Claimed For Christmas

Chapter 12-Threat

Brooklyn

This past week has been weird, to say the least.

Something’s changed. I’m not sure what exactly, but there’s this obvious shift I can’t seem to ignore.

It started that first night I got back. I woke up to this nagging feeling that I’ve forgotten something really important.

I figured it might have to do with the whole Tyler situation. Since this was my first break up, I’m wondering if maybe I’m struggling to process things with how everything ended. During the day, I feel fine, but when night comes, I find myself waking up, crying, and don’t even remember why.

I’d hoped Tyler would accept the break up and give me some space, but after getting my phone fixed, I realized that wouldn’t be the case. He’s reached out to me every single day since we broke up.

At first the texts were bordering on sweet and remorseful. He would say things like how much he missed me or how much he regretted what happened, but after not getting a response from that, the messages turned cruel. It’s getting to the point that I think I might have to block him.

It didn’t help that Jillian would yank the phone from my hands and respond back to him. Even though I’m grateful to have a best friend like Jillian, her approach to things is a lot different than mine would be. Since we live together, she kind of inserts herself into all of this. I’m just trying to move on and keep myself as busy as possible. Which isn’t too hard since I’m a full-time student with two jobs.

Having to do all of that without a car though, hasn’t been easy. Jillian offered to let me borrow her Bentley, but there’s no way in hell I’m driving that thing. If I get one scratch on it, that’s like half a year's worth of wages just to repair it. So I’ve been taking the bus and walking. I’m hoping to hear back on my car soon, since it’s finally at the repair shop.

There’s something else I’ve been thinking about since getting back to my everyday life…well, someone to be more exact.

Carter Hayes.

I know I probably seem like a total stalker for doing this, but I might’ve looked him up on Insta…and Face.book. That’s where I found out that not only does Carter go to Bridgeview University, he’s also the football team's star quarterback. So of course Tyler knew who he was.

Carter Hayes was like something out of a movie. He was good looking, athletic, clearly good hearted since he volunteered at the hospital, and was completely out of my league. As much as I keep going back over those twenty four hours I spent in the hospital with him, I've come to accept that it was all because he’s the golden boy of Bridgeview, and just an amazing person all around.

It was just one day. One freaking day. Okay, maybe it ended up being one of the best days of my life…but still, I need to get over it. Yet somehow my mind seems to keep wandering back to that day.

“Hey, do you think you can take over the register for a minute? The delivery guy just got here.” Katie, my coworker asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Yeah go ahead, I’ve got it.” I closed the lid on the smoothie I had just made, and placed it down on the counter before calling out the order number.

Glancing towards the register, I saw a group of girls standing there and made my way over.

“Sorry for the wait. What can I get for you?”

I’ve been working at Smoothie King for about six months now. I ended up taking a second job after Jillian and I moved out of the dorms and into an apartment together. Between student loans, rent, my car insurance, and helping to pay for my mother’s housing, I feel like I’m drowning. It’s just so hard to get ahead…and with me crashing the car, I’m anxious to know how much this is going to put me back.

After taking the customers order and putting it into the register, the sound of the door chiming had my gaze darting up just as it opened.

Oh great…just what I needed today.

Four guys walked in, wearing Buccaneers bomber jackets. I knew exactly who they were the moment I saw them…Tyler’s old teammates.

Taking a deep breath, I put on a fake smile when they came walking up to the register.

“Well, hey there Brooklyn. I didn’t know you worked here.” Jet, the tallest one said before giving me a lopsided grin.

“Yep, for a few months now. Do you guys know what you would like to order?” I said, trying to move this along.

“Actually, we’re not here for a smoothie. We’re actually here by request.” Gage, one of the guys from the back said before pushing himself forward and leaning on the counter in front of me. “Seems like you’ve got your boyfriend pretty worked up right now. He sent us to check in.” He explained, making that fake smile falter.

Seriously? Tyler asked them to check on me? Ugh, what is his problem?Turning around, I went to grab three cups for the order I took before them and started to get them ready.

“I’m fine, so you can tell him he doesn’t need to check on me anymore.” I glanced back towards them. “And he’s not my boyfriend anymore.”

The guys went quiet as I took the top of the blender off and started to add the frozen berries into it.

“You should be grateful, you know.” Gage’s words had my body stiffened.

I turned my body to face him. “Grateful? For what?”

“For the protection that dating Tyler has provided you. You know he asked us to watch over you while he was gone.” He explained and my brow furrowed.

“Watch over me?”

“To make sure you didn’t get into any trouble.” He went on to explain, leaving me in disbelief. Tyler had his friends watching me this entire time?

“Let’s just say dating Tyler comes with some perks. You’ve been off the market. Claimed property. No one could f**k with you…but if you’re not dating Tyler, well…” He trailed off, the look in his eyes darkening.

“What?” I asked, feeling this sense of unease start to rise up inside of me.

“Then you're fair game.” He declared, leaning over the counter. “And boy do we love a good game.” Gage glanced over his shoulder, looking towards his friends when a sinister smile filled every one of their faces.

Fair game…

“Just think it over. Maybe give Tyler a call back and see if you can work things out. If not….I’m sure you can use your imagination.” He turned around and left, leaving me standing there, watching them in disbelief.

They were threatening me. Saying if I didn’t get back with Tyler that I would be fair game. But fair game for what? What do they even mean by that?

“Brooklyn, you okay?” Katie asked from behind me, making me jump. I had no idea how long I had been standing there, but by the annoyed look on the customers faces right now, I’d say awhile.

“Yeah, all good.” I rushed, reaching for the blender in front of me as I tried to push Gage’s threat to the back of my mind and get back to work.

Once the afternoon rush hit, the rest of my shift went by in a blur. With the way my day had gone, I was ready to go home and crawl into bed. I just needed to catch the bus first, and then that fantasy would become a reality.

Walking outside, I stuffed my hands into my pocket, as a gust of wind blew past me. It was already dark out and freezing cold. I started to walk down the sidewalk, feeling a chill tremble through me when suddenly, all the hair on the back of my neck stood straight up.

My body stiffened when this weird sensation like I was being watched began creep up on me.

Turning my head, I scanned the surrounding area, looking for anyone that might be the cause of this feeling.

Could it be Tyler’s friends?

My stomach dropped, that thought had my feet moving quicker as I made my way to the bus stop. The feeling began to creep closer, making my chest rise and fall as this feeling of being followed had my heart racing.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed behind me, causing me to panic. With each step, that sense of fear shot through me as I tried to calm myself down.

It’s just someone else trying to go home. Relax Brooklyn.

The darkness around me disappeared when a streetlamp came into view, giving me the opportunity to glance back. My heart stopped as the silhouette of a person appeared not far behind me.

I started to run, that fight or flight instinct kicked in as I chose to flee when those footsteps grew louder with each pounding step as my chest rose and fell heavily. I clenched my hands into fists, seeing the bus stop coming up as headlights began to approach.

A deep growl rumbled from behind me, causing my eyes to widen in shock as goosebumps pebbled across my flesh.

Why did it sound like some type of animal? Maybe they had a dog? Too scared to turn and look again, I locked onto that bus stop, using it as a beacon when the bus pulled in. The second my foot hit the light, that feeling of being followed vanished, leaving my chest heaving just as I reached the bus and turned around, seeing nothing behind me.

It’s all in your imagination Brooklyn. You were just scared. The words echoed through my head as I climbed onto the bus before getting out my wallet and scanning my card.

The second I sat down, I tilted my head back, trying to catch my breath and slow my heart. What was that out there? I just freaked myself out, right?

Yeah, it had to be my imagination…that’s all.