You can Bet on Me

Part 14 ~ Stalker

Maddison
I was squealing internally. I have no idea why – I'm not supposed to feel anything except gratitude when wearing Michael's hoodie, but something about it just made my heart leap. It had his woodsy pine scent that reminded me of the dishwashing soap we used to wash the dishes and how his kitchen would probably smell like pine trees for the next few days from our water/soap fight.
I probably had the most fun that I had ever had in weeks – months, even. Just the thought of me being at his place with him alone in a large house made my heart miss a beat every time. I was so caught up with my thoughts and joy that at first, I didn't notice the footsteps behind me. I silenced my thoughts as the footsteps kept sounding again and again and the person behind me didn't seem to be going anywhere else. Just to be sure, I took four left turns and yet I still heard the footsteps behind me.
Risking a small peak behind me, I saw that my stalker was wearing black and a hoodie and mask covered his face. I quickened my walking speed, and so did my stalker. Fear finally started to spread throughout my heart and my head began to spin in dizzy fear.
If... if he even touches me, I'll punch him. I'll- I'll fight him if I have to. Still scared but determined to fight my stalker if he came too close, I pulled out my phone. My first contact there read 'Michael'. I forgot that he put his number into my phone. Without a second thought, I texted him.

Me: Someone's following me
Michael: What?
Me: Someone in a black hoodie
Michael: How do you know that he's following you and not just going in the same direction as you coincidentally?
Me: I've made four left turns and he's still there.
Michael: I'll be there. Where are you?
Me: Uh, Station Street, I think.
Michael: I'll be there in five. Think you can hold up until then?
Me: Yeah. I'll try. Thanks.

He didn't reply, but I trusted that he would come. I switched off my phone and hugged it to my chest as my steps faltered. I was scared. Scared like crazy – so scared that I was becoming dizzy. But I promised myself that if Michael didn't get here on time, I would fight that man myself. I wouldn't be kidnapped without giving my assailant a blood nose or a couple punches.
I walked slightly faster, and the footsteps behind me increased in speed. I was dizzy with fear but I kept going in the direction of my house. Maybe Michael wouldn't need to save me if I got to my house, but I knew that I still had a long way to go before I arrived at my house and my stalker would catch me before I got there. When I had told Michael it was a five minute walk to my house, I was lying. I couldn't handle my pulsing heart whenever I was around Michael and had to take mum's text as an excuse to go back.
What I didn't expect was him to offer to walk me home. Thinking about it now, I should have accepted his offer – maybe then I wouldn't be stuck in this situation, as awkward as it would be.
Just then, my stalker finally had enough of our chase game and he began running. His quickening footsteps made my heart beat faster in fear. I broke into a run.
Cursing my non-existent athleticism under my breath, I kept running. But the stalker's footsteps were getting louder. Closer. Soon, he would reach me. That's when he reached me – reached me and grabbed my arm tightly so that I was forced to stop running. I was dizzy as I thought about what was going to happen.
Would I be kidnapped? The reality hadn't sunk in until he started cupping his hand over my mouth so that I couldn't scream. I kicked him with what little heel I had on my shoe and was thankful that I had decided to wear a shoe with some sort of heel. Wrestling one of my arms free from the stalker's grip, I swung around and punched him in the face. There was a thwack and for a moment, I was going to run, but the stalker didn't let go of my arm – he was hardly even fazed by my punch which I was so sure to do some sort of damage to him.
That was when he suddenly wasn't there – he was gone. I turned around and saw Michael brutally beating him up, his shady mask already on the ground. Despite how painful it looked, the stalker still dared to try and punch Michael and was successful – once – in punching Michael in the stomach, but Michael was unfazed and kept beating at the stalker until he fell still.
"Unconscious," Michael breathed, getting off the unconscious stalker and kicking him with his shoe. I didn't move. I stood frozen by relief there as Michael left his angered state and looked to me.
"Did he... hurt you?" Michael asked. "Because if he did, I'll beat him up all over again."
"No. He didn't." I was unaware of how afraid I had been until I mustered those words, my voice shaky and cracked. I crouched down on the floor and sat in a ball, staring straight ahead at nothingness. Michael sat down beside me on the pavement, not moving.
"I'm okay," I breathed shakily as Michael began to run his hand on my back.
"No, you're not." He whispered softly, putting an arm around me. "But it's okay. I'm here, and you don't' need to be scared."
Without words, I stood up and Michael stood up as well, arm still on my back.
"You're right. No, I'm not okay. At least not right now. But I'll be alright soon," we began to walk, and I partly led the way. I relished in Michael's protection and felt warmer and safer. I didn't protest that he was escorting me home after all – after what happened, I took shelter in his protection. Soon, we came to my house and Michael stopped at my driveway. We stood there, his arm still around me, for a little while.

"Goodnight." I said, turning around to face him with my eyes closed. I lingered around for a little while longer, wondering if I should say something. But I didn't get a chance to as he said, "I've got to go. Goodnight."
He left. The dark completely ate him up and he was gone. I reached out my hand to the darkness where he had disappeared into, pulling my hand in and closing it into a fist as I let my hand go flop by my side as I walked up my driveway to our door. I took out my key and unlocked the front door. I stepped inside and closed the door behind me, grateful to be out of the unknown of the streets. The house was dark – I had gone past my curfew of ten.
Sighing, I took off my heels and put them away. I didn't bother to call out that I was home since everyone was probably asleep, but I guess I was wrong.
"Where were you?" I almost jumped in fright as I turned around to see mum's frowning face. "And who's hoodie is that? You don't have anything like that."
I ignored her second question and didn't reply. Her question made me think about how I had almost been kidnapped if it wasn't for Michael. My legs suddenly felt shaky and unstable and I collapsed to my kneels on the ground. Mum's frown evaporated and she quickly came to my side.
"What happened?" she whispered, a concerned look on her face.
"A-A man." My voice was soft and choked.
"What? Who did what to my daughter?" mum's frown returned.
"No. He did nothing to me... but I was almost kidnapped." I explained as briefly as possible, purposefully leaving out Michael. Mum didn't say anything as she rushed over to hug me.
"Well, I'm glad that you're okay then." She said, her warm arms still wrapped around me. She pulled away and held my shoulders, looking at me dead in the eyes from my eye level. Her eyes softened and she pulled me in for another hug.
"Well then, go take a shower and get ready for bed," she said. "I'll let you off for missing your curfew this time."
I nodded feebly and wished her goodnight.
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