WHEN THE RAIN STOPS- Scrutinized [TANNER x LUNA] 2 IN 1

Out in the open

|LUNA|

My heart was pounding with the adrenaline the dream had produced. I looked around to fine me in my room with no night intruders around. I was relieved. I made sure I could move by getting off the bed and walking around it for a minute. We were all good. I was still in the oversized shirt from yesterday. It was good to know that Tanner didn't like when his victims were asleep. I went to the kitchen for breakfast but when I passed the clean floor I had a flashback of when Will's body was on there. I got the urge to throw up and ran to the bathroom to fulfill that urge. I thought since I'm here I should take a shower. Maybe it'll help me feel less gross. I flushed down the vomit and went to grab clothes. When I opened the drawer I saw my phone and a key. I opened my phone and saw the last person I allegedly texted was Will.

-LUNA-
-Hey Will, I had such a good time yesterday...
-can we go out to eat and talk?
[1 hour later on text message]
-Will?

Tanner was trying to cover our tracks. I guess the key in my drawer was Wills apartment key. This was my chance for closure, and Tanner wanted to see what I would do. I grabbed clothes and took a shower before heading to my car to drive over to Wills apartment. I unlocked it to find nothing. Well nothing out of the ordinary, his books were still a mess and his laptop was still there along with his furniture. I decided to snoop around. I put on some gloves and took a look in his room. I opened his drawer to find a neatly tucked away book. A journal. I opened it and read the last entree.

I'm going to hang out with Luna today, I missed seeing her after all these years. Would we still know how to talk to each other? Or will it be awkward. Either way it'll be nice just to know she was ok after all the things she told me about over phone. Those guys sound like assholes. Speaking of over the phone I realized that she wondered why I called her moonshine when it's a type of strong beer. I chose it because of her name , Luna, but also because she... was intoxicating. Ever since we met as little kids I knew she was the one. It mind sound cheesy or hard to believe but I always felt a strong bond or connection with her. I remember asking my dad about it when I was younger. He told me "Son, let me tell you this from a man that learned a lot of hard things in life... don't let her go. Even if life or even gravity says no. Keep trying. Cause you only find a person like that in a million chances." And from then on I knew. I was looking at my future bride, from death do we part.

I started crying, because of me..he was dead. I curled up in a ball on his bed before dozing off. I fell into Oblivion again. But before I had any dreams or could actually fall asleep I woke myself up. I couldn't stay here long, this was going to an active crime scene. I got up and made a Phone call. "Police department." "Hey Cathy, it's Luna. I would like to file a missing persons report." "Let me pull up the paper work. Name and cause." "Will Nicolas. I texted him last night about meeting up to talk and he never responded. So today I came to his apartment. I have a spare key. And found he wasn't here either." "Well that's interesting. I'll make sure to put it through. We'll contact you if anything happens." "Thank you, bye." I hung up and left the building. I went to my car and drove to my house. I unlocked the door to find Tanner sitting on the couch. "The fuck?" "Nice to see you too Luna." He stood up and walked over to me, he touched my cheek and rubbed my tear soaked face. "Seems you have been crying, why?" "Because I miss my friend." He rolled his eyes "you're friend was a low life college student who like getting drunk at frat boy party's." "He was my best friend!" I went to slap him but he stopped my hand. "Bad idea hot cakes. Try something else and you'll get the same bed as Will." He looked down at my clothes which were just an emerald sweater and blue jeans. "Is that all you wear? I wouldn't mind seeing you something else." He smirked at me. "What are you saying?" "I'm saying, I want to take you shopping. Ya know for some more feminine clothes." I swiped my hand away. "No way." I walked closer to the kitchen when his words stopped me "fine I guess we'll just stay here in this cold house all by ourselves again."

I turned frustrated that he was putting me in a corner I couldn't escape. "No conditions right?" "Just one. If I see something I like I'll buy it for you and when we come back..." he whispered in my ear behind me while slowly pushing me out the door "you have to try it on." He snickered. "Fine." We went out to the car and drove to the mall. But not the one close to us. The bigger one a city over. He soaked up the time. Enjoying every last drop. We talked and talked, playing 21 questions back and forth. I found out he doesn't talk to his family anymore. Something deep I guess. I didn't want to ask since it looked too sensitive. I told him about my family and how I grew up next to Sarah. My parents weren't around often too. He asked me more about Sarah. I told him how kind, generous and genuine she was. The fond memories flew in my mind. I missed her so much. I decided to visit her grave tomorrow to cherish her memory. But I didn't tell him that.

We got to the mall and went to the more feminine stores. I was looking at the sweaters when I saw what he had in the basket. It was a short little black dress with lace. Almost lingerie and then when I looked next to it I saw the other things in the basket, that were actual lingerie. I mentally face palmed and went back to the sweaters when I realized 'how does he know my bra and pantie size?' I turned to Tanner and was about to ask when I saw he was on his phone. He had a picture of my panties and bra on his phone. Creepy... I didn't want to think about the things he would do around my house when I was asleep. I rolled my eyes and went to see the candles the store had. I smelt one, it didn't fit my taste. It was too..perfumey? I don't know how to describe it. I grabbed the next one and it smelt nice. Cologne like. I put it in my basket but I felt the weight of it leave, so I looked back and saw Tanner smelling it. "Smells good." "Thanks." I grabbed it from him and put it back in the basket. I smelt another one and it smelt oddly familiar. I looked at the name and noticed it was my perfume as a candle. I giggled to myself, "hey Tanner." "Hm?" "Here," I handed him the candle and walked away. "So that you won't have to sniff me anymore." He smelled it and put it in his basket. He bought 2.

We went to pay but I only got the candle. He paid for the rest of his stuff. The clerk looked at us weird. "Busy night ahead?" Tanner chuckled and I was embarrassed. "No, we're just friends. That's for his girlfriend." I smiled, the clerk took it and Tanner looked and me dissatisfied. He grabbed his stuff and I held onto my candle. When we got back into the car  Tanner put the stuff in the back. He let me hold onto the candles. Instead of talking he put on the radio. Hey there Delilah was on.

I mouthed the lyrics. This was Will's favorite song. I remember him singing me this when my date ditched me at prom. We were in the music room and sitting on the floor. I laid my head on shoulder crying as his soft smooth voice sung and his gentle fingers played. I didn't want to cry but a single tear managed to leave. I wiped it away. "Why are you crying?" "This was Will's favorite song." "Hmph." He changed it and then said, "you don't see me crying over it." I guess he didn't like it when I was sad or crying. The ride was silent beside from the music playing. When we pulled up he grabbed the bag as I unlocked the front door. I held it open for him, then locked it. "Ok so what did you buy?" He dug through the bag and lifted the dress and then some black lace shit with it. After I grabbed it I stupidly asked "anything else?" His face lit up while he dug through the bag again. 5 more pairs. I was shocked and was at a loss of words. "Why?..." "because they looked cute. And I wanted to get my money's worth." He smiled. "Ok I'll...do I really have to?" "Mhm.. but for time sake, you only have to try only one of these on."
"Ugh, fine. Pick one." He looked through them and picked the light blue lace. I snatched it and went to change in the bathroom.

I put it on and it fit pretty nice, surprisingly he didn't accidentally choose the wrong size. I put the robe he also handed me. It matched so I guess it was a whole set. I tied it for that he wouldn't see anything. If I was being honest I did genuinely like it. It made me feel more on the girly side. I went out of the bathroom and met him in the kitchen. But he wasn't there. 'Don't tell me he's waiting in my room.' I went down the hall slowly, hesitating turning the knob. If he was in there I would know what he wanted all along. I exhaled and opened the door.