Behind the Badge: Obsession in the Shadows

Drugged

I wake up with a groan. Stretching.
The light from my window shone on my face.
I try to remember what happened. My memory is foggy.
Strange.

I walk out of my room. Seeing Gregory cuddling with Buddy on the couch. Slightly snoring in a way. I giggle.

I walk over to him, softly tapping his shoulder to wake him.

"Um- yes?" He says, running his eyes, adjusting to the morning light.

"Good morning, are you hungry?" I ask carefully, rubbing my arm.

"Sure," he says. I can walk, buddy, if you want.
He tells me:

"That'll be great. I'll cook us some breakfast." I say it with a blush.

His voice is already making me feel flustered.

"Something the matter, Madison?" He asked, teasing as though he could read my mind. He stands up, his frame towering over my own.

Nervously, I look at the ground.

I felt his fingers move my gaze to meet his own.
His beautiful eyes looking into me made my heart flutter.

His lips hovered over mine. His lips firmly touch my own, and I kiss back before he pulls away.
"Well, I'll go ahead and walk, buddy." He says he is grabbing a plastic bag. He leans down, putting the leech on, buddy.

As I'm making dinner, I write down a couple things I need grocery-wise.

Eventually, Gregory comes back. The door opened and closed behind him.

He leaned against the island, watching me cook.

"Do you think you could write down a few things while I remember them?" I keep my hands busy.

"Absolutely. What would you like me to write?" He asks about picking up the pen.

"Eggs. Milk, sugar, juice, and toothpaste." I say, looking down.

I hear him writing the items down.

"Thank you; I didn't want to forget them. I have trouble remembering things sometimes unless I write them down. Even then, sometimes I struggle." I say, slightly laughing at myself.

"It's no worries, sugar; I didn't mind." He tells me now, leaning on the island again, looking up at me, his large muscles bulging now and then.

My eyes are shamefully looking at him.
"Sorry about last night; I felt so strange; I'm not even sure what happened. I just wanted to say thank you for making sure I was okay. That was kind of you." I say, mumbling towards the end, as I feel like I'm talking too much.

"You are welcome. I didn't want you to choke on your throw-up or something. I didn't even know what was wrong with you either. I'm glad to see you are feeling better." Gregory says it with a smile.

As I make our plates. I sit them in front of us.
"I'm getting me a glass of juice; would you like one too?" I ask him to open the refrigerator.

"Sure, if you don't mind." He says

"Nah, I don't mind, not even in the slightest," I say grabbing two glasses and pouring the juice before throwing away the container.

I grab both glasses, setting them in front of us.

"I hope you like orange juice; they were out of an apple," I said, taking a sip of the bitter, sour drink. Citrus fills my nose.

"I do thank you. Though I do agree, apple juice is better." He says it with a wink.

"Finally! Someone who agrees." I say it with a laugh.

Eating my food slowly.

"I saw your grocery list. Would you like any help getting them?" He asked

"There aren't that many." I laugh, pausing. "I think you were just asking as an excuse to keep hanging out with me." I tease

"So what if I am? Is that such a bad thing? Besides, you say you have a stalker. I can keep you safe." I tell her with a smirk.

"Fine, but you have to drive," I say, grabbing our now-empty plates.

"Deal." He says happy.

I wash off the plates. I let Gregory pick something he wanted to watch while I cleaned up the house.

I look at the grocery list, looking at Gregory's writing. My blood runs cold.

Surprisingly, it was a coincidence that his writing was almost identical to my stalker's.

Gregory sees me staring at the list for a while, I suppose because he asks.

"Something the matter, Madison?" He asks me to take a drink of his orange juice.

"No. I was just reading over to make sure I'm not forgetting anything." I say with a forced smile, starting to get nervous.

"Are you sure you look like you have seen a ghost?" He says.

"I'm sorry, Gregory. I'm just a bit on edge. Your writing just looks like my stalker's writing. I didn't mean to alarm you." I say
Drinking my juice.

"I'll sit with you on the couch once I go to the restroom," I say with a smile.

I didn't want to upset him if he wasn't my stalker, and it's writing; of course, people can have similar writing.

I just haven't slept well, and that must be why. I was imagining things.

I splashed some water on my face. I'm trying to ease my racing mind.

I walk out after drying my face.

Gregory sits with his petting buddy. I see my juice has been moved to the coffee table.

"I went ahead and moved your drink for you; you looked like you had a lot going on in your mind. Isn't today you plan to have your window fixed, right?"

"Yeah, I'm supposed to; I didn't make an appointment, but he said I could just swing by. I have the extra money left over, so I might as well." I say, taking another sip of my drink.

After a while, the same feeling started to engulf me.
"I'm sorry it had to be like this, Madison. Why did you have to notice the writing?" I was fighting to stay awake.

"I didn't want it to be like this. I wanted to play the boyfriend role, but I'm so tired of seeing you struggling and this dangerous neighborhood you live in. I'm sorry it had to be like this. I'll see you when you wake up," Gregory says.

What the hell? I've been drugged.