Not So Perfect

(14)

It's been a few days since the first note was left on my car. That wasn't the first, I found one every day after work. There are a total of six crumpled up neon pink notes on the floor of my car. Each day they get better and better, warning me to stay away.

My parents called me earlier which helped distract me from overthinking. My sister and her boyfriend of four years are engaged. They want to plan a party for her in a few weeks and I told them I'd be there.

Going back to the notes I tell myself that I'll at least get Alices' opinion on what to do. First, we need a few things and I agreed to stop by the grocery store. Making my way to the cereal aisle, I walk away from the shopping cart for a few seconds.

I turn too fast, a hard body pressing into mine. Instinctively putting a hand on my very small bump I gasp.

The tall boy who looks startled looks down at me. "I'm so sorry, I wasn't paying attention." He says sheepishly, a phone in his hand.

Catching my breath from being slammed into I smile. "It's okay," I say.

Leaving the store with more than enough food for Alice and I, I make my way to my car. My eyes immediately search the window already expecting a note. It's empty and I feel relieved that whoever it is hasn't been following me.

However, I notice a car parked at the very end underneath a tree. It's red and way too expensive reminding me of the type of cars that Thomas has always had his eyes on. The windows are too dark for me to see inside.

Feeling skeptical I get the bags in my car and drive away. The cat doesn't move and I sigh, annoyed at myself for being so paranoid.

Grabbing all the notes, I stuff them in my purse and call Alice to come down to help me. My eyes focus on the same bright red car slowly driving past the apartment complex. This isn't a coincidence I tell myself.

"Hey!" She calls out, walking down the stairs.

I grab as many bags as I can handle and let her grab the rest. We carry them all upstairs and immediately start putting them away. My phone rings causing me to jump for the third time today.

Alice notices, a worried look flashing over her eyes. "Are you Okay Bea? You've been really quiet and jumpy."

Contemplating telling her now or waiting, I tell her to wait. Taking the sticky notes from my bag and dropping them on the table. Despite her being confused she reads them one by one before looking up.

"When did this start?" She asks.

I bite my lip. "Last Thursday."

She curses silently, pacing. "Have you told anyone?"

I shake my head. "I figured it'd stop." Truthfully I thought it was Kayla but she hasn't been around and I doubt she knows what my car looks like.

It would only make sense for it to be her. No one around here knows me and the only person I could possibly be hanging out with that has a crazy ex is Chase.

Alice looks deep in thought, rereading the notes. "The writing is almost written very carefully to avoid being known." She mutters, her brows furrowed.

We leave the topic, for now, not wanting to jump to conclusions. Alice said she'd park at the parking lot when I go to work and wait around for this person to leave another one.

Thankfully it's Friday and I'm off from work for the weekend. Going about the rest of my day and pushing the whole thing to the back of my mind.

I'm awoken from my sleep with several messages, my phone vibrating every few seconds. Sitting up, I turn the lamp on and adjust my eyes to the light. It's barely three and I'm only assuming that this is important.

Seeing Thomas' name I nervously open the messages, hoping that he's okay. Instead, I'm floored at what I see.

Every single message is laced with an insult. Not believing that this is coming from Thomas, I call his phone. It goes straight to voicemail, another message coming in.

I ask who it is, I'm positive that it isn't really Thomas. They stop replying leaving me frustrated. This person is playing a sick game.

It takes two hours for me to fall back asleep. My mind racing with thoughts and trying to put everything together. It's impossible and I decide that I'll talk to Thomas at a decent time of the day.

He often goes out to parties making me wonder if a girl possibly got his phone and thought it would be funny to randomly text me. That's reasonable enough minus the fact that this person is very aware of who I am.

After my shower to wake me up better I get ready for the day and grab my phone. There's already a message from Thomas asking for us to meet in an hour. I reply with a short response ready to end this mess.

I text Chase, knowing that he'd unknowingly make me feel better. We've gotten closer although I've accepted that I definitely like him, I've kept a safe distance. Assuming that he's asleep when I get no response I decide to make lunch.

Thomas has a long drive before I have to meet him, I have enough time to waste.

We agreed to meet at the beach, the parking lot surely being perfect for talking. Ignoring the bad feeling in my stomach, I park my car and walk towards Thomas.

I lift my head to see Thomas, accompanied by a smug looking Kayla, and a confused Chase. Having the feeling of something bad I glance from Chase to Kayla.

Thomas turns to Kayla, his arms crossed. "What the hell is this?" He asks.

Her eyes light up as she claps her hands. "Let's get this over with once and for all!"