I'd taken to my internship swimmingly, but burning the midnight oil there meant that, even after exams for the term ended at school, I was slammed. The going out and partying came to an abrupt end, save the occasional Friday night with the office folks, and I found myself trudging, tired and worn out, most nights well after dark.
This night was just another one of those late ones. The early summer air was cool and felt great as I stumped off the bus at the stop near my place. Well, pretty near my place. It was a half mile to mine from there.
Jacket in hand, shirt unbuttoned and half untucked, bag slung sloppily over a shoulder, I looked a right miserable sight. Certainly not overly approachable I'd think. I got to walking.
After a few minutes, the street lights began to kick on around me as I walked. Click, buzz. Click, buzz. Click, buzz.
Flip
Flop
That wasn't a street light. Not being a great neighborhood, there were plenty, and the aforementioned quality of the neighborhood also meant that they were poorly repaired and made all sorts of noises. But never a
Flip
Flop
I was a big lad, but even big dudes get mugged in shitty parts of town. I picked up the pace.
Flip flop flip flop flip flop.
I won't lie, I really did start to wonder about the possible need to hustle. Not run, not yet, but step lively maybe. A brisk walk.
FLIP FLOP FLIP FLOP FLIP FLOP
I was about to be mugged, without a doubt. Thinking there was nothing for it, I accepted that I'd rather turn and face things on my feet than run all the way home. A shadowy figure shouted an insistent "HEY!"
I couldn't believe my ears, as it was unmistakably a woman calling out to me, and then I couldn't believe my own stupidity for thinking the worst and jumping to conclusions.
I called back as she closed the distance between us. I could see she was carrying a box in her arms, a bag over her shoulder, and a knapsack on her back. I was given shit for not slowing down before the light even illuminated her enough to see.
She stepped into the light of a flickering lamp. She was not overly tall, but well built in the way of someone who stays causally active out of habit. Curly brown hair in loose falls framed a cute face with a wide, warm smile. A band of pale freckles bridged her nose and cheeks.
Her name was Mel, and all she had wanted was a walk home, only a few blocks away. And she could do with a hand, she told me, as she handed me the box. The thanks came before I really said anything back. Relief at not being in danger of making the morning news, and the realization that the same imagined peril must be that much worse for a 22-year-old woman walking home alone in the near dark. I recall thinking, briefly, that it would be a thrill to spend time with an 'older' woman. Hey, when you're 19, anything more than that feels like a feat.
We chatted idly on the way. I didn't know where the 'way' would take us, having been volunteered to escort her without much democracy, but that was fine. What was I going to do, go home and sit with my cock in hand for an hour before falling asleep on the couch? Mel went to the school too, a few years ahead. Not on track to graduate on time, by no fault of her own. She was in clubs, you see. All of them. She chose to stick around past the graduations of her peers, to continue networking. It sounded like she was trying to convince me, but I truthfully didn't care much.
Interminably horny though I was in those days, the week and day had been long, and I wasn't listening as intently as I might otherwise have done. It was a long minute before I realized she'd stopped talking. I muttered an apology. She simply walked along beside me, flip-flops slapping the pavement with their cracking reports. She was looking at me, grinning broadly, and laughed as I looked over to catch her in the act. I looked tired, I must be tired. I was, guilty as charged. I must work a lot, she accused. I did, I admitted. Wait, how did she know how much I worked? Maybe I was right to worry earlier; maybe I would make the 7 o'clock news.
Flight response beginning anew, I looked around hurriedly. Thoroughly confused, I recognized the gas station on the corner. And the pine tree across from it. And the red door to...the house where I rented an attic. I hadn't paid any attention, but it looked an awful lot like she'd walked me home.
"I live just there," I told her.
She knew it. I was a dummy. She lived down there, pointing down the street and across the road. We were neighbors, almost. Embarrassed, I apologized for not knowing that. She laughed, low and slow, and put her hand on my chest, telling me not to apologize. How was I supposed to know who she was, being several years above me at school? She'd just seen me walk by a few times. It wasn't anything weird. Her bedroom faced the street, on the top floor; she pointed out the window. She wouldn't be surprised if I could see the light from that window from my place. In fact, she wouldn't be surprised if I could see through it from mine. She'd better draw the blinds, she laughed, or I might just get an eyeful.
She seemed friendly, I thought.
"In fact, you can even see the door on the side of the house that runs up to a private entrance to my apartment," she said. I reckoned I could. Now that we knew we were neighbors, maybe I could stop by, to study or something.
Really friendly, for sure. I'd have to catch her when I was better rested some time, I decided. She reached out for the box, telling me to get some sleep. I told her I'd see her around sometime. She told me that it had better be soon, and I'm sure that she winked.
I dragged myself home, kicked the door closed behind me, slammed my things down on the floor, stripped down right in the front hall, and got right in the shower. As the fatigue melted away under the water, I was midway through soaping up before it hit me.
She literally chased me down.
She walked me right to her house.
She pointed out the door.