Ten

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

Skylar's POV

My life was absurdly going fine. Without any interruptions from a creepy hooded stalker. Without any threats. Without anything, actually. I laid down one night and thought wow, this is what normal feels like. Which I guess, unfortunately, was a massive jinx moment. Because since when had my life ever been normal?

Since almost never. My life had a thing for getting absurd as much as my choice of clothes these days--at least according to my roommate, Nova.

"You're not going to Mrs Marshall's shop wearing that, are you?" She asked me this morning, looking rather concerned for someone who'd just woken up.

"No." I smiled at her because I was nice that way, glancing down at the red coat that I was currently putting on over my black top. "I'm rather conscious of her dog now, no thanks to you."

She waved her hand at me, dismissive or noncommittal, or maybe even both.

"Where's your...um brother?" I asked her, looking around our tiny little apartment in search of Kyle.

"Crashing at a friend's."

Weird, I thought. Chicken came running towards me and nudged her ear against my leggings. I bent down to give her a pet.

Later that day, I met up with Alex and we took a nice little stroll downtown together, catching up on stuff. I would've probably told him all about the craziness I'd experienced the past week, but it felt unnecessary when Alex started gushing about Hanna. Or at least I thought it was gushing when it was actual sulking.

"I know what will get you in the mood." I nudged Alex as we walked side by side. He glanced over at me from below his grey snapback. "We should go on a double date sometime."

Alex smiled a little. "Yeah. Sure. You think you can convince your moody little shit of a boyfriend?"

"Probably not." I linked my arm with his. "It's Caden we're talking about."

Alex huffed a laugh.

"I'll still do it though," I said. "I can be a third wheel by myself. We can all hang out together. You know, like old times?"

"I'd like that."

"So would I." I leaned my head on his arm. "What were you saying about Hanna though?"

Alex sighed and I felt it reverberating through me. "Distant. She's been growing distant. I don't...really understand why."

"What do you mean why? You're her fucking boyfriend. The love of her life. Go ask her!"

A tiny cosy looking cafe came into our view and my spirit itself screamed in delight when I thought about some nice, iced coffee. A muffin too. A car honked by and I jumped a little.

"That's not it." He shook his head. "She needs space. I'm giving her space."

"Don't tell me you want her to break up with you." I got busy twisting the silver ring on my finger, absentmindedly wondering where Caden was right now and what he was doing.

"Of course, not."

"Well." I sighed. "I'll be honest with you. I think...relationships usually go down the drain when one asks for space." I told him and we pulled to a stop. "I mean, sure, some alone time is nice. But giving someone space is almost like...not fighting for what you love. Or something like that."

Alex furrowed his brows a little.

"Look, all I'm saying is don't stay here and sulk like a cadaver-breath Romeo," I told him and the series of expressions that went over his face were rather interesting. "Give her a call and tell her that you love her."

Alex bit his lip thoughtfully.

"Because sometimes that's all you need to say and all you need to hear to make things right." I smiled.

He gave me a hesitant smile back before tugging me into a quick hug. "You can be nice sometimes, Sky."

"I'm always nice."

"I still can't believe you called me cadaver-breath though." He pinched my side and I yelped. A lady passing by gave us a look.

I shoved him and he laughed and we continued making our way towards the cute little cafe.

Alex sighed and I think he wasn't so tense anymore. "I really do love her, you know."

I nudged him again. "Yes, I know. We have a word for that now. It's called being whipped."

Alex laughed again and I was glad I could do that at least. Make him laugh.

"Come on, Alex." I tugged on his arm. "My stomach needs some food. And guess what?"

He groaned because he was my best friend and he knew me so well. With a side glare, he muttered, "I'm the one buying you that shit."

•••••

On our way out of the cafe, coffee cups in our hands and our bellies stuffed with blueberry muffins, I was busy telling Alex where Chicken was. With Mrs Marshall's since she seemed to be the only other person here, besides me, that I trusted Chicken with. She was a nice old lady and she loved spoiling Chicken with her collection of chew toys.

Alex was a bit puzzled when I started telling him how I had to take off my red coat when I was dropping Chicken off at hers, which was followed by a hearty laugh when I explained why. Alex was fucking wheezing by the time I told him how Mrs Marshall's Doberman had nearly nailed me to the floor of her flower shop one day when I'd been wearing red.

We had almost crossed the street when I glanced over my shoulder and saw someone strikingly familiar across. My eyes rounded in surprise and I stopped.

"Hey, I gotta go," I told Alex. At his questioning look, I added, "There's someone I need to talk to. My apartment's gonna be on the way. I'll see you soon, yeah?"

"'Course." He smiled and bid me goodbye after another one of his side bro hugs and a kiss on my temple.

As he started walking away, I turned around and ran all the way across the street, recognising the figure as I neared closer.

"Adrian!"

It was him, I realised, as he stopped just as quickly and turned around, hands stuffed in his jacket pockets. Once his eyes found mine, a look of confusion flickered over his features before his dark brows shot up and he grinned.

"Skylar, hey." He spoke up, sounding rather cheerful as I came to a halt right before him. I could always count on Adrian to sound so fucking cheerful just for me showing up with my presence alone. "What are you doing here?"

Pulling a few strands away from my face, I smiled wide. "Hey. I live here, remember?"

His eyebrows shot up again. "Right. Fuck. I forgot, sorry."

"Don't worry about it." I waved it off. "It's nice seeing you here. Is everyone here now? Jesse, Seth, Shane?" Caden? Though I'm pretty sure Caden wasn't to come here for a few more days. He hadn't exactly told me when.

"Yeah." He spoke a little slower, his voice dropping down a notch. "Kind of."

Kind of. "Any updates on Blake?" I lowered my voice too, hoping he'd say something. Tell me something.

Adrian's gaze was still on me as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Haven't you asked Caden?"

"Caden's told me it's all fine and I have no reason to be worried over it." Over Blake.

"He's right." He nodded.

"But he's also very cynical about Blake," I added. "There's something else going on." Something that's been keeping him awake at night.

Adrian's charcoal eyes seemed apologetic like his smile. "I don't...have any idea."

"You're lying."

"I might get a punch to the face if I say more." He wiggled his brows and I shook my head despite the smile on my lips.

"What if I ask Kyle?" I asked. "He might spill the beans. He's like, extremely vague and creepy when he wants to be."

"I know." He scrunched up his nose. "He gets on my nerves pretty easily and I'm supposed to be the nicest guy in the bunch."

Perhaps that was Kyle's speciality. To get on everyone's nerves.

"I don't..." I trailed off uncertainly, looking down at the pavement. "It's just...I don't get why Caden's so adamant about looking for Blake when everything's in the past now."

Adrian stared at me in silence.

"Isn't it?" I sounded a bit pathetic, now that I think about it.

"There's more to his disappearance, Sky."

Blake's gang looking for him. That's what Kyle had insinuated.

I nodded slowly and managed a smile. It wasn't Adrian's fault that he couldn't say much. Knowing Caden, he'd probably threatened him. But at least I knew now that there was something else going on after all. Caden wasn't telling me something big.

"That's all right," I told him, bouncing a little on my heels. "It was nice catching up with you, though. Say hi to Jesse and Seth and Shane for me?"

"Sure." He smiled back, then tilted his head a bit. "And Caden?"

"He's here?"

"Not yet."

"Well, I hope he'll say hi to me himself." I said.

Adrian huffed a laugh and nodded. "Want a ride somewhere? It's about to get dark. I've got my car around the corner."

"Nah. Thanks. I'll be fine."

Once Adrian left and I saw his back vanishing around one corner, I turned around too and started walking away. Head racing with thoughts and questions.

This was fine, I guess. I could pretend Adrian hadn't seemed so hesitant back there. I could pretend everything was fine. But what if that creepy hooded stalker struck again? Another letter? Another threat? What if it wouldn't be my cat this time? What if this really was Blake?

Perhaps the law of attraction was a real thing. A sick one at that too. Because as I walked and thought about the one thing I really should've stopped thinking about, my eyes flickered to the concrete wall beside me and it took me a brief second to stop dead in my tracks.

At the torn paper stuck there.

With my name scrawled on it.

Again and again and again.

Skylar. Skylar. Skylar.

My eyes widened and my gut squeezed because this hadn't been here before. I didn't know how but I knew, on my way here to talk to Adrian, I knew nothing had been stuck on the walls. No paper. No torn threat. Certainly not my name.

Someone had done this while I'd been busy chatting with Adrian. Right behind me.

Suddenly feeling a bit sick, I whipped my head around, trying to look past the pairs and the handful of groups of people passing by.

Someone had been here. I could've felt a pair of eyes on me and the paranoia itching on my skin. Crawling on my arms like tiny little bugs.

I must've seemed frantic right then, but it was so worth it when I spotted a lean figure a bit far away. All-clad in black. A dark hood over the face. Turning a bit in my direction but not much for me to see the face.

Finding my footing, I ran after him. No way in fucking hell was I going to stand still and not try to catch his face at least. He straightened up in alarm, which raised my suspicion even more, and realised a bit too late that I was heading his way. Since there was a crowd around us, people exiting and leaving a newly opened bakery, he couldn't escape easily enough.

Good, I found myself thinking. Just within reach. Fuck.

I skidded to an abrupt halt and my fingers grasped the back of his hood. I yanked. Not enough to stop him, but enough to startle him. The hood fell from his head and the tiniest of gasps left my lips.

My gaze only zoomed in on him despite the crowd, barely catching a glimpse of his face before the crowd separated us once again. But it was enough for me to see. Actually see.

I stopped and a few people jostled past me. I stared with wide eyes after him.

No, not a him, I told myself. It was a her.

The creepy hooded guy was a girl.

___________

blake's gonna be dropping by v soon besties Xx.


You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net