Finding Tristan ✓

9: Eerie Message

"Don't play with the Devil. He always cheats."

Kylie

I was released from the hospital this morning. My worried parents greeted me in a welcomed manner. Anna hugged me tightly until I couldn't breathe for at least four seconds. I ripped off the bandages on my wrist and threw them away. I felt around the side of my waist, feeling a set of five stitches along my skin.

"You should try to be more aware of your surroundings now. Only at school and when you get home though, because I know you're not the type to go out very much." My mom informed me as I rested myself on the living room couch. She had no idea whatsoever. I had been contemplating whether if I should tell her or not.

I sucked in a breath and embraced myself before speaking. "Actually, Linda.. I plan to go on my very first date today." I gave her an uncertain expression, waiting for her reaction. She completely dismissed the fact that I used her first name.

"I'm happy for you honey, but I don't think it's safe to be out there late at night." Linda gave me a tight smile. Crinkles adorned the corner of her eyes. Her storm gray orbs were staring back at me intensely. I internally snorted humorously.

"But who said I was going to be out past ten o'clock? The date is tonight at six." I crossed my arms and my lips turned into a thin line. Linda heaved a sigh of defeat and scratched the back of her neck.

"Alright then. What time are you going to be back?" I took a moment to think of what Tristan might have in store for me. Then again, he hasn't really texted me. I already had his number saved in my contact list, even before we got this close together.

"I should be back around eight tonight. And you don't have to worry about me, I always can send you a text or two." My mom grinned at my response and ruffled my hair. She stood up and went to the kitchen to start cooking lunch.

I went upstairs to my room and decided what to wear. I didn't bother taking a shower again because I already had taken one at the hospital before I was properly checked out. I pulled a loose, black sleeve henley over my head and hopped into my denim jeans. I remember my mom telling me that I looked adorable with my hair up in a bun back when I was in middle school, so I figured that I would be able to pull the look off. I laughed when I did a little once-over of myself in the mirror leaning against the wall.

I plopped face first onto my bed and rolled over so that I was now laying on my back. I reached for my phone from my pocket, receiving a new text from Tristan. I refrained from letting out a small squeal and read the message. I could feel my heart pounding in my ears and my breathing hitch as the happy thoughts in my head sang out loud.

Tristan: Hey Kylie! You excited for tonight?

Me: You have no idea how happy I'm feeling right now.

Tristan: Yeah, and I heard about what happened recently. I'm glad that you're okay.

Me: No worries! I also had something else I needed to tell you, but it would be better to say in person tonight.

Tristan: Oh okay! Gosh, I had Nick talking non-stop about you for the past five months now. Although it was annoying to hear him speak of you in that way, but I can say that I've developed an interest towards you.

Me: That's really sweet of you! :) Though, I'm hoping that you've been hearing the good things and not the bad.

Tristan: Trust me, they were good things. And hey, I have to go. My dad wants me to help out arrange the furniture for my mom. See you tonight, cutie.

Me: Alright then. See you later!

I sighed in relief and tossed my phone to the side. I eagerly grabbed for my pillow and squeezed it tightly, rolling around on my bed. My heart was going crazy for this guy, and I actually couldn't believe that this was happening. But hey, I do know that I owed Ashley big time for being able to go as far as setting me up on a date with my high school crush. I didn't dare to listen to all the rumors people were telling me about Tristan because I knew that they were only judging him, and labeling him based off of his good-looks.

I was insanely head over heels for him. It was hard for me to stop thinking about him during the day. And it was just as hard when I tried to forget about him, and move on from this little crush entirely a little over a year ago. I nibbled on my bottom lip before scrawling my pen across the clean page.

The one struggle of being a girl is falling too hard for a guy. You get stuck in an endless dream and feel very high, intoxicated by just his very presence.

Eventually, there is a possibility that things could change for the worst. Your trust for them could be torn to shreds, you could crash and burn after realizing that he was only using you for his own satisfaction. Or things would change for the better. The world may never know because it all depends on that one person. A heart of gold and a heart of steel.

A heart of shattered glass and a heart of scorching flames. The heart of silk and the heart of lightning. Things can never end unless if you let it or force it to.

I shut my journal and carefully placed it back underneath the floorboard and closed it off. The clock in my room continued to tick away. Seconds and minutes past, my eyes were slowly drooping close. I shifted my body so that I was laying on my side. I fluffed up the pillow before resting my head on it.

A small sigh escaped my lips in relief. If only I could make a wish for being able to bend time on my own will. I pulled the covers over me and felt a breeze gently brush into the room. The window was open, making up for the all of the humidity that was present. I eventually dozed off to sleep.

After several hours of laying in a dreamless state, I was able to wake up free of stress. I rubbed my eyes and let out a small yawn. The clock read five o'clock; there was an hour left before Tristan would come to pick me up. I stood up from my bed and froze. A white rose laid on my nightstand, the silky red ribbon along with a Hershey kiss was tied together with it.

I sucked in a breath and shakily picked up the rose with my hands. I removed the ribbon and the piece of chocolate and inspected it. There was a speck of black inside the petal and I gently tore the petal off to inspect the written text. The ribbon and chocolate fell out of my hands. I removed the rest of the petals and felt my heart get caught in my throat.

I pieced everything together in a neat line on my work desk, and whispered the small passage. I felt myself slowly giving into another one of my anxiety attacks. My lungs became constricted; dread filling me to the bone.

"A man cannot destroy the savage in him by denying its impulses. The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield it."

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I have changed the update schedule for this book. I am currently going through a stressful phase in my personal life. School starts September 6th, and I believe that I won't be releasing updates as often as I am now. For now, I'll be updating whenever I am able to successfully write a full chapter (I won't be doing any preparations by writing more chapters in advance). I hope that you fans and readers understand the struggle, and that you are willing to stick with me upon this journey.

Leave a comment or a vote if you can. Do you think that Kylie's stalker will be watching her and Tristan during their first date? What do you think the stalker is after? What does he want?

I will be improvising on what kind of plot twists to use in this book for the next few days. Though, they for sure won't be showing up until later down the road. Have a wonderful week my readers!

-Eaden