I stared at him for a few moments, my mind still in shock from seeing the dancing man right there in front of me where I could see him more detailed than ever and he looked way more fascinating than from the balcony. It occurred to me that he had actually said something to me, should I say something back? Or just smile and walk away? Before I could properly decide my mouth was already open
"Jesus you're like a ninja!" I said deciding to at least try to act like I hadn't seen him in his underwear though I didn't even know his name. He just smiled warmly and said
"Sorry to disappoint you but I'm not, didn't mean to startle you" he added looking apologetic. Okay how do I continue from here? How do I usually act around people I don't stalk? As far as he knows I'm seeing him for the very first time so I should act like I always do around new people, yeah that should work
"It's nothing. Hey I don't think I know you I'm Frank" I said extending my hand seeming a little too excited for a guy who was just scared to death. He took my hand in his and gave it a firm squeeze
"Nice to meet you Frank, I'm Gerard" he said not breaking eye contact. The name was not that common but it fit him and I definitely liked the way he said my name.
"I haven't seen you around much, did you move in here recently?" I asked thinking that that would be the next logical question though when the words left my mouth I realized that if I'm supposedly seeing him for the very first time how do I know he even lives here, he could be just passing by. I started panicking a little thinking this will backfire badly.
Gerard looked down at the trash bag he was holding probably thinking that that's how I got the assumption. I didn't even notice it, his face was too distracting. I smiled a bit in relief feeling a little less tense now
"No I've been living here for a couple of years now but I've got a night job at a bar and I don't go out much during the day so that's why you probably haven't seen me around" he said going around me to dump his trash into the can.
That explains a lot, why I never see him going to sleep and he was probably still sleeping when I tried to catch him in the morning.
"Huh so you're like a vampire" I said. He chuckled
"I've never looked at it that way, yeah I guess. Though not the crappy twilight vampires those are just lame" Gerard said with a thoughtful note.
"Oh no I mean the old classical ones, who actually die in the sunlight, not get covered in glitter" I said quickly trying to correct myself.
"Yeah those were the best. Anyway I have to go now, I don't want to be late for work. It's been nice talking to you, Frank." Gerard said backing away and waving a goodbye.
"You too. See you around!" I shouted after him as he disappeared in the darkness. I heard him laugh it off and then I realized it too, it'll be unlikely to 'see him around' much if I hadn't noticed he even existed for about 3 years. But still this changes things, actually I think I just ruined the whole concept of stalking, isn't the person you're stalking shouldn't supposed to know about it? Okay he doesn't know it but still I've made contact and made small talk and that made the whole stalking him thing way worse.
I had trouble falling asleep that night, the thought of Gerard and that maybe I should quit stalking him and actually talk to him like normal people do kept circling my mind. I woke up still hadn't decided of what should I do.
I got to work earlier that day, there were more than 3 applicants for a vet assistant so I had to interview them. I sat there watching them tremble and shift uncomfortably in their chairs as they answered the questions, what did they think that I was going to eat them if they answer wrong? I ruled out the 2 girls who were no older than 21, as much as they think animals are cute and they want to help them I doubt they would have the guts to stick their pretty little hands with styled nails up a dogs ass. I was down to 2: a tough looking woman about the same age as I am with a degree and a lot of similar experience and a guy with the same degree but sadly no experience he could offer. I went with the 2nd one, Ray, and let the other one down saying she was over experienced for a simple job like this. Plus I'm a nice guy I wanted to give that guy a chance, he looked very determined.
He took his job very seriously, either he was that desperate to keep this job and was trying to make an impression or he was enjoying this.
I got back home surprisingly early that day it was only a little after 4pm, all thanks to Ray, bless his huge fro. My dogs were also surprised, jumping and barking louder than usual around me. After I had my fun with them I threw them a new squeaky toy I managed to sneak out of my work place and watched them battle and fight over it.
My body was on autopilot as I grabbed a beer and walked towards the balcony but something kicked in just before I stepped outside. It was a similar feeling to when I went to do this the very first times, I was nervous, torn between what should I do. All I knew was I wanted to get to know Gerard better but how do I even do that? Do I just go and knock on his apartment door and say, what 'hey I've been stalking you for the last few weeks do you want to go for a drink?' 'a bird told me where you live so I thought I'd stop by and say hello'. Or maybe I wait by the trash cans every night waiting for him to show up again.
I put my face in my hand and realized I'm already standing in my balcony having a smoke, I didn't even remember lighting one. I knew breaking my habit wouldn't be a good idea. Thankfully the smoke relieved my stress a bit and I sat back down on my comfy chair and stared at the opposite building not thinking of what better else to do.
He showed up after I finished my 2nd cigarette. His hair was all messed up and he was scratching his eyes like he just woke up. He was wearing plain sweatpants as usual as he walked by his stereo probably turning it on. Gerard. It's strange finally calling him by a name even if it's just inside my head and not just 'that guy' 'the stranger' 'the dancing man' but Gerard. His name had a ring to it. I kept repeating it in my head for a while. I wouldn't mind whispering it into his ear or moaning it while he's- whoa! Okay Iero, that's a little too far, leave that for alone time. I chuckled at myself reaching for the bottle of beer without taking my eyes off of him seeing him go out in the balcony himself, probably for a smoke.
I, apparently, thought high of my 'being aware of my surroundings' skills because I knocked the bottle over thinking it stood a bit further away. I jumped out of my seat grabbing the bottle and saved at least 1/3 of the drink. The rest spilled on the floor and on the small carpet I had.
"Fuck!" I exclaimed loudly as I watched it soak through my nice little carpet. I wasn't even sure if I could wash it. I reached for the little cabinet near my lounge chair where I know there's a spare washcloth. There was even a bit of it on the balcony railing. As I wiped the drink furiously of the metal railing, I very briefly glanced over Gerard's apartment and to my surprise he was the one watching me now, comfortably leaning on his own balcony railing with his elbows. I stood frozen in place, like being caught stealing something or lying, my heartbeat quickening. He was staring at me with an amused smile and waved a little. I continued standing there not knowing what to do. How long has he been watching me?
I raised my left arm and waved back slowly, I waved for a bit too long than necessary. He continued standing there with the same small smile on his face.
"You know you should really wash that before it starts to dry, then it gets really sticky" Gerard said loudly so I would hear. I looked down seeing the washcloth in my hand. For a moment I forgot what was I supposed to do with it. I smiled stupidly wide and shouted back
"Thanks!" and continued staring, seeing if he'll say anything more. When he didn't I bent down to clean the rest of the mess up. The washcloth got soaked in a few seconds so I stood back up and firstly looked over to his apartment, but he was nowhere to be seen. I sighed in disappointment and went into the bathroom and got a bigger washcloth. Every time I would go in or out of the balcony I would look over hoping he's in the room or maybe outside but no luck. I didn't see him for the rest of the day.
The next morning I was greeted with a cup of coffee and my day's patients already neatly filed up so I wouldn't need to go to the reception every time. I looked up at my new assistant with great awe
"I know this is only your second day here but so far you're the best assistant I've ever had" I said honestly. Even though I don't like to do a lot of praising because then they start slacking and not trying as much but this guy fucking deserved it. Ray smiled wide
"Thank you doctor Iero" he said setting down the filed papers on my desk.
"Oh god no don't call me that. It makes me feel old, just call me Frank alright?" I said waving it off.
"Uh… okay Frank" Ray said still sounding official and barely making his tongue roll over and say my name. I didn't care if it was hard for him he'll just have to get over it, he is not going to call me 'doctor Iero' when he's older than me by a year.
"Well your first appointment is with a dog named Gledstone that has most likely broken a leg and it's in about 15 minutes. Would you like anything until that?" he asked, his posture stiff.
"No thank you, really. You already did half of my work today" okay maybe I was sugarcoating it a bit but this guy was a life savior.
"I'm just trying to do my job and learn as much as I can" he explained seriously.
An idea formed in my head while I was skimming through poor Gledstones file
"Alright, if you want to learn, I'm going to let you do my first appointment, a broken leg is nothing difficult and easy to treat" I said coming to a decision.
Ray's eyes went wide in astonishment
"But I'm not sure if I'll be able to do it. I mean I know how to do it but only in theory, I've never actually done any real vet work" he stuttered, rambling quickly
"Well I'm not leaving you completely on your own. I'll still be there to give you advice and help you so you'll get your chance to do some actual vet work" I said calmly accenting my last words. Ray's face was priceless: he looked like a kid who's been told that he can have a tree-house.
Of course he did just fine, he barely needed my help and that face expression kept me amused for the rest of the day. Though, when I got back home all jokes were replaced with anxiousness. Things changed yesterday and I actually formed a plan on how to talk to him again and not by the trash or shouting from our balconies but it would require a whole lot of luck.
I stepped out into my balcony once again feeling the ground still slightly sticky from last night's mishap and sat down not even sure what I'm trying to accomplish here anymore. Gerard showed up. Of course he showed up, why wouldn't he and soon enough he walked out into his own balcony as well. Now this is the part where I would usually shrink down in my chair so he wouldn't see me but today I stood up and lit up a cigarette, looking like I came out here for a smoke as well. I glanced up casually in his direction and saw him do the same thing. Gerard smiled and waved to me before hollowing his cheeks around the nicotine stick and blowing out the smoke. He could do cigarette commercials, I know I would definitely buy them. I waved back trying to remember how I planned it in my mind and started to speak but just when I opened my mouth Gerard did the same and both of us started saying something at the same time. I started laughing before even getting one word out properly and saw Gerard shaking his shoulders slightly in laughter as well. He motioned for me to go first and this time when I opened my mouth, I forgot everything I wanted to say, only fragments but not the whole deal
"The bar… uh, you said you work in a bar?" I finally managed to say. Oh god when did I become such a wimp?
"Yes I do, what of it?" Gerard asked politely cocking his head to the side a bit
"Which bar is it? I mean I don't go out to bars that much 'cause I don't have anyone to go with but it'd be nice if I knew you were there' okay that sounded less pathetic in my head I swear.
He looked like he was trying to keep from smiling too much or even laughing and that wasn't very comforting
"It's nearby the one just right down the street, right next to that fancy barber shop" he said looking straight at me. "and sure, my shift starts at 9pm so you're welcome to keep me company"
I tried to remember the place he described and remembered my mom telling me once to stay away from that place so it can't be very friendly but if Gerard works there and I'll get to talk to him properly I don't care.
"Yeah I know the place. And thanks, I mean if you don't mind that I keep you company" as much as I wanted to get to know him, I had to make sure I wouldn't be a burden to him, it's just basic things my mother taught me. His eyes went wide
"No, of course not. The people there aren't exactly the nicest so it'll be nice to have someone to talk to." Maybe I was a little too far away to see clearly but it seemed that he was smirking, but it was probably just a regular smile. I smiled in relief that this went better than I thought it would and watched him leave his balcony and for the first time in a couple of weeks I walked out as well way earlier than I usually do.
