Chapter Text
I knock once.
No answer.
Maybe they aren't there?
I go to knock another time.
Before my knuckles could make contact with the wood, I hear the knob of the door start to unlock.
I stand there, waiting. The painted green door slowly creaks open.
And there he is. The new tenant.
No one knows much about him. Kind of mysterious, I guess. Of course I take it into my hands to be the detective.
"Hi there."
His dark curls are damp. A, nerdy, loose fitted graphic tee sits around his shoulders. There is a small bandage on his eyebrow that becomes loose when he raises his eyebrows.
"Hey," he says softly.
I introduce myself while putting my hand out for a shake. He hesitantly takes it with a light grasp.
"I'm right down the hall, apartment 104." My finger raises to point to the left, not knowing what else to do with it. Apartment 104 is to the right.
"Oh yeah," He pulls the door open a bit more, "I'm Peter."
"Peter." I repeat softly to myself.
A few seconds of awkward silence sits between us. His mouth jars a tiny, awkward smile.
I break it.
"Well, if you ever need help with anything—groceries, or you're locked out—just holler. I am always happy to help out."
"Right, okay, thanks"
And of course, another beat of awkward silence.
Instinctively, I start, "Okay, I am going to…"
My finger goes to point the wrong way again. My other hand raises and points the right way to try to cancel it out. But it probably just confuses Peter even more.
My hands just end up dropping altogether in defeat. A sigh escapes from my nose and my lips press together.
A small smile tugs onto Peter's face.
Great. He's enjoying this.
"Alright, I'll see you around."
"Yeah." I reply
"Bye, and thank you."
He smiles again and the door creaks closed.
My feet stay there for a second and my mind reruns the encounter I literally just had. The memory of my contrasting pointing resurfaces and my hands find their way to covering my face.
Why am I working myself up over this so much? I really don't know.
Wait.
I do know.
But I am trying to ignore that right now, so I am not going to think about it.
And of course, I do end up thinking about it.
He is pretty, Peter. Of course he is. At least pretty enough for me to tell myself not to crush on him. But I would crush on a stink bug if it started playing dead out of fear for me.
You're scared of me? Oh, I really am flattered.
My feet start finding their way to move one after another, in the right direction to my apartment.
But I don't even know if he is into guys like that. He seemed pretty straight. But you never know, I guess. Wait, I only met him for like a minute, how am I supposed to know? Wait pause, why am I getting so worked up about this?
My fingers wrap around my door knob and it twists open.
Greeted, by my wonderful, extravagant apartment.
My head goes straight first for the sofa.
I know I am going to fall asleep tonight thinking about that single minute I talked to Peter.