One House Behind | ✓

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫

Shelly

As soon as I heard the doorbell, I raced to it. Only to see no one there. My heart plummeted. I knew he wasn't going to come here.

But then my eyes drifted to my mail shoot. It was a weird placement, we had it behind the coffee machine because it was a tiny box that fits within the wall.

Four envelopes were inside, all homemade from painting paper, which made a smile line my face. Pulling them out softly, I noted that one was bigger than the rest. They were all addressed to me.

From Tanner.

Rushing to my room, I read the one that had #1 on it. It seemed reasonable to do so. And then my eyes scanned the entire letter.

Dear Shelly,

I have thought back to almost every memory we had. Every single one that involved you, me, and mostly a fence. Maybe a mosquito or two. I can remember our first meeting like it was yesterday.

But it was more than two months ago.

(Don't hold time against me, I'm bad at it. I forget the days of the weeks now.)

My mom and I were arguing. We were having an argument over the time limit I had to be home. I wanted to explore the town but she wanted me home and safe.

Somehow the disagreement ended up outside.

"Screw ya too Mom," I said as soon as she walked inside.

"You shouldn't be mean to her, she's trying to protect you," a voice said on the opposite side of the fence.

"It's not nice to eavesdrop on people, you know that?" I replied, wondering what weirdo had done that.

"As long as you aren't Joe Goldberg, I think it's fine."

"No, as long as you aren't Joe Goldberg," I joked back chuckling.

"Do I sound like a boy to you?"

I took a pause. I hadn't meant to offend her. I just wanted to continue the conversation. Not knowing what to say next in case I offended her more, I chose the safer route.

"No, but it still applies."

"I'm sorry if you aren't being super quiet." Her voice was defensive.

"I'm sorry if your big ears are listening to a conversation that has nothing to do with you."

And then she stopped talking. With a frown, I sat down on the grass. It was brown just like the front yard.

"I'm sorry if I offended you. What's your name?"

Silence. If she wasn't feeling comfortable talking to me, then I'll talk for her.

"My name's Tanner. I'm from Washington, Chelan to be exact. It's a balance of wet and cold to warmish. Nothing compared to here though.

I'm a senior this year, although I have to catch up a bit as some credits didn't transfer so summer schools for me. Yay, right? This is weird if you aren't going to talk back," I mumbled but loud enough for her to hear.

"You really shouldn't talk to strangers. I mean, you sound young but voices can be deceiving too. Who's to say that you're not actually 40?"

"Are you talking to me?" The girl asked suddenly.

"Were you seriously not listening?"

Huh? Had she not been listening? What the hell was I talking for? What was she even doing then?

"I was listening to music because it seemed like you didn't my big ears listening in on conversations," she answered my thoughts.

"I was literally talking to-you know what, never mind, forget it, "

I walked back inside mad, but it was a turning point for me. It was when I realized I had something to look forward to. It was when I found something to do when I was here.

The girl was by no means a "thing". She was simply a person who wasn't afraid to talk back to a stranger. She spoke when unsolicited and left the conversation just as easily. On the outside, she was crazy but that's all I allowed myself to know. I didn't give us enough time to learn her interior.

I flaked on her. I got scared when she got too close for my liking. I had never known someone I needed so badly in my life. When she was gone, I felt lonely but with her near, everything was alright.

Let me make everything alright between us. I know I messed up. I know that you don't want to talk. But please, please, please, please, please, (please x100) let me make it up to you.

- Your #1 Stalker,

Tanner

P.S. Hopefully I'm your ONLY stalker!