Enemy Basis | COMPLETE

13| a little normality

Ignoring things had lasted a bit longer than necessary. After leaving Lennox, I jumped in bed and did nothing for what felt like days. On Monday, I faked an illness just so that I wouldn't have to go to school and see Dorran, Archer or Marcelo, but it also meant that I had an excuse to avoid Lennox too. He had called and texted and I told him repeatedly what I had told my mother, that I felt sick and I had a fever. He had offered to come over but I turned him down, saying that I wasn't in the headspace to be good company.

Lying to Lennox like this was undoubtedly unfair but I needed time to think on my own and plan. The stalker's note weighed heavily on my mind, as did other things, but this was my main focus. It might've been stupid even considering going but I couldn't ignore my heart.

This man had protected me for a long time now and despite his changing antics, I still wanted to hear him out. It had been long playing on my mind what his motivations were and even if he turned out to be a psycho, at least I would know where he stood. There was enough mystery in my life as it was; I needed some clarity or I'd start going crazy.

I knew that confronting him was the only way to end this. Like Dorran and his friends, he was relentless in his pursuits and wouldn't stop until he got what he set out to. I wanted peace, and I knew that facing him head-on was the only way to achieve it.

However, I wasn't going to walk into a trap; I wasn't stupid. I would be cautious and have some sort of protection. The first thing that popped into my mind was Dorran and I almost laughed out loud. He was strong and capable but he'd rather shove a dagger through my heart than help me. As I pushed that ridiculous thought from my mind, the perfect solution became clear and I smiled in satisfaction. He'd be perfect.

As I thought through my next steps, one thing was clear: lying to Lennox was fundamental. I knew he would get worried and try to stop me, both of which I would try and avoid. I would tell him everything after, I promised myself.

And I did believe everything was going to be okay. Although the stalker had managed to spook me a couple of times, I was almost a hundred percent sure that he would never truly hurt me. He always had his opportunities but never acted on it. Either way, I had made up my mind and there wasn't an option for me to not go now things were set in motion.

I faked sick as long as I could, needing a pause to my hectic life, but on Thursday morning when my mother came into my room with a look on her icy face, I knew my little time for myself was over and I'd have to go back to school. It was good timing anyway because, in a few hours, I would be on my way to meet Mr Mysterious.

• • •

Thursday classes were pretty uneventful and Dorran and his friends were nowhere to be seen. Today, I put in extra effort to avoid them at all costs and it seemed to work. Just before my last period of the day, I felt a hand grab me before I could get into class and my body froze, hoping it wasn't who I had been avoiding all day. However, after sensing a feminine touch, relief flooded me, as did apprehension as I turned to see Maia.

She had a timid look on her face and quietly she asked, "Can we talk for a second?"

Without deeper thought, I inclined my head at her to agree. I had been ghosted by her for so long, and with such a change in character, the curiosity was overwhelming. Harmlessness seeped from every one of her pores and I followed her to the outside steps, not a teacher in sight. As she sat and faced me, I couldn't help but remember everything that went down in the parking lot at Jon's and I analysed her, trying to understand. But with her sad, cautious eyes that now looked into mine, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her.