The Stalker's Game

Chapter Four: Reflections

Lena's POV:

The front door creaked open, and I stepped inside, the familiar scent of home mingling with the newness of the house. My first day at Ashwood High was over, but the weight of it still clung to me. As I kicked off my shoes and dropped my backpack by the stairs, I could feel the tension slowly seeping out of my shoulders.

The house was quiet, my parents likely still at work. I took a deep breath, trying to process the whirlwind of emotions and new experiences from today. Everything felt so foreign—like I was living someone else's life. But at least there were some good moments, like meeting Sarah. She'd been a bright spot in an otherwise overwhelming day.

I made my way upstairs to my room, pausing for a moment in the doorway. The sight of half-unpacked boxes and a bed still lacking proper sheets greeted me, a reminder that this place still didn't quite feel like home. With a sigh, I decided it was time to finish unpacking. Maybe once everything was in its place, I'd start to feel more settled.

I set to work, organizing my books, hanging up posters, and arranging my desk. Each item I unpacked brought a small sense of comfort, a piece of my old life finding a spot in this new one. By the time I was done, the room looked more like mine—familiar, cozy, even if it was in an unfamiliar place.

I sat on the edge of my bed, looking around at the finished room. It was a strange mix of satisfaction and sadness, like I was saying goodbye to the old me while trying to embrace this new chapter. My thoughts drifted back to school, replaying the day in my mind. The faces, the voices, the moments that stood out—especially my encounter with that guy in P.E. His dark eyes, the way they seemed to see right through me... I shivered at the memory.

There was something about him, something that unsettled me in a way I couldn't quite understand. I tried to push the thought away, focusing instead on the positives. Sarah had been amazing, making me feel less alone. Maybe this town wouldn't be so bad after all.

The sound of the front door opening downstairs broke through my thoughts, followed by the familiar clatter of keys on the kitchen counter. "Lena?" my mom called out.

"Up here!" I shouted back, and moments later, she appeared in the doorway, a smile on her face.

"How was your first day?" she asked, leaning against the doorframe.

"It was... okay," I said, trying to sound neutral. "Different, but not as bad as I thought it would be."

She smiled, stepping into the room to take a closer look. "You finished unpacking. It looks nice, Lena. Starting to feel more like home?"

"Yeah, a little," I admitted. "It's getting there."

We headed downstairs together, and I joined her in the kitchen as she started prepping dinner. The routine was comforting, the simple act of cooking together bringing a sense of normalcy to the day.

"So, tell me all about it," Mom said as she chopped vegetables. "Did you meet anyone? Make any friends?"

I nodded, leaning against the counter. "Yeah, actually. I met this girl named Sarah. She's really nice. Showed me around and helped me get through the day without getting completely lost."

"That's great!" Mom said, genuinely pleased. "It's good to have a friend right off the bat. Makes things easier."

"Yeah, it does," I agreed. "She's cool. I think we're going to get along."

Mom smiled, pausing her chopping to look at me. "And how were the classes? Teachers? Did anything stand out?"

"Not really," I said, shrugging. "It's just school, you know? Pretty much the same as anywhere else."

She nodded thoughtfully. "Well, if you're feeling up to it, you might want to think about joining a club or a sport. I know how much you love volleyball. They have a team, right?"

The mention of volleyball tugged at something inside me—a mix of excitement and nostalgia. I hadn't thought about joining a team here, but the idea was tempting. I loved playing, the thrill of the game, the way it made everything else disappear for a while. But the thought of trying out in a new school, with people I didn't know, made me hesitate.

"Maybe," I said, noncommittally. "I'm not sure yet. I'll see how things go."

Mom didn't push, just nodded and smiled. "You don't have to decide right away. Just keep it in mind."

Dinner was a quiet, comforting affair. We talked about her day, Dad's work, and little things that made it feel like a normal evening, even in this not-yet-normal house. But my mind kept drifting back to that boy in P.E., the way his gaze had made my skin prickle. I didn't even know his name, but the memory of his eyes stayed with me, like a shadow lingering just out of sight.

After dinner, I helped clean up, but my thoughts were elsewhere. Who was he? Why did he make me feel so uneasy? I'd met plenty of people today, but no one else had left such a strong impression, and definitely not like that. I tried to convince myself it was nothing, just my nerves getting the better of me, but deep down, I knew there was more to it.

I went upstairs to get ready for bed, trying to push the day's events out of my mind. Tomorrow would bring another day of new experiences, new challenges. I just had to take it one step at a time, like Mom had said. But as I climbed into bed and turned off the light, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted today, something important. And that boy—Ethan—was at the center of it.

I stared up at the ceiling, the room around me dark and quiet, and wondered what tomorrow would bring. Whatever it was, I knew it wasn't going to be easy. Not with that unsettling feeling still lingering in the back of my mind, like a warning I couldn't quite decipher.