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The realization sends a jolt of fear shooting through me. Someone is outside with me. In the dark. If it’s the neighbor, if he’s coming to get me, I’m not sure I’ll be able to get inside in time or whether getting inside would do any good anyway.
Crunch, crunch.
Shhhhhhhhhh.
Crunch, crunch.
I listen carefully, trying to decide where the noise is coming from. It’s pitch-black out here, only the glow of my tablet allows me to see anything.
I lock the screen, not wanting to give anyone a hint as to where I am and sit in silence.
Several seconds pass before a new scent fills my nose. Skunky. It’s a scent I haven’t smelled in years but one I recognize instantly.
Weed.
Someone is smoking weed nearby. I sit still, trying to decide what to do. It could just as easily be one of my housemates—Paulette and Austin immediately come to mind—as the neighbor, but I’m not sure if they know I’m out here, and since I don’t really want company, I don’t want to make my presence known if they haven’t realized where I am.
I draw my legs up closer to me and remain still.
Then I hear it again.
Crunch, crunch.
Shhhhhhhhhh.
Crunch, crunch.
My heart thuds in my chest, sweat gathering at my brow. Why did I have to stick my nose where it didn’t belong? Why did I come outside earlier when I heard a noise? And why did I come outside this late at night alone, for that matter? I should’ve just gone to my room, I know I should’ve, but somehow that felt more—
“Who’s there?” A familiar voice fills the air as the glowing butt of his joint appears from around the corner of the house.
“Austin? Is that you?” Relief floods me.Thank God. Oh, thank God.
He chuckles, the orange glow moving closer to me as I hear him climbing up the stairs.
“What are you doing out here, Lena Bena? Lena-Lin? Little Lena? Itty bitty Lena-tina?” He seems to be cracking himself up.
“I was reading.” I unlock my tablet once more. “You scared the crap out of me.”
“Sorry,” he says. “Didn’t mean to. Mind if I join you?” I don’t get a chance to answer before he sits down in the chair next to me. “Want a hit?” He passes it toward me, but I shake my head in the glow of my tablet.
“No thanks.”
“More for me.” He pulls it back to his lips. “So, that was weird earlier, hm?”
“Yeah.” My voice is soft in the silent night, so low I wonder if he heard me.
“Hey, can I ask you somethin’?” He turns his head toward me, blowing out a puff of smoke.
“Uh, sure.”
“What’s up with you and Ethan?”
I’m grateful he can’t see the way my cheeks flush with heat in the darkness.
“What do you mean?”
He flicks his joint a few times, resting his hand on his knee. “I mean, are you a thing?”
