One House Behind | ✓

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐲

Tanner

Waiting was never my specialty. There was a time where I had gotten what I wanted as a kid because of my temper tantrums. But now, I couldn't throw them and get away with it. I couldn't throw my fits because now it was bigger than me.

Most importantly, I was afraid that if I threw another, it would push Shelly from my life completely.

I didn't want that. I forced myself to reign in every piece of me that wanted to lash out. Waiting was good, it gave me time to think. Being near Shelly wasn't a necessity, it was a want, and wants could wait.

But I couldn't. Eleven days. Eleven long days until we were reunited. Until we could touch again and this time, in the light of day. Eleven days until we could be in each other's houses, away from the mosquitoes and spiders, and enveloped in each other's embrace.

Sighing, I sat up in my bed and decided to call her. If I couldn't go to her now, it was raining today, then I could call her. Raining days hadn't happened yet but with the start of the Autumn, there wasn't a day that shouldn't have it.

I was used to the rain. I was used to growing up with it near and the fresh smell of rain. To me, it smelt like raisins. My family thought I was weird but it wasn't about the smell, it was about how the smell triggered endorphins for me.

"Hello, Stalker," she replied as soon as she picked up.

"Hey, whatcha doing?"

"Watching the rain track down my window and thinking which drop will win," she laughed, "what are you doing?"

"That sounds like you," I laughed with her.

"I love it when it rains. Sure, it sorta keeps us apart as we stand in the dirt and I don't have rain boots, nobody here does, but I love the smell."

"What do you smell?"

"It, and don't laugh because everyone does, smell raisins."

"Seriously? I do too!" I practically screamed.

"I'm not alone? See, it shows we were meant for each other."

I let her words soak into me like the sun does with its warmth. We were made for each other. She was right. There was no doubt in my mind that we were because we understood each other. Shelly had a weird soul but she fit with mine.

Every bad part of me was filled with all the good of her. All the sad parts of her were filled with the happiness of me. We fit like a puzzle piece, cut so that it was a flawless connection. Who would have thought that by moving here and away from a place I once called home, I would find it in the form of another?

The thought scared me. Had Shelly become my home? We were young, I was pretty sure we were both still naive about things too, and so I didn't know. I had never been in like with someone so much that I couldn't get them out of my head.

Or that I was thinking of things before.

"Hey, where did you go?"

"Huh?"

"I've been talking to you, where did you go? Or where did your mind run off to?"

"Sorry, I've been tired lately. Sleeping schedules a little off because of our rendezvous ending," I said with a rub of my eyes.

How long had I zoned out? I laid back down so that I could get my eyes shut. There became a buzz in my head and I sighed out again. Sleep was starting to escape me and I needed to get a grasp on it.

"I feel bad now," I could see her pouting and I felt a sudden need to see her."I shouldn't be keeping you up longer. Take a nap, I'll always be here."

"Are you going to cross your heart on that?" I teased.

"I'll cross my heart and promise, you can get both from me."

"Good, I'll call you later."

"Okay, later."

She hung up and then I turned my phone off before placing it next to me. Rolling over, the buzz became a headache. Trying not to scrunch my eyes as I knew that would cause more pain, I worked through the pain of it. I didn't want to take pills, more like I couldn't take pills, so I had nothing else to do but wait for the pain to end.

Once it did, I was glad. And then I drifted off to sleep with the thought that when I woke up, it might be only ten days until we were together again.

******

A/N:

I'm gonna be honest, I did not think about the time (as in months, days) when I wrote this story. There's really no time structure, it's all kind of anachronistic (out of order). And as I edit this, I won't be adding time either because it works without it.