Before You

1- Who the fuck is that, Ava?

Watching you, you place your white pressed sheets on the double bed, dancing to the music playing through your earphones. From that I knew, you were an understanding and reasonable person- that's why I know one day when we are together you would understand why I watched you so closely. The morning light washed over you, illuminating your smile as you watched with satisfaction of your tidy studio apartment.

You always kept your place clean, like you want company but rarely went out. A corner apartment, 5th floor, overlooking the traffic in the crossroad beside the student building. You loved looking out through the floor length windows, that's why you settled with the apartment in such a rough area of the city, you want to be seen by the outside and I oblige to your every desire. Well, I'm right here, waiting for you to notice me, to need me.

With a carefree smile you stumbled to the kitchen counter to make yourself your regular cup of black coffee with two sugars. Two sugars. I laugh at the thought. You constantly worry about how you look and appear to others, but there's no need to impress me, you're perfect. How I would love to caress your body, hear you purr in my ear.

Your long chocolate brown waves fell elegantly down your back. Your hair silky. It was often up in a high messy bun, revealing your shoulders. Your skin. Although pale I bet it felt like butter as you ran your fingers through it. I craved to touch you. For me to trail kisses down your body, kissing every inch of you as you scream my name and clench the sheets violently. I wanted you. I needed you. And soon I will no longer just fantasise.

Cars sped at the junction, different coloured cars shining under the scorching summer sun. I wore a black cap, not just to shield the sun from my eyes- so I can observe you- to shadow my features. I often stood at the coffee shop on the corner of the junction, across from the apartment building. You had only moved here 8 months ago to start your final year at NYU, but I noticed you straight away. Studying business despite your not so cut throat attitude.

I loved that about you. Always unexpected but i could read your mind- I am the only one that can.

I spent every morning at 7:02 exactly for the last week diverting my usual running route to past your building, despite not leaving anywhere near here. I could have let my PI gather intel. But I had to see you in person.

Back at my home office, I had a whole file with your name on. Filled to the brim with photos and intel about you. Including how you spent your evenings in with a glass of red wine, telling yourself that you just need one but having two. You have an addictive personality, we're similar like that.

You have a neighbour on your floor, who obviously has a crush on you and is an ass, but you're to forgiving and vulnerable to know that.

After your coffee, you washed up so that you wouldn't have to after you finished college. Slipping into some black trainers, you locked your door after yourself. It would take approximately 183 seconds for you to get out of the building after leaving your flat, 234 if your neighbour watches you exit and "accidentally" bumps into you.

181, 182, 183... and the glass doors open, you following behind them. I miniver my body so that you couldn't see my features.

And there you were. Black skin tight shorts covered your ass, barely, but enough to keep every man imagining- craving to see what was under. You had a black sports bra under your loose white cropped tee, you not thinking about the outline of the bra underneath your top. So innocent. Not suspecting any creep that your run past glancing a little longer than they should.

I memorised your schedule. Wake up at 6:30 am, clean your apartment at 7 am, go for a jog around the block at 7:30 am, your lecture at 9am- but you get there at least 10 minutes before.

I jog behind you, making sure there's enough distance. I know you can feel my presence like two opposite sides of a magnet, you feel that pull to me. We are destined to be together, even if you don't know it yet. You turn the corner, and I copy, mimicking every step.

You hated running, anything to do with cardio, but you like the buzz from it. You never ran far, only enough to burn any extra calories.

232,233,234... Charlie. Your immersive neighbour. He shouts you with a wave high in the air and a wide smug smile plastered on his very punchable face. I clenched my fists in anger, knuckles glowing white. You had said a quick hello before politely trying to escape the conversation with him. How I admired how kind you were to engage in such scum despite him not deserving to be in your presence.

You panted quietly and felt the warm wind brush your moist skin. I breathed in your vanilla scent left behind you, intoxicating me. You see, although you don't know it yet, you are my drug, and I am your addict.

The clouds past slowly, only 28 minutes later we circulated back to your flat for the third time. I crossed the road, settling back into my spot to observe you some more.

It was exhilarating, really. The thrill of waiting for you to notice me, but never, and waiting patiently for you to realise I'm here. That I'm always here. Always have been. And I'm not leaving you now, nor ever.

You walked into your apartment, tired. Peeling of your sportswear like you're begging me to watch, tempting me more. As you reveal more skin, you face away from me to pick up your towel and trailing to the bathroom where I could no longer see you.

Moments later, you exit, only a white towel wrapped around your petite perky body. You smiled to yourself, probably something funny you told yourself. You had a good sense of humour. And your life so ridiculous it made me laugh along with you.

After picking out an outfit for your lecture, black skinny jeans that hugged you tightly and a navy top that clung loosely, but not too loose, you dressed yourself. To my dismay you got ready in your bathroom. Oh how I dispised that bathroom. But soon, I plan on both of us being in it, sharing a hot steamy shower together.

Grabbing your black bag, shoes and locking the door once again, you exited the building. On schedule as always. I tilted my cap down more and slowly followed from the other side of the street.

The day was young and always slow, but that meant I could spend longer with you before I had to peel myself away back to my office. Thankfully I had my assistant block out my schedule for the morning so I could watch over you. The sun burst through the last remaining white cloud in the sky, sizzling the rest of us bellow it.

We remained the same distance apart the whole journey. You trailed through the campus as if on a mission, the breeze blowing your hair back as if your were a supermodel in a magazine. Skipping up the steps to your lecture building, you stopped, smiling.

I stopped, puzzled. You smiled kindly, maybe too happily at a man, same age as you, tall with a tan and blonde hair. His green eyes glistened as he looked at you, I knew what that look was. But you didn't stop him as he learnt into you and embraced you in a hug.

Wait.

Who the fuck is that Ava?