As I get closer, I grow more weary. What’s bothering Cooper so severely that he starts to scratch the windows?
I walk beside him as he continues to snarl, and I sweep my blue curtains to the side to check it out.
Oh my god.
My eyes widen, and my heart falls to my stomach when I realizewhohe’s barking at. I drop my fork as blood rushes to my ears, silencing my ability to move or breathe.
It’s the same blonde man from the coffee shop across the street looking at me with a wicked grin and abnormally bright blue eyes. His head tilts forward like he’s taking pleasure in watching me. His smile isn’t welcoming. It’s taunting. I freeze as my mouth drops open. My voice is caught in my throat as I try to croak out for words, but nothing comes out. I’m unsure of what to do in a situation like this. He flashes his teeth, and I can see large canines, sharper than usual.
What the hell?
I blink fast and open my mouth to scream for my dad.
“D-Dad!” I blare as hard as I can after finally finding my voice. I rip my vision from the stranger, turn towards my bedroom door, and bellow out again.
“Dad, come quick!”
I hope he can hear me over Cooper’s continuous barks. I turn back to the window, but I’m met with no one. I grip my curtains tighter and search vehemently for the man, up and down the street, every single tree…but nothing.
He vanished.
“I swear—” I mutter to myself.
Am I seeing things?
Where did he go?
2
MILLIE
The full moonilluminates the sky as I open the curtains further with my trembling fingers. I check all of my neighbor’s homes. All lights are off.
Could it have been my neighbor? Did I make a mistake? Or did this man follow me from work? Am I seeing things?
I shudder at that thought and tuck it far back into my head.
Cooper lets out a huff from his nose and walks away from the window. He’s satisfied with himself and curls beside my bed on the floor. I stay at the window, making sure that the man is gone. I bite my lip, feeling my heart still erratically pulsing hard.
I contemplate what I should do next. Should I wake my dad and tell him? I shake my head. I don’t want to worry him.
I stand there for a while, watching the front of my house to ensure he doesn’t come back. I close the curtains and double-check that my windows are locked. Pulling up and down, it doesn’t sway. So far, so good.
Cooper is very protective of me. If anyone entered our house, he wouldn’t hesitate to attack. He’s become my new best friend.
Ever since I moved in with my dad late in high school, things have changed for the better. It was strange at first—it felt like Iwas moving in with a stranger instead of my father—but now I feel safe with him.
I check my computer for any missed IMs. I see that I have one from my supervisor, Cole. I guess he’s not just my supervisor, but it’s easier to pretend that he is sometimes so I don’t have to confront my feelings and reflect on our complicated relationship.
Wonderwall83: Have a good night. Sweet dreams, beautiful.
After I finish reading his message, I smile. I reply with a simple goodnight, change my status to ‘away,’ and shut my computer off.
Cole and I have been on a few dates. He wants to further our friendship, but I don’t feel the same way. I see him more as a friend that I can laugh with and talk to about anything in the world, and we just get each other...but I don’t want to take it any further. I like him, too, but I’m unsure about becoming something more. Cole understands how I feel and doesn’t push it, but he wants me to know that he’ll always be here for me.
I get out of my work clothes, put them in my hamper, and change into my pajamas. It feels so good to lay in bed after a long work shift finally. My feet are sore and throbbing. I reach for my right foot and start to massage it. I call Cooper onto my bed by patting my hand three times at the edge, and he joins me immediately. He snuggles at the corner, facing the window like he’s still on high alert.
Two loud knocks thud against my door, and I yelp.