The Stalker

Chapter 8

It was a week after the incident when Sadie went back to school.

            “Who are you looking for? Why do you keep on stretching your neck like that?” Harley asked. They were at the Student Council’s office. Harley, the elected President insisted that Sadie wait for her as she complete her presentation for the council’s meeting the following day. Sadie’s chair is positioned near the door where she kept on peering out for someone she wanted to see.

            “I just thought I’d say thank you to Mason and his friend. Perhaps treat them to snacks or something.”

            “Why didn’t you tell me? I have his number.”

            “What? Why?” Sadie couldn’t hide the look of surprise from her face and her cousin raised one eyebrow at her before she replied, “He asked for your number and you know I couldn’t do that so I asked for his number instead.”

            Sadie breathed a sigh of relief. She thought her cousin was interested in Mason. Her face fell when she realized something. Is she interested in Mason? Sadie closed her eyes and convinced herself that is not the case. She doesn’t have time for dating and she’s definitely not the type to start something that she couldn’t handle. She’s merely thankful for her two saviors.

            “Here, you may use my phone.” Sadie sighed and took her cousin’s phone. She stared at the number on the phone screen before mustering the courage to press the dial button. The phone rang five times and when she was about to hang up someone answered.

            “Mason’s phone, how can I help you. Hold on, I’ll get him for you. Man, someone’s on the phone! Hurry up!” The person who answered obviously covered the phone before he shouted but Sadie still heard it loud and clear. She frowned and thought that she heard that voice from somewhere. It was so familiar but she could not pinpoint the exact time and place where she heard it.

            “He-hello?” Sadie knew it was Mason.

            “Hi. It’s Sadie. Hope that I’m not bothering you.”

            “Sadie?”

            “Yes. Sadie Frasier, oh, you don’t remember...” She felt shy all of a sudden. Was she assuming that everyone knows her by her first name?

            “No, of course not. I mean, yes. I remember. How can I help you? Go away, dude! Stop listening to our conversation.” Sadie smiled at the loud murmur at the background. She relaxed and felt more comfortable knowing that it was not only her who seemed to stutter. She mustered enough confidence to utter the next words.

            “I hope you’re with your friend William right now so we could hang out. I mean with me and my cousin. I just want to show you my thanks and appreciation for saving me last time. Do you have some time today?” She doesn’t understand why she had to hold her breath until she heard Mason’s answer.

            “Today? Yeah. Sure. We don’t have any plans today,” Mason replied somewhat nervous.  

            “Great. 5 pm at The Abyss Cafe.” She downplayed the excitement she felt by replying calmly.

            “Okay. See you then,” was Mason’s response.  

            Sadie finished the conversation with Harley’s curious gaze.

            “Is William coming?” Sadie walked towards Harley and sat at the chair in front of her cousin’s table. She played with heavy block of transparent name plate that she designed personally and gave her cousin. The name plate looked like a slab of diamond with crystals on the side. It says in dark blue sparking print, Harley Holmes – SC President

            “Yeah I guess. Can you make it at 5? I mean, its only 3:30.” Her cousin did not respond but when she looked at her, Harley is already hurrying and printing her presentation. Sadie smiled as she witnessed how flustered Harley can be with the way she stuffed her notepad and her folder on her bag while rushing to shutdown the printer and computer.

            “It’s still early. Why are you in a hurry?” Sadie had an idea but she’s enjoying the situation as it was not a usual thing to see her cousin flustered.

            “We have to go home real quick. We have to change. We can’t wear this.” Sadie stopped herself from laughing at that response.

            “What? Why? It’s just a coffee,” Sadie said.

 Harley paused for a moment  and then responded, “Its not good for your image to appear in public looking like that.”

“What? Why? What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” Sadie stood up and twirled. Harley looked at her from head to toe. They were both wearing black skinny jeans and a simple sweatshirt. Harley’s was black while Sadie’s was red. Both of them were wearing comfortable sneakers. Her cousin shook her head and gave her an aye roll while slinging her bag on her shoulder. Harley handed her bag and then pulled her out of the room towards the door.

            “Sadie! Come on. I’ll call the driver so we’ll still have time to prepare.”

            “Wait a minute. Am I missing something here?” Sadie stopped and looked at her cousin with her arms on her waist, obviously asking for an explanation. She smirked at Harley who’s mouth was agape. She averted her gaze from Sadie.

            “What? No! Just, oh, come on. Stop with that look and that smile of yours.”

            “I think You have a crush on someone. Tell me, is it Mason?” She was teasing her cousin.

            “What? No! Of course not. You can have him.”

            “Harley!” She playfully pulled her cousin’s bag and they both laugh.

            “I’m just joking. I don’t have a crush on anyone. I’m just thinking about your image, that’s all.”

            “Okay, if that’s what you want to believe, then fine. Let’s see later how you’ll behave.” This time she was the one who pulled her cousin towards the exit.

            “Don’t ever think about teasing me later, Sadie. I’m warning you. I won’t help you with your lessons if you do.”

            “Oh no, no, no blackmailing please.”

            They arrived at the cafe with ten minutes to spare. Instead of dressing up they just changed their sweatshirts into something more stylish, a cardigan over a silk blue sleeveless top on Harley and an off shoulder white blouse for Sadie. They also changed into stylish high heeled boots. They both decided to stay in the car and wait for the boys to arrive before going inside. Harley received a message that they are still on their way. The Abyss Cafe is actually a fifteen minute drive from their school and more than thirty minutes from their house.

            “What does William look like? I’m curious.”

            “He looks like one of those leading actors on a teen movie. He looks like someone who can protect any damsel in distress.”

            “Are you a damsel in distress?”

            “No, of course not.”

            “Oh, they’re here. It’s them!” Since they were parked in front of the building, Harley excitedly pointed at the two tall men entering the door of the cafe. One of them was wearing a purple hoodie and Sadie smiled that Mason was wearing something memorable from their first meeting.

            They got off the car and walked towards the building.  When the opened the door, they instantly felt the cool breeze of the air conditioning unit of the cafe. Sadie and Harley are frequent customers of the cafe. The baristas on the counter greeted them and they both smiled in return. They love the quiet ambiance of the place especially the wall painted in blue that seemed like a deep abyss in the ocean. A whale outlined with gems also added to it’s allure. Instead of hardwood or plastic chairs, the cafe brandishes comfortable couches that will make the guests feel at home. A relaxing melody drifted to their ears. Harley was the first one to see the two men sitting opposite each other. They picked a round table at the corner with one half circle couch for two people and two single sofas where they sat opposite each other. They were a few steps to the table when Sadie’s phone vibrated inside the back pocket of her jeans. Hansel’s name flashed on the screen. She stopped in her tracks and tapped Harley’s shoulder.

            “I have to go take this call first. You go on ahead.” Instead of going out to take the call, she went to the restroom to have privacy during her call with her manager.

            After Sadie finished the call, she went out of the restroom. She was not looking as she was trying to insert her phone on her jean’s back pocket. Someone was hurrying out of the men’s toilet and the person bumped her, making her lose her footing because of her heels. Someone from behind caught her and steadied her by her shoulders. She smelled something familiar and heard that voice again.

            “Man, watch where you’re going! Miss are you okay?” Sadie realized something. This person is the one who saved her at the school when she almost fell. She looked behind and she was surprised by who she saw.