Get a Life

Through the thick, comfortable feeling of slumber the morning peeked into Marcia's consciousness. She heard her alarm start to poke and break open its way into her head. She tried to slow it down, to shut it off. But nothing worked.

Helpless, she let the final few images of a vivid dream she soon forgot fade away to be replaced by reality.

"Guuh," she groaned, reaching over and slapping her phone. The music stopped but the damage was done. She was awake.

She rubbed her eyes and stretched. She felt tired her body worn out.

She tried to remember why that would be. It was a long weekend. She spent yesterday on her couch binge watching a new show on television. She had the snack wrappers and containers to prove it.

She sighed and kicked one foot out of the side of her bed, slowly rising up to a sitting position. She yawned, her toes curling as she did. She reached for her phone.

Seven A.M.

Cursing, she switched off the alarm. She didn't work this weekend. She forgot to turn off the alarm. She looked back at her pillow and wondered if she could shut everything off again and get a few more hours of sleep.

Marcia groaned, knowing she could never settle down enough for that. She was up, she may as well live with it. She got out of bed, stretching as she made her way down the hall to the bathroom mirror.

She did look worn out. Her long, flowing blonde hair was in a mess, and her youthful face looked weary. She splashed some cold water and sighed. Blinking, she took another look in the mirror. Better.

Marcia hopped in the shower, the warm water running over her small, tight body invigorating her. She let the pressure from the shower head run over her nipples, biting her lip as they grew hard. She stretched her back, realizing she had not worn a bra in a few days. And with the handful of supple skin that made up her ample breasts on such a short woman, back pain was normal. She made a mental note to take care of herself better.

After a short breakfast she looked outside to the picturesque morning from her apartment balcony. Not wanting to waste time, she slipped into skintight running clothes, put her hair up and wrapped headphones around her neck.

She passed by the mirror again. This time, the barely twenty-year-old liked what she saw. Her breasts, heaving and pushed up. Flat stomach. Tight legs. She made a kiss face with her full lips to the mirror and left the apartment.

As she locked up she found herself looking further down the hall. The last door on the floor. Mr. Sanchez used to live there until the stroke. Now they had a new neighbor. Slightly older than her. Intense eyes. Nice body. But she barely saw him. A tingle, almost unnoticeable, went off in the back of her head thinking about him.

She shook her head with a smile. She needed to get out more.

***

"I'm telling you, it was an amazing party!"

Marcia smiled, cradling the phone against her shoulder as she chopped a tomato.

"I'm sure it was. I'm just saying—"

"You mean making an excuse..."

"Sam," Marcia said, tapping the knife on the cutting board as she narrowed her eyes, "You're my best friend. But subtle, you are not."

"Everyone likes my honesty."

"I was not making an excuse."

"Oh yeah? Then what was it this time? Freezer broke and you had to eat everything inside of it before it went bad?

Fell into a cat video hole and lost track of time? Finally found someone and had mad, passionate sex all night?"

Marcia laughed. "No, but I like the first one. Can I use that one?"

"No, if anything I was hoping for the third one."

Marcia shrugged, knowing Samantha couldn't see that. "that requires me getting out of my apartment."

"I'm sure I could find someone that would travel to you on Craigslist."

"Ewww," Marcia said, scrunching her nose. "I do have standards."

"So high you haven't been laid in what, seven months?"

Marcia frowned. "Depends on if someone else was present."

Now Samantha laughed. "Honey I don't need to ask to know if that is happening."

Marcia blushed, her eyes darting towards her bedroom where her vibrator lay in her sock drawer. "Oh, I just don't want to talk about it."

"Marcia, Greg was so last year. He was an asshole. Get over him. Come see me. Come see us. Come out, have some fun. Meet some new damn people. They don't bite."

"Unless I want them to," Marcia said, returning to her laugh. "I know, I know. I just...it's hard. I really thought he was going to be the one."

"Marica, if he's fucking other women, he was never even in contention for number one," Samantha said with a heavy sigh, having gone through this conversation many times.

Marcia stopped cutting and moved into the living room. She stared out of the window to the beautiful day. "I know that tone. I'm sounding like a broken record."

"Marcia, if it's an ego trip you want, you'll get it. Because I'm going to admit it, you are the most beautiful, sexiest woman I know. I'm jealous, really. And yet I am getting action every night I want it while you waste away in your apartment. You have to do something. Something to shake everything up."

"Like what."

"I don't know. Take up a hobby. Hit a club. Give your number out to someone. Meet a stranger."

Marcia leaned back and chuckled. Samantha did not believe in living quiet. Marcia mulled over the possibilities, nothing really standing out.

Then she thought of her mysterious neighbor down the hall. She shook her head, unsure why she thought of him.

But he was a stranger.

"Marica?"

She cleared her throat. "Yeah?"

"Did I finally lose you?"

"No I was...just thinking."

"Of?"

"What you said. I mean I don't really want to get all dressed up and hit the town but..."

Marcia could hear Samantha's anticipation growing.

"There's a new neighbor. Down the hall where Mr. Sanchez used to live. I've only caught glimpses of him, when I'm coming in and he's going out or whatever."

"Okay...?"

"I don't know. He's..." Marcia shrugged, struggling to put into words what she thought of the man.

"I see," Samantha said with a slight giggle, "And is he single? Is he older? Younger?"

"Older. A little bit. And I don't kno—Samantha that's not what I meant!"

"Then what did you mean? Why bring him up?"

"Well I...I mean I just...I was thinking of strangers. A baby step to getting back out into the world."

"You're just going to walk over there, knock on the door and ask for a cup of flour?"

"No. I can...welcome him to the neighborhood. Nothing weird. Just a little conversation."

"Hey, Marcia I am all for anything that gets you on the track to getting a life back. Get your ass in gear and go do this now."

"Now? But I'm still in my running clothes. Hell I haven't even showered..."

"Knowing most men, the sweaty look is a turn on and you probably smell divine to them or something. Go, do this and then you'll feel better for the rest of the day."

Marcia scratched her chin. "I mean, it wouldn't take long..."

"Good! Look, I'm going out of town today, but call me tomorrow and let me know how it goes okay? And for god's sake remember to turn off your alarm!"

Marcia laughed and thanked her friend. She hung up the phone and found herself once again alone She tapped the phone on her chin, lost in thought. Samantha was crazy. Just going down the hall and knocking on a strangers door.

It was just a silly thought, nothing more.

She bit her lip. Then why couldn't she stop thinking about doing it?

***

Marcia took a sharp breath in her mouth and prepared to turn around. In front of her stood the plain looking door to her neighbor. She was quiet as a cat, so if she just turned away now no one would...

She blinked, unable to believe she just knocked on the door. She stood there, dumbfounded as the door opened.

A tall man, slender but with tone and definition, greeted her at the door. He had a chiseled, hard look on his face.

But his eyes seemed so warm, so inviting. Long hair covered one of his eyes. He moved it out of the way and Marcia found herself standing a little taller. Dazzling blue eyes looked her over.

"Yes?"

She gulped, all thoughts of what would happen at this moment jumbled in her head. Part of her internal self screamed and ran back down the hall, leaving her standing there blank.

"You're my neighbor right?" he asked. His voice. So smooth. So rich. So deep. Marcia found herself compelled to answer.

"Y-yes. I'm Marcia, I live just down the hall," she said, thumbing in the direction of her apartment. "I was just..."

Marcia felt foolish and vulnerable all in the same moment. Was she supposed to tell this demanding figure, this imposing stature of a man that she knocked on his door because she wanted to get out of her shell for a moment? That she wanted to use him as a stepping stone?

He stood there, amused. A thin smile appeared on his lips, which relaxed Marica. Maybe he wasn't completely made of serious and stern stuff.

She took a breath and tried again, flashing him a sweet smile. "This sounds ridiculous but my friends say I've been a shut-in for too long and want me to start getting out more. I remembered you," he raised an eyebrow at that which she noted, "and thought you would be a good place to start?"

She waited for him to say something. Anything. Even to give her a glimpse of what he was thinking.

He chuckled and leaned against the doorframe. "You. A shut-in. Even if I was to believe that I see you running all the time," his eyes scanned her body. Under any other circumstance she would find his gaze creepy but knowing that she did not make a fool of herself in front of a stranger she allowed it.

"Right but that can be a solitary exercise," she said, adjusting her top.

He bit his lip and nodded slowly in agreement. "True. Well I was about to have a bit of tea. Would you like some?

I find that an easier way to converse than in the doorway."

She furrowed her brow. She was not expecting this. She wanted a short conversation a confirmation she could do it and then leave. Maybe blow him off with a "I'll see you around" or something. But being invited in?

His eyes locked into hers. His gaze burrowed right into her mind, but then he relaxed. He gave her a wide, warm smile. "Perhaps I am being a bit presumptuous. I assumed when you say you wanted to step back into the world that would mean more than a minute conversation. But I guess—"

"Oh no no," Marcia said a little too quickly, taking a step forward and touching his arm. Firm. "It's not like that.

I just...tea. Yes. Tea sounds lovely."

He moved aside and ushered her in. She walked inside his apartment, feeling that gaze on her back. Something about it felt familiar. Something about it did not scare her.

He led her to a very comfortable couch where she sat studying the apartment. Everything was perfectly in place. She knew right away this was a man of taste, of status. So why..

"I see you're confused," he said, appearing suddenly with two cups of steaming tea.

Marcia accepted it, a bouquet of dazzling smells tickling her nose as she held the cup up to her face.

"My name is Evan by the way," he said, sitting down in a chair across from her. He looked at her with a curious expression. Was she supposed to know that name?

"And the reason I've made my home in this neighborhood," he said, taking a sip of tea, "Is that I've never quite liked the people of my so-called socio-economic status. I find them..vapid. Weak willed. Too easy."

The way the words came out of his mouth, Marcia thought he sounded like a predator talking about prey. She held the wonderful cup of tea close to her to take another sniff.

"Please, try some. I have added just a little honey to it."

"That's just the way I like it," she said in amazement. His face flinched, as if he made a mistake. She took a sip of the tea. It ran down her throat so easily she found herself taking a larger gulp a second later.

He watched all this with intense concentration. His gaze started to bother her like it was burning into her vision.

She tried to look away, but she knew the gaze was still there. So she turned back and met his eyes.

Instantly she felt a wave of something familiar creep up her body. Indescribable, it felt like weakness and joy all at once. It crept up her legs and settled in her stomach for the moment.

"You look peaked," Evan said, taking another sip but not letting his eyes off of Marcia, "Perhaps you should finish your tea."

"No, I think I'm okay," she said her voice a little softer than normal. Her fingers tightened around the cup.

"Finish the tea please."

Marcia narrowed her eyes just a bit unsure where this came from. Still, she took another gulp and found the tea gone.

She put it down on the table in front of her. She found the couch comfortable and settled in.

None of this looked odd to Evan, who seemed to lean forward more and more in interest. She blinked. Maybe the run took out more than she thought.

"Marcia," Evan said, his voice dropping lower sweeter. Softer. Inviting. "You look so comfortable on my couch."

"Sorry," Marcia said, trying to remember she was in a strangers apartment.

"Not at all. I love it when this happens. You look so...adorable just before."

"Hmm?" Marcia said, using considerable strain to make her expression confused.

"Before I take control. When you think you were still in control, when you think you had a choice. Even now you are feeling so warm, so comfortable. I bet it's even hard to take your eyes away from mine isn't it?"

As he said this, Marcia looked into his eyes. What once was soft, now drew her in. They seemed to have a power now.

Or maybe they always did. Marcia found her head swimming. But he was right. His eyes were hard to look away from.

"Look at this. Your mouth, hanging open. You eyelids are already half closed," Excitement grew in Evan's voice.

"It's only been one week. Marcia I mean this when I say it. Your fast submission is delicious."

Marcia felt her neck starting to go soft. Her head hung on only by the fact she could not stop looking into his eyes.

"That's right Marcia. Look deep into my eyes. Do not resist. Your fate was sealed the moment you woke up this morning with an inkling, an uncontrollable desire to come to this door. To see me. You know this is true. Accept it. Accept it and lose yourself...in my eyes."

Marcia felt something about what he said resonated with her. Her head, thick with his words, flashed back to the few times this morning she thought of him. She smiled and looked into his eyes. She felt her brain starting to melt, to shut down.

"You are so wonderful Marcia. Watching you crumble, watching you give yourself over to me it excites me," Evan said, lust dripping off each word. "All you need to do is submit. All you need to do is just close those heavy, half-closed eyes and listen to my words. To submit to my control, my dominance. Just give in Marcia. Give in...to me."

A part of Marcia swayed, wanting to stumble to her feet and head for the door. But the tea had loosened her up, the couch had made her comfortable and his words...his words cast a spell on her. Marcia realized she really had no choice in this matter. Her body sunk to one side her eyes closing as she hit the couch.

She lay there, mindless and patient for what seemed like an eternity. Then his words filled her head.

"Very good Marcia," he whispered, his voice lowering to a whisper, "You have done well. Now listen to me and obey. I want you to remember. I want you to think back..."

***

Marcia knew this could not be real. She looked down at her clothing. She remembered this sun dress from last week.

She looked back up to see her apartment door. She stood back out in the hallway of her apartment.

Her confusion started to subside as the thoughts of that day entered her mind. Pleasant walk finished by ice cream.

A little giddy on the sugar high and the sunshine. She looked down the hall and caught the eyes of her new neighbor struggling with a bag of groceries.

"Here, let me," she said with a smile, taking the bag as he fished keys from his pocket.

"Thanks," he said, flicking some of his long hair out of the way to take a good look at his neighbor. She shivered, not used to this kind of intense attention.

He unlocked the door and with one swift motion grabbed the bag from her. "You are a life saver. Those eggs would have never made it if it wasn't for you."

She returned the smile she received, feeling like the center of the universe. "Oh, it was nothing."

"You say that but my future dessert says differently. Please, let me repay you with a cup of coffee or something."

"Oh, I shouldn't bother you..." she said, looking down the hall back to her apartment.

"I see," he said, his voice with just a hint of disappointment, "It's just I've only just moved in and I don't know anyone. It would be nice to get to know someone."

Marcia bit her lip, remembering the promise she made over ice cream to get out and talk to people again.

"But perhaps it is intimidating to walk into a strangers apartment—"

"Nonsense," Marcia said with a snort and a giggle, "my neighbors know me. Mess with me and you'll have to answer to them."

The man smiled once more, so warm and inviting. Marcia felt a tingle she had not felt in a long time.

"Well then. Coffee?"

"I'm more of a tea person. With a bit of honey if you have it," she said, taking a step into his apartment.

"Of course. So am I. I'm Evan by the way," Evan said, disappearing around the corner into the kitchen.

"Marcia," she said, taking in the apartment. "Nice place."

He popped his head from around the corner to smile. "I've been told it's a little old-fashioned."

Marcia ran her hand over a globe. "Perhaps. I think it's classy."

"Oh? You seem a little young to enjoy classy."

Marica clicked her tongue. "I was always interested in things a little older than me."

She heard no response from the kitchen and regretted her words. She did not mean for the banter to get out of hand.

"Uh, how about you?" she asked.

"Me? I guess I do enjoy things a little more..traditional," the way he said "traditional" made Marcia stop in her tracks. She felt that tingle again.

Before she knew it, he appeared from the kitchen holding two cups of tea. She took one and sat on the couch across from him. She noted how comfortable the couch felt.

"Smells divine, what is it?" she asked sniffing the tea.

"I make my own," Evan said with a smile, taking a sip. "So tell me how long have you lived here?"

She shrugged. "About a year. Ever since...well since I broke up with my fiancé. He cheated."

Evan's face fell into genuine sadness. "I am so sorry to hear that. From the little I know of you, he is an idiot for cheating on you."

"Thanks," she said, brushing a loose strand of hair away from her face. She felt lightheaded and giddy with his attention and admiration on her. She rubbed her thighs together and took another long drink of the tea. "And you?

Anyone special in your life?"

Evan sat back in the chair. His eyes narrowed just a touch focused on her. Her heart pounded quicker. He just radiated a dominating, masculine presence. She had to break eye contact.

"Not yet," he said in a slow and deliberate voice.

Marcia cleared her throat then finished her tea to combat the dryness. "That seems..odd."

"It does?"

"Well you're so..." Marcia struggled to find the words now that she was on the spot. She looked at him and realized she would not get off the hook until she gave an answer. "...so good looking. And intense."

He cocked and eyebrow. "One of those compliments I have received before. The other...intense?"

"Yeah."

"That's a good thing."

She blushed. He waved off his question.