"Hello, darkness my old friend I've come to talk with you again" 

He waited in the dark, under the basement stairs, absorbing the faint strains of  "The Sounds of Silence" as her voice struggled to rise above the monotonous drumming of the shower.  The singing was uninhibited and slightly off-key, unaware of the audience. The faucets shrieked in protest as the pounding died to a steady drip.  The quick rasp of the curtain was startlingly loud in the taut silence - a hiccup tearing apart a long-held breath.  He listened to her singing to herself behind the closed door, and waited patiently. 

He was not disappointed. 

The bathroom door opened wide and a rectangle of light penetrated the darkness.  The light raced across the floor but shuddered to a stop at his feet.  

She stood framed in the steamy doorway wearing only a white T-shirt.  The light shone through the thin material that clung to her damp skin.  Drops of water streamed down her legs as she placed one tiny foot on the door frame.  She caught the bright droplets with a fluffy white towel as they fell from the softness behind her knee.  Her hair swung low to curtain her face in a dark, shiny tangle as she bent over freshly-shaven legs.  

A slow, speculative smile cracked his parched lips as they stretched, appreciating the quick vision of smooth thigh before she straightened. 

It was only then that she saw him. 

     "Hello, sir," she said, wrapping her arms around herself.  
     "What are you doing down here?" 
     "Im just doing the laundry," he said smoothly, holding her gaze.  

She looked away first. 

     "Your father called a little while ago when you were in the shower," he told her.  "I said you would call him back." 

She nodded and placed her hand on the doorknob.  She began twisting it roughly, back and forth. 

     "You know, I'm glad you decided to stay here for a while before you flew back home for the summer.  Julie misses you a lot you know." 

She smiled at the doorknob, twisting it faster.  

     "Yeah, I know. I miss her too.  Its good to see her again."  
     "Come upstairs and watch the game with me when youre done down here," said Julies father, staring at her hand on the knob as the knuckles grew white. 
     "Sure," she said, glancing up to give him a quick smile. 

The door slammed shut.