Prompt Post: ROUND FOUR

[oakenshields13]

ROUND FOUR IS CLOSED

<< ROUND THREE | ALL ROUNDS | ROUND FIVE >>

Rules post.

Posting Guidelines.

Flat view.

Updates Post (WIPs only)

Fills Post (completed Fills only)

damalur's firstclasskink on Delicious.
Volunteers always welcome.

There is a delay on comments appearing when there is a URL in the message body. This is due to an LJ anti-spam

Comments

Re: 2nd fill: Shared Solitude 2/3

[landahoymateys]

The next morning Hank woke late to the sound of a phone ringing. It wasn't his own phone but the recognizable ring of his next door neighbor. He sat in silence as he listened to the recording. It was a female voice, she accused Alex of missing her call last night, and demanded they needed to talk. Hank groaned and rolled over. He slept in that day and missed work. In the laundry room he heard rumors sometimes. Some of the more nosy neighbors spreading lies and false stories, "Oh he is absolutely gorgeous, I hear he's dating a model back home." A giggle, "No no, I heard he's a member of a gang and married to the bosses daughter, he ran out on her." The girls laughed and argued over whose story was more ridiculous. One of them asked to borrow Hank's detergent and he happily obliged. Almost as an after thought she gasped in surprise, "Oh! You live next door to him! Have you ever met Alex's girlfriend?" Hank simply said he'd never even seen the guy. The girl mentioned what a shame that was.

Hank still had the envelope of Alex's. He sniffed it sometimes. He knew it didn't actually smell like Alex, but it had his name on it and that was close enough. One day the manager came to check up on Hank and see how the property was doing. He smiled at the young scientist turned professor with thick rimmed glasses and bright blue eyes, "Oh Hank, you know you're my favorite tenant. I was just stopping by to make sure everything was functioning alright. You doing well?" he asked as he weaved in and out of rooms, check the toilet, the sinks, and radiators.

Hank smiled softly back at the man, "Thank you Charles. Everything is just fine. I am just fine." It seemed so weird to talk aloud in his own apartment, he always just sat their in silence on his own. He wondered if his neighbor at 4b could hear them, he wondered if he sat with his ear pressed against the wall listening in, as Hank often did to his phone calls.

The manager named Charles smiled, "I am glad my friend." He suddenly leaned in real close and in a whisper said, "So my friend, have you met your neighbor at 4b yet?" Hank shook his head in response. Charles looked disappointed, "Oh what a shame. I'll invite you both to drinks sometime. I think you would enjoy one another's company." he said with a mischievous grin. Hank nodded happily, he didn't want to seem so eager, as if to say its all I've ever wanted.

Hank listened up against the wall as he heard Charles go next door to see the resident of 4b. They chatted amiably. Charles asked how he was getting along. This is how Hank learned that Alex was a firefighter, that they shopped at the same grocery store, that the girl that called every night was his sister Raven, that he missed the state of Florida very much. Hank knew the sunshine boy must have come from somewhere bright. Charles left as quickly as he had with Hank, and than the apartment next door was silent. A bang came to the wall, it was the sound of the others head hitting the wall as he slumped into the couch. Hank sat in his own couch quietly. Alex's t.v. flickered to life, Hank's did the same. They lived their lives together in quiet solitude.

Later that night Charles called, like promised. He invited Hank to drinks that Friday night. Hank politely accepted and hung up.

That Friday night Hank went down to Charles' apartment, there he found Charles, Erik- Charles' close "friend" who also sometimes fixed plumbing, Angel- one of the girls from the laundry room, and Sean- one of the residents that just always seemed to be around. They all greeted Hank amiably, he usually only saw each of these people at board meetings and was surprised to see them so soon. Charles smiled fondly at the younger man, "Oh I am so sorry Hank, but your neighbor at 4b cancelled on us last minute." Hank tried not to look too disappointed. Hank socialized with his fellow residents and had a bit too much to drink at Charles' urging, and made his way back up to his apartment before 11.

Re: 2nd fill: Shared Solitude 3/3

[landahoymateys]

Hank could hear Alex pacing in the room next door. Hank went to sit on the couch and press his ear against the wall. He sat in silence for a moment, just listening to the other man's footsteps and breathing. It was a breath that Hank held so dearly, a connection he cherished. He didn't need a face to know love. Hank banged on the wall, a courage that only came to him with a bit too much alcohol in his system. The pacing immediately stopped, and the neighbor made his way over to the couch, falling into place noisily. Hank heard the other's face press up against the wall, most likely ear to ear. He banged on the wall in reply. Hank sat their quietly, smiling, he banged again. The response came almost immediately. He didn't know what they were banging, there was no pattern, no rhythm, just a happy connection. Hank passed out, a result of the drink and overworking. He was fast asleep on his couch when a soft knock came to his door.

The next morning Hank awoke with a pounding headache, but a slow leap in his heart. He heard the alarm blaring in the room next door. Hank quickly pulled himself up and hurried to get ready, maybe today, maybe today… He was slipping his shoes on and made his way to the door when he stopped dead in his tracks, hand on door knob. He leaned down to pick up a small piece of folded paper slipped under his door. He heard a door slamming next door and hurriedly pulled the door open exasperated. He saw the back of a figure disappear into the elevator. He looked down at the paper in his hand, "Hi. Sorry I missed you." it read.

[landahoymateys]

This is actually quite beautiful. It's too bad they didn't finally see each other face to face, but it's still perfect as it is. Thanks for sharing. :)