One House Behind | ✓

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟

Tanner

Once I saw Shelly standing there, I felt my mouth force a smile on my face. It hurt so bad that my cheeks were in pain. My heart started thudding harder against my chest and I suddenly regretted wearing shorts and a thin tee as it was cold.

"What?"

"I-I said I'm your stalker. God, I'd be your stalker any day. Did you really make all of the letters? Were they your true thoughts?" she rambled with a dip in her eyebrows.

"Yes. Full heartedly. Scouts honor," I rose my hand.

"You were in boy scouts?"

"Nah, just like the saying."

It felt natural. So normal for us to just talk. I missed this. I missed her. And she was standing on my lawn with the letters in her hand.

"Shelly-"

"Tanner, I-"

We both paused. Looking at her dark eyes, I stepped outside of the house. I felt an urge to touch her, to hold her, to know she was there.

As soon as I took a step, she took one back. And then it all fell down on me. I had completely forgotten about this worldwide illness. Grinding my teeth, I paused where I was, placed my tight fists by my sides, and watched helplessly as she rubbed her hands on her arms.

"Are you cold?"

"It's nothing. But...Tanner," I got the chills and it wasn't from the wind, "you leave soon and everything now just seems...sudden? I don't know. I'm trying to think rationally here."

"What are you talking about?"

"Tanner, I just remembered, like in this moment remembered that you have college. I have high school. Even with this...pause going on you are leaving. And starting anything now would be stupid because-"

"So I won't go."

Her mask came off. She shook her head frantically and I furrowed my eyebrows. Shelly's eyes were wide as she looked at me. Her mouth was set in a frown too.

"You can't not go to college because of me."

"It's not you, it's me."

"That's a break-up line," she laughed, her frown and eyebrow indent going away.

"Still, I never wanted to go to college. I'm pretty sure I could even count as a college dropout now." I smiled at her.

"Tan, you can't do that. I'm not allowing it."

"Then I'll stay home, it's not like I have to go to college. It's most likely online anyway, I only wanted to move to get away from my family. I haven't even looked into places to live so I guess this works out for the better."

I chose to ignore the way my nickname came out of her mouth felt like. I didn't want to think about it. Gulping, I watched as she thought it over. Knowing Shelly, she'd probably be feeling guilty that I stayed behind.

Or not. Depending on her texts, she needed someone who stayed. And I wasn't planning on going anywhere.

"Okay."

"Okay?" My eyebrows rose.

"If everything works out, okay." A smile played at her lips.

"Good, that's great."

"I'm going to go. Uh, I'll be at the fence later if you want to talk more."

"I'll be there, we have a lot to talk about." I replied quickly.

And then she put her mask on and walked away. But this time, to go home so we could meet in closer proximity. That made my heart race even more and the smile that made my cheeks ache rise higher.