The neighbor

Shit, my headphones have died and I have no clue how much longer this road trip is going to take I have not been paying attention at all. I lean my head against the window and watch raindrops race to the bottom, the sound of the tires spitting water behind them, and the sound of thunder in the distance catches my attention for a moment. I begin to wonder why I always feel so distant, always in the background, always wishing I had confidence to be more outgoing. This is a normal morning thought process, even in the car on the way to our summer vacation house the thoughts never go away.

I guess they all started a year ago on the last day of school, when Brian ended our 3 year relationship in front of everyone. I shudder at the thought, the most embarrassing and heart wrenching moment of my life and he moved on within a week. Did I mean anyth…I am jolted from my thoughts at my father slamming on the breaks. I thought it was because of the storm at first, but during my thoughts the rain had stopped and the sun had begun to shine.

“Sorry kiddos! There was a skunk!” My dad yells to the back of the car where I sit beside my two little brothers.

Logan is the youngest he is 12, Clay is 3 years younger than me, he is 15. We are all very close and I would do anything for them, but I have been in such a funk the last year that I barely know what is going on in their lives..

“We’re fine dad, no worries.” Clay speaks up when dad decides to look back at us.

“We should be there in about 15 minutes guys!” Dad says as he turns on the left blinker.

“I thought it was a right up here?” my mom asks.

“No, its a left honey” dad smiles at her. I drift back into my thoughts… Thank God I just graduated I dont think i could take another minute of that place or the smug people in it. Brian obviously never truly cared about me or our relationship which hurts. I think back to night I gave him every part of me, only two months before he ended us.. I will never forgive myself or him…

I am torn from my thoughts again by a tap on the arm..

“You doing okay Nichole?” Clay whispers.

“I’m fine why?”

“You just seem to be zoned out is all..”

“Im Good little brother no worries”

We both jump and the sound of Logan snoring, and giggle at the sound.

“We Have arrived!” Shouts my dad. Thank god, I think. I really didnt want to answer anymore questions from Clay. He is mature for his age and so smart, he is too smart for his own good sometimes. Two years ago he decided to tell me before anyone else that he is gay. It was a shock at first, but I am happy he knows who he is at such a young age. I’ve kept his secret for two years from our parents.. I think deep down they both know anyway, but its up to Clay when he wants to tell them. I wish him all the happiness in the world, although it may be harder for him because of the world we live in.. I wish I could make it easier for him.

My phone buzzes in my lap. It is a text from Louise my best friend since middle school.

“I thought you were staying around here for summer??”

…..”My parents really wanted me to spend the summer with the family before we head college lol”

…..”Oh, I thought we were gonna get to spend some time together :(“

…”I know! But we will be together on campus and go have lunch and stuff together haha!”

“Alrighty, well you be safe and call me some!”

…..”I will dont worry!” Louise has been the one person I can count on since the 6th grade. I really dont know what I would do without her.

We stop in the driveway of the vaction house we have come to every summer since I was 8. Chipley Florida is not very big but its a cute little town and not too far from beaches! It gives you the small town feeling where everyone is kind and says hello if you are walking down the street somewhere. The house is back in a wooded area with palm trees way down the hill in the front yard, while the back is just surrounded by trees. I always thought it was strange to be basically in the woods but have palm trees in the front yard.

I help get the luggage in the house and take mine to my room. From my window on the side of the house I see the woods and the only other house in this area. The house has been empty the last three summers so I usually take long walks around our house and the empty one. You have to go through a trail in the woods to get to the other house but there has never been a fence seperating the properties.

I jog down the stairs to the living room where my family is already watching something on tv together.

“I am going to go for a walk guys ill be back shortly!” I shout as I am closing the door behind me.

I take in the trees and the sound of birds singing, the gravel crunches beneath me as I walk down our driveway. I decide to turn around and walk through the trail to the other house. I hear leaves rustling beside me, I look over to see two squirrels chasing each other. I giggle at the innocence of animals, they may have predators after them sometimes, but I just feel like they have a better life. I make it to the trail and begin to walk through the woods listening to the sound of nature. I dont even realize I’ve made it to the end of the trail until I notice a pick up truck parked to the left of me in the driveway.

Oh crap! There is a new neighbor I better get off their property. I turn around to go back when I notice a man out of the corner of my eye. I jerk my head to face him, he is standing on the porch step watching me. It takes me a minute to gather myself because he is in nothing but boxers and I can see very clearly that he has a boner. I catch myself staring at it. He clears his throat and shake my head and look back at him.

“I.. I am so sorry, there hasn’t been any neighbors here for three years!” I stuttered.

“Thats okay, I didn’t think anyone lived in that house either.” His voice is deep and draws you in like a moth to a flame. I guess he realizes that he has nothing on but boxers and still has a morning “guest” down under.. because he suddenly adjusts himself and says “I’m sorry let me go put something more appropriate on and then I will come back and introduce myself!” He jogs inside.

Good lord he probably saw me staring at his crotch, how embarrassing! I sigh.. hes going to think im a creep. I am visibly shaking from the embarrassment and anxiety when I notice him staring at me through the window. I adjust my hair to one side and look away to avoid his glare. I begin to think I should just go home when he appears beside me.

“ Sorry about that, I am Dale.” He extends his hand to shake mine.

..”It is totally fine, I shouldn’t have invaded your privacy. I am Nichole.” I put my hand in his. I feel a warm shock run through my body that touches everywhere..

“So you guys just come for the summer then?” He asks with a smile.

….“Yes, every summer. This may be my last one for a while though, I start college soon.”

“Ah, how old are you?”

….”17” his smile fades a bit. “Ohh okay” he laughs.

…”I turn 18 in two days.” I giggle. “How old are you?”

“I just turned 24 in March.” I catch him looking at my chest but pretend not to notice. I have this feeling that I can’t quite put my finger on when I look at him. A burning sensation all over my body, but not a bad kind. The best way I can describe it is when you have been cold for a while and you decide to take a hot shower, the feeling of shivers and relaxation all over..

….“Well it is nice to meet you Dale, I will let you get back to whatever you were doing.” I smile and turn to leave.

“Would you like to have dinner with me sometime while you’re here Nichole?” Wow forward guy, I think..

….“Umm, sure sounds like fun!” I laugh.

“What about tonight?”

….”Oh I probably won’t be free tonight, my family and I are going out for dinner. Maybe tomorrow though.”

“Okay, I will meet you in the middle on the trail at 7.” He states it more like an order than a question, but I like how sure of himself he is. I am not sure why he wants to have dinner with me though. I know I look like I haven’t slept in days… because I haven’t. Im only in a tank top and shorts my hair probably looks wild too. I look down at my tank top and notice my cleavage is out a little more than normal. Ohh okay now I see why he wants to have dinner I snort to myself.

“Uh, sure.. maybe… see you around!” I say as I turn to jog back home before be can say anything else. I am not sure if I want to have dinner with a strange 24 year old man I just met, especially when he’s probably just thinking about screwing me. I smile at the thought… although… a nice summer fling before college may be just what I need. I slow down and walk the rest of the way home imagining what he could do to me all summer long. I blush at the thought of him bending me over his truck hood and taking me right in his driveway. What an experience that would have been! I shake the thoughts out of my head and gather myself before I walk into the house. Everyone is getting ready for dinner so I go upstairs to get dressed.