One House Behind | ✓

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤

Shelly

As soon as class was over, I sent Tanner a text that announced that I would be on my way. I hadn't looked up his house on Google Maps yet, I wanted to just get the first time look as unique as possible, but I desperately wanted to. I told myself it would be weird and stalkerish, even if that was our joke.

"You'll be back soon right?" Mom asked as soon as she saw everything in my hands.

"Yes, Mom. I'll be fine too. Three, four, hours max."

I had hoped that assured her. She was acting as if I didn't know him and was going to a stranger's house. Granted, a few things could make us strangers still, but I liked to believe I knew Tanner good enough. He wouldn't strangle me in his front lawn and dissect me in his kitchen when my family lived nearby. Especially when they knew I was going over.

It just didn't scream I'm going to murder you at me. I slightly shook my head at her. I knew she wanted me safe and at home but it sucked. Not being able to live was hard enough but not literally not being able to was worse. Couldn't the world have chosen later to kill everyone?

Mother nature really does hate us.

"I'll be fine, I promise. Text me when you want me back. But not as soon as I walk out." I laughed as I knew she would.

With a huff, she turned and I walked out of the house. For the first time since I came back. It was nice to feel a bit of freedom. Even if it was around the corner. I had never really ventured into the inner streets of my neighborhood as I never had a reason to.

Tanner was my reason.

I put my mask on as I walked and found no one else walking. Taking my time on my stroll, I found his place as soon as I turned the corner. I watched as he was talking to a girl and his hands were raised before hers was. I couldn't help but snigger at it.

"Tanner," I tried to say but it was muffled behind my mask.

His head snapped over to me and his tense shoulders and raised hands lowered. I was lucky my mask covered almost half my face as it covered the small smile I had gotten. Biting my lip, I took cautious steps to his lawn, like he had mine yesterday. I knew that she was going to say something about us like my parents already had.

People didn't know how to mind their own business. Neither did they believe that a guy and girl could have a relationship without feelings. Sure, I had feelings for him, but I wouldn't let it get in the way. I wasn't going to let myself lose another friend. That was a for sure no.

"Hi, I'm Susie, his younger sister."

"Nice to meet you, Susie," I smiled as I took off the mask and sat on a corner of his brownish-greenish grass.

I had only known green. My dad was obsessive over having a kept yard and I grew up knowing that's how it was supposed to be. But Tanner's family had not kept theirs clean and it only made my mind wonder how his room looked.

Only I wasn't ever going to know what that was going to be like because I could never get that close to him. Or anyone ever again.

"Mind if I do homework with you?"

"No, not if Tanner doesn't," I shrugged.

I didn't know if that was a problem. Letting her sit with us should be good and if he didn't want her near, he could shoo her away after an hour. That would be decent enough time to not be rude. I wasn't going to be rude just because he wanted to be. I was raised better than that and being hidden away for three months wasn't going to change that.

"Okay, I'll be back."

"Susie, don't!" Tanner's hand went back up into the sky.

"Why?"

"Because-"

"Tanner, I don't mind," I interrupted.

I felt like my input was needed, he didn't have to shoo her away just because I was here. She was his sister and always came before others. Even me. Especially me.

"No, you don't but I do. Stay inside Susie."

"Fine, I'm going to talk to Leslie." Her arms got crossed in front of her as she tried to get to him.

"Fine, go talk to her, I don't care."

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

And then it was quiet after the door slammed. I kept my head down as soon as she did. I didn't want to comment on it. I didn't want to question who this Leslie girl was and why her name made him angrier. Biting my lip, I continued with my math problems and the rest of my English essay I had to write.

Because I knew as soon as I looked up, he was going to push me away. He was going to make sure that I stayed far away. If I looked up, I was going to question what happened, why he uncoiled when I was near, and why a girl had him wound up.

And I kept quiet in fear of losing him.