Dreaming Out Loud

Seth understood his assignment. He'd already finished moving his own things into the house the day before, although he didn't have much left to his name to move. He knew she would be arriving today to move in her own things, and he wasn't looking forward to it. His back and shoulders were still feeling yesterday's work. Unsure of when she would show up exactly, Seth decided to inspect the rest of the house. The heat was on but barely keeping up. The furnace was almost 20 years old, so he’d chop some fresh wood this morning and get the woodstove going. It was the 1st week of December, so the cold would be turning bitter soon. He'd just finished eating an egg sandwich and watching t****k videos on his phone for the last 20 minutes. Chopping wood was up next. Before he could head outside, however, he looked up through the window to see Mac pulling his Dodge truck down the long, dusty gravel driveway. It pulled his parents' trailer behind it, filled with large items like the stove, sofa, and bedframe. Mara's little blue car crept along behind. Mac was Mara's older brother. Seth and Mara had known each other all their lives. Both their families hailed from Dubois County, Illinois. The old farmhouse in Liberty was in the center of the county, and had once belonged to a friend of Mac's father. He'd passed away a few years back, and his son inherited it. His son was a busy man, and didn't want to be bothered doing the repairs needed to the house and property. Subsequently, he and Mara had gotten an unbelievable deal on the rent, under the condition they do the repairs and upgrades themselves. It wasn't like Seth had anything better to do. Stephanie, his ex, had left him with very little. She left so quickly that it was hard to see how she'd managed to take all of their furniture. Seth had come home late one night to find an almost empty apartment, and no note. As it turned out, Stephanie had been long-fed up with Seth's late nights with the guys, long and frequent fishing trips, and endless cases of Bud Light. His recent indiscretion with her cousin, Tiffany, had been the last straw. Stephanie left literally overnight, leaving no trace of the life they'd shared on and off again for two years, and a space full of regret. She moved back to Chicago with her family, where she could pursue her high end, busy career in the salon world. Stephanie had also been paying most of the bills. Their luxury apartment in the suburbs had been her standard of living, but not his. Seth had been sleeping on his brother's sofa for the past two months, struggling to find a roommate. He was 29 now. Most of his guy friends and acquaintances were married and having kids these days. They, like Stephanie, no longer had time or space for his games. That's when Mara came to mind. Mara was one of his best friends since childhood. But he'd never lived with her. Mara had broken off her engagement with her boyfriend, Jamie. After four weeks of staying with her brother and his wife, she was desperate to find a roommate. Her problem was that at 25, all of her own girl friends were settling down too. And newlyweds do not have space for roommates. Mara knew Seth liked to party. She worried about what type of company he might keep. But at this point, she was desperate. "What's up, man?" Seth greeted Mac as he slid from his truck. Mac clapped him on the back and smiled. "Gotta take a leak!" Mac responded, and hurriedly ran inside. Seth spotted Mara's little blue Prius parked a ways back, and went to greet her.The mousey, shy girl in baggy clothes from their younger years was gone. In her place these days was a 140lb toned and tan woman with long sun-bleached hair and sunglasses that said to stay back. Her legs and shoulders flexed as she pulled a heavy box from her back seat. Seth felt nervous things might get weird living together, but a secret part of him hoped they would indeed. "Heya...could you give me a hand?" she asked. She didn't have to ask him twice. Seth was already trying to pry the box from her hands. "Not with this one, actually," she said annoyed. "There's more in the back seat." "Oh. Sure!" Seth replied, scrambling to make himself useful. Their first weekend in the farm house flew by. Mara was so tired from unpacking. Seth was easier to be around when they were not living together. While she had stored back many memories of being annoyed by him, or thinking he was about to maim himself, she had even more memories of him simply laughing, and eliciting laughter from her too. So many good times together... Seth made life more bearable for her through the years. But she'd always been able to go home, and leave him to his own devices. Not anymore. Seth was terrible at keeping house. He had to be told every detail of what she needed from him. He forgot things often. He was crude, loud, and messy. He played classic rock too loud, stayed up too late, and woke up too late. She was thankful they didn't have to work the first week of moving. It was Friday night now, and Mara was finally finished unpacking. Her best friend, Jade, ran her boutique on Saturdays, and they were closed Sundays. As much as Mara wanted to do something exciting to celebrate the end of her long week, she was simply too tired. Instead, Mara poured herself a ridiculous glass of wine and set out some cheese and crackers on a small plate. She sat them in the bathroom on the little stand by the tub, and lit a couple of candles. She began running herself a hot bubble bath, and flipped the main light off. As she began slipping her clothes off over her head, she felt eyes on her back. Mara stopped and slowly turned to see the door halfway open, and Seth leaning on the doorframe. He stood grinning obnoxiously. She could smell the cheap beer on him, which made sense since he'd been drinking since noon. "Don’t stop on my account," he cooed at her. "Hey! This isn't a free show! Get out!" she yelled at him, throwing her top at him. Seth only laughed as he caught her top in his huge hands and gave it a little sniff. "You smell good," he told her "Disgusting, " she rolled her eyes. "Only in the eyes of the beholder." "Seriously, get out!" she hissed back. "I wanted to talk to you." "It can't wait?" she asked. Seth stared back at her insistently. "At least turn around," Mara said with a sigh. Seth turned and continued to grin as he heard Mara slide her bra and panties off. When he heard the little splashes of her getting into the tub, he turned. "So I was thinking," he continued. "It's been a while for me, and I'm sure for you too..." Mara was confused. Since she'd bathed? Clearly it had been a while since his own last bath. Seth could see she wasn't understanding and rolled his eyes. "Since you've had anybody..." Mara understood. "Ok, Seth, let me stop you right there," she snapped, putting her finger up. "First of all, a month is not a long time." "Has it really been that long for you, girl? Man that har..." He stopped. "I suppose it is a long time compared to your several hours you've gone, right?" Mara interrupted him with ice in her voice. "Just hear me out!" Seth argued. "Look... you're gorgeous. And I'm... well I think I look pretty damn good. And lots of chicks agree..." Mara inserted a pointed eye roll. "And there's no use in all that hotness going to waste!" he smiled hopefully. "Seth." she insisted. "We are not fucking." "Look Mara... I just don't want to end up crawling back to Stephanie. or one of her friends..." "Or one of her cousins..." Mara bit at him. Seth ignored her and continued, "Look, I know you're lonely too... I hear you in your sleep!" Mara stopped arguing, affronted. She wondered what on earth she did or said in her sleep that he could hear through the wall in the next room. "No, Seth," she said simply, taking a drink of her wine. After her bath, Mara emerged from the warm water and wrapped a towel around herself. when she went to leave the restroom, there was Seth again in the doorway. This time he held out another heaping glass of wine for her. He sipped his own, and Mara noticed he was shirtless. "Where are your clothes?" she said impatiently. "Where are yours?" he asked obnoxiously. Mara's eyes darted to the railing by the doorway. Her clothes were gone. "Give them back!" she shouted. "Hmmmm... naw... I don't think so." Seth smiled. "But we can make a trade."