Chapter Text
Lucas stretched his fingers, relieving them from the ache formed from typing on his computer for so long. He was finally, finally in the zone to type. There weren't any distractions, he had already cleaned his house for the day and watched enough Netflix that could total out to a week. And then an idea popped into his mind. He could finally work on that novel he's been working on for two years now.
It had been two years of no one taking him seriously. Two years of his family members and friends doubting him. Two years of being so stressed out from work and daily life that he had never been able to sit and write. But March of 2020 changed everything. COVID-19 shut the entire world down. There was no more work, no more bike riding, no more social interactions. Lucas couldn't even hug anyone anymore because the risk of getting sick was greater than touching someone for a couple short seconds. For two months Lucas had been stuck in his home doing nothing. Hence all the Netflix. Now Lucas had all the time to work on his novel. In a way, this was perfect timing. He bought a moveable desk and boom, his work station was complete.
Lucas was proud. He had only typed two thousand words so far, but it was better than none. Leaning back in his chair, Lucas pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose. He rubbed his jaw, feeling the rough texture from his beard, thinking about how it was time for a shave. But what was the need to shave for? It wasn't like he was going anywhere. He already ordered groceries for delivery. It should be here sometime later today. Besides, Lucas thought the beard suited him.
Stretching his arms above his head, Lucas glanced out his window where his desk was parallel. All he could see was a large window and bricks. Lucas was sure that when he reached through the window he could touch them. Lucas despised this view. Only because who wants to look at bricks every morning? Not Lucas. Lucas only stayed at this apartment because it was cheaper than the others around the city. He was planning to move anyway. He was eager to move into an apartment that was more high maintenance and suited his tastes. Somewhere that looked out into the city. The pandemic halted his movements as now, moving somewhere else could almost endanger his life. So now Lucas was stuck with this view, gazing at bricks and brown eyes everyday.
Wait, brown eyes?
Lucas leaned towards the window to get a closer look and sure enough Lucas could see someone's forehead and brown eyes watching him. But a second later, he saw her eyes widen before she quickly disappeared.
What the hell?
He wondered as he watched the blinds close a moment later. That was strange. Who was that?
Lucas was sure it was a woman. He could tell by her afro sitting on top of her head. Lucas had never seen hair like that before. He wondered how she managed it.
And was she wearing glasses?
Lucas couldn’t remember. Lucas didn't know what to do.
Why was she watching him? What did she want?
Lucas stared at the blue curtains across the way, wondering why he's never noticed those shades before? Or the woman who lived behind them. But then he remembered that he'd had his own blinds raised from his own window before. So, up until today, he didn't even know he had a neighbor.
Deciding to leave the strange moment alone in the back of his mind, Lucas turned back to his computer and began typing again. The rest of the day, the curtains never opened.
It happened again. Lucas once again sat at his desk typing away on his computer. He was now six thousand words in. Lucas has been typing away all morning. He was happy that his inspiration was coming through for once. He ignored the phone calls from his relatives, wanting to get all the words out before his fingers cramped or his mind blanked.
Ending the paragraph, Lucas smirked, satisfied at the end of the chapter. If Lucas kept working at the rate he was, he could have this published in no time. Standing up, Lucas walked out of his bedroom, deciding to grab a bite to eat. Opening his fridge, he pulled out the ingredients to make a smoothie. Cutting up some fruit and veggies, Lucas filled the blender, forgetting to attach the top piece. Pressing on, Lucas was surprised when he was splashed with cut fruit, milk, and ice.
Sighing, Lucas wiped his face with a napkin before tearing off his shirt. Walking back into his room, Lucas opened one of his drawers for a shirt. Hearing his phone ding on his desk, Lucas ignored it at first, but then came another ding and another. Now curious as to who was texting him, Lucas walked over to his desk with a new shirt in hand. He grabbed his phone and found a couple text messages from one of his friends from work. Wondering what he sent, he opened the texts to find that his coworker had sent him a couple of Tik Toks to watch.
Lucas wasn't a huge fan of Tik Tok, in fact he preferred to stay off the app, since there were many nights where he was up in the late hours, cackling, knowing that he had work hours later. Tik Tok was dangerous. Lost in the videos, Lucas was unaware of the motion happening from across his window. The blinds were opened and the peeping woman was back at strange behavior once again.
Lucas laughed, finding the videos extremely humorous and sending a couple laughing emojis before placing his phone down. Grabbing his shirt, Lucas lifted it over his head. As he got one arm through, his eyes looked through the window to find the stranger once again watching him. His eyes widened as she disappeared once again, shutting her shades so Lucas could see nothing but blue.
Lucas was for sure now, it was a woman, indeed. From what he could see this time, she was in fact wearing glasses. They were a cream color that brought out the complexion of her golden skin. And this time, her afro was held back from a headband sitting on her head.
Why is she watching him? Was she some sort of peeping jane? Did she like snooping on her neighbors? What was her deal?
There were so many questions that only she could answer.
Lucas decided that he would wait to find out. But her shades never opened.
After the third time being caught through the window by the mystery woman, Lucas decided that he would set her up. Yesterday, Lucas caught her watching him again. Lucas was typing away on his computer when his phone rang. He talked to his mother for a couple of moments, when he turned to the window to find her watching him again. Just like the first two times, she shut her drapes right away.
Today, Lucas was going to catch her first. Lucas was no longer going to play this cat and mouse game. Lucas set his alarm for seven in the morning. He brushed his teeth, took a shower, and quickly poured a bowl of cereal, before sliding up the window and posting himself right in front of his window. Her blue drapes were still closed, but Lucas was at an advantage.
He was going to wait for her.
He could feel the cool air from the spring morning fill the air in his bedroom. It was a bit chilly, but Lucas didn't care. There was nothing that was taking him away from this window. Not even his novel.
But then an hour passed and then turned to two. Lucas was beginning to get bored. He played a couple random games on his phone and counted the bricks on the wall. He wondered if she was ever going to join him.
But then he saw movement. Lucas sat up in anticipation. One shade was moved to the left and the other to the right. There she was. Lucas knew she wasn't expecting to see him first thing because she panicked, attempting to close her drapes. But Lucas stopped her. He was going to get to the bottom of this nonsense.