The Bachelors: a tiktok story

155: Edge of Your Seat

*JADEN'S POV*

Chase was stomping around the house and slamming cabinets when Jaden finally walked into the room, concerned.

Jaden: "Bro, I would like my security deposit back eventually."

Chase was lost in his own raging thoughts and turned towards him in confusion:
"Huh?"

Jaden: "My cabinets? You're slamming them so hard you're gonna end up snapping the hinges and I'll lose my deposit."

Chase: "Oh, sorry."

Jaden: "Wanna tell me what's going on?"

Chase snapped:
"Nothing. I'm just hungry and nothing looks even remotely appetizing."

Jaden: "Okay, well I heard you shouting on the phone a few minutes ago so I'm gonna guess your mood swing has more to do with that so why don't you tell me what's really going on."

Chase plopped down on the couch, unable to formulate a sentence that he didn't already know would sound like yelling before even opening his mouth but Jaden already had an idea:
"Do you think maybe you're a little too emotional about someone who's just a friend?"

Chase forced himself to calm down:
"I'm sorry. I just hate where our friendship is right now."

Jaden: "If you're sure that's it then-"

Chase had completely tuned Jaden out at that point and blurted out:
"I think I should go talk to her... in person."

Jaden sighed and nodded knowing there was no point in trying to talk to him at that moment.

*END JADEN'S POV*

*JOSH'S POV*

He still had a few hours left of his shift but he was feeling unsettled with how he'd left things with her. She'd sworn she was okay but she sounded like she'd been crying the second time he called. He already felt uneasy about leaving her alone in that apartment but he'd promised not to call Chase so he sent a text to Jaden instead.

His boss yelled out:
"Are you taking a second dinner break or are you gonna actually do the work I'm paying you for?"

Josh held his phone in his hand, debating before promising:
"Just checking on things at home and then I'll get right back on the line."

He called her but someone answered and then hung back up immediately. It felt completely unlike her so he sent her a text pleading with her to call him. He walked back over to his position in the warehouse but when his phone vibrated, he looked around and pulled it out, hoping the boss didn't see. 

Josh nearly dropped the phone as he jumped up, knocking his stool over backward. He rushed towards the door, not even stopping to clock out as his manager called after him:
"Hey! Where do you think you're going??"

He didn't give a damn about his job as much as he knew he needed to get to her faster than he'd ever done anything.

*NESSA'S POV*

Nessa made it halfway to her mystery boy's house when everything her ex's new girl had said to her before leaving really started to hit home. Her phone had vibrated a few times so she waited until she pulled up to a stoplight to pull it out.

Nessa pulled over in a parking lot and stared at her phone. The words she's still here. She hadn't really thought much about the consequences of the situation she found herself in but she just couldn't stop herself. She hadn't felt this way about anyone since...

Josh.

This whole affair started out as just wanting to feel close to someone again and she didn't think she minded that things were still complicated with the last girl he'd dated. She'd caught feelings a lot faster than she'd realized and at that moment it wasn't enough anymore. All she wanted was to go home and cry with her friend about another boy that didn't love her back the way she hoped he did. She sent a message to him and turned to head home.

Nessa hadn't seen that last response because the moment she walked into her apartment, her roommate screamed so loud that she dropped her phone to the ground. Her roommate screamed out:
"Nessa. Turn around and run!!!"

Nessa ignored the shattered screen and while still frozen in place, asked:
"A- Are you okay?"

Nessa looked around and saw the girl that had testified on Noah's behalf standing on the other side of the room. She looked as terrified as her roommate but still, she questioned her.

Nessa: "Are you the one sending the letters?"

Nessa's skin crawled as an uneasy feeling settled in. She jumped as the door slammed behind her. She turned to find a tall, masked figure hovering over her. She backed away slowly, stuttering:
"Wh- Who are you?"

The voice booming out from under the mask was clearly a man as the deep rumble of his laugh echoed through the room. Her roommate trembled as she asked:
"Please just tell us who you are? What do you want with us?"

His laugh was unsettling:
"Do you think you can just get away with messing with people's lives? You're not even sorry, are you?"

Nessa turned to look at Charly and ask:
"What are you doing here? Do you have something to do with this?"

Charly looked equally terrified as she explained:
"I promise, I didn't know. I got a letter asking me to meet you here because you had something that belonged to me. I- I thought you were finally returning my mother's necklace you'd borrowed before you moved out."

Nessa turned towards the diabolical captor and demanded one last time:
"WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU WANT?!"

*END NESSA'S POV*