The Alien Next Door

4 - His infamous hoodie

I have not seen him since the lift incident and it's been well over a month. He has given me two more letters since then and they both included invitations on them for drinks but, yet again, I didn't reply to him. I'm waiting for him to give up on me if I'm honest, heck even I gave up a week ago. I haven't left my apartment in a week, I've called in sick every night for work, I haven't showered or done anything.

I have that lady to blame for this.

I was walking home last week from the supermarket when the wind blew my hood off my head as I passed a family and the mother gasped before saying "you shouldn't be out in public!" So now I'm doing what she wanted, not going outside.

I had migrated to the sofa so I could watch TV before I heard the sound of another letter sliding across the hardwood floor. Never in a million years would I have done this if I was feeling okay, but because I wasn't I quickly got up and opened the door. He was just about to open his door and go back in to his flat when he saw me standing there. "Uh-uh-do you- do you want- do you want to come in?" I stuttered nervously.

POV: Phoenix
I followed him into his apartment and we both stood in the hallway awkwardly. He didn't have his infamous hoodie on and looked like he felt very uncomfortable. You and me both buddy. "How are you?" I asked him, breaking the awkward silence. "Uh I'm doing okay." He replies. "I'm good too, thanks for asking," I joke. "This was a bad idea, can you go please?" He said suddenly as he stepped towards the door and opened it for me. "I didn't mean it like that," I reply trying to reason with him. He doesn't reply so I walk out of his door and as I do I hear a quiet "I'm sorry," escape from his lips.

I write him another letter in which I apologise and put it on my kitchen counter so I can deliver it next time I leave this place. He looked so vulnerable and scared when we were stood there together. I may have only made it a few steps into his apartment before he made me leave but I think that's progress in some weird way. It was also the first time I'd seen his face apart from the quick glance when I was in the lift and he left me there, whilst it wasn't how everyone else looks, it wasn't too far from it. He wore grey sweatpants and a shirt that hung loosely on him. There was also a few pizza boxes dotted about the place from what I managed to see but my place is the same the majority of the time. I think it's safe to say we were both a little scared in that moment if I'm honest.

When I left that night to go out for drinks with my mates, I slid the letter under his door and pretty much ran for the lift in case he decided to open his door again. I'm definitely still a little scared.

POV: Jake
After he left, I climbed into bed and slept. I didn't wake up until 11pm that night and even then, I only woke up to my stomach rumbling. It was too late to order takeout so I went to the kitchen and found absolutely nothing there. I guess I finally have to go outside now. I began getting ready slowly, wanting to delay going outside for a little longer and I was trying to fend off an anxiety attack.

Once I was ready, I made my way to the front door. There was another note on the floor but I didn't read it, if I did then I'd be back in my bed in seconds. I quickly added it to the pile and made my way to the lift, pulling my hood firmly over my head. As the lift doors opened, my neighbour walked out. Thankfully he didn't notice me, well I thought he hadn't until I heard "oh hey, where are you going at this time?" "Shopping." I respond before getting in the lift and hoping the doors would close. "I'm coming with you!" He excitedly announces as he hops into the lift right as the doors close.

Great, just great.

I didn't talk to him on the walk there and I definitely haven't spoken to him since I started shopping. It was honestly like I was shopping with a three year old, he kept grabbing stuff and putting it in the basket only for me to keep putting it back with a grunt. He also didn't stop talking the whole time, my patience is wearing thin and the amount of anxiety I currently feel is not helping either. "Stop talking!" I angry whisper to him, trying not to draw attention from the staff. The message seems to have been received. Thank god.

I brought all the shopping, including a tub of ice cream for him as an apology for sort of loosing my shit at him. On the way home I tried to make conversation but that failed miserably, this is what happens when you're forced to hide from society. Your people skills are rusty.

I was planning on just going home to cook the food and then eat it, but he insisted he had to help me put the shopping away. He wouldn't take no for an answer and I already felt bad for going off at him so I caved and let him in. So here we are, he is on the sofa eating the ice cream and I'm discretely reading his letter whilst I cook food. He apologised, although I'm not too sure what for though and he even drew me a little bird, he's started to include little drawings In his letters and they are very adorable if I do say so myself.

I dished up my food and sat on the sofa next to him. He was still very content with his ice cream but the silence was kind of killing me. I put Netflix up on the tv and handed him the remote. Once he had finally chosen a movie, I had finished eating but went and got the leftovers to eat. I was freezing so I grabbed a blanket and wrapped myself up in a little cocoon and sat back down next to him. He started shivering (well done ice cream) so I unwrapped myself and gave him the blanket. "We could share?" He offered as he put the blanket half over me and shuffled closer to me to put the other half over himself. I kept my eyes glued to the TV and didn't dare look his way.

When I woke up at the movie credits, he was gone. I turned off the TV, pulled the blanket off of me and climbed into bed and fell asleep.