Disclaimers and what not: This story is purely a work of fiction. Even if the reader, that is you, happens to recognize places and/or people, it all came together in my own twisted mind and therefore is still fiction.
It has been many years since I've posted a story, and after all this time, I finally had the opportunity to sit down for a few hours to write again. Crossing my fingers, I hope to be able to post more soon.
Last but not least, a heartfelt 'thank you' to my beta reader.
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Tanner had recently moved in to the two bedroom townhouse at Providence Hill. She had been assured this was a great location to live in with it being one of the closest to campus. As a graduate student, she just wanted to finish her Master's Degree in Medical Science and Technology so she could move on to something better and help find new breakthroughs for patients. A couple of years ago, she never would have thought she'd return to her home town to finish grad school, but low and behold, here she was. Setting a photo frame on her desk, she sent a silent 'thank you' to her grandmother who left her a trust fund. The photo sported a younger version of Tanner in a high school cap and gown next to an elderly woman proudly kissing her on the cheek. She smiled at the memory of her grandmother who always believed in her and supported her. She sighed, as she had just finished unpacking the last of her boxes, and figured it would be nice to go for a walk in the neighborhood to see what it's like, especially as it was a mild winter day.
The row of townhouses was typical of the cookie cutter architecture that Tanner didn't care for. The number one thing which concerned her was the possible noise level of anyone in the community, and especially that of her neighbors. She sighed, thinking of how much she hated the fact that she had a rare health condition. In some ways it made her feel like a freak, which was rather exasperating. She pulled the two tiny RITE hearing aids out of the small case in her pocket and inserted them into each ear. With jacket on, she walked down the path to discover her new surroundings. As she made sure the volume level was accurate, she found that it always amazed her how people automatically thought she was deaf upon seeing the devices. It wasn't until someone got to know her and actually ask that they would find out she had Hyperacusis. Explaining it, though it should be simple, never really was. Most people couldn't fathom actually having sensitivity to sounds. In fact, her little devices were an experimental blessing in disguise that actually helped Tanner keep her sanity and live amongst society because it greatly reduced and filtered out the noise.
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Casey just got off an early shift at the library. Grateful to be home, she kicked off her shoes on her way into the kitchen. Emerald green eyes turned angry when she didn't find the one drink she swore was available just yesterday. Turning around, she found the sink still full of dirty dishes from last night. "Goddamn it. Mouse!!!" The shaggy strawberry-blonde yelled as she stomped through the townhouse. She knew her big sister was home, and she was determined to give the woman a piece of her mind. Upstairs, she barged right through the open bedroom door and yanked the headset off the sandy blonde playing on the laptop.
"What the fuck?!" the startled older sibling cried out.
"Why do you always drink the last of the beer and I always have to buy more?!" Casey yelled.
"Oops," Mouse smirked as she grabbed the bottle and took a swig.
"You're incorrigible! I don't know why I put up with your ass."
"Cause you love me?" Mouse questioned hesitantly.
"By the way, you agreed to clean the kitchen this morning."
"Oh yeah," she looked at the time on the screen. "I must have lost track."
"Why don't you lose track of the house key and go live somewhere else?" Casey sarcastically commented.
The older woman grabbed her shorter sibling in a tight bear hug, lifting her off the floor. "Because then you would miss me and I wouldn't be able to hug you and pet you and call you George."
"Ugh! Put me down you Neanderthal. I hate you!" Casey yelled as she struggled to free herself.
"But I love you Green Bean."
"Ack!! Put me down you whore!"
"Fine." Mouse deposited the woman and began to walk off. "Hussy," she clearly stated.
"Bite me!" Casey retorted.
"You wish."
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Classes went into full swing a couple of weeks ago, and Tanner was pleased with the work load she had in each one. So far none of it would interfere with the time she spent working as a web designer and programmer. The spare bedroom turned out to be a great study and work room. Sitting at her computer, she looked over the new website she just finished creating for a client. Suddenly she jumped, covering her ears upon hearing the blast of music coming from outside. Grabbing the little container holding her devices, she quickly inserted them in each ear. She stormed downstairs in the hopes of putting a stop to irritating noise. From out the sliding glass doors which lead into the small yard everyone shared, she saw a disheveled looking woman in grungy cutoff shorts, brown work boots, Hawaiian buttoned shirt and a tattered baseball cap over sandy blonde shoulder length hair.
This neighbor had fired up the grill and was in the process of playing air guitar when Tanner stomped towards her. Aggravated, Tanner poked the oblivious woman in the shoulder. "Would you please turn that down. I'm trying to work." She loudly stated.
"Hey sexy," the woman said in greeting. "What's wrong, you don't like Korn? They're awesome!" she yelled back.
"I'm sensitive to sound. Please turn it off." Tanner had hoped raising her voice would get the woman to understand but it was futile. She knew her blood pressure was rising, and all she wanted to do was punch this asinine individual in the face.
Suddenly the music abruptly stopped, and out came a shorter woman with shaggy strawberry blonde hair and the most brilliant green eyes Tanner ever saw. For a moment she was mesmerized as she watched the woman smack the taller one on the back of the head knocking off her cap. "Mouse what the hell is wrong with you?! We get nice weather and I swear you go crazy."
"Hey! I was just trying to have a good time and I wasn't hurting anyone," she complained as she picked up the cap.
"Please forgive my sister. She thinks everyone should adore her taste in music, women, and beer. I could see you guys from the kitchen yelling at one another, and I figured it was due to the racket she calls music."
Tanner didn't know what to say. She knew she was probably looking like an idiot, but she couldn't get her mouth and brain to work together.
"My name is Casey, and you've already encountered my lovely sister Melani, but we all just call her Mouse. You're the new neighbor across the way, right?"
"Yes," the tall brunette finally managed to get out. "My name is Tanner. Thank you for stopping the music. The loudness was too much for me."
Casey noticed the device neatly tucked into the woman's ear. "It's no problem. Normally we're not loud folks. She just gets out of hand every now and then."
"Hey! Kiss my ass!" Mouse yelled as she began wire brushing the grill grates now that they were hot.
