One House Behind | ✓

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬

Shelly

I couldn't help but send Tanner tiny glances. I hadn't taken a look at him when we peeked over the fence nor had I been able to see his face in any of his pictures because he simply didn't post any. It was a weird off balance because he got to see mine.

His eyes were beautiful. They were a mix of brown and red. I looked it up on my computer and what came up was cognac. Tanner had cognac eyes and I liked it.

His skin wasn't as dark as mine, most likely from being in a cold state for so long, but it was still tan. That was probably from being here for two months and sitting outside to sunbathe as I taught him.

"So, since I'm your stalker, do I get to find out your middle name?"

"What? No!"

"Why not?"

I furrowed my eyebrows. I gave him a weird look but it only made me notice how he looked different to me. I didn't like it.

We were doing so well on being friends, I didn't want to ruin it because I thought he was cute. I knew how those relationships work. More specifically, how they didn't work. I had been caught in two or three and they all ended with us not talking again.

Even when I didn't tell them, we lost contact and they were never to be seen again.

Sure, Tanner wasn't the guy who would turn the other way just because I liked him. But who is to say he isn't? I don't know him like that. From what I heard, he had been with a girl and it was for fun. He wasn't a guy who was into commitment.

I felt my stomach turn and a tug in my chest. Frowning a bit, I set myself to forget about those feelings. He was a friend. I'm sure he thought we were simply friends too. I'd just have to swallow my feelings back down and we'd be fine. I wouldn't say my thoughts and we would be friends until one of us either left town or died.

Hopefully, it was the former.

"Because I shouldn't know when you find out my name. Stalkers find names for-"

"Stalker?"

I quickly looked over my shoulder to see my dad standing there. Wincing, I realized why he wanted to come outside. He wanted to see who this guy was and why I was so entranced by him. My shoulders rose as I took an inhale but they didn't go down with the exhale.

"Nothing Dad." I waved.

"So, who are you?"

"I'm Tanner, I live behind you."

"And what do you want with my daughter?"

"Dad! He's just a friend." I whispered over to him.

"We are just doing our homework. I hope you don't mind that, but if you did then I wouldn't sitting on your lawn in the first place so I guess you don't mind."

I turned to face Tanner and his braveness to joke with my dad. Eyes wide, my head moved a little to tell him to stop. But he didn't. His smile only brightened as he saw my face.

"No, I don't mind. But I don't want you thinking anything more than friendship with her."

"Dad!" I groaned.

"That's fine, she's a friend. I'd never try anything with her."

"Good."

And then my dad walked inside. I set my elbows on my crossed knees and my head in my hands. Groaning, I thought about how embarrassing my family was. It was only my mom, dad, and me but they still managed to make it feel as if siblings stepped in. Then, what he said had seemed to pop into my head.

She's a friend, I'd never try anything with her

It made my chest hurt more. These were just momentary thoughts and everything would be fine. I just had to get over it. Just because he was cute didn't change anything. Looks were nothing more than an illusion to divert you away from how the person was inside.

But Tanner's looks showed who he was inside, beautiful and nice and angry but still self-aware. I groaned once more as I realized these thoughts and feelings were going to be harder to throw away than I thought.

"Are you gonna sulk the whole time?" he laughed.

"No, just...he's embarrassing. I'm sorry."

"No need to apologize. I like your family."

"Uh-hu." I nodded at him with a face that said I don't believe you.

"I do! He didn't care that I was here. I'm sure your mom would be the same. Plus, they have an amazing daughter. What can top that?"

Amazing daughter.

My chest thumped and I shook my head. Looking down with a smile, I couldn't get the words out of my head.

Oh, how I wished times were different and we could be normal so that we could learn about each other closer. And so that we could be more than friends.

But those thoughts, like the others, were going to get locked until the key was found in Tanner's hand to unlock them.