The Stranger She Loved (COMPLETED)

Chapter 3

When I woke up sometime after two in the evening I was aware of someone else with me. I jumped up frightened, as I remembered my ordeal. 

“Relax” said Kayla’s soft voice, “it’s just me bestie. Let’s let something to eat.”

“Am not hungry” I replied.

“Yes Bree but you have to eat something.”

“Okay,” I said with a sigh.

Just then my mother smiled and walked in through my room door.

“You can come downstairs and I’ll reheat your breakfast or you can go with Kayla down to the café to chill.”

“I think I’ll go to Jared’s Café mom.”

“Okay dear just try to relax,” she said as I walked past her with Kayla.

We drove in my car and headed to Jared’s Café on the corner of our street. In our small seaside town, there were many cafes but Blue’s was the most popular and Kayla and I enjoyed their mushroom flavored teas and cookies.

As we were eating I told her that I think I liked the guy who rescued me.

“Bree you didn’t even get to see him,” she replied.

“Yeah I did, he was tall, blonde and had blue eyes.”

“Okay whatever, you saw him punky but you’re just thankful and because you are hungry you are confusing it with like.”

“No am not Kayla I think I-”
I stopped mid-sentence and stared at the customer who had just walked up to the cashier.

“Kayla,” I said excitedly, “I think that’s him. Yeah. That’s him over there.”

Before she had a chance to look where my fingers where pointing I was walking towards the blonde guy. I met him at the door and said;

“Excuse me” he turned around and our eyes locked.

“Oh hey,” he said with a smile, instantly recognizing me.

“Yea it’s me,” I replied. "I just wanted to say thanks for what you did for me, I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t come.”

“Your welcome and it’s no big deal I was happy I could help.”

I smiled and glanced at my best friend who was intently watching us through the café window. There was an awkward moment of silence then I held out my hand saying,

“I’m Brianna Parks.” He hugged me instead.

“I’m Andrew Buckner. Hey why don’t you call me sometime?”

“Okay I will” I replied, “I live just down Garfield Avenue at number 44.”

He tore a piece of his tote bag and scribbled his digits. As he was turning to leave I touched his shoulder,

“uhmmm could you possibly do me one last favor?” I asked timidly.

He looked into my eyes, searching my soul, and finally he answered. “I will try” with a smile.

“Could you tell the police everything you remember?”

He paused before saying, “I uhmmm….didn’t really want to be involved in this big investigation but I’ll think about it.”

“Thanks I said. See ya.”

“Yeah.”

As soon as he walked off Kayla came out with questioning eyes.

“Well”, she said, “Was it him?”

“Yeah it was him. His name is Andrew Buckner and he gave me his number.”

“So you gonna call him?” she questioned as we reentered my car and headed home.

“Yeah I will.”
“Oh by the way,” she interjected you owe me for lunch. And did you ask him to go to the police?”
“Yeah I did and he said he would think about it.”

As I dropped her off at her phone she closed the door then said through the open window,
“Promise me you’ll be safe Bree, you know nothing about Andrew and you need to be aware.”
“Thanks I will” I replied. “I love you bum bum” I said with a smile as I headed home.
When I got home I told mom that I found the guy who helped me and the first question was if he was going to go to the police.
“He said he would think about it mom,” I replied.
“I think I like him mom and he even gave me his phone number.”
My mother smiled and was about to say something to say something when her cell phone rang.

I glanced at the screen before she answered and saw ‘Dave💙’
“Okay. Yeah she told me.”
I was only hearing her side of the conversation and I couldn’t piece it together.
“Okay that’s great I will tell her. Yes bye. Love you.”
“What is it mom? What happened?” I asked as soon as she put down her iPhone.
“Well, she said smiling it seems as if your friend decided to go after all.”
“Really?” I asked.
“Yes, he is down the station and he just spoke to Dave.”
“That’s great mom, I told you he was nice.”
She smiled, “I hope so darling.”

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After we finished dinner I helped mom wash the dishes then Dave came over. I was getting used to spending evenings with him and he felt like family. We watched ‘The Purge, Election Year’ and then talked for a while. He said that he would stop by tomorrow to install a security system for us.
“Aww that’s sweet,” said mom kissing him lightly on the cheek.  He smiled in return and rubbed her thigh, “
I just want to make sure you girls are safe.”

✨✨✨✨✨

Kayla and I spoke later on I the night and she told me that she looked for ‘Andrew Buckner’ and didn’t find him anywhere on Facebook. I laughed.
“So what do you think bestie, you think he’s a phony?”
“I don’t know” she replied sounding concerned. “Relax Kayla, we are meeting tomorrow and he said he’ll tell me more about him.”
“Where you guys going? She asked.
“The park,” I replied.
“Oh okay boo have fun and be careful.”
“I will” I replied. “Nighty night sweet dreams.”
“You too Bree.”