Gemotions

The thumping bass from next door vibrated through the floorboards. Clara, normally a stickler for quiet evenings, actually *smiled*. Her hand, which had been reaching for the phone to call the landlord, froze. A blush crept up her neck, warming her cheeks. She pictured Liam, the new tenant, and his easy grin.

He’d been outside earlier, wrestling with a stubborn garden hose. She'd offered help, of course, stumbling over her words, completely useless. He’d laughed, a sound like wind chimes, and she’d felt a jolt of… well, she wasn't sure what it was. But it was nice.

Now, instead of dialing, she opened her window a crack, letting the music spill into her own apartment. Maybe, just maybe, he’d come out. Maybe he’d… what? She didn’t know. All she knew was the thrum of the music felt less like an annoyance and more like… a invitation.