First chapter of this AU. Happy Monday. :) I hope you like it. I'm really excited for this story. Can't wait to see where it goes.
"Fucking leave then," Abbie threw her plate in the sink.
"No congratulations, Abbs?" Danny said, her two-year boyfriend.
They had dinner in her living room. Chinese take-out because she wasn't a cook. He had news and told her he decided uproot to Chicago for a position as a police chief. He enjoyed working with her at the Sleepy Hollow FBI headquarters, but Chicago was home. He wanted to make a difference there.
"I'm not going to keep you here."
She wanted him to go for his dreams. She honestly did, but a part of her didn't. He was leaving her and didn't plan on coming back. Oh, yeah, he also thought they should end their relationship. He didn't do long distance.
"I don't know why you're upset." He dumped his food in the trash and put his plate on the counter. "I thought you'd be happy. This is my career we're talking about."
She rinsed their dishes. "I am happy, Danny."
"I know what this is about."
She turned the water off, faced him. "You have no fucking idea."
"I never thought you were the jealous type."
She pushed past him to finish clearing the table. It had nothing to do with jealousy. She'd let him think that though. He always did have a fucking ego. Maybe they were better off apart.
"You can't handle that I'll be moving up the ladder while you're stuck here in this shithole," he said.
"Whatever helps you sleep." She closed the containers and put them in the fridge. Grabbed a beer.
"Then what the hell is it?"
Her mom's abandonment really knew how to fuck her over. Now that Danny was leaving, she'd be that lonely girl again, with a sister she rarely spoke to. Her beer swished bitter in her stomach. She shouldn't take her issues out on him, but she trusted him enough to let him close to her. She didn't expect him to just go, to plant his career above her.
"Shut me out then." He snatched his jacket from the chair, slammed the door behind him.
Her beer left a wet splat on the door.
Crane put his book down after he heard glass against a door or a wall. He didn't know which, but he was sure it came from the space next to him. He opened his door and peeked out to find a man rushing down the hall. He was new to this apartment complex. The landlord said it was a quiet place to reside. He hoped he wouldn't be wrong about this. Drama couldn't be here, too.
He cracked his door, walked to hers. Should he knock? What if the lady here didn't want to talk to him at the moment? The argument sounded awful. He wanted to make sure no one was harmed though. He went back into his apartment, scrambled for a piece of paper, and a pen. A note would suffice.
I heard a dispute and glass thrown while enjoying a book. Is everything alright? Should I call the landlord or law enforcement?
-Ichabod Crane, 205
With his note in hand, he stood at her door. He raised his hand to knock. Then he thought better of it again. He knew very well the luxury of silence after a conflict. Once he slid the note under her door, he went back to his book.
Abbie held a broom and a dust pan. The last thing she wanted to see was Danny. Good thing he didn't live with her. He did have stuff over unfortunately—a few shirts, a spare toothbrush, some of his nasty breakfast cereal. She hoped he wasn't coming back tonight. He never came back after a dispute anyway.
As she bent down to sweep the brown glass, she saw a piece of paper: a note with handwriting. She placed the broom and pan against the door, carefully picked up the scrap. She didn't need glass stuck in her fingers either. Her next door neighbor wanted to check up on her. That was sweet. This must've been the new neighbor her landlord told her about. A couple who made love to a French jazz musician lived next door, but they moved. They never left her a note after her fights. She folded the slip, stuffed it in her pocket with a small smile. She'd write back to Mr. 205.
She wanted to knock, but she didn't. What if he was in the shower or sleep or something? After her loud spat, it didn't feel right to disturb him. She slid the note under his door.
As Crane left the kitchen to turn in, he caught a piece of paper in front of his door. He wasn't expecting her to write back, let alone a response at all. It excited him that she did. He opened it.
I'm fine. Just had an argument with my boyfriend. No one is hurt. Thanks for the concern. My landlord told me I had a new neighbor. Welcome.
-Abbie Mills, 204
Crane smiled, glad all was well. He stuffed the note in his book. Yes, welcome indeed.
