Summertime Blues (for Zoe)

[RawDog33]

Tommy stayed up late that night, drinking a few more beers until he felt like he could get to sleep without too much noise in his head. He slept fitfully, and woke up tired, not even wanting to crawl out of his bed.

He didn’t know how Ellie would respond to him being around, and he feared the worst. The anxiety was crippling. It was nearly noon when he finally got out of bed, used the restroom, and made his way downstairs.

 

[rockinzoe]

Hours she had stared at the screen and found nothing. Too expensive, cheap but disgusting, too far away the list was endless, it was the same places she had been looking at just a week ago, and yet again she would need to find something.

The footsteps startled her from her doze though not quick enough for her to move away before he entered. To avoid the awkwardness of close proximity at the doorway she waited, leaving once he walked into the room, setting herself up on the sofa instead.

 

[RawDog33]

When Tommy walked into the kitchen, he saw Ellie there, sitting in front of her laptop. “Hey, Ellie,” he said. “I, don’t mean to intrude, but, uhm, I’m just gonna get some juice.” He held his hands up and kept a wide berth around her as he tentatively moved through the kitchen. He made it to the refrigerator and then quickly filled a glass. “I’ll be outside if you need anything,” he said quickly, before ducking out the back door.

He mentally kicked himself. Fuck! He needed to take his mind off that whole situation. The chicken coop was only about half finished. Tommy got to work.

 

[rockinzoe]

She hadn’t stayed long on the sofa, hearing him leave Ellie had went back into the room, too sick feeling for food she made tea. Glancing out she saw him at the coop, it hurt to see him continuing with it, it had felt like their thing. Soon exhaustion was calling her and as she had no work, she went back to bed.

When she woke the house was silent again, dark and she had no interest In knowing the time. Not bothering with a shower or to get dressed she went back to the kitchen, hungry but with a headache and her stomach feeling upside down she didn’t feel like eating. She picked at some bits from the fridge before heading through to the other room, both of the chairs felt tainted but the sofa at least felt like some happy memory.

She hadn’t noticed him

 

[RawDog33]

Tommy had spent his afternoon finishing up the chicken coop, getting the last coat of paint on it before he needed to get ready for work. He showered and got dressed and headed out for another show at the Blue Note.

Ellie was on his mind the whole time, though. He felt awful. He had always heard that getting intimate with a roommate always led to disaster, but he didn’t realize it would happen so quickly!

He headed home after the show, trudging in around twelve-thirty. He grabbed a beer and collapsed on the sofa. He didn’t even bother to turn on the TV, or even the lights. He sat silently when he heard Ellie’s footsteps coming down the stairs, and he didn’t say anything as she wandered into the kitchen. He wondered if she’d even noticed he was there. It was dark after all. Was she ignoring him on purpose? Was this the silent treatment now?

He blinked and caught himself. No, she just didn’t fucking see you, and when she does she’s gonna freak out! Oh shit. I can’t let that happen. She’ll think I’m laying in wait, about to pounce on her and do unspeakable things. Fuck, maybe I should.

He blinked again and shook his head, and then slowly eased himself down onto the couch as she munched on whatever she had found in the refrigerator. Just pretend to be asleep, maybe she won’t even see you, and she’ll go back to her room.

 

[rockinzoe]

It was so dark and something looked wrong with the sofa, her eyes squinted, there was what looked like a figure on it. Tommy!
For a moment a thrill of fear went through her, he was waiting for her! But she heard his breathing, slow and deep, he was sleeping.

Besides she had thought quite a bit about him. Eventually before she left the air would need to be cleared, they would need to talk and she would need to apologise for her behaviour, but it also made her feel so incredibly sad.

She debated going back upstairs but didn’t quite have the energy, instead slumping into the recliner, this time she would not sleep, for the fear he would wake up and think she was trying to accuse him again.

Without thinking she turned the small light on beside her, it wasn’t that bright from what she recalled.

 

[RawDog33]

Tommy nearly panicked when she sat down in the recliner next to him. He really wasn’t sure he could maintain this charade. But then, she turned on the light. He groaned, putting his arm over his eyes.

“What gives?” he asked, pushing himself back up. “Ellie! Hey,” he said, pushing himself away from her on the couch. “What’s up? Did you, uhh, find a new place?”

 

[rockinzoe]

She shook her head, He really wants me gone then, “I will don’t worry.” She was worried but she would just need to go somewhere.

“We’ve,” she paused, “I’ve made some really terrible decisions here, from the very beginning.” Stupid stupid way to begin a rental agreement, “And seems like I will keep making them, and I don’t want you dragged into them.” She stopped again, this was the worst apology in existence, “I know you weren’t going to… you know, and I’m sorry I accused you, I was just scared.” Her eyes met his briefly, “So I think it will be the best decision all round if I leave, that way maybe we can be friends in the future, because I think if I stay here,” She continued, her mind replaying past indecent thoughts, “I’ll wreck both of us. So you see I need to leave, right?”

She took a deep breath, looking at him before looking away, it was like the light in him had been turned off, it was too sad for her to bare.

 

[RawDog33]

Tommy breathed a sigh of relief after listening to her. “Okay,” he said. He fidgeted for a moment, searching for the words.

“Ellie, I made some dumb decisions along the way too. I should have just let you get me the money whenever you could. I honestly felt kind of creepy agreeing to the whole thing,” he said. “But, I guess maybe that will always make things a little weird between us?” He shrugged. “I guess the good news is that you know I’m not gonna hurt you, you’re safe here, so there’s no rush to try and find a place. I know it’s hard. You can stay here as long as you need to.”

He groaned inwardly. That did not come out how he wanted it at all.

 

[rockinzoe]

But you did agree to it! She wanted to scream, but resisted.
“Thank you, but I will be gone soon, it will be better that way.” If she stayed she would only make stupid mistakes again or it would continue this strange tense emptiness around them. Neither was a good option.
“Besides then when I am friends with you I can snag some free tickets right?” She gave a weak smile, she would only be able to be in his company a few moments more.
“And you can get a roommate more like yourself.” She stood at this point, itching to brush her fingers on him, anywhere would do,
“I’m going back to bed, I’ll see you around.”

Ellie’s next day had been uneventful, the morning spent trying to find somewhere to stay, the evening working in the busy Library, barely a chance to think. Perhaps it was good she had spent as little as possible time with Tommy, after all they would both need to get used to it. When she had finished her shift a little early Ellie grabbed herself a cab and was home in bed long before he got home.

And so it was Saturday morning, when she received a great text, somewhere to stay!

 

[RawDog33]

The next day, Tommy couldn’t quite bring himself to actually go get the chickens. The coop was done. He thought it looked nice, anyways. And there could be happy little chickens clucking around. But it didn’t feel right to go get them without Ellie.

He worked, he gardened, he ran around making deliveries, and he didn’t see Ellie at all. He’d had a particularly late Friday night, and was a touch hungover from the festivities, when he woke up around noon.

Shit. He had to be back at work in an hour. It was going to be another long day. He groaned and got up, pulling on pajama pants just to stumble to the bathroom and wash last night’s party away before doing it all over again.

 

[rockinzoe]

“I’ll pick you up tomorrow just tell me when.” Her friend was putting her up for a time, just so she could get out of Tommy’s house, the better for both of them, it was such a relief.

She had woken around 11 and had started almost doing a farewell tour of the house. The kitchen island where…. Well no, the corner she had first pressed against… no that wasn’t a memory to hold on to either. The sun was streaming into the garden, no sign of the supposed storm, Ellie made herself a bagel to take with her outside. There was no garden at her friends, best make use of the outdoor space now, she thought as she sat in the sunshine. Down at the bottom of the garden was something large and blue. It took her too long to realise that it was the coop, it too had its own set of memories to go with it, she could not resist wandering down to look at it, beautiful and yet only made her feel full of sorrow as she stood staring at it.

 

[RawDog33]

Tommy got in the shower and rinsed himself off, scrubbed himself clean, and jerked himself off, before getting out and drying off, back to his room to get ready for work. He dressed and headed out, down into the kitchen to grab a bite to eat on his way out the door. As he was fixing a sandwich, he looked out the window, and saw Ellie, standing in the sun, looking at the chicken coop.

He’d only built the damn thing because she suggested chickens. Fuck, he was going to miss her.

He took his sandwich with him, heading out the front door. As much as he wanted to go hang out with her, she’d made it clear that he should give her space. So he did.

 

[rockinzoe]

She’d heard the front door slam, the sound reverberating through the house to her, she wish she’d had the chance to tell him it was her last day there. The sadness encroached, perhaps he already knew and was relieved, or possibly worse didn’t care at all.

It hadn’t been long till she too had pulled on her jeans, t-shirt, fixed her hair leaving it down and left the house, walking for the last time the small distance to her job. Although it may not be the last time, after all they had agreed to be friends.

“Storm is coming.” “You can feel it in the air.” “Could be floods.” The impending weather was all anyone could talk about, although to look out now you would certainly not believe thunderstorms and the heavy rain predicted for that day were true.
Perhaps that is why it was relatively calm for a Saturday night, busy yes, but no more trouble than on any other night she had been in.

Pity it was so convenient She thought as the began to close up, she had enjoyed getting home after only a short walk with him. Stop it.

 

[RawDog33]

It was later than usual when Tommy finally was able to leave his job at the Blue Note. The show tonight had been some very loud heavy metal band. There was lots of screaming. And half the place had turned into a mosh pit for most of the show.

Lightning crashed in the distance as he walked out onto the street, and the wind was rushing around. Shit, it really is gonna storm, he thought, and quickened his pace. As he hurried towards home, hoping to beat the rain, he passed the Library. Even from across the street, when he glanced over he could see Ellie inside, picking up barstools and placing them on top of tables. He took a deep breath. He very much wanted to cross that street, to go over to her, to have a nice little walk home together.

Fuck it, he thought, and lit a cigarette before crossing the street

 

[rockinzoe]

The storm was beginning, a distant flash in the sky a few moments later a dark and ominous rumble filled the air. Ellie had been hurrying to close, she would have a busy day tomorrow, she still had to tell Tommy she was leaving and actually leave. In a way it was disappointing to not see him, it would feel even worse to spring it on him tomorrow morning, perhaps he would be awake tonight for them to have a last quick chat.

She had already changed her shoes and opened the door to leave, a figure was approaching. Shit. Quickly she turned the lock and posted the keys down the hatch, at least The Library was secure from the potential mugger, as she grabbed her phone from her bag, rain was imminent she would get a car.

Except as they approached she recognised the familiar outline, her stomach flipped,
“Hey.” Brilliant

 

[RawDog33]

Tommy smiled softly as he walked up to her. “Hey, Ellie,” he said. He stopped about ten feet away from her, as much as he just wanted to go up to her and hug her tightly.

“You don’t have an umbrella, do you?” he asked, looking up at the threatening sky. Lightning lit up the western sky, and it was only a moment before the thunder rolled over them. “We might beat this rain if we hurry.”

 

[rockinzoe]

“Umbrellas attract the lightning, so probably not a good idea.” She shrugged looking down at her phone,
“I’m going to book a car, you’re welcome to jump in, and I need to tell you something…” She paused considering exactly when she should tell him, now seems a bit awkward when she still had to go home with him.
“But we can have a quick chat when we get in right?” She stayed close to the building in case the rain started before the car arrived.

 

[RawDog33]

“Yeah, sure,” Tommy replied, and shook his head when she mentioned getting a car. “Fuck that, it’s just a few blocks. We can totally make it home before the rains come,” he said.

 

[rockinzoe]

She frowned, “Tommy it’s going to rain! It’s going to really really rain.” She emphasised before shaking her head.
“Fine, we’ll need to be quick.” She slipped her phone inside her bag with a clunk, and began walking the now familiar path home.

“How was your night?”

 

[RawDog33]

“It got a little wild in there tonight,” Tommy replied. “Heavy metal. Lots of headbanging and mosh pits,” he said, and shrugged. He took a drag on his cigarette.

“What did you, uh, want to talk about?” he asked her. He had a feeling he knew what it was about, though, and his heart sank. He wished he could go back to that other night, in the hot tub. If he’d just told her to go put some clothes on, instead of that towel, they wouldn’t even be in this situation!

 

[rockinzoe]

She wasn’t sure she wanted to cover this now, time was running out sure but this exact minute didn’t feel right.
“You uh, you’ll be glad to know I found somewhere, going to stay with a friend and they are going to pick me up tomorrow!” She faked enthusiasm, but that also felt wrong like she was happy to leave, then again should she feel sad? It was a ridiculous situation to be in.

A drop of water landed on her arm, slowly running down, then the heavens opened.

 

[RawDog33]

“Oh shit,” Tommy cursed. He’d misjudged the rain, and they were still a few blocks from home. So she really was leaving, and she even sounded happy about it. It broke his heart. Any hope that they might be together was dashed.

And that’s when Tommy realized it. He wanted to be with this woman. Not just as roommates, but as friends, and lovers. Companions.

There was nowhere to shelter from the rain, save some large trees, and that was just a bad idea. Lightning struck, and not very far away, judging by the sudden crack of thunder.

Tommy grabbed Ellie’s hand. “Come on!” he shouted, moving faster down the street. They were rapidly getting soaked!

 

[rockinzoe]

Her fingers entwined through his, they were both soaked within minutes, to keep from losing her grip.

“I told you so!” She squealed, laughing lightly as they sped through the streets. Letting go as the approached the house, she was panting as much from laughing as being pulled alongside him.

Her hair was soaked, half plastered To her face as she trudged up the steps to the porch.
“You got your key?” He only had pockets in jeans to search whereas her bag was a cluttered mess.

 

[RawDog33]

“You were right,” Tommy said, leaning against the door, laughing at the absurdity of their current situation. He was absolutely drenched. They both were. Strands of his long dark hair clung to his cheeks and neck. He pushed some of it away as he fished into his pockets for his key.

He didn’t find it. “Shit!” he swore, checking his other pockets and still coming up empty. “I guess I forgot it… shit, my keys are still at the Blue Note! Tell me you’ve got yours!” he said. Lightning crashed then, followed by a loud boom of thunder, and suddenly all the lights in the neighborhood went out from a loss of power!