Clashing Cliques

Lauren's POV

I look at Jess on our way home, mainly with concern because she still looks really worried about something. I just wish I knew what it was. I try to grab her hand, but she pulls away, which upsets me and honestly scares me a little. Does she know? Oh god, what if she does and she's pulling away because she doesn't feel the same way? I'm terrified of that.

We finally get to her house and walk in. We greet her parents and then go up to her room. She turns on the radio, just loud enough to where we can still hear each other, but no one else can hear us.

She turns to me, holding some papers in her hands. "I need to talk to you." Hearing this, my heart started beating really fast, scared of what she was about to say.

I stifle that down and look at her. "What's up?"

She sits down on the bed and starts explaining, I could tell she was trying not to cry. "Okay. First, I want to apologize for not telling you sooner, but I was afraid he would hurt you." He?

"Who's he?" I question, interrupting her.

"I have a stalker. I've been keeping this hidden for months, afraid of what he would do because he has threatened you. And now, he's threatened Nick." She starts crying as she hands me the papers she was holding.

They're notes. They're notes written by a mad man. Thinks they're in love....

I look at two specific ones, where he threatens me and her brother. My blood starts boiling, reading them over and over again. Looking at her crying face makes me feel even more livid. The fact that she felt like she had to hide this from me upsets me, but I also understand why. She was afraid of what he might do.

There's another reason I keep staring at the notes, though. The handwriting looks very familiar to me for some reason. I will not rest until this person pays for the things they've put the girl I love through.

I look over at her once more before putting my arms around her and pulling her close to me. "It's okay, Jess. I understand why you kept this from me. I'm just glad you finally told me." I feel her nod against my chest and hear her sniffle. I kiss the top of her head.

"I'm glad I told you, too. Keeping this to myself has been driving me crazy." She says. I'm sad for her, because I can only imagine. I know my best friend, and I know we usually tell each other everything.

"I know. I can only imagine the struggle you faced with this. I'm just sorry you had to deal with it alone for as long as you did." She let out a big sob and I just held her closer to me. This girl is my everything.

She eventually falls asleep in my arms, and I can just tell she hasn't been sleeping well.

Whoever this guy is, he will go down. I don't care if it's by my hands or with the police...