Page 14 of Behind the Cascades
"Holy shit." She looks around the room, staring at the glaring whiteness of it all. "I take it this wasn't Hayes?"
A sob that sounds like a laugh comes out of my chest as I shake my head. "My neighbor, Carter. I've barely talked to him, Dess! He was in mybed. Why would he do this?"
She whips out her phone and immediately calls 911. She doesn't ask any more questions, taking charge of the situation like an older sister would.
"Hello. I need an officer for Palmetto Apartment #138. There’s been a break-in."
She nods and answers more questions, but I can't stand to be in here anymore. I half-walk and half-run back outside to sit in my car.
Within a few minutes, an officer arrives and starts asking questions. So, so many questions. Questions that I don't have the answer to.
"What's his last name?" Don't know.
"How'd he get in?" Don't know.
"Why did he do this?" Don't know.
"How long have you been friends with him?" Friends with him? I've talked to him in passing a handful of times.
"Have you led him on in any way?" I want to say, “Hell fucking no!” But, at this point, I'm exhausted and confused. I don't know if my being polite fed into whatever delusion he had or if he’s just insane. All that I know is that I never want to see him again. Or white fucking roses.
After an hour of questions by three different officers, they basicallytell me they can't do anything but file a report. One of them even goes so far as to say to me, "Don't worry, your apartment is safe to go back into now."Is it? Is it really Officer Goodwin? Because, I thought it was safe a few hours ago, and then I found a delusional person in my bed!
I lost my boyfriend, best friend, and future in a matter of minutes because I was friendly to the wrong person, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it, not even the police.
Chapter Ten
Charlie
Friday, May 12.
"Really, Char—I don’t have to go. I can stay as long as you need me." Odessa hasn't left my side for the last two weeks. She was there for every tear, every breakdown, and every moment of anxiety I'd had. Not only was my safe place taken advantage of, but the man I love walked out of my life. Slamming the door behind him and locking it as he left.
“You do. I have finals to take, and you need to get back to New York. I'll be okay." I say, trying to convince Odessa as well as myself. She has a huge campaign coming up, which could be career-changing. I can't be the one to hold her back from this dream.
She nods and places her arms around my shoulders. She's always towered over me, my 6-foot-tall best friend, and she's been the pillar of strength for me more times than I can count. If it wasn't Hayes, it was Dess.Now apparently, it’s only Dess.
"Call me. Anytime. Please."
Nodding, I let her go.
I need to stand strong, on my own.
Carter told the police that he thought I was interested in him, and in some grand gesture, he was trying to win me over. It’s like he stole the words from Hayes’ mouth. They seemed skeptical but told me their hands were tied. It's infuriating that on all fronts I'm the one getting blamed for someone breaking into my apartment.
Hayes won't answer my calls, emails, or texts. He's successfully blocked me from everything and completely shut me out of his life. I've even tried to call Drew, but he's pretty much taken Hayes' side and won't let me explain. He's short and distant with each phone call, and all it does is enrage me. I want to slam my fist into both of their noses. The abandonment and betrayal hit me hard, and I let it. I need something to fuel the anger that I want to feel. I don’t want to be scared anymore, I want to be ruthless.
Devoting every spare minute to studying, making sure I'm eating enough food, and not thinking about Hayes has been exhausting. I've avoided Carter like the plague, and luckily he's been doing the same. My apartment door stays locked at all times, and I do a small perimeter check the second I walk through the door.No psychos in my bed or hiding in closets here.
With every passing day, I start to feel safe again, and begin to think that maybe Carter isn’t actually psychotic. I haven’t seen him since the incident, and my apartment is starting to feel normal again. I’m trying to convince myself that it really may have just been some weird grand gesture. A very creepy, over-the-line gesture, but still, maybe not as dangerous as I initially thought.
My phone rings, and I see it's Ava. She was one of Hayes and mines biggest supporters, giving me as much time off as I wanted to visit him. When I told her what happened with Carter she was both equally pissed off at Hayes and Carter.
"Hey, Av's. What's up?" I ask as I answer her call.
"Oh my gosh! I'm so glad you answered. I know you are swamped with finals and it's a Saturday, but is there any way I can get you to the office? The Barnaby's just moved the deadline to Monday morning, and Noah needs to review everything before he submits it. He's losing his mind right now because he has to be on a flight by 3:30. I need these docs proofed, scanned, and sent to him in the next two hours, and I'm only a third of the way done."
"I'll be right there." I say, grabbing my keys and sliding my feet into my vans. I usually go for a more professional appearance in the office, but it sounds like Ava's drowning in paperwork and needs me now.
