Secrets of Society

Chapter 2

Walking out in the brisk spring evening is a refreshing end to a grinding day. Still no real leads, still no real answers, still just chasing ghosts. Seb and I chat away about my "conspiracies," as Seb affectionately calls them as we walk to our respective homes. We come across several raucous groups in the midst of the Friday night scene. I track some of the groups with my eyes as they pass, wondering if they really know what kind of power players are out here. Would they be so happy and carefree if they did?

We get to my apartment just outside of campus. I still enjoy living close by, even as a graduate student, just because of the proximity and familiarity of the area. This side of off-campus is also fairly quiet since it's further away from the downtown strip. I take a deep breath and smell the impending spring rain.

"Thanks for walking with me, you know you don't have to. I'm a big girl and can take care of myself," I give Seb a needed hug. He feels so strong and comforting, especially against the weird anxiety that I've been having today.

"Oh, I know you can take care of yourself. I'm here to make sure the other guys don't get beat up too bad if they make the wrong decision to come after you." I can feel his responding laugh bump against my own chest. I hesitantly pull back, feeling Sebs welcoming warmth fade away when he draws away and wishing for it to stay.

I beam toward him, "Thanks again, and make sure you get home safe! I need my body guard to stick around for a while." I turn and punch the code in for the front entryway and head into the foyer. Seb waits until the door closes behind me, and I wave goodbye through the glass. I watch him walk away, but out the corner of my eye I see a figure leaning against a tree across the street. I'm stunned in place, unable to move. They're far enough away that I can't really tell where they are looking, or whether it could be the same person I saw at the pizza bar. I glance at the door again, just to make sure it really is closed, and peel my feet from the ground to head up to my apartment.

As I walk up the stairs, I text Seb, Pls be safe. I think I saw the person from the pizza bar across the street right after u left.Text me when ur home. I shove my phone in my jeans pocket as I hurriedly get to my place, thankful my view is toward the back and not the front of the building. Nervously, I take out my keys and get them ready to open my door as I turn down my hallway. Everything is lit, as normal, and nothing seems out of place inside the building. My hands are shaking as I get my key into the deadbolt and enter my apartment.

Instantly, I flip the light on but then curse under my breath. If the figure was circling the building, then they'd be able to see my lights turn on. I decide to just keep them on in the off-chance they didn't see. I shut and lock the door behind me, and take a look around before taking anything off. My apartment is tiny, just enough space for myself. The tiny kitchen nook to my right appears untouched, my living room directly in front of me also looks unchanged. Glancing in my bathroom to the right and my bedroom on the left sides of the apartment, nothing looks out of place. I try to surrepticiously look down at the street, barely moving the curtains. I don't see anything down there in the street lights.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding and grab my phone to check on Sebastian. He's home and safe, and asked if I want him to come stay with me tonight. I bite my lip, mulling it over. Am I over-reacting? I tell him I'll be fine for a night and ask him to not worry for once in his life, bidding a quick goodnight. I let my shoulders finally droop as I take my rain jacket off and kick my tennis shoes off by the door, sort of placing them in the way of the door. Not that it would do much, but maybe it's better than nothing?

I heavily plop down on my couch as I try to calm myself down, propping my feet up on my coffee table. My phone buzzes with a message from Seb, Last offer before I go to bed. As tempted as I am, I know I need to just suck it up and stop being so paranoid. Thx but I'm a big girl, remember? Get some sleep, I send back to him. My research has got to be messing with my head at this point. I'm grasping at straws and it's making me feel suspicious about every little thing. That has to be it.

I glance down at my coffee table and spy a half-smoked joint in my ash tray. I grab the lighter next to it and light up, inhaling deeply to try to usher this edge to come off. Usually, I'd open my window but...Not tonight, I think to myself, What's one night smoking with the windows closed? I sink deeper into my couch with each drag off the joint. Once I get down to the filter, I leave it in my ash tray and just turn to lay fully on my old, comfy couch as I dive into sleep.