EroticReverie

Liliana Lomeli

It's late and Kelsie is passed out already, always falling asleep first. But it's not her fault, I just can never sleep. So I crawl out my window and onto the roof, and sit, looking up at the sky. There are some clouds in the sky, but not too many , so I tuck my legs against myself as I sit in my underwear and a oversized t shirt and just look up at the stars. It's warm out tonight and there's a slight breeze, and the only thing I can hear is the wind blowing through trees, with the chirping and sounds of insects buzzing. 

My head turns at the sound of a door, and I see my new neighbor walk out, and sit on the steps, a beer bottle in one hand and an unlit cigarette in his mouth. I scrunch my nose at his bad habit. He pulls a lighter out of his back pocket, still wearing the jeans and white t shirt he was wearing all day. I watch him flick the lighter, the flame igniting and casting a glow on his features, a sharp jaw, sharp cheekbones. He lights the cigarette, and the flame goes out, and I feel myself let out a breath. 

Again, as if he senses me watching, his head turns, eyes lifting up to the roof.  I dont look away, or pretend I wasnt watching him. 

"Hello neighbor." he says, the corner of my mouth lifting. 

"Hi." I say softly, but loud enough for him to hear.

"Really think it's a good idea to be on the roof?" he asks, his somewhat deep voice asks, before he takes another drag of his cigarette.

"Probably safer than what you're doing." I say and nod in his direction to his cigarette. 

He lets a slow smile spread across his face as he exhales.

"Touche neighbor girl." he says and takes a long drag of his cigarette. Then blows the smoke out slowly, eyes never leaving me, just staring at me, and all the while, somehow making the most disgusting habit look like the hottest thing. 

"You hang out on the roof often?" he asks and I shift my feet against the roof and shrug.

"sometimes." I answer. "Do you smoke cigarettes often?" I counter.

I hear a soft laugh, not his voice, but just the bit of air that pushes through his nose a few times as his chest jumps slightly. 

"Sometimes." he gives me the same answer and I roll my eyes and then look back up at the sky fighting a smile. 

"I come out when I cant sleep."  I say.

"Why not look at the sky from the ground, ...where it's safe." He says. 

I lower my eyes back to him. 

"I'm perfectly safe." I say. 

"Hm...well..you'd be safer on the ground." he says and I cock my head slightly. 

"I like it up here." I say. 

"I really dont want to have to call an ambulance when you fall off it." he says and I give a little laugh.

"I've never fallen off before. I'm fine." I say and he stands, walking over to where our yards meet.

"Will you do me a favor and get down from there anyways?" he asks , looking up at me. My brows pinching. Was he....he looked worried. His hand lifts behind his head, rubbing his hair, exhaling a plume of smoke.

"If I get down...will you put that cigarette out?" I ask, lifting a brow in challenge.

I watch him drop it then grass, stepping on it with a boot. Exhaling out the last the smoke in his mouth. 

"Done. Now get down from there." he nods to the roof. 

"Fine." I say and then turn to my side. 

"Umm.." I pause. 

"You need to turn around." I say. 

"Why?" he asks. 

"Because I'm not wearing pants." I say, and the corner of his mouth lifts. 

"If I turn around...promise to put pants on when you get inside and come down here?" he asks. 

I give a little laugh. "Why?" 

"So I can introduce myself." he says. "Be a good new neighbor." 

I give a little smile. 

"Fine." I say and lift my head spinning my finger in a circle.

"Turn." I say and he smirks. 

"Yes ma'am" he says and turns slowly.

"No peeking" I say and he laughs. 

"You're a bit too young to be peeking on neighbor girl." he says.