“Whoa, kitten, put your claws away.” He laughs.
“We didn’t hook up, did we?” he asks, and I roll my eyes at his arrogance.
“Hey!” Jared barks at him. “She’s fucking mine, man.”
Sean puts his arms up. “Sorry, Knox; I mean no disrespect.”
“As long as you know your place, we’re cool.” They both nod as I continue to stare this player down. The other guys he walked over with are silently laughing at Sean looking uncomfortable.
“Shannon is my roommate and my best friend.” His eyes widen at my admission.
“Yup, that’s what I thought.” I give him a smirk.
“Babe, I need to go to class,” I tell Jared, then lean over to kiss his cheek. He smiles, telling me he will pick me up after class. He never lets me drive anymore. He thinks my mom’s car is unsafe.
I walk away, biting my tongue.
I’m typing my notes on my computer in class when I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. Pulling it out, I see I have received a message. I don’t recognize the number.
Opening the message, I freeze. My heart starts beating rapidly, feeling like it’s coming out of my chest. The message says: ‘I know where you are at all times. Do not try to run’.
My eyes widen and my hands start to shake. I close my laptop and pack my shit up. Everyone stares at me when I run out of class, but I don’t care. I feel like I’m going to be sick.
I run into the bathroom and barely make it into the stall before I throw up. When my stomach is empty I slide down to the floor. I bend my head to my knees and breathe in and out.
My phone vibrates again and a couple of tears fall.
“Shit,” I mutter.
When I pull my phone out I sigh.
“Where are you? Why did you run out of class?” It’s Jared, so I take a calming breath.
I text him where I am and that I need to show him something.
After I wash my hands and rinse my mouth I hear him come storming into the ladies room.
“Jared, you can’t come in here!” He takes one look at my face and pulls me into a tight hug. I welcome his warm and safe embrace.
“Babe, what happened?” He massages my head while still holding me. I muffle my response in his chest.
“I received a message and got scared.” Now his tone is all business when he pulls my face to meet his.
“Give me your phone. I can trace it.” So I do as he says, not even asking how he can pull that off and pray he knows what to do because I sure as hell don’t. It’s reassuring having someone like Jared on my side. We make our way out of the bathroom and start to walk down the hallway.
The one thing I can’t stand is that every girl we pass has her eyes on him, like they want him or have already had him. That thought alone makes me wince. He doesn’t even go to school, but everyone seems to know him.
I follow Jared down the hallway and then outside. He makes his way to his bike. He motions for me to get on, so I do. He is typing away on his phone, most likely to the person doing the trace. He takes my phone and does something with it while still typing away.
“The phone is twelve miles away. I need you safe while I check this out.”
“Oh, hell no! You are not going alone,” I state.
“Babe, I’ll call my men to help. But I need you protected, so you have to go somewhere.” He grabs my hand, kissing the back.
“I’ll be fine here; just go do what you have to do and please be careful.” I launch myself over to him and kiss him softly. He sighs when my body meets his and I know I have to leave before this escalates.
“Fine, but I’m sending someone to come here and keep an eye on you first.”