This is part 2. See previous post for part 1.
As Elliot left the grocery store, Mira followed him at a distance, attempting to be inconspicuous. He walked seven blocks, then entered an older apartment building. Two minutes later, Mira approached the building's entrance and tried to figure out which unit might be Elliot's. She could have just invited herself over when they'd met at the store earlier. Instead, she stalked him.
Mira stalked Elliot Tanner for weeks. It became her new hobby, online and off. One day, she decided that it was time for them to meet again. She waited outside Elliot's building, waiting for him to come out, which he usually did in late afternoon. While she waited, a paper airplane flew in her direction and struck her.
Examining the crisply-folded glider, Mire found a note. "Please stop following me," it said. "My paranoid neighbor thinks you're an undercover cop. Here's a number where I can be reached."
Calling the number, Elliot answered. "So what exactly is your deal?" he asked.
"I don't know," answered Mira honestly. "I guess I'm just intrigued."
"Okay, but are you stable?" asked Elliot. "I mean, you're standing outside my building uninvited right now. If I invite you up, are you going to cause trouble?"
Mira agreed to be good and was buzzed into the building. Elliot's door opened as she reached it. "Drink?" asked Elliot, turning and leading the way to the kitchen.
Seated, sipping lemonade, they studied each other for a long moment. "Are you really going to make me ask why you're stalking me?" asked Elliot.
"I just ...," said Mira.
"If our roles were reversed, and I was the one following you around, you'd have for sure called the cops by now," said Elliot. "So tell me, what's going on here?"
"Honestly, I have no idea what I'm doing," admitted Mira. "You probably think I'm a total nut job, but all I wanted was to get to know you. Just, without you knowing about it."
"Well, what did you learn?" asked Elliot.
"It's like you have this totally normal life, but I can tell you're hiding something big," said Mira. "I don't know what it is, but definitely something."
"Interesting," said Elliot. "What do you think gave you that impression?"
"Before, it was only a feeling," said Mira. "But the vibe in here is super weird. Your furniture looks like a custom set. And that painting I saw on my way in? Plus, you don't even have a dog! No, you're definitely hiding something."
Elliot laughed. "True," he said. "I'm ambivalent about dogs, and everyone on Twitter would hate on me if they found out."
"Twitter's for old people," said Mira. "Unless you mean crypto Twitter."
"My videos do alright there," said Elliot. "The old people are my fans."
"Is producing those videos your actual job?" asked Mira.
"Part of it," said Elliot. "As you're aware, I have a whole brand."
"But do you have people?" asked Mira. "Because you didn't meet with anyone else the whole time I followed you. Where are your people?"
"I do prioritize my solitude," said Elliot. "And you wouldn't have seen my online meetings. Also, you might not be a very competent stalker. You could've missed something."
"I'm a competent stalker!" said Mira.
"I knew you were there the whole time," said Elliot. "I kept waiting for you to do something but you just kept following me. Where were you hoping I'd lead you?"
"Somewhere better than here," said Mira. "A secret meeting. A lovers' dalliance. But no, all you do is go to the grocery store and sometimes the diner."
"Last week I went to Detroit to participate in the purchase of a building with a crypto collective," said Elliot.
"That's where you went!" said Mira.
"I feel like I should mention something about boundaries," said Elliot. "As in, do you want to be my friend or my stalker?"
"Can't it be both?" asked Mira. "But seriously, what do you even do for fun?"
"Who says I have fun?" asked Elliot.
"You're having fun right now," said Mira.
"Maybe I am," said Elliot. "But if we're going to hang out, I'm sure you'll blog about it, so I need you to promise me that you'll only publish true information."
"Okay," agreed Mira.
"And also, there is a subject that I'd ask you never to write about," said Elliot. "I'll remind you of this if the subject ever comes up."
"Fine," said Mira, her mind scrambling to apprehend the nature of the secret subject.
"Aries or Aquarius?" asked Elliot.
"Aquarius," said Mira. "Why?"
"Are you looking for a job?" asked Elliot.
Mira, who had skipped work to stalk Elliot, considered this question. "What do you have?" she asked.
"Maybe some social media to start," said Elliot. "Possibly errands. Nothing full-time, or even part-time. Little jobs here and there. You interested?"
"Totally," said Mira. "I'll do whatever. Only, you have to tell me your big secret. It'll drive me crazy otherwise."
(Feature image from Pixabay.)
Read my novels:
- The Paradise Anomaly is available in print via Blurb and for Kindle on Amazon.
- Psychic Avalanche is available in print via Blurb and for Kindle on Amazon.
- One Man Embassy is available in print via Blurb and for Kindle on Amazon.
- Flying Saucer Shenanigans is available in print via Blurb and for Kindle on Amazon.
- Rainbow Lullaby is available in print via Blurb and for Kindle on Amazon.
- The Ostermann Method is available in print via Blurb and for Kindle on Amazon.
- Blue Dragon Mississippi is available in print via Blurb and for Kindle on Amazon.
Check out the comic I wrote:
- Finney Vol 1 Immutable Journey is available as a free e-comic.
Read my autobiographical monograph:
- Navigating Dystopia can be read for free or purchased as an NFT.
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