9
PIPER
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch
Piper M:Hi, everyone! Just wanted to introduce myself. I’m Piper, and I moved into the apartment that was recently renovated. I’m sorry I haven’t met all of you yet, I’m a little shy and taking things slow. I can’t wait to get to know everyone!
Comments:
Wren Hackett:Yay! Welcome to town, Piper.
Kelsey Marie:I’m warning you all to behave. I’ve met Piper and she’s the sweetest thing. You all know I’ll fight you.
Hu Gh:Who’s Piper?
Jade Clark:Hugh, I ask you once again to READ. Welcome to town, Piper! Don’t take Hugh seriously. If you need candles, I’m your gal!
Kerry Winsor:FINALLY! I’ve been wondering who moved in for WEEKS! Where are you from? What do you do? How have I not seen you yet?
Jade Clark:Wow, only three questions. You’re getting off easy.
Piper M:I’ll take it! I lived in Knoxville. I write books. And I tend to avoid lots of people! I’ll have to meet everyone over time.
Kerry Winsor:Do you hang out somewhere?
Jade Clark:Down, girl. She said she’s taking it slow.
I wishedthat posting that message didn’t make me nervous, but it did. Telling what I could about me was needed, but no matter how many times I reminded myself of the logic, emotion won out.
It knocked me out for an entire day. I wanted to go to the coffee shop, but my body wouldn’t let me. I had to sit at home and recover from the idea that telling people I was here meant they would find me. No one knocked on my door. No one did anything more than comment on my post.
I was safe.
Still, the last thing I wanted to do was break the routine that Theo and I had. I liked sitting at The Reserved Bean to work more than I could say, and I felt a kinship with him that I couldn’t fully explain.
But there was a part of me that wondered if he would even miss my absence.
Half the time, he didn’t even notice I was there. Maybe it was best that he didn’t.
He had a way of knowing exactly what to say and do, though. It was intoxicating, and it made me want to try more.
If only my anxiety would let me.
My goal in moving here was to get over the fears that held me back. I knew that Scarlett would tell me to remind myself of the things I was doing right, and that I was making progress, more so than I realized.
But I wanted to domore. I wanted to be able to join thislittle town. Scouring the Facebook group made me see that this was a community, one that I wanted to belong to. I wanted to get over my fear of touch and live a life like I wrote about. I wantedlove.
And as time went on, I was worried I’d never see it.
The afternoon came and went and I wasn’t able to get off the couch. I was tempted to text Theo and tell him I wouldn’t be in, but I had no clue if he would even care. That led to me mulling over my feelings the rest of the day.
The sun was low in the sky when I got a call. For a second, I thought it was Theo checking in on me, but instead, it was Joey.
“Hey,” I said as I put on the most chipper voice I could. “Good to hear from you, Joey.”
“Yeah.” His tone already sounded suspicious. I wassofucked. “So, how are you? And please be honest. You know I’ll know if you’re lying.”
“I’m ... fine. Mostly. There are some hard days, but there’re also good ones.”
