Chapter 8
Emily
Trevor has been around way more than I would’ve liked. Luckily for me, he’s supposed to be out of town for the weekend helping his brother with something, so I finally have time to myself. I’ve spent the last few days trying to find out anything I can on Gavin.
With Trevor hovering all the time, I haven’t been able to, until now. I’ve barely had any time to follow Atlas this week. I really wish I knew how to hack cameras, it would’ve made this so much easier.
I don’t plan to stalk Gavin; he’s of no interest to me, but he’s an important part of Atlas’ life, so it’ll be beneficial to do my research. I start by doing a Google Maps search of the house they share. The aerial image shows what most people would call a mother-in-law suite in the backyard.
I’m assuming this is where Gavin was going the other day when I tailed Atlas home. That makes me worry a little less about them being more than childhood friends. I’m pretty sure I let my imagination run wild with that one. I knew they were close so I’m not sure why I panicked.
Doing some digging on Gavin has its perks though.
He has more of a social media presence than Atlas does, so I’m able to get an insight of some of the activities they do together and places in town they frequent.
I take plenty of notes of the locations and times they seem to visit these places.
Any detail that helps create an accurate schedule for Atlas.
I want to know where I can find him any given time or day.
It also allows me to see a few candid photos of Atlas, and a few selfies of the men together.
Atlas always seems so grumpy in every photo, it’s kind of funny.
Gavin is definitely more carefree out of the two.
Atlas seems like he prefers to be in control of the situation and like he’d rather do anything else than socialize.
I save any pictures that have Atlas in them.
I may need them one day, who knows? This might end up being the only way I’m able to see him, if I’m ever caught for stalking.
Atlas
The feeling of being watched has been less frequent this week, but it’s still there.
I’ve been taking notes of the times and locations where that feeling returns.
If I can pinpoint the when and where, I’m hoping Gavin can use the cameras to find out who happens to be here with me in each scenario.
I need to find the pattern and put an end to it.
I still haven’t been able to spot the man following me.
That’s concerning, given the fact I run a security business.
I have to be missing something. I can’t figure out a motive and have absolutely no idea of anyone who’d do this.
My life isn’t that interesting. It’s been over a week since Gavin started helping me, but he hasn’t figured it out either.
There doesn’t seem to be a man around consistently unless there’s more than one person watching me.
Something in my gut tells me it’s one person though.
I can’t explain how I know, other than the fact the air feels charged the same way each time.
I also don’t know why this started just after running into Emily.
Is the stalker connected to her or is it a coincidence?
What am I missing? I’m heading to the bookstore when I feel it again.
It starts at the base of my neck and the chills spread across my body as my blood begins to heat like it always does.
Why does my body react this way to being watched by whoever this person is?
I slow my steps but don’t turn around. I want to drag this out as long as I can, hoping we can catch something this time.
Without drawing more attention to myself, I swiftly send a text to Gavin.
Atlas
Heading to Pages now, the
bookstore right next to the bakery.
Gavin
On it.
Atlas
Let me know if you find anything.
Gavin
No suspicious men in the area.
Atlas
Shit, I thought we had them this time. There are
not many places someone could hide on this road.
Gavin
Sorry man. Look, I have an idea that might work.
Atlas
I’m listening
Gavin
I’m going to run all the footage through a program that’ll flag anyone who is shown in more than one video. Maybe we need to broaden our search with this one Atlas. We have no idea who this person is, or if they are even a man at this point.
Atlas
Do whatever you need to do and keep me posted.
Gavin
You got it.
I continue on my way to Pages. I know Maizyn isn’t here, but I need to be as close to her as possible and, in this city, it’s there.
I know she’s never been there, but I know she would have loved it.
She always preferred any place where books were found even though I never knew why.
Maybe if I ever see her again, I’ll ask her.
She never seemed to do anything without a reason, even in her most chaotic moments.
I enter the bookstore and immediately make my way to the cozy beanbag I always find myself in. It’s where I feel Maizyn the most. Sitting here for just a few moments allows the guilt to not feel so heavy for just a little bit. The silence doesn’t hurt so much when is sit here.
I stick my hand into my pocket to pull my phone out, when my fingers brush against something else. The paper crinkles in my grasp as I retrieve it.
It looks to be a crumpled-up note. I didn’t put this there, so it must be from my stalker.
When I open it, I can’t help but laugh. I mean a real belly laugh.
You look really pretty today you look good in blue it matches your eyes
How did they manage this? I didn’t even notice them.
I send a picture of the note to Gavin and wait for a response.
Atlas
Picture sent
Gavin
What the hell is that?
Atlas
I’m assuming it’s from my stalker. You got any leads?
Gavin
I had a hunch, but after that note, I’m pretty sure your stalker is a woman.
Atlas
Did you find someone?
Gavin
I didn’t see a face but there’s a woman in each camera
feed around the same time you mentioned feeling like
you were being watched. Similar characters each time
– Long wavy brown hair, same height maybe 5 ‘2 - 5’ 4.
Sound familiar?
There’s no way he’s saying what I think he’s saying. So I do the only thing I can do, and ask him. I need him to confirm or deny it before I jump to conclusions. I thought I was seeing things. Could it really be her?
Altas
Are you saying it’s Maizyn?
Gavin
Like I said, I didn’t get a view of her face. But it’s
possible it’s her or Emily. What do you want to do next?
Atlas
I need to catch her in the act. Do you mind helping?
Gavin
You know I’m always down for a fun game.
Emily
This is the first time all week I’m completely free to stalk Atlas as I please.
With Trevor gone and me being off of work, I don’t have anything better to do.
This is actually the first Tuesday I’ve followed him, so I honestly have no idea where he’s going.
He left his office at nine-thirty in the morning today.
Looking pretty good in a light blue dress shirt, might I add.
Any other day, I’ve watched him, he doesn’t leave until time for lunch.
This is exciting! It’s like an adventure.
I note the date and time in my notes app and trail behind him.
We turn down third street and my heart beats just a little fast.This is the street we met on.
Where we bumped into each other. This is the street that started everything.
We’re getting close to my favorite place in this town.
Pages is right next to my job at the bakery.
I was going to head there before my shift that day, but didn’t have the chance because of him.
He slows his pace as he texts away on his phone. I match my pace to his for just a second before an idea forms. Opening my bag, I rip out a piece of paper from my notebook and scribble a quick note.
While he’s distracted by whoever he’s currently texting, I get close enough to slip the note into his pocket before retreating back to a safe distance. It’s risky but he didn’t notice, so I think it was worth it. I can’t wait to see his face when he finds it.
He enters the bookstore when he gets to it and my steps falter a little bit.
I didn’t think he would ever go to a place like this.
Was this where he was leaving or headed to when we ran into each other?
I wasn’t paying attention that day. I didn’t see him until after it was too late.
I get close enough to the glass to peek inside and freeze in my tracks.
He is sitting in my spot. That’s MY SPOT– my chair, my pens, highlighters, my quiet corner, my SAFE SPACE– and he’s sitting in it.
I take a deep breath and try to shove the chaos back down.
I don’t actually own the spot, he’s allowed to sit there.
It doesn’t matter if that’s my safe space, maybe it’s a safe space for him as well.
The panic starts to settle as I keep talking myself through it.
Is it possible he needs that space just as much as I do? What does a man like him run from?
He reaches for his phone and I see the moment it registers that it wasn’t the only item in his pocket.
His brows furrow as he pulls it out and his eyes flash with interest the moment he understands that it’s from a stalker.
I probably shouldn’t have drawn his attention to the fact that someone has been watching him, but I wanted to make it interesting.
He unfolds the note and laughs. He fucking laughs, and it’s mesmerizing. It’s real, and I now know that I have to do everything in my power to make that man laugh again. I want to be the reason for it.
He might not know it yet, but that laugh belonged to me. I think it’s time I step up my game. Today’s going to be fun.
∞∞∞