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1.

~ He knew he should have been working. Yet, the Point Man was seated at his desk, his loft style apartment dark so she wouldn't see him. So she wouldn't know he was watching her.

~ He had never paid much attention to the the apartment directly across the street from him before. The previous tenants had kept the massive windows closed and he didn't know or care about them. Then one rainy day, it was always raining in Seattle, she appeared. Her dark hair swept off her face. Her clothes casual and her large eyes sparkling from the move. A girlfriend of hers helping her bring in boxes and the two of them laughing.

Arthur leaned back in his chair and watched them as if they were a very entertaining TV program. He would observe from their body language who was the one moving in. Could tell what they were saying when they ordered pizza and tried to hook up the TV. The girls scowling over the instructions and eventually the pretty dark haired girl gave up and resorted to watching TV on her laptop.

He watched as her friend left and the dark haired girl with the nice eyes unpacked and decorated her new space. Her apartment was small, but large enough for a solitary person. She had a living room, eat in kitchen, and finally a bedroom. All of them ran together like the old style railroad apartments. A door with what he imagined to be a bathroom was right beside the bedroom, completed her living space.

All of the apartment was there for the Point Man to see because the dark haired girl never closed her blinds. Not even at night.

She most likely thought that, since she was on the 10th floor, no one would see in. It was fair logic, she didn't account for the old watch factory that had been turned into trendy loft apartments a few years ago.

The Point Man loved his own living space. Loved the brick walls that made it feel less like an urban apartment, and more like a home. Loved the high ceilings and stainless steel appliances. He furnished his home with modern, masculine furniture. Black leather living room sets, glass and metal tables. All of it very minimalist. Arthur despised clutter in any form. His home was large and airy. Spacious and bare.

By contrast, her apartment was small, cluttered and very homey. She had a colorful bed spread and lovely art prints decorating her walls. She had a massive book collection. Her bookcases overpowering the living room and making it look almost like a library. Her sofa was big and comfortable looking. At night, he would watch her from his desk as she curled into that plush sofa and read.

She never did hook up her TV and instead, either played on her laptop or read. Her evenings were just as boring and lonely as his.

He found himself being comforted by the sight of her. His apartment was on the top of the old watch factory and the building was set at an angle. As a result, his was the only window who could see her apartment. The reality was, he could see into all of the apartments across from his living room that he kept his desk at. It was a distraction to watch the people in their daily lives. Like watching snippets of TV shows where their was always some drama he half tuned into.

So why was she so different? She was not the prettiest girl he had ever seen. Her apartment was not the nicest. Yet, he was drawn to her. He would try to work and found his eyes wandering over to her window to see if she was still reading. If she was cooking herself something, if she was taking a shower and going to bed.

He surprised himself by finding he had adopted her routine. He would fix himself something when she did. Work while she read or was on the internet. When she took her shower, so did he. He would make sure her lights were out in her window before going to bed himself.

It was like an odd relationship. One where they never spoke to each other, but were still together. Like an old married couple.

It was an oddly fulfilling thing to a man who didn't want, or have time for relationships.

~ One day, the rare event of sunlight came over the Point Man's little world. The skies cleared and the city woke up as if from a long sleep.

He had always lived in densely urban areas and never felt the need for his own car. He liked taking the light rail. It came almost to his front door and he could relax and listen to music or work for the 30 minute commute. He was a good driver, but traffic was starting to annoy him and he liked not having to hurry or worry that early in the morning.

"Is this the 524?" A voice asked.

The Point Man had just shouldered on his bag and turned to the new commuter. It was the girl he had been watching from his window these past few weeks.

The Point Man was speechless in shock.
"I'm sorry." She said holding her iPhone and checking it. "This app said this was the 524. It goes out of downtown?" Her big brown eyes inquisitive and innocent.

"It does." Arthur almost barked. "Sorry, yes. It's the train that goes to the market district and then the university."

"Oh good." She sighed. "My car is in the shop and this is the first time I'm taking the rail."

Arthur nodded and gave her a smile. Something that didn't come easy to him.

They said nothing as they waited with the half dozen other commuters in the bright sunshine.

Finally the futuristic train glided up to them. He waved at her to board first and she waved a printed out receipt to the ticket scanner.

"You might want to get a city pass." Arthur offered. "It's cheaper."

"Oh, well hopefully my car won't take too long." she said as the walked past the storage for bikes and luggage. He didn't know why he was walking behind her. He normally took which ever seat looked most privet and enjoyed his solitude.

"You know, if you go to the second level, you can have nice view." He pointed to the balcony like seating overhead.

"Oh." She said looking up. "Thanks."

She took his advice and went up the little stairs to the balcony. He took his seat below and occasionally watched her viewing the passing buildings.

She got off at the collage and waved goodbye to him. The Point Man nodding to her as he drank his coffee and pretended to be indifferent.

~ When he got off work, he took the same train home. It was a pleasant commute and he liked it. The car he chose was a 'silent car' which means all the passengers were here because they appreciated a peaceful trip. No kids, no crying babies, no loud music or phone conversations.

Arthur was just about to relax and close his eyes, his ear buds in, as he felt the train stop at the college.

He opened his eyes and was pleased to see his dark haired neighbor climb on board.

"Hi, again." She said when she spotted him.

He took his ear buds out and smiled at her.
"Hello." He said formally.

"Thank you for telling me about the balcony. It was a nice view." She said. "Do you mind if I sit here? The upper level is a little crowded for my taste."

"Sure." Arthur said sitting up as she sank into the comfortable seat across from him.
"I'm Arthur." He said.

"Ariadne."

"That's an unusual name." He laughed.
"Hippie parents." She explained with a shrug.

He chuckled.
"I was named after my great-grandfather. It's not easy having an old man's name." He said feeling happy for some reason.
"So, which is worse. A hippie name that makes everyone look at you like you just walked off the commune?" She teased.

Arthur laughed.

"Well, you could always change it." He offered.

"And be like everyone else? Not a chance." She said in mock horror.

He smiled and shifted in his seat.

"So... you're a student." He said thinking of something to say.

She nodded.
"Yeah, I study architecture and art history." She told him.

"Really? I would have thought you would study literature." He said and then wished he hadn't as she gave him a curious look.

"What do you do?" She asked.

"Oh it's boring, I work in pharmaceuticals." He said lamely. His well rehearsed cover story easily slipping out.
"Don't knock pharmaceuticals." She told him honestly. "I know a lot of people that they help."

He didn't say anything. He only looked back at her in mild surprise.

She shrugged.

"I'm all for holistic healing, but sometimes it isn't enough. I have friends who were suffering and they take a pill a day and can lead normal lives now." She offered before looking out the window.

"That's a good way to look at it." he said.

Ariadne looked back at him and said nothing.

~ They parted ways at the the train stop. She told him good night and it was nice meeting him before walking back to her building. She never saw him slip to the old watch factory.

He rode the lift to the top floor and hurried into his apartment. His widows beckoning him. He saw her breeze into her apartment at the same time and looked through her mail.

He felt irritated as he saw she didn't lock her door behind her. Anyone could come in. He pulled out his desk chair and watched her rifle though her mail.

'Go lock your door, Ariadne.' He thought. 'Lock it right now.' He thought again before growing angry.

He was growing increasingly frustrated by her nonchalant attitude towards her front door. He even thought about going over there and telling her to lock it. But that would have ended his view of her. She would close her blinds and stop riding the train with him. So, he watched her cook dinner, read and go into her bathroom. All with her front door unlocked.

Finally, as he ate his solitary supper and observed her from his window, she came out of the bathroom. She was wrapped up in a cute, but thin robe. Her hair in a towel. She scowled at her front door and shook her head.

He saw her mouth: 'Stupid' as she locked her door.

He relaxed a little as he watched her dry her hair. Her robe coming undone slightly and he was granted the faint hint of her pale, naked flesh before she hastily closed it again.

He felt his breath catch as her breast briefly peeped out. Her soft, feminine curves beckoning him as he suddenly wished he was in the apartment with her.

First he would lecture her about not locking her door. Then he would close her blinds so no one would see in. Then, his hands would gently and easily shed that thin little robe off her. She would stand there trembling with want. Her naked body exposed to him.

Arthur blinked and the image was gone. She had redressed in the bathroom and was now in cute pajamas. Her attentions on a book as she looked comfy on her sofa.

Arthur sighed and went to work on his laptop. He looked over at her apartment as she read late into the night.

~ When she finally closed her book and went to bed, he took his shower. He made sure her apartment was dark before climbing into his lonely, empty bed. He felt that insistent need spark inside of him that made his hands wander downward. The idea of his pretty neighbor in her thin little robe, her breast peeking out. He wondered if she knew he was watching. Knew he could see her and that was why she had let that robe flap open.

He liked that idea. His mind playing a scenario where he went to he apartment to complain about her lewd behavior. Her telling him she knew he was watching her. That she wanted to put on a show for him. Then her robe was off and she was naked before him.

He found himself pumping hard at the idea of all he would do to her. Her body helpless under him as his hands dove between her legs. His lips on her nipples and her moans encouraging him.

He grabbed a tissue as he felt himself come. His body relaxed and so happy now.

He fell asleep effortlessly and woke up to watch her again.