I stared through the windows, not actually seeing anything outside, and waited to see if the feeling of being watched would return. Several seconds later, I felt it again, and my eyes skimmed over the crowd, desperately looking to find that person who was making me feel like this.
I wasn’t able to see anyone suspicious, and that just freaked me out more.
The train was slowly coming to a stop, reaching another station, and I realized this was Lauren’s stop. I decided to get off and go to Lauren, suddenly worried for my safety. My instincts were never wrong, and they were telling me someone was after me now. I didn’t want to risk it and go to my place where I would be all alone and on my own.
I got off and headed to Lauren’s apartment. I felt stupid showing up at her doorstep like this, but I didn’t have a choice. I would start panicking any moment and that wouldn’t help me.
Luckily, the streets that led to her apartment were well lit and there were a lot of people outside. I kept glancing over my shoulder, trying to see if anyone was following me, but there was no one. Damn, I was going crazy. Add that to the list of wild things in my life.
I reached Lauren’s building, refusing to think about the reasons why somebody would follow me, and climbed up the stairs until I reached Lauren’s floor. I rang the bell and waited, tapping my foot nervously.
A few moments later, Lauren opened the door and frowned when she saw me.
“Madison? What are you doing here? Is everything alright?”
I approached her and hugged her tightly. “I’m so sorry, Lauren,” I spoke into her hair. “I had to come. I-I felt like someone was watching me and I didn’t feel safe... I couldn’t go to my place just like that...”
Lauren took a step back, eyeing my face carefully. “What do you mean ‘someone was watching you’? I don’t understand.”
I moved my hand through my hair and swallowed hard. “It’s hard to explain. Can I come in?”
Her eyes suddenly widened, like she’d realized just now she was keeping me in the hallway all the time.
“Oh! Of course, come in!” She ushered me inside and closed the door behind us.
I could hear the sounds of her TV in the living room, and it comforted me immediately.
I was safe now.
“I’m really sorry for coming here just like that. If it’s okay with you, I wanna stay with you for the night. I don’t feel like it’s safe for me to be in my place all alone right now.”
“Oh, flower. Of course, you can! Sit down. I’ll grab you a glass of wine. Okay?” She smiled reassuringly at me.
“Sure.” I returned her smile and sat on the couch. I was still trembling. Stupid fear. I took several deep breaths to calm myself down. This was weird I usually didn’t get so rattled.
Everything was okay, Madison. Nothing happened to you, so you can relax.
Lauren sat down, handing me a glass of red, my favorite.
“So, tell me. What happened?”
I heaved a long sigh. “Two nights ago I was driving back from my work, and I felt like I was being watched.” I shuddered, remembering that strange moment. “I didn’t notice anything unusual, though, so I shrugged it off. Now, while I was on the train on my way home, I got the same feeling. Lauren, I am sure someone was watching me. I couldn’t see anyone suspicious—actually, no one even looked at me—but my instincts were telling that person was there. They were there and they were watching me. You probably think I am over exaggerating or something.”
She was looking at me seriously. “No, not at all.”
“Maybe the stress of everything is getting the best of me, maybe not. I don’t know.” I gnawed at my lip.
“I think you should definitely be careful. If you see something suspicious, you better report it to the police as soon as possible.”
“I know,” I said and took a sip of wine.
After some thinking, I decided to tell Lauren everything about Grant. She was one of my best friends, and I would feel better if I shared this with someone. “You know, I really like Grant.”
Lauren raised her eyebrows. “Oh?”
“Yeah. You have no idea, Lauren.” I took my shoes off and put my legs beneath me. “He is perfect. He is a great lover, and he is so strong.”
I told her about every single thing that happened between us, even mentioning how Grant fingered me in the conference room.