Chapter Six

      I gave Jordan a slight smile before heading back towards the restaurant. He gave me a friendly wave before heading back up to the VIP section. I found myself wishing I had asked Jordan about that guy, at least his name, but I chickened out. Matt made sure to open the door for me as I walked by. I thanked him as I made my way through.

      “No problem, cutie,” was his reply. I rolled my eyes when he said that. He was not getting me with his player ways. Especially not after that run-in with Chad.

      The first half of the work went by fairly normally. I spent my first thirty-minute lunch break texting Jess. She was the only person I could talk to about my strange morning. She, of course, was focused on getting all the details about the parts of the VIP lounge she could get out of me. I couldn’t blame her. We spent many teenage days gossiping about what we thought it would look like. Each idea was crazier than the last back then.

      “No, it wasn’t fully made from diamonds,” I texted her back with a laugh. The only thing that was worth noting was that I noticed that the eyes that came close to that level of beauty were the handsome guy's eyes, but I didn’t mention him. I planned on telling her later about that, but there wasn’t enough time on my break to talk about him. Because if I talked about him, I don’t think I would stop, even though I know nothing about him, and that bothered me a lot. Why was I so obsessed over a guy I just met? It was not like me at all.

     “Damn, with how mysterious they keep that place, I would think it was just stupid luxurious.” Jess texted,

      “Yes, I promise it was just the normal boring luxury,” I replied.

      “So, nothing crazy to talk about the place?” Jess asked.

      “Not really. Granted, I didn’t get far. Just a few feet in, but Chad was there with two blond bimbos.” I replied, anger filling my chest at the thought of that jerk. His comments still bothered me, even though they shouldn’t have.

     “WHAT?? Why would that half-life be hanging around there? He’s not even from this town,” Jess texted;

      I’m sure she was just as angry as I felt without knowing the shitty comment he and his blond bimbos made today. Her anger was just based on what he did to me in high school. I lost all my so-called friends that year, except for her, thanks to him and Sarah. As much as it sucked back then. It at least showed me who was truly a friend and who was fake.

      “I know. It was a shock to see him,” I texted, feeling unsure if I should tell her the whole thing right now. I decided it could wait till after work. There was no use getting her upset while I was working.

      “You okay? I will happily get arrested if I can get up there and beat his ass.” Jess texted, and I loved her for it.

      “Yeah, I am fine… The douche bag is not worth the energy it takes to think about,” I tell her, because it’s true he’s not worth it. Before she could reply, I added.

      “Break is almost over, I’ll text you when I’m done, I should be off around 7:30, we can talk more about everything else that happened then.” I sent it before locking my phone and tossing it in my bag. I cleaned up my lunch before punching back into work from my break.

      For a while, work went by as it typically did. It was a little busier than the morning, but nothing unusual for this time of year. The last few hours of work, though, were strange. I kept feeling like someone or something was watching me. Whenever I looked in that direction, I felt it in there; there was nothing but a shadow or an emptiness that made the hairs on my arm stand up. It must just be exhaustion after such a strange day, I tried to tell myself. Something in my gut told me that wasn’t the case.

      It was September, so it was already getting dark early. I had about two hours left before my shift was over, and the sun was already setting.

      “Hey, Kelly, do you mind if I take a second to see if I can get a ride home? I walked today, and I don’t feel like walking home alone in the dark.” I asked my manager. I have walked home in the dark a million times before. I hope she didn’t find my request strange. Kelly looked up at me and gave me an assessing look. As if she read the uneasy expression on my face, she replied.

      “Of course, go ahead… but is everything okay? Did something happen that is making you feel that way?” She seemed concerned.

      I didn’t tell her about what happened with Chad and the stranger. I didn’t tell her about how Joel and Jordan had to save me, basically. I didn’t want her to think I was incapable of bringing food items to the VIP lounge, especially since I hoped to do so again. Maybe I could ask the stranger his name. Perhaps it was just seeing Chad again that had me uneasy. I am sure it was nothing but my head playing tricks on me.

      “Oh yeah, everything is fine. I think I’m just a little tired,” I tried to give her a big, reassuring smile.

        “Okay, if you are sure, but don’t ever hesitate to let me know if someone gives you trouble and you don’t feel safe,” Kelly tells me as I go and grab my phone from my bag.

     I first called Jess, but she couldn’t because she was babysitting the Robins' twin boys. She told me I could come by and hang out with her while she babysits, though, which will be better than going home. I only had one other person I could think of asking, but did I really want to bother him? He did say if I needed anything to let him know. Maybe I’ll suck it up and walk home. A shiver of dread went through me at that thought. No, that wasn’t a good idea. I don’t know why, but it wasn’t. So, I quickly sent the text.

      “Hey… I am sorry to bother you. But do you mind picking me up and giving me a ride? I get off work at 7:30. Might be a few minutes later to clean up and finish, so don’t rush…. I don’t want to walk alone tonight…”