Nymphaea

The feeling

As always I was home alone. My parents were yet again gone for the week in some work delegation and I was left with some pocket money and a note saying „Don't  spent it all on books, don't forget to eat and do your homework. We love you mum & dad” . 

It was Friday so I was in a good mood. I took my money, I made two caramel lattes for me and my best friend Anna and jumped in my car. I drove to Anna's house trying to come up with a fun plan for the weekend. Maybe we could go see a movie or maybe there was a party we could go to. I would have to wait until I picked up Anna as she was the one who always knew all the events and which is for our liking.

She was already waiting for me when I pulled up on her drive way. 

*Hey Nymp, how are you?* she asked as she jumped in the front seat picking up her coffee. *Did I tell you today how much I love you? You are the best friend one could hope for.* She said sipping from the coffee.

* Haha, I know you do, honey. Listen, I was just trying to come up with a plan for the weekend. Got any ideas?* I asked as I drove to our school. It was a beautiful November day and I loved to drive so I was in such a good mood. It didn't last tho, because with a guilty voice Anna confessed : 

*Well baby, to be honest, today after school I'll go with my parents to our house by the lake for the weekend. I'm sorry to leave you, but you know it's my mother's birthday and she wanted us to celebrate together as a family. Even Robert is coming from college to join us.  If you want, you can come to. You know mom always says you're part of the family.* The look of regret on Anna's face only made me feel worst. I thought for a moment if I should go with her to the lake house, but after a second I remembered she said Robert will be there. He was always mean to me so I passed.

*Nah, it's fine. I have to finish the essay for Mr Fitz anyway so I'll probably be busy all weekend. * I said as I parked the car in our high school parking. 

*Right.* She said without sounding convinced.

I always finished my homework way before the deadline and she knew that.

*Anyway* I said, trying to change the subject before she tried to convince me to go with her.*How was your date last night?* It was all she needed to start a long and detailed story about the events of last night with her new conquest, Alex. 

At eighteen, Anna was really hot. With her caramel hair and big blue eyes she was Bambi cute, but her body was of a women. Every guy in school tried at some point to hookup with her, but very few did. Alex tried for almost a year before she accepted to go on their first date, and apparently he thought she was worth the wait. 

 I was only half listening to Anna's story about how cute Alex was, because I had again the feeling someone was watching me. 

I had it for the last year almost every day, but when I tried to find the person who was watching me I never could find them.

Anna saw me zone out and asked *Back with that feeling again?*.

*Yeah, I think maybe I should go see a therapist or something. You know last night I woke up in the middle of the night with the feeling and I couldn't shake it of until this morning? And now is back. I swear I feel like I' m going crazy!* I said with a tired voice. I was still happy I could at least talk to Anna about this. She believed it was real but I just couldn't find the person looking so she said: *Maybe he was at your window looking at you while you were asleep.* 

*Anna, baby, you are not helping. I'm home alone again, remember? The thought of someone watching me while I sleep is more frightening than the thought that I'm going crazy! And we still didn't figure out if it's a he or a she.* I told her looking terrified.

*Oh right. Well, I am 90% sure it's a he. We, women, do our stalking online. Anyway, are you sure you don't want to come with us to the lake house this weekend?* She said trying to redeem herself. 

*Yeah, I'm sure. Thanks for offering tho.* Right then the professor entered the class and we went quiet. 

The rest of the day went uneventful and to soon I was home again with little to do but watch some tv or read a book. 

I went for reading but I had no new books so I decided to take a walk to the library. Lucky me, I lived close to the mall where there was a big library and the walk was thru the city park where there was even a lake. I loved to read by the lake so it was settled, I was to go buy myself a book and a coffee and than go read by the lake. 

And that's exactly what I did, so the last rays of the sun found me reading undisturbed by the lake.

Only when a chill went thru my spine did I realize it was almost night. I got up reluctantly and headed home while I put my headphones on. 

I wasn't paying much attention to my surroundings as I hummed the lyrics to "when the party's over" by Billie Eilish, so I never saw the car running the red light, but I did get the feeling someone was watching me exactly the second before I realized there was a car about to hit me. 

It all happened so freaking fast and my brain didn't get the chance to comprehend what was happening before a strong hand grabbed me and pulled me out of the way.

Due to the force with which the hand pulled I ended up bumping into a strong chest. Then I felt hands hugging me and a soft voice whispering in my ear: *You scared me.* 

That statement seemed strange so, as my heart began to calm, I began to wonder in who's arms I landed.