Flowers for Florence [HIATUS]

04 . Stonewall Trail

I had been going through the worst days of my life. But one positive aspect was that this meant that I could only go up. Or so I hope.

The big issue that needed clearance was the fact that not only did people think I had assaulted Joshua, they also thought that I was his stalker. This was beginning to get into a territory that would land me in prison, even though I never did anything wrong.

There was one way I saw out of it; catching the stalker during the act, and also finding evidence on them. Like maybe their camera. That would prove useful, if I managed to do it that is.

This plan meant that I would have to follow Hayley and his boyfriend around... like a stalker.

Great. Just perfect.

As long as someone else didn't see me and get the wrong idea, I would be all clear. And once I checked my phone I had the perfect opportunity. Because while Hayley had blocked my number, she hadn't blocked me on social media, and I could see her boasting about how her and her boyfriend would be taking a hike in Stonewall trail this Wednesday. Wednesday being tomorrow.

I didn't have much prep time, but I didn't think I'd need it either. All I needed to think was how to follow Hayley and Joshua discreetly, and also figure out where the stalker would be hiding... No big deal.

That school day I received no flowers. Yet another person perhaps leaving my side. It didn't feel good. Especially when I had to walk through a crowd of eyes as I exited the building. I could briefly hear Hayley in the distance. "Seems like his fanatic didn't show up."

When I was at the stairs, exiting, Cynthia approached me, a trampled poppy in her hands. She handed it to me. "I found this in the trash." She also gave me the card.

"Thank..." I began to say, but Cynthia started to the bus stop without looking back to face me. "you..?"

It seemed that the flowers I received were also at threat now. The poppy was in so bad of a condition that I didn't think I could fix it. I opened the card.

'I have dirt on Joshua.
I will make him pay.
-C'

It was in such a different tone to C's previous messages that I had to stop and process what the message entailed.

Dirt on Joshua? How bad could it be?

Pretty bad. Considering he sees what he did in the party as 'normal.'

I found that I didn't care whether or not doing a revenge plot against Joshua was ethical or not. I wanted to see him suffer. Perhaps it was a wrong, or even evil thing to wish. But I couldn't help myself, after everything that happened to me, my life and my reputation, I just wanted the same for Joshua, who was the cause of it all.

He had to face the consequences of his actions.

I held the note fast in my hand as I headed for the bicycles. I would later add it with the rest of the notes, in a little red cardboard box on my desk.

Proving Joshua to be an asshole wasn't the solution to all my problems, I still had to prove my innocence as well. I had to follow through with my plan on Wednesday.

My evening was spent with both worrying and planning on how I'd catch the stalker during the act, for the most part it was worrying, though. The Stonewall trail was relatively safe, but straying off was dangerous and potentially life threatening. I tried not to think about the countless possibilities that could end in my death. I failed.