Right In Front Of You

Chapter 42 - It's Never Going to be Over!

The following Saturday;
Shannon's POV;

It had been a long week but relatively quiet on the Shaun front. There had been fewer calls from him and he seemed to have melted in to the shadows. I wasn't stupid enough to think that he had given up on Suzie because that type of obsession just didn't go away with a little talk from the police. In my opinion he had just adapted; limited his calls to her and managed to remain hidden while watching her.

However, it had transformed my girlfriends sister in to a woman that I had always figured her to be. Going out by herself, not feeling scared to be alone in the house anymore, although she remained vigilant about security, which was understandable. She had been spending a lot of time with Deano at his new bike shop, he had even started paying her cash in hand for the help she was giving him. And as of a few days ago the pair had started looking for a house for the pair of them to rent together.

As I promised Jeff, I kept a close eye on her and gave Jeff the reports that she was doing fine. My friend was worried about her and the effects that being stalked was having on her but for the most part she was doing good.

Until this moment where I was cradling her sobbing and trembling frame. Britt and H had headed out to get some drink before we headed to the club. Matt and Jeff had gone with them; Deano was working late at the shop and Barry was out on a date. Suzie had been going through the books before heading to work. Jeff didn't want her left alone so I had suggested that I stay behind.

I had been heading in to the kitchen, to empty the ashtray and wash the two glasses that Britt and Heather had been using, when I had heard the sobbing coming from Suzie's room. Gently pushing her door open to find her sat on the bed with her face buried in her hands.

"You want to tell me what's wrong baby girl?" I asked after I had been holding her for a few moments.

"It's never going to be over Shannon..." She sobbed.

"What do you mean honey?"

"I've tried hard all week to convince myself and everyone else that Shaun was slowly letting go but I've been lying..."

"Lying?" I asked running my hand supportively up and down her back.

"He's stopped calling the house as much but he's been calling my cell phone twice as much and when I go out; I can feel him watching me! I can't eat cause I feel so sick all of the time, I am so scared that he is just going to snap and there will be nothing I can do to stop something terrible from happening. I'm trying to keep busy in the hope that I don't go out of my mind but I don't think its helping!"

It was like a dam busting open; everything poured out of her in an almost jumbled mess of words.

"I'm scared that he's going to try and hurt my sisters..."

"Let him try it!" I growled as just the thought of someone hurting Heather sparked a vicious wave of anger that not only shocked me but scared me a little too.

"But that's my second fear; what if he hurts any of you guys...?"

"So not going to happen sweetie!" I replied firmly. "And we're not going to let him hurt you either..."

"But he isn't stupid Shan; he knows how to get to me..."

"And we're not stupid; we're not going to let it happen I promise you with my hand on my heart you are as safe with us as you would be if you were in Fort Knox!"

"I'm so sorry Shannon," She mumbled.

"For what honey?"

"For you seeing me like this," Pulling back from me and wiping her tears away with the back of her hand. "I'm fine...just a stupid moment of weakness," Instantly her game face slipped back in to place as the sound of the front door opening reached us.