even wore brown contacts for months. I stopped, my hand resting on the apartment building next to mine. Eyes closed tight, forcing tears back, I murmured, "Stop Chels, stop."
A woman and her daughter, she was probably around three or so, with gorgeous golden curls and big brown curious eyes, looked at me and yelled as her mother looked at me cautiously, and continued on, "Don't stop! Keep goin! The wains comin!" Her mom was practically dragging her. I waved and smiled as I walked into my building. The rain started as soon as I walked in.
"How was your run, Chelsea?"
Pete, our doorman, was the absolute sweetest man whoever lived! He must be in his 60s, his gray hair wavy and thick and his brown eyes so kind. He called me Mrs. Bennett once but I wouldn't allow it!
"Very nice Pete, thanks." I turned to see the rain pouring down in sheets.
"Looks like you just made it. I'm too old to be running out there to give you an umbrella!" His Cheshire cat smile makes me jealous of his grandkids. I imagine Pete to be the type of grandfather who plays and jokes around with them, the type of grandpa that you get excited to visit.
I rolled my eyes, smiling. "Pete, you worry about me to much!" I got in the elevator and pushed button 32 for my floor. It almost closed when a hand stopped.
It was Pete, looking embarrassed. "Chelsea, almost forgot. The apartment next to you was rented. I wanted to give you warning in case you hear voices outside your door."
I pecked him on the cheek and smiled. "Thanks dad."
His cheeks turned bright pink and he put his hands in his pockets. As the door shut he said, "Behave yourself daughter of mine!"
*****
My head was down as I pinched the bridge of my nose feeling the beginning of a headache. Which is not a surprise, really. Some people get pain in their knees when it rains, but I'm weird...I get headaches! So being that it wasn't a surprise, my eyes were scrunched shut when I walked out and I bumped into a pile of boxes, knocking 2 of them over.
"Aw, shit!"
Shaking my head in frustration, I picked up the boxes before they came out. You never know if they are nice or mean, and I don't want to start out like this! I had the second box up and I heard a very smooth British voice say in an amused tone, "Well I figured my new neighbors weren't going to be so nosy. Ehehe."
I peeked around the box timidly to see a tall black haired, sea-blue eyed, smiling ear-to-ear, Tom Hiddleston. I just knocked down Tom Hiddleston's box. Holy frickin shit, is Tom Hiddleston really my new neighbor?!!
I was blushing, nervous, and sort of scared for some reason. "Oh listen, Mr Hiddleston, I'm really sorry! I wasn't paying attention when I came out of..."
He took my hand, still smiling. "Calm down darling, it was a joke! No big deal! And apparently you know who I am. And since you do," he cocked his head, grinning, "you should know to call me Tom!"
I took my hand away, looking at him expressionless, "Yeah, I forgot. Smiling, I added, Welcome to the building. You'll find that people here stay out of your business, so if anyone else knows you live here, I wouldn't worry about it. They respect everyone's privacy." I half nodded and pursed my lips in a smile, opening the door. "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm Chelsea Bennett. I'm really not this rude, I would help you, but my head is killing me."
He sighed, looking at all of his boxes, then grinned. "I really don't have that many things, so don't worry about it, Chelsea Bennett, but thank you." That boyish smile took over his entire face.
