One House Behind | ✓

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐀𝐌

Tanner

"I'm okay with everything but it's all so much. I just wish that things weren't like they were," she mumbled.

The sadness didn't leave for long. We had talked for a while before she jumped back on the subject. It pained me to know that I couldn't help her get rid of the sad thoughts.

But sometimes, we'd have to pull through by ourselves.

"Shelly, I'll be here for you."

"I know," she sighed, "but it's a confusing time for me. I feel like my dad will just up and leave and that, someday, you will too."

"You can't escape me. I live behind you. And even if I don't, my family does, so in some way, I always will be near you."

"You're right. My mom isn't moving either, I can trust that. And we'll always be one house behind the other."

"Yeah, a house behind." I nodded my head as if she could see.

"I love you. Tanner, have I ever told you when I noticed my feelings for you?" Her voice was slow, which sounded like she was trying to figure out how to say it.

"No, we haven't really talked about it. Sorta...rushed in remember?"

"Yeah, that's true."

A light breeze fluttered by and I shivered. Checking my phone I saw that it was already one-thirty. We had to be up in less than six hours.

"Are you cold?"

"Sorta? I'm good. I just want to be near you."

"I'll always be there but I don't want you to get hyperthermia!"

"Fine. I'll go inside, baby."

"Baby? Didn't know we were doing endearments," I teased her.

If I could see her, I would be able to see the slow but steady intake of a breath. Her eyes wouldn't stay on mine, embarrassment would fill her. She'd let out a little cough, trying to find something to say, and then change the subject.

And the cough was right on time. I laughed as I knew her well. It wasn't hard as we spent a while together too.

"I'm going to sleep. Love you, Tanner."

"Good night, Stalker."

I waited until her door closed and listened for the little lock. Hearing it faintly, I went inside to see my sister waiting at the table. She didn't seem tired and I wondered if she was pulling an all-nighter.

Those sucked.

"What?" I breathed.

"Waiting for you. I heard you go outside and you've been out there forever. How long do you guys do that?"

"Not often now. It's been a while since we've been going over to each other's houses."

Shrugging, I had her follow me to my room. It was still a little messy but she didn't care. Hers was messier than mine would ever be.

"What did you talk about earlier?"

"Nothing. Girl talk."

"Tell me!"

"Keep your voice down, caveman. She'll tell you if she wants."

I didn't like the smug look on her. Dread filled my lungs, nerves piled in my stomach, at what she could have told Shelly.

"Nothing bad right?"

"Tanner, I don't think that there is anything you can do that will make her stop liking you. Unless you kill someone she loves then..." she pursed her lips.

"So nothing bad? All good?"

"Yes, get over it. I'm just bored and since you're up, I figured you would bore me out even more until I fell asleep."

"That's rude."

"You're rude! Talk to me!" she groaned.

"Hey, have you seen that new Phineas and Ferb movie?"

"No. I've never liked the show."

"Get out of my room. How can you not? We grew up with those guys!"

"They went from like five to thirty in one episode."

"It was the last one!"

"Still. Okay, I think the sleepiness just hit. Goodnight, love you," she hugged me before leaving.

That was fast.

She even turned the light off. I turned over and closed my eyes. But they opened up as I realized she left the door open.

Rude much?

Groaning, I got up to close it. I could hear her laughter from my room. She did it on purpose. Rolling my eyes, I ended up stunning my toe on my bed corner before I laid down.

"Fuck," I mumbled.

I stumbled back into bed with my toe throbbing. How hard did I hit my toe? A few moments after, exhaustion hit full force. The darkness was taken over before three words whispered into it.

"I love you."

Taking a deep breath and then a swallow, I heard Shelly's voice break through everything. Was this what a relationship was like? Would I find myself thinking of her without trying? If so, I don't think I would ever care.

I'd have her fill all the spots in my head and heart. She was already embedded in both, she claimed them the day I realized I liked her. It took me a while to understand the feeling of loss, to know why I was bored without her, was because we were accidentally talking.

We were best buds but buds turn into beautiful flowers. And that's what we were like. Our relationship was awkward in the beginning, but we became a perfect flower.

I frowned at my analogy. I was too tired and started thinking like a girl. Thinking of Shelly and how I would make tomorrow a new and better day for her, I fell asleep.

******

A/N: 

old author's note only for this chap

𝐀/𝐍:

Tᴀɴɴʏ

Tᴀʟʟʏ

Tᴀɴʟʏ

Wʜɪᴄʜ ᴏɴᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ sʜɪᴘ ɴᴀᴍᴇ? Aʟʟ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɪᴛ ᴀs Tᴀɴɴᴇʀ+Sʜᴇʟʟʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ's ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ɪғ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ʀᴇᴠᴇʀsᴇᴅ, ɪᴛ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴡᴇɪʀᴅ.

(I ᴜsᴇᴅ ᴀ ʀᴀɴᴅᴏᴍ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ ғᴏʀ ɪᴛ sᴏ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇsᴛ ᴏᴘᴛɪᴏɴs) ʙᴜᴛ ɪғ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴏɴᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴏғ, ᴊᴜsᴛ ʟᴇᴛ ᴍᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡ!