Chapter 8

I would like to say I was good at handling my feelings. That I was cool as a cucumber. I could even call myself the definition of calm. I wasn't even breaking a sweat. Nothing to worry about. Everything was going to totally be okay.

Like totally fine.

Absolutely nothing was wrong.

Nothing.

Not a thing.

No wrongness here.

Nope.

No.

No way.

No way was I in denial.

No.

No.

Yea.

No way I wasn't lying to myself.

Truth is I was freaking the fuck out.

I was more stressed out than Taylor Swift when Kim released the video of her talking to Kanye.

That stressed out.

Someone had been following me for weeks now. Someone had been taking photos of me. Someone was stalking me.

It wasn't cool. Like the Biebs said "no pictures guys." That's how I felt. Though I definitely wasn't important enough to say that aloud. But it seemed extremely self explanatory.

I could feel my forehead breakout into a sweat as I just stared at the photos.

I knew I was moving, I did. But my body was acting on its own, mostly because it was in straight up self preservation mode.

I picked up my house phone numbly and started to dial.

It rang three times before a deep masculine voice came on the line.

"Yes?"

I swallowed loudly and said "Come over. I need you."

The voice on the other line said nothing for a minute. Then in a very caution tone he said "I'll be right there."

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"What the fuck is this Candice? You need to call the cops. Like now. Someone's been following you. Like Robert John Bardo kind of stalking." Anthony said waving his arms around in a frantic manner.

"Who?" I asked. Kind of taken aback how I had no idea who he was talking about.

"Guy who killed that celebrity he was stalking?" When I still looked confused he rolled his eyes. "It doesn't matter. We need to call the police, or at the very least tell your mom."

"I can't." I said automatically.

"Why the fuck not?"

"She can't go through this again."

"Again?"

I didn't answer him. I just looked down at my feet not ready to talk about it. "The point is Anthony I'm not telling my mom. I can handle this."

He sighed. He took a step closer and wrapped his arms around me. His hug was warm and welcoming, everything I needed in the moment. "Just be careful Candice. Someone's after you. Stop trying to take care of other people and let others take care of you for once."

I felt his lips at my forehead as he kissed me. I sighed in reluctance. "Okay. Give me a week or two to figure out what I'm going to do. If I don't get anything else weird I'm going to write it off as a bad prank. And if I do I promise I'll tell my mom."

He looked at me with concern, "Promise me?"

"Promise."

He didn't look too convinced. "I love you Candice. More than you can ever know. I don't know what I'd do if anything ever happened to you."

It felt odd seeing Anthony so serious. He was normally all raunchy jokes and sassy comments. Suddenly he was so serious it make me feel the full weight of the situation. Something I was trying not to take so seriously. "You're scaring me you're so serious. It's not like you."

"You acting like everything is fine is totally like you. Candice please I'll only ask you once and I won't ask again but please tell me. What happened?"

His eyes pierced into my soul for a moment. I felt vulnerable. I hated it. I struggled internally for a few moments about whether or not I should even say anything.

I wasn't going to.

But I if I was going to drag him into my issues he should at least know what he's dealing with.

"I had a piano teacher. For years he taught me. Made me a better pianist. Made me who I am today. I cared a lot for him. He was like the father I never had. He was there for my birthdays, my recitals, everything. He was even dating my mom for a couple of years. I thought we'd be a family. I'd have a mother and a father."

I stopped. My voice faltering a little. Anthony just looked at me. Trying his best not to chime in as he normally would. "Go on." He said, trying to keep his face impassive. But I could see the cracks in his armor. He looked unsure.

"I don't have to tell you if you're getting uncomfortable."

He seemed surprised and said "I'm not. Continue."

I was taken aback at how serious he was. Even in the most depressing situations Anthony would always make a joke. Even if it was going against a social normality and bordering on rude.

"Anthony are you-"

"Yes Candice. Continue you're god damn story." I had to take a step back at his intensity. He seemed to notice my hesitation to continue and said "I'm sorry. I just see where this is going and my heart is breaking Candice. Please. Continue." He smiled his warm reassuring smile and I took a deep breathe.

"His name was Craig Watercrest. I didn't know it at the time but he was becoming more and more interested in me. And on a deeper level than someone you'd consider a daughter. During 8th grade he was taking about us moving in with him. I was being a brat. I didn't want to move I had friends. I liked my house. I didn't want to move. And my mom did. And I began to resent him. I was pissed. So I told my mom I never wanted to see Craig again. So despite the fact the two of them were still dating my mom just gave me my space assuming I'd eventually cool down and change my mind. I didn't. I hadn't seen him in a few months. That's when all the things kept getting sent to me."

"Things like what?"

"Dead Roses, for my middle name, covered in bugs. Rotting flesh of animals. Letters. Love Letters. Death threats. Photos, of me. I was terrified. So was my mom. We didn't get why someone would send them. When all this stuff started to happen my mom asked Craig to stay with us. Figuring it'd be nice to have a man in the house for safety. I even wanted him around more often. For months this stuff was being sent. And Craig continued to get closer to us. Which ended up being his plan all along. One day my mom had to work a double at the hospital." I stopped talking for a minute. I hated this part.

"Well he told me he saw something outside the window and we had to run. We needed to pick up my mom from work and head to the police station right away. He thought my stalker was outside. So I went with him. It took me a minute to realize that we were going to opposite direction of the hospital. When I asked him he told me we were going somewhere. Just him and I." I paused again.

I didn't know if it was because I was upset or if I realized how detached even I felt towards the story.

"He wanted me. He told me he was in love with me. That my mother was getting in our way. That's why we had to go. Long story short a boy from my neighborhood saw him take me somewhere and thought it was odd. Anyways the police found me. I had a few broken bones, mostly self inflicted because I was trying to run away and fell down a river bank. Craig ended up becoming a social pariah. Couldn't get a job. Ended up trying to commit suicide. He failed. He's in a coma has been for years now. It ended. It's over. Luckily I was a minor so my name and my family's name wasn't used for privacy. So no one knows. Well no one knew. Someone must be pulling some sort of joke. Trying to scare me."

"It's a pretty elaborate joke Candice. This is serious. Did Craig have any family?"

"No. Never married. No kids. Nothing. He didn't even seem to have many friends. He never mentioned anyone. Just his other pupils."

"This is serious Candice. Someone is after you."

"No. It's a joke. It has to be." I said seriously. I didn't believe myself. But I had to keep telling myself it or I'd lose it.

"Candice. No one knew." He said sympathetically.

"No. The police knew. A lot of the guys on the case were from my home town. They have kids my age. Maybe someone told their kids and the kids wanted to pull a practical joke."

"Just promise me if one more thing happens you'll tell you mom. I love you Candice. Seriously. You're my person. Be safe."

"I promise. I told you."

I didn't keep my promise. Because after Anthony left I got another gift. A stuffed kitten was awaiting me in my room. He had grey paws. One eye was blue the other one was brown. He had a collar on. Mr. Hoppers it read. I felt a chill run down my spine. He was hanging from my ceiling.

Fucking Lucas.

It was him. He had to have been the one from the start. He was he only one who knew. He was the one who hung Mr. Hooper from the tree when he killed him.

Sure he was in one of the pictures. But he could have had someone take it for him. He was just wrapped enough to make me relive my nightmares.

I was red hot by the time he snuck into my bedroom that night. I was fuming. As soon as he came in I walked right up to him.

"Hey Candy Cane."

I didn't saw anything. I let my rage eat me alive. I didn't realize what I was doing until my fist collided with his face and pain shattered through my hand.

"Fuck!" I screamed in pain as I clutched my hand. Lucas stood still looking unchanging even though his face was red and swelling up a bit. "Fuck fuck fuck fuck."

He smiled his carefree smile and said "You okay Candy?"

"Get out! Get the fuck out!" I screamed not giving a crap who heard me. My mom, my neighbors, that stupid bird who made a nest outside my window. "Now. I hate you. Get out. Get out.  Get out."

"What is going on?" His golden eyes reaching into my soul.

"I know it's you. I know it's been you. It's always been you. You're the reason for everything wrong. I hate you. Get out. Lucas Avery get out!"

He looked around the room for a minute. His eyes focusing on what was on my desk. The same place where I had the photos laying out.

He focused on the photos. He frowned. He turned his head up towards me and his frowned deepened.

For a second nothing happened. We were frozen. I felt so much in that moment. Love. Hate. Love. Hate.

I was torn about my own feelings.

He made the first move. He walked towards me. Hugged me tightly to his chest. I resisted his embrace. But only for a moment. I melted into him and cried. I sobbed. I felt every ounce of fear I wanted to repress. I was scared.

When I finally stopped crying he kissed my forehead.

With that he left. Leaving me more confused than Selena Gomez after a Justin Bieber throwback.

That night I realize how lonely I felt without him next to me.

It was an unnerving feelings.

I hated it.

I loved him.

.

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I looked up, slowly getting out of my trance
The party was crowed and the moment I had walked in I was immediately flocked by people. "So did you hear what happened? Jared Winters hooked up with Donna Templeton in his mother's apartment in Paris, but David Ringman's little brother happened to be there in the same apartment complex. Apparently after Donna left Jared snuck his other lover into the apartment. And guess what? The other lover was another guy! Can you believe it? Jared Winters, biggest man whore of them all ended up being gay!"

I listened to the idle chatter. I tried to absorb the gossip. I did. But I couldn't help but keep my eyes on Emmet Morgan.

Tensely had called me not too long after my altercation with Lucas inviting me to a party. I agreed wanting nothing more to forget my meeting with the devil.

I dressed to the nines. My blonde hair was curled in perfect ringlets, my blues eyes were flawlessly done up. My black trapeze dress was the perfect balance of casual and sexy at the same time. My blue heals that matched the color of my eyes added that perfect edge.

I was going out with my best friend. I was going to get drunk. And there wasn't anything anyone could do about it.

But of course the moment I got there I wanted nothing more than to go home.

Tensely had already gone off with some guy. And I was off too my own devices. I had been scanning the crowd and I was shocked to see Emmet Morgan standing in a corner talking to some brunette.

Emmet was not known to go to parties. In fact he was the definition of anti-social. I had never once seen him out at a party in two years.

I had been slightly surprised at first. He was beautiful, no girl on earth could deny it. His eyes made you melt. His smile was breathtaking and his presence, well whether or not you wanted to notice him you always did.

But he was violent, moody, didn't like anyone, didn't talk to anyone. And his drawings were frankly disturbing. Like something you'd study from a psychiatric patient.

Blood. Gore. Carnage. Oh my!

That was one thing you could never argue though. Emmet was talented. Despite the graphic image, it was almost unreal how amazing his art work was.

I took a look at the brunette who was talking to Emmett. Her name was Wendy Marlow. She wasn't a student at St. Mary's. I knew her from home. She was from Richfield. She used to be my best friend until we fought over Lucas.

She was in love with him in eighth grade. I told her he was a messed up jack ass. And she accused me of trying to take him away from her. She caught him leaving my house one day after an after school terrorizing session. She cursed me out and I never saw her again.

What was she doing with Emmet?

As I was staring Emmet happened to look over her shoulder and caught me red handed. My face turned bright red and instinctively I turned away.

But I didn't look away for long. Much like Lucas his green eyes always held me. Whether I wanted them to or now. I looked back towards him.

I met his eyes. He was still staring at me. My breath caught again. He was so beautiful it threw me for a loop every time.

We held each other's gaze for a long time. For a moment everything stood still.

Until Wendy turned towards me. She must have been curious to what he was looking at.

Her eyes scanned the room until they met mine. Her eyes widened for a minute. They narrowed ever so slightly. She flashed me a smile and turned back around towards Emmet.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. He finally looked away from me and returned her kiss.

Soon they were heavily making out.

I turned away uncomfortably and shifted towards the back door of the house.

When I stepped out into the fresh air I noticed almost immediately the smell of marijuana lingering in the air.

I looked to the right and noticed a tall figure in the corner. I recognized it immediately.

"What are you doing Lucas?"

"Smoking a joint." His voice was calm, he gave me a slight glance. It was as though talking to me was the last thing he wanted to do.

"I can see that."

"Then why would you ask?" He asked rolling his eyes.

"Why would you smoke that? It's against your probation."

"How the actual fûck do you know a thing about my probation doll face?" He said with a weak smile.

"You're parents are pretty chatty." I admitted.

"Parents huh?" He asked, his question wasn't at all really a question directed towards me. It seemed a bit more self internal than that.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

He looked at me. His goldeneyes glowing in the night. "Come on a drive with me."

"You don't have a car."

"That hasn't stopped me before." He grabbed my hand and yanked me. In a whirl wind of movements I was suddenly standing outside a beat up old junker car while my crazy childhood friend, and the boy I was in denial about having feelings for started to break into some random persons car.

"This is crazy!" I screamed. My blood was pumping. I couldn't believe this. I didn't even freaking litter and here I was. Becoming an accessory to murder.

Okay maybe not murder. But you get my drift.

He looked up at me with his golden eyes and paused his movement. He smiled and said "Here." He said as he tossed me a small bottle of Jack. "Chug that."

I looked at the small pocket sized bottle and nervously fiddled with it. "I don't think so." I said as I went to hand it back.

He just rolled his eyes and said "Listen here Candy Cane. You're about to become the Bonnie to my Clyde. I'm not letting you go. So fucking drink that up so we can get going before I kidnap you."

I nervously unscrewed the lid as I watched in awe as Lucas fiddled with the door a bit. To my shock he opened it in no time at all. Moments later and some rewiring Lucas had somehow managed to get the car started.

"Let's go." He said with a smile from behind the drivers seat. I felt a sick feeling over come me immediately.

As we drove the silence ate me alive. Finally my voice cut through the night like a knife.

"Did you ever regret saving me?" As soon as I asked I held my breath too scared to listen to the answer.

He didn't answer me for a long while.

I had actually given up hope on getting an answer.

But he finally said "No."

With that I let all my hesitations fly out the window.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

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Thanks for putting up with my late updates.

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Sorry this seemed awkward. I had a lot of trouble with this chapter.

Xoxo