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I skip my classes for the next week, and my boss Diane lets me help out on dish during the first weekend so I don't have to come into contact with very many people. I can hardly manage even crawling out of bed, so I know I'm nowhere near ready to throw myself back out into the world. When I do leave my bedroom, it's only to use the bathroom and brush my teeth. I don't recognize the girl staring back at me in the mirror. Her cheeks are too hollow, her green eyes too dull and puffy, and her skin is far too pale to be my own.

I'm shuffling back from the bathroom, my robe cinched tightly at the waist, when I overhear Hazel arguing on what I assume is the phone from in her room.

"I just don't know what to do," she says helplessly, her voice rising. "She won't eat, her night terrors are getting worse, and she's not even going to her classes." There's a short pause, and I listen intently to the sound of her bare feet smacking against the hardwood floors. "Yeah babe, I know that...she's my best friend so of course it's my problem, Tyler...yeah, I know, I'm sorry. I'm just stressed...I want to see you too, baby, but you can't come over right now..."

A wave of guilt punches me in the gut with enough force that I have to grip the wall in order to keep from doubling over. I never meant to interfere with Hazel and Tyler's relationship. I never meant to take anyone else with me in my downward spiral.

"No, I can't leave right now, not until I know she's okay," Hazel continues.

I suck in a shaky breath and retreat back into the bathroom. Silent sobs rack through me, burning my lungs. How did everything get so...fucked up?

I turn on the shower, letting the steam fill the bathroom before I shed off my clothes. My entire body aches, but this is something I have to do. I need to get back on track, to force my life back into at least some form of normalcy, and the first step to that is a hot shower.

The warm water cascades down around me, but it does nothing to relax my tired body. I'm exhausted down to my very being.

✖️✖️✖️

Later that night, once I've finally changed into clean sweats, I sit on the couch with a blanket draped over my legs. Hazel exits her bedroom and her eyes widen momentarily when she sees me before she quickly recovers, smiling hesitantly.

"Hey hun, how are you doing?" She asks softly, coming to sit next to me on the couch.

Horrible. "I'm okay."

"Do you think maybe it might be a good idea to get in touch with Nichole?"

I shrug indifferently. "Last I heard she wasn't back yet. I think she might've taken more time off for the baby."

"Mabel—"

"I'm fine, really," I cut in. "It just took me a couple days to bounce back."

Hazel eyes me skeptically. "A couple days? That's a load of bullshit and you know it. You love him, Mabel."

Tears sting my eyes but I fight them back. "It doesn't matter anymore. I'm not strong enough to deal with all the drama that comes with being with Alex."

She pats my knee tenderly. "You shouldn't have to be. Relationships aren't supposed to be easy, but you shouldn't have to worry about some crazy chick like Kelsey always trying to meddle."

I nod, grateful that she understands, and lean into her side. "You don't have to worry about me, Hazel. You don't have to stay home all the time, I know you want to see Tyler."

She gnaws on her lower lip and tucks her blonde hair behind her ear. "You're one of my best friends, I didn't want to leave you alone while you're upset."

"And I love you for that," I tell her earnestly, "but it's okay. You should feel free to see Tyler whenever you want. I don't want you feeling like you need to babysit me."

"I'll see him tomorrow," she replies, nudging her shoulder against mine. "Tonight I just want to hang out with my best friend and rant about how dumb boys are."

✖️✖️✖️

I attend my classes for the rest of the week, struggling to catch up with what I've missed, and by Friday I'm exhausted. I briefly consider calling off for my shift at the diner, but I know that I can't. I need to hold myself accountable and accept the responsibility instead of running from it.

Hazel drops me off out front, wishing me luck on one if my first nights working without her.

"Are you sure you're okay walking home after work?" She asks as the car idles out front. "Tyler and I can come after the game to pick you up."

I shake my head, forcing a smile, and wave her off. "It's like a two mile walk, I'll be fine."

"Well, call me if you change your mind."

"Will do," I tell her as I push open the passenger side door. "Have fun tonight."

"You too!" she calls after me. "Make good money!"

The forced human contact that comes with waiting on tables makes me feel slightly better about everything with Alex. My chest still aches from the loss of him, but having to focus on my new job is a great distraction. My coworkers are pleasant enough and are more than willing to help me when I have questions, which is such a relief. But by the end of the night, as I clock out, my feet are sore and my cheeks are tight from having to smile so much.

"Have a good night!" The hostess, Hannah, says to me as I walk past her.

I return her friendly smile, waving with one hand as I zip my parka up with the other.

The icy winter air rushes at me as soon as I push open the door, biting fiercely at my bare legs. I pull my hood up and push my hands deeper into the pockets of my coat, bracing myself against the harsh wind.

I stick to the side roads as I walk, wanting to keep out of traffic as much as possible as I make the trek back to campus. The streets I take aren't busy at this time of night, so I instantly become aware when another set of footsteps can be heard behind me. The person's boots crunch loudly against the frozen snow, and I feel the muscles in my back tense involuntarily.

They're probably just heading to campus too. I try to tell myself, but it does nothing to stop the nervous pounding of my heart.

Hoping to lose whoever is behind me, I head down another street, but the footsteps grow closer. Panic setting in, I fish my phone from my pocket and dial Hazel's number. It rings for what feels like an eternity, and I'm just about to hang up when she finally answers.

"Mabel?" The crowd cheers in the background, drowning out her voice.

"I need you to pick me up," I say quickly, stealing a glance over my shoulder.

Sure enough, a man is following me, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his pants. His head is down, covering his face with the hood of his jacket.

"What? I can't hear you."

A frustrated groan leaves my lips and I quicken my pace to a light jog. "Someone is following me. I'm on Arch street."

"Ugh, I can't hear you, hang on."

I steal another look behind me, finding that the man has increased his stride as well.

He's so close. He looks up, his hard eyes finding mine. I've never seen him before, but he stares back at me with a sense of familiarity.

"Okay what's going on?" Hazel asks, concern lacing her tone. "You're scaring me."

"Call the cops," I breathe, breaking out into a full run. "I need you to call the cops."

"Mabel!" He calls out, his boots smacking against the pavement. "I need to talk to you!"

How does he know my name?

My foot catches a chunk of ice and the world spins as I crash to the ground, my phone flying out of my hands. I scramble to get up, scraping my knees in the process as I struggle to right myself, but it's too late.

"You talked to Alice, didn't you?" He demands gruffly. "Your father didn't like that very much."

Dad is behind this? I let out a blood curdling scream, hoping that someone is close enough to hear. But despite there being rows of houses lining the street, there's not a single light on.

A splitting pain explodes across my skull as I'm hit, and I stagger forward, landing on my hands and knees again. Desperately, I try to recall the few self-defense techniques that Tyler taught me, but my brain is too foggy from the blow to my head.

"Consider this a message from Dwaine," he seethes, grabbing me by the back of my coat and yanking me roughly to my feet. He turns me around, and from the corner of my eye I catch the glint of a knife in his free hand.

"Was he too chicken shit to do the dirty work himself?" I spit out bitterly.

Oh God, this is it.

"You should've thought twice before meddling in his life."

I stare back at him, another scream building, but it does in my throat as he shoves me onto my back again. The knife comes into view again, and I recognize the make immediately. It's a hunting knife, similar to the one my father had used to gut deer so many years ago back in Michigan.

"This is your fault, you know." The man tosses me easily back onto the ground, the back of my head connecting against the asphalt with a sickening crack. He's on me in an instant, straddling my thighs while he pushes a hand down hard on my sternum to keep me immobile. "He wanted me to just ruffle your feathers a bit, maybe toss you around a little, but I'm thinking a little conniving slut like yourself deserves a bit more."

"Please don't do this," I beg, tears stinging my eyes as I squirm and struggle with all of my might. "Whatever he promised you—"

"Shut the fuck up! Jesus fucking Christ you've got a mouth on you," he snarls at me.

His hand with the knife rears back, the metal reflecting back the glow from the street lamps above us, before it comes back down, imbedding itself in my side deeply. Another scream erupts from my throat, the piercing cry echoing in the night, but there's no one around to hear it.

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And that, my dear Watson, is what we like to call a cliffhanger 😏😏

Hope you guys didn't already forget about Mabel emailing Alice (Dwaine's almost-new-wife).

How did you like the chapter? Was it everything you never thought it'd be?

Make sure to VOTE/COMMENT/ADD THIS STORY TO YOUR READING LIST so you can find out what's next!

Also...BT hit 20k+ reads guys and OH MY FUCKING GOD. You are all so so so amazing.

I figured I'd pay you guys back for the awesome support I've been getting by leaving this little treat here before I catch some shut eye...
(I'm on that night shift grind, so it's like 7:30 AM rn for me 😅)

Don't hate me too much!
Love,
Kat ❤️