Dallas, Texas
Quiet hours passed with the morning sunrise. At dawn, birds could be heard chirping outside. Tall trees blocked the path of the rising sun into the woods, stretching across several acres of untouched land. The paved road broke into lanes of dirt paths leading into the streets of small neighborhoods. Rural living came with the perks of space and security away from the bigger city far away. Everyone knew each other in a small town. The same faces coming and going through the front doors of local stores and driving the same roads. Outsiders were easily identified as strangers coming and going. Some were from out of state, usually northeastern license plates belonging to snowbirds escaping the harsh winter. When a house went up for sale, it was normally sold to someone that knew another person. If not that connection, then maybe it was someone that attended the same school or a coworker. No one could say they knew the man who had moved into one specific large, two story brick house.
Angel first noticed the 'for sale' sign to be missing two weeks ago. The house was directly next door to her, filling her with a sense of deep interest for her new neighbor. She didn't see any vans coming to move in furniture or any other belongings. Only a slick, black Cadillac sat in the parking lot near the garage. The frame shape told her that it was a vintage car with shiny rims and a top. Angel noticed that the car never left the neighborhood past five o'clock, when most of the street cleared out. She thought of herself as the only person who didn't have a day job among the small community. Her work involved the online world, where she was more known by a select username away from reality. A select few people knew of her by her signature red hair, pale skin, and voluptuous body. She was most proud of her curves and the heavy cleavage she was blessed with.
Rather than searching for fame in any form of industry, Angel put her name on the internet from her persona. Some knew her as a cosplayer. Her lingerie modeling and other outfits brought a fan following she cherished. She preferred flying under the radar instead of trying to become a celebrity online. Her fans commented on her humble attitude. Every little thing she earned, Angel appreciated from her social media profiles. She avoided the spotlight, refusing to do nude modeling or anything related to pornography that could give her a reputation she didn't want. Angel felt it was better to limit herself to prevent the lines of real life and the internet from blurring together. At the end of the day, she could go about her life as a regular person and not be noticed on the street like famous models of the past. Angel considered her privacy while looking out from the kitchen window at the side of the house. She had viewed those same old vintage bricks so many times but never felt an interest in them until now.
Before the house went up for sale, a family resided there. A chain-link metal fence divided her property line from the large space. It was put up to keep the family dogs from wandering loose. She missed seeing the brown miniature dachshunds run around during summer days. Angel didn't know the people. Like all her other neighbors, a car could be heard cranking at the first crack of daylight. The man went to work first, then his wife would take the SUV off to her job. Her own home was smaller in comparison to the large property next door. A modest space was all she needed to get by. FansOnly gave her a good income to live comfortably without the goal of becoming a millionaire. The simple life was much easier than anything that came with prominence. All of these thoughts were a reminder as she watched from her window, hoping to one day catch the mysterious stranger who moved in.
Angel remembered the first time she caught a glimpse of her new neighbor. The man stepped outside wearing a black suit. The buttons were undone, revealing a white shirt underneath. His skin was pale, giving the impression he didn't see much sunlight. His face was clean without any hair to form a mustache or beard. Atop his head was grey hair, faded from the natural color. She assumed he likely had black or brown hair to match his eyes. What Angel found interesting was how well built his body was for being an older man, likely in his fifties. He didn't catch her peeking in his direction on that day. The man just got in his car, slammed the door, and then quietly pulled out onto the dirt road. He left a worthy visual impression on her mind, triggering more curiosity within her. From that day on, Angel wondered why he would go out and leave so late into the day. Maybe he worked a night shift somewhere in the city.
Or perhaps not. Angel quickly noticed after that day how lights were on at all hours of the night in this stranger's house. Anytime she was up past nine o'clock, every light on the upper floor of that house was shining bright. All of them were covered by black mini blinds and curtains. There was one particular night where the windows were brightened by shades of red. The strange choice of lights only made her imagination go wild with theories of what was going on inside. Who was this man? Nothing made sense. He didn't seem to have a job and was home most of the time, day and night. It was possible that he had a backwards sleeping routine, but that didn't explain much. If she wanted to learn anything about him, Angel was convinced that she had to meet him somehow. That was easier to imagine than to think of how. She wasn't the type of person to knock on someone's door and step into their life. The more Angel thought about it, she had to form some plan to get his attention.
Her first attempt to draw his attention was to spend more time outside. Angel called a local specialist to have her grass cut. Perhaps that would strike her neighbor's attention since his own yard would need trim work over time. She scheduled the appointment during the afternoon, hoping the lawn mower would get his attention. The hours passed, and no one came out of the door. Some days later, Angel thought if she spent some time outside, maybe that would lead him to meeting her. She changed her mind after remembering she didn't have a reason to spend any time outside. For most people it would've been easy to just go over there and knock on the door. If only it was that simple for her. Her mind eventually wandered in a different direction. Angel picked some new outfits online from Amazon. She took advantage of the twenty-four hour estimated shipping date.
Along the items, she picked up a new tripod for her camera. Over time she had learned how to shoot her own photos. It was better than having her own photographer after the last one broke her heart to end their relationship. Angel felt more confident using the various techniques she learned over time. It was never a problem to have too many tools for mounting her cameras and creating new angles. As the day went by, she waited for the black Amazon truck to pull in and deliver her newly purchased items. It was a few minutes after 3:30 when she heard it driving into the neighborhood. Angel had just finished dinner. She put her feet into her pair of velvet black slippers and approached the front door. A leopard print top covered her busty chest, revealing a hint of cleavage. Her belly button was visible at the ends, leading down to her yellow yoga shorts. Angel swiped her left hand through her long, red hair as she gazed out the small diamond-shaped window leading outside.
The delivery truck turned into the neighborhood, slowly drawing closer. It stopped at the mailbox to the house next door. Puzzled by this, Angel watched from the window, thinking the driver slowed down by accident. It soon became apparent to her that the driver had the wrong address. He had shifted gears and stopped completely next door. Gripping the doorknob, she turned it and walked outside. Angel waved, trying to get the driver's attention. They had left the driver's side of the van and went to the back. On second thought, maybe it was a delivery for the man next door. The Amazon worker stepped out from the back of the truck in their blue and black uniform. It was a tall, skinny man who seemed uncertain about the large cardboard box in his hands. Before he stepped into the yard, the front door of the house opened. The old man made an appearance in a pair of black slacks and a white shirt. Angel stood by at her doorstep, watching as he greeted the driver by shaking his head as he took the box. Angel shouted to get their attention as she walked towards them.
"Hi there! I'm expecting a package!"
The men turned their heads, and Angel was met with her neighbor's puzzling gaze. His dark eyes studied her for a moment, and then he smiled as she stopped.
"You must be Angel."
"Yes, that's me!"
She smiled at him, flashing her pearly white teeth. The man handed the box to her while the driver quietly returned to his truck. He was tall with an advantage over her in height, but not in a way that he towered over her. She focused on his face, studying his light skin as he stood close by. The nervous feelings she previously had vanished over the past few seconds, making it easier for her to strike up a friendly conversation.
"I'm your neighbor right next door."
He nodded before replying.
"I know. We haven't met until now. My name is Caleb."
His words came out in a low voice with an accent that made her guess he was from the east coast. If not New York, then maybe another state close by. He certainly wasn't a Texan or a southerner.
"It's nice to meet you, Caleb. I've been wondering who it was that moved in next door. You don't sound like you're from around here."
"I'm not. You're the first person on this street I've spoken to. Not a single neighbor has knocked on my door."
Angel giggled at his remark.
"Well, I would've if I wasn't so shy about meeting new people. I've been thinking for days that you have a nice car sitting there. I'm curious what it is that you do."
Caleb smirked, showing the top row of his teeth. He turned his head, glancing at the Cadillac and then back at her.
"Do you like old cars, Angel?"
"Hmmmm, not really. I don't know a lot about them. I just find something that catches my eye and feel the need to appreciate it."
