Frank's POV
I slammed the door behind me, throwing my apartment keys fuck knows where and heard them hit the ground with a loud clank. I swiped the sweat off of my forehead taking a deep breath. Why the hell did I have to live on the 9th floor? No, more like why the hell is no one fixing our damn elevator? It's been 3 days now.
My 3 dogs have been yipping and jumping around my legs for a while now, demanding my attention so I bent down and petted each one of them so they wouldn't think I forgot about them. It's kind of hard to ignore something when it's trying to climb on you anyway. A smile spread on my face from their eagerness and excitement from seeing me home. At least they appreciate me. Not like the 4 cats I had to take care of today because the old lady forgot she was supposed to pick them up. And of course, they had to appoint that job to me. It's not like I didn't have other animals to treat or an assistant who spends half the day chewing his gum and texting instead of helping me. I'll need to find another vet assistant I thought as I took off my jacket and threw it unceremoniously on the couch. I winced as the fabric brushed against the many cat scratches on my arms. Cursing the old lady again I settled in my usual spot on the couch where every single evening I turn on my TV and watch crappy shows hoping something good will come on but it rarely does. Then I take my dogs for a walk, have dinner and go to sleep. These are just my everyday habits, I'm not sure if I can call it a routine, 'cause a routine sounds a bit depressing while I'm completely fine with it. I like having control over my life. At least I thought so.
Today was different, I didn't want the usual crap TV… alright, I usually never want it but I still do it because I can't think of anything better to do but today it's just… I couldn't will myself to reach for the remote control, it's like I was glued to the couch and the mere thought of turning it on made my stomach churn.
I don't know what made me go out in the balcony, was it the bad day at work, the couch rubbing painfully against the many cuts and scratches, the stuffy living room or the fact that I wanted a smoke but next thing I know I'm sitting in my lounge chair breathing in the fresh air and lighting up a cigarette. I wasn't exactly breaking my habit I was still wasting my time home alone. The view outside wasn't very impressive: looking down (if your head doesn't spin from being on the 9th floor) there was a small parking lot and some old rusty swings that made those creepy noises when the strong wind moved them. Look to the left you see some of the same block buildings, look to the right you see the same identical flats, look in front of you and surprise surprise the view is blocked by another building that stood a bit too close to mine. I had nothing else to do while sitting there than to study the building in front of me, as I puffed on the poisonous stick.
At first it wasn't very interesting, it was the exact same building as mine but I picked up some things and made it more exciting. I would stare at the people's windows, see what curtains they have or if they have flowers on their windowsill and guess how the rest of the room looks like or when someone stands close to the window I tried to guess what they're doing, who they were talking to and I realized that it was damn interesting. It was like exercise for my imagination.
My eyesight was fairly good and the building is close so I can basically see everything even my neighbor's face expressions. I knew most of these people I tried to be friendly with all of them, it's better to have friends than enemies. I've been living here for about 7 years now since I moved out of my parent's place and started going to college so I would notice the new people and just generally tried to be in everyone's good books. That comes in handy when I play loud music here and trash around my flat, people don't call the cops or complain much.
I finished my cigarette about 5min. ago and I was still staring at the opposite building like it's a new reality TV show which I was narrating. Alright I admit, maybe it was a creepy thing to do but I didn't really give a fuck, this was more entertaining than some boring ass talk show about some sad divorced couple. Soon I picked my favorites, the ones who were most interesting to watch: the little girl on the 6th floor, I'm pretty sure she was Mrs. Nestler's daughter, who ran out of paper and continued drawing on the wall and her parents should come back home any minute now, plus I'm pretty sure she was drawing a mutant octopus with a bunny's head. Then there was the new guy who moved in here a couple of weeks ago from New York on the 10th floor who was talking on the phone and pacing in front of his window and making a lot of hand gestures. That guy was just plain amusing. He looked like he was having an argument or at least a very tense conversation and he was using a lot of hand gestures that could be interpreted in many ways. And lastly right in front of me on the 9th floor was a guy dancing in his underwear and holding what seemed to be a paint brush in his hand. He would occasionally swipe it across something I couldn't see but most of the time it served as a microphone. He was the most interesting one, he seemed so happy, not a care in the world, it seemed like if a war would break out, he'd be handing out freshly baked cookies to the enemy. Also I couldn't put a name on him and that's strange. As is said I knew most of these people or at least would recognize them on the street but this one I've never seen before. He couldn't be new, he looks way too comfortable and there are no boxes in his room like in theNew York guy's place. He looked a bit older than me and had black hair that was cut right bellow his ears. He wasn't one of those muscular guys nor was he too skinny or chubby, he just seemed well-built and man he could swing those hips. Just seeing him dance made me curious what he's listening to. I couldn't see his face properly because he kept head banging and trashing around. Whatever it was, it seemed like he was really into the music.
The sound of my dogs scratching the balcony door startled me a little and I realized I've been sitting here for a while now. I took one last look at my neighbors before attaching the leashes and going out for a walk. I went to my usual spot in the park, released my dogs for a bit and let them have their fun while I sat on the bench laughing at them. The air was still warm, I didn't even need to take my jacket but it had the evening breeze that I always find refreshing. On my way back I waved a hello to some of the people in my building who were going out for an evening jog or like me taking their pets for a walk. I stopped to chat for a bit with Mrs. Rayley, the old lady from my building whose parrot I treated last week. I made small talk questioning how's her pet doing until it occurred to me
"Do you know who lives on the 9th floor apartment opposite from mine?" I asked even pointing to the dancing man's window. She's been living here way longer than me and she's better at keeping tracks of people. She took a while thinking
"I don't think I know dear. I know that a sweet couple used to live there but they moved out when the girl got pregnant, they wanted to raise their kid in a nice house away from the city you know? But that was 3 years ago, I think you might remember them, they went for walks in the evening often, always so sweet towards each other, holding hands and so deeply in love" she rambled on, a dreamy look on her face. I did remember them, couples like that made me sick in the stomach. I mean I have nothing against a little romance but they were a bit over-affectionate, I don't think I could be in that sort of relationship.
"I know that the person who moved in after them was something of an artist but that's all I know, I don't think he comes out much" she said with a sad sigh. I figured out that much by myself but I still thanked her and began to climbMount Everestto my apartment again. By the time I reached it my dogs were already waiting by the door impatiently as I fished my keys out of my pocket.
I heated up the frozen veggie pizza and was about to slump down on my couch when I realized I'd much rather eat outside watching a live show. Once again I relaxed on my lounge chair before looking over to my neighbors. The new guy was nowhere to be seen, Mrs. Nestler was scrubbing the wall furiously and yelling something and the mystery guy was actually in his balcony smoking a cigarette, now wearing sweatpants but still shirtless. He looked deep in thought, closing his eyes in concentration. I started wondering what's going on in his mind, looking over his face features clearly now, the high cheekbones and slightly upturned nose. His eyes shot open suddenly and holy fuck he was looking straight at my direction. I panicked and slid down my chair as low as I could. This was the first time I was thankful for the fact I was short. I could still see glimpses of what's going on through a small gap. I don't think he noticed me because he looked indifferent and maybe a bit bored actually and continued looking around for a moment before stubbing the cigarette onto the wall and walking back into his flat somewhere where I couldn't see him anymore. Slowly I sat back up normally. The realization of how creepy I am hit me. 'Jesus Christ what am I doing?' I was just sitting here, eating and stalking my neighbors. I felt so embarrassed I laughed at myself quietly before going back inside and turning my TV on for the first time today. What was I thinking? I need to get a new hobby, one that doesn't involve stalking my neighbors.
I was woken up by the sound of my alarm clock and like every morning I got up to take my dogs out for a walk letting the morning chill wake me up fully. Then my usual breakfast, but something about this morning was still off. I couldn't help but keep glancing from my window as I was making my bed trying to catch the stranger from the 9th floor. I kept making excuses to go to my room until I was getting late for work and had to nearly run to catch my bus. When I arrived, first of I fired my shitty assistant, of course I let him down easy, I'm not that cruel. Strangely my day was even easier when he wasn't around pissing me off, maybe I could go without an assistant I thought until I was about to end my shift and noticed the huge pile of papers that needed to be taken care of and ended up sitting in my office for an additional hour.
I got back home on autopilot and turned on my TV without even thinking. The show was so boring I thought I was going to fall asleep right there on my couch so I turned it off and walked around the room for a bit thinking of what to do. There was a nagging feeling inside my chest creeping and crawling in my head, I needed a smoke, though I knew perfectly well that it wasn't it. Though I usually smoke freely inside the house I went to the balcony.
I sat down feeling a bit self-conscious now, knowing why I was here and that I could get caught but the curiosity was too much for me to take, I had to know…He was there in the room, not dancing or painting this time but talking on the phone while leaning against the window. It seemed like a nice phone call since he smiled on more than one occasion. He looked kind of cute when he smiled actually. I wondered who he was talking to probably his girlfriend or a close friend. Why am I wondering if he has a girlfriend? He turned away from the window and I leaned over closer putting my elbows on the edge of my balcony automatically trying to see what he was doing. He was dragging something big with one hand, the other still holding the phone. It was a huge piece of canvas and there was something painted on it but I couldn't see clearly, the canvas was in the shadow and I was too far away to make out the details. All I could see was the colors black, red and yellow all mingled into something. I wanted to see it desperately, was that what he was painting yesterday? Is he going to sell it? This and another million questions went through my mind as I watched him for the rest of the evening. That was probably when I realized that stalking this guy will become my new habit. I didn't care how creepy that sounded, it's not like it's hurting anyone that I'm simply curious. Okay, I had to admit the pretty guy was hot but he seemed interesting as well, I kept wondering what his name was but nothing that came to my mind seemed to suit him.
For the rest of the week my routine changed, now my TV time was replaced with being in my balcony. I even got as far as getting a little table out there as well so I could put down my drink. The first few days were still weird, it felt wrong even a little sick but eventually I got over it and next Monday I shamelessly watched him and already caught up on some things: he's never there in the morning and I've never caught him going to sleep, I'm usually the one who gives up and goes inside. He paints usually with music in the background and goes outside for a smoke every hour or so. He gets frustrated fast and usually ends up throwing the paint brush across the room and sometimes doesn't go back to the painting for a few days.
Whenever I would go outside I would ask my neighbors is they knew who he was but no one had the faintest clue. It was frustrating, how could someone have lived in an apartment for 3 years and never shown their face in the street. I'm sure I would have remembered a face like his.
It's been 2 weeks since I first laid eyes on him and I was no closer to finding out who he is, I could officially call myself a full-time stalker now. It was Tuesday evening and I was just back from taking the dogs for a walk when I noticed I had a huge bag of trash I failed to pick up earlier. I sighed in frustration and left the flat again and got into the elevator thanking god Buddha or whatever other magical force that the damn thing was finally fixed. The sun was almost completely set and the neighborhood was quiet and empty, only the sound of my shoes hitting the rough sidewalk. I opened up the large metal trash can dumped the bag in and closed it hearing the unpleasant noise echo through the parking lot and the playground. I turned around and jumped at the sight of another person standing right behind me. I heard a faint chuckle and a quiet "sorry". I looked up finally looking in the eye of the 9th floor stranger.