Way Down We Go

Chapter 4: Roses are Red

Chapter Four: Roses Are Red

Charlotte's Point of View

I was so thankful when my shift at the diner ended because I couldn't think straight the rest of my shift. All I could think about was what if Jimmy was here? What if he was really that crazy that he searched everywhere in Chicago, did digging, paid people off and illegally tracked me down to find me here?
Honestly, I wouldn't put it past him because he was an obsessive, controlling, stalker, that wouldn't let me out of his sight not even to go to work at the hospital.
If he was here in Charming, I had nowhere else to go, all of my money went to paying for the house I live in now. Working at the diner doesn't pay much, I mean I could get my resume from Chicago and have it sent to St. Thomas hospital, but that's not really keeping me under the radar. If I call Chicago then Jimmy is going to know exactly where I am. If he's not here that'll send him right to my doorstep.
My skin crawled thinking about him showing up at my doorstep, watching me from a far, taking pictures. My stomach twisted as I walked down the sidewalk towards my car. I never understood what it was about me that he liked so much, I mean I was average, nothing really special, and if I would've known he was the way he was I definitely wouldn't have gotten with him to begin with.
Jimmy was good that way, he knew how to hide who he really was from me, from my parents, (even when they found out) They didn't care. He hid it well from his friends too, even the guys at the police station, they thought he was the best guy in the world and that I was so lucky. If. they really knew who he was, they wouldn't think that highly of him.
When I got to my car I opened the door climbing inside, tossing my bag into the passenger seat. I put the key in the ignition and my car roared to life. The best part of my day was driving this car to and from work.
WDWG
Driving home, I took the longest way possible, driving ways that I didn't even need to just to be safe an cautious. I didn't want to take any chances. I hated this feeling; the gut wrenching feeling of knowing that he could be here in Charming, that he could be here for me. I shifted in the seat as I watched the street. I made a right turn going down the street I lived on.

The only thing I could do was hope and pray that he didn't know where I was and that I was just overthinking the whole thing and that it wasn't him who had called me and I broke my phone for no reason at all, and it would have just been me being paranoid, which wouldn't be the first time that it's happened.

When I pulled up to my house I let out a sigh, happy to be back home. It was a cute little white rancher style home with two bedrooms and one bathroom. I couldn't complain honestly for the price, plus it was big enough for just me, it's not like I had a family or anything that had moved here with me.
Turning off the car I leaned over grabbing my bag and the mail that Mrs. Rylee had given me earlier this morning. I opened the car door climbing out lifting my head and noticed that there was a motorcycle in Mrs. Rylee's driveway. I arched my eyebrow slightly and started walking up towards my house.
Then I noticed that the hood on her car was lifted up, of course...it was probably the big flirt with the shit eating grin...Jackson, I think was his name. I rolled my eyes slightly then turned my attention to the house and froze when I saw a vase sitting on the front porch. It was filled with a dozen red roses.
Before I could even react to them I heard Mrs. Rylee's voice. "Charlotte,  sweetheart!" I turned my head and looked at the older woman as she gave me a smile walking towards me. I watched her then watched as of course the blonde flirt from the diner followed behind her. "Hi Mrs. Rylee." I said and then glanced over at the flowers.
"Wanted to ask you if you want to come over for dinner? I ordered way too much Chinese food." She said sweetly. I smiled at the older woman. I didn't have many friends here so I was thankful for her companionship. Something told me she didn't have a lot of people either.
"That sounds lovely Mrs. Rylee. I just need to change and I'll be over." I tell her. I watched her eyes go to the flowers that were on my porch, she looked at me and I think she could see how uneasy I was.