Shelly

It had been a week since the arrival of the mystery family. I occasionally went outside to see if I could get anything from them. So far there was nothing new. They stayed inside as much as possible. I wanted to know more as I was a curious person.

"Mom, I want to go out."

"No, I already told you that. You can't go out when there is this thing going on."

"Mom." A groan followed.

"No, come back inside when you're ready to be smart and not stupid." A huff was heard before their sliding door shut.

"Screw ya too Mom," he said with an attitude.

"You shouldn't be mean to her, she's trying to protect you," I yelled for him to hear.

I had been meaning to talk to them when I got a rare sight of them. I figured that if we couldn't meet face to face that we meet fence to fence. It wasn't like we had to get close, loud talking was enough.

It was a second before I got a reply. I thought that he didn't want to reply to some wierdo who butts into other people's business. I know I wouldn't. Why had I even said something in the first place?

"It's not nice to eavesdrop on people, you know that?"

"As long as you aren't Joe Goldberg, I think it's fine."

"No, as long as you aren't Joe Goldberg," he joked with a chuckle.

"Do I sound like a boy to you?"

It was a silly question because if he looked at me, I'd be sure he thought I was one. I liked loose clothes just as much as I liked tight ones. I liked manspreading and crossing my legs. I even liked letting my hair go nappy sometimes, if it looked good on those rare few days, than having to doll my hair up. Anything gendered turned into nothingness when used on my body. 

"No, but it still applies." His voice sounded defensive.

"I'm sorry if you aren't being super quiet."

"I'm sorry if your big ears are listening to a conversation that has nothing to do with you."

My hand flew to my chest as if he could see me. I blinked a few times before we settled into silence. I hope he regretted saying that because it had hurt in some form. And I knew he didn't go inside as there was no movement, so he had to have just been sitting there. Deciding that I didn't need to be told rude things even if I did butt in, I pulled my headphones out and plugged them in before turning my music on.

I was at least two songs in when I heard a muffled voice. I paused my music but there was nothing. Turning my music back on, the voice continued. I threw my head back and scrunched my nose up.

"Are ya talking to me?" I asked with both headphones out, on in each of my hands.

"Were you seriously not listening?"

"I was listening to music because it seemed like you didn't like my big ears listening in on conversations."

"I was literally talking to...you know what, never mind, forget it," he said and I heard the door open before a loud bang of it closing.