The Hidden Alpha

Chapter 5: Getting Stalked

I couldn’t stop rolling in my bed that night. I was exhausted from working at the diner but I can’t seem to get to sleep. I can’t stop thinking about the handsome young man that I met earlier.

Why did Jared ask me about Tobey? Why is it important for him to know if I was dating Tobey or not? Also, why is he following me around? I do not understand what he wanted with me.

My exhaustion finally took over me and I fell asleep. I suddenly woke up after a few hours panting. I had a scary dream which I tried to remember. It wasn’t very clear but I was running in the forest and someone was running after me. I couldn’t see who it was, but it was a big man. I was already getting tired and I tripped over a stone while driving. As I fell on the ground, the man who was running after me shifted into a big dog. I remember screaming before I woke up.

I was panting and looking around as I sat up in my bed. I finally calmed down when I realized that I was still in my room and that it was all a dream. I got off my bed and went to the kitchen to drink some water.

I can’t stop thinking of the dream and what it meant. Who was it that was running after me and why did he turn into a dog? It almost made me think of that scene from Twilight when Jacob turned into a wolf. I haven’t seen that movie in a while and I don’t even know why I would dream that. Some people say that dreams are manifestations of our subconscious, so we sometimes dream about the last thing we’re thinking of before we go to sleep. I wasn’t thinking of Jacob or wolves so I don’t really know why I had that random dream.

I decided to just clear my head and forget about that dream. Tomorrow, I don’t have work, so I plan to get my bike checked in the morning because II noticed that one of the tires on the bike was a bit deflated when I got home last night. Afterwards, I will be heading to the hospital to visit Carmela and her mom. I plan to stay there longer and come home to help my mom prepare lunch.

After breakfast, I got ready to leave and I gasped as I saw that my bike's front tire was fully deflated. All I could do is "Oh, no." Looks like I will have to walk my bike to the repair shop.

I started walking towards the bike shop. I had jeans shorts, a simple shirt and canvas sneakers on, so I could walk comfortably. My hair was down because it was still wet from when I took a shower. I plan to put it up in a pony tail later on. I don't really like having hair blowing into my face so I rarely have my hair loose like this.

The owner of the bike repair shop also owns a motor shop. They are located on the same lot and when I arrived, there are a few cars getting repaired. I saw the owner standing around giving instructions, and greeted him. He's a nice man in his 40's and has been the resident mechanic in town since he was in his 20's.

Kara: "Good morning, Shane."

Shane: "Hey Kara. What happened to your bike?"

Kara: "I don't know. I saw the tire deflated this morning. Can you take a look at it?"

Shane: "Sure. You're not in a hurry, are you? We have quite a few cars in today."

Kara: "I don't really need it today since I don't have to work. You can finish it today though, tight?"

Shane: "Yeah, definitely. Just leave your bike there. I'll take care of it."

Kara: "Thanks, Shane."

I looked at the garage and I saw a pickup truck that looked pretty good. I know almost everyone in town, including the cars that they drive, and I don't recognize this car.

I was looking at it when I heard someone say "Do you like that car?"

I turned around and saw that it's Jared. My heart beat faster immediately as I saw him looking at me.

I don't know much about cars since I don't have one of my own. I don't even know how to drive. I could only say "Uhm, I-it's okay, I guess."

He just kept looking at me while leaning on the wall without saying anything. He really seems to like leaning on things a lot. I looked away since I didn't want him seeing me blush. I said goodbye to Shane and went on my way to the hospital. I was carrying the bag that had the food my mom prepared for Carmela.

I almost jumped when someone took the bag from me. When I looked, it was Jared. He held the bag and was looking inside as he walked beside me.

Kara: "What are you doing?"

Jared: "What is this?"

Kara: "It's food. I'm taking it to my friend. Her mom's in the hospital."

Jared: "Isn't there food in the hospital?"

Kara: "This is better than hospital food. This is the least I could do for her."

Jared: "What's wrong with her mom? Why is she in the hospital?"

Kara: "She has breast cancer."

Jared: "Oh."

I kept walking as Jared walked with me. We were quiet for a bit until I looked at him and said "Where are you going?"

Jared: "To the hospital."

Kara: "Why?"

Jared: "Because you're going there."

Kara: "Oh. Who said you can go with me?"

Jared: "I got nowhere to go while waiting for my pickup to get fixed."

I realized that the unfamiliar car I was looking at earlier was actually Jared's. I wanted to ask if he didn't have anything better to do but I didn't really want him to go, so I just kept quiet.

I noticed a few people particularly the girls looking at Jared, and then looking at me. They're probably wondering who this good looking guy is, and what he is doing with me, a normal looking girl.

When we got to the hospital, I turned to look at Jared and asked for the bag of food. He looked at me momentarily and handed the bag of food.

Kara: "Uhm, I'm gonna go. I guess I'll see you around."

Jared didn't sat anything and just looked at me momentarily before turning around and walking away. I stood in place while I looked at Jared walking away. He looks really good even from behind. When he turned around to look at me for a bit and I instantly turned around and walked towards the hospital. I can't believe he caught me looking at him.

When I got to the hospital room, Carmela smiled and said "Hey, Kara. What happened to you? Why are you all red?"

Kara: "Oh, I walked here. My bike is getting repaired."

The reason why I was red is because I blushed when Jared caught me looking at him walk away earlier. I wasn't ready to tell Carmela about Jared yet, so I just made up an excuse.

Carmela's mom's condition hasn't improved. My friend doesn't seem to want to talk that much about it, so I just talked to her about the diner. She didn't seem to be interested since she has been working there longer than I have, and nothing new to report. I decided to eventually tell her about Jared.

Kara: "So, you know Leon, he's always at the diner."

Carmela: "Yeah, Leon Montemayor, the old rich man."

Kara: "Yeah, one and the same. He's really nice too. He's been chatting with me lately."

Carmela: "Yeah, he's nice. I think he's always at the diner because he's lonely at home. I think he doesn't have any family anymore."

Kara: "Well, he does now. He brought his grandson to the diner yesterday. I heard from Pearl that his daughter died, so his grandson had to move in with him."

Carmela: "Really? What does he look like?"

Kara: "Uhm, he's a big guy. He, uhm, looks okay."

Carmela: "He's good looking, isn't he?"

Kara: "What made you say that?"

Carmela: "You're blushing while you're talking about him."

Kara: "No, I'm not."

I saw Carmela smiling for the first time in days. She kept smiling while eating her breakfast. I stayed a few more hours in the hospital room before I said goodbye.

When I got out of the hospital, I saw Jared sitting on a bench near the exit. What is he still doing here? Was he waiting for me?