Afraid of being confident

Dangerous stalker (7)

7.

Dangerous Stalker

I turn around as I hear that probably Clare opens my door and walks in. No, not walking ..storming.

"Leslie?! Wake up!", Clare demands me "Do you know some woman called Brenda?!", she snaps.

"Hmm", I mumble not sure what she wants form me.

"Well, I will allow her to enter this apartment now, because she's waiting outside and wants to see you. Looks furious though. Thanks for waking me"

First thing: Never mess around with Clare in the morning. She's a monster when she hasn't had at least three coffee's and the right amount of sleep.

Second thing: What in the world does Brenda want. It's not even, I take a glance on my watch, ugh, 8 am. Did I mention that it's Saturday?! I'm too lazy to get up and greet her at the door and wait til she opens my door and indeed looks quite furious.

"Are you all right?", she asks and immediately sits down next to me.

"I was the moment before Clare disturbed my dream", I say sarcastically.

She sighs; "Thank God!" She lets herself fall down into my pillow.

"What happened to you that dragged you here?", I ask a bit annoyed that she hasn't spitted it out already.

"Mr. Chad called me this morning and asked if I heard some update from you how you were feeling. He hit me clueless. All I could do was stumble around, promising to take care of it and here I am."

"Why would he be interested in how I feel?" She's really getting on my nerves now..

"Well, he said something happened during your last meeting. He mentioned a meeting with some man called Mr. Bradford.. a dispute and that you acted like a different person afterwards. He also admitted that he has probably pushed you a bit too far into a society where you'd feel uncomfortable in"

"Yeah, I met this Mr. Bradford as I got lost in that huge house..nothing else..", I lie. I don't want to explain how he rubbed around on my blouse, trying to get that spot of red wine out of it.

"Anyway, he excused himself and that meeting and hopes that you'll join him for a dinner this Tuesday at 8pm?"

"Sure, why not?", I sigh. I'm not in the mood to discuss with her why I'm not ready to face the looks of these bitches...

"Leslie, something happened there.."

"He's right. I felt uncomfortable around all these thin and rich women. But that's it. I have to get used to it", I try to confirm her.

She gets up and hands me an envelope "That's his excuse. He hopes that it'll be enough for you to afford yourself a nice day."

I accept it and lay it down next to me before I walk her out of my apartment. I'm sure there's money in it and that he thinks money will solve the problem... Not sure if I should be happy about that way of thinking or not. In the envelope are 5 000$. I laugh to myself. If something like that would happen everytime then I'd be rich by the end of this month. This world is kind of sick. I lay down again and try to drift off to sleep..waiting for it's release..but it's not coming. I guess I have to get up and use the day then. I pull my hair together, change into my leggings and tank top and head off downtown to the secret place where I can live out my passion privately. I arrive half an hour later and open the doors of that familiar house, stepping in. Some people greet me, but they all know that I appreciate to be left alone. I push the next door to my right open and throw my bag into the corner, turning the sound system up, picking my favorite mashup "Booty and Bounce by Iggy Azalea". My favorite bitch right now. Most of the people that meet me wouldn't believe that I like to shake the assets of my body. I love to dance. When I'm burned out, stressed or need time to release my energy: this is the place where you'll find me. I work on my newest choreography, before Bird joins me – my gay best friend and dance buddy. We are like hell and heaven. I'm curvy and he's thinner than any model right now. But he can shake his hip, I tell ya! I'm so into my performance with Bird that I only notice how one of the doors falls back into its frame. Someone must have thought that this room could be free and peaked in. I hate it when people think that even if they can hear the music coming out of this room loud and clear. I can't stand it when people want to see me dance. It's an intimate thing, I suppose. Like sex. I don't want to know that anyone can watch me. When I dance it's like I'm opening up and showing who I really am. I'm weak and vulnerable when I dance. I shrug the thought of my mind that someone must have seen me and finish my performance with Bird. I grab my water bottle and my bag before I head out of the building. I don't like to shower with all the thin hipster girls. I shower at home even though it's a bit gross, I guess. Nevermind... I jump on my bike and am about to ride back home as my phone beeps.

"You really know how to shake your body, girl"

-Unkown

I start to panic and look around. I don't see anyone who could be observing me right now. Now or never. My phone slips back into my back, I turn my Ipod on its fullest and ride home like it's the last thing I'm about to do. I throw my bike into the next bush, run up the stairs and slam the door behind me as I finally arrive in my apartment. Clare lets her spoon fall in that moment and stares at me wide eyed.

"What happened to you?"

I can't tell her. Maybe it's a joke and harmless.

"I wanted to see how fast I could ride from the dance club to my apartment", I lie and run into the shower. It's a joke, I try to confirm myself as I shower and step into my room, just a towel around myself, afraid to look at my phone again. My finger touches my touchscreen before I realize it.

"Why were you in so a rush? You don't need to be afraid, girl"

Creepy! A cold rush runs down my back. Someone observes me.. "Who are you" I send

"Your secret admire" 

I reply; "Sure you have the right number?"

"Trust me, Leslie, I do ;)"

I nearly vomit on my bed. This is so not cool! How can someone have my number without my knowledge ?! I don't give it away easily. My fingers start to sweat and I feel helpless. I stand up and close all my curtains in my room. This can't be real, I try to calm myself down

I try to sound brave and reply again; "This is not funny! Tell me who you are"

"You'll know soon enough, Leslie. Darling, why have you closed all your curtains?"

That's it! I scream and start to cry and flinch as I feel Clare's arms around me.

"Shhh... Leslie..hey..honey..calm down and tell me what happened..Was it that Brenda chick?"

"Clare, my phone.." I sob out.

"Yeah, you threw it away.. I know..But it'll still work.."

"No..", I groan and show her the messages. I don't care if she wants to know something right now..I need a friend.

"Leslie, you have to show this to the police. That's dangerous!", she gasps and pulls me back into her hug.

"I know..I know.. I'll figure out what I'll do..."

"Les, I need to go now.. call me if you need me, ok?" She kisses my head and leaves me alone.

Should I call Brenda? I'm not sure if I'm overreacting or not..I'm not going to the police not yet..