John & Katie

Good Girl

KATIE.

I ran.

I didn’t know where I was going.

My heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst through my chest. Every shadow made me flinch. Every passing stranger made me wonder if I was being followed.

When I reached the train station, I raced down the stairs toward the platform.

Then I stopped and thought maybe Steven could be down here.

Panic seized me at that moment.

I turned around and sprinted back up the stairs, my breathing ragged and uneven.

I burst back onto the street and frantically searched for a cab.

The first yellow taxi I spotted slowed to the curb.

I yanked open the door, climbed inside, and slammed it shut behind me.

I quickly gave the driver my address, and he sped off into the night.

I had no idea if John was still searching for me.

The thought made my stomach twist.

I wasn’t running from him.

I was running to protect him.

My phone suddenly began to ring.

I looked down at the screen.

John Calling...

My heart jumped.

The ringing continued.

Once.

Twice.

Again.

I stared at his name, unsure whether I should answer.

Text messages then started to flood my phone, but I couldn’t respond.

John:What happened? Are you okay?

A second message appeared.

John:Where are you?

Before I could even process it, another came through.

John:Is there anything I can do to help?

Then his final message appeared.

John:I’m worried about you. Please answer your phone.

The tears I’d been fighting finally spilled over.

I covered my mouth as sobs escaped my lips.

John had done nothing wrong.

And yet I had left him standing there...

Confused.

Worried.

The cab ride felt endless.

Nearly forty-five minutes later, the driver pulled up outside my apartment building.

I handed him the fare, thanked him quietly, and hurried inside.

My trembling fingers barely managed to punch in the security code.

The front door clicked open.

I rushed upstairs, unlocked my apartment, stepped inside, and immediately locked every lock behind me.

Only then did I allow myself to breathe.

My back slid slowly down the door until I was sitting on the floor.

The weight of everything crashed over me.

I wrapped my arms around my knees, buried my face in them, and cried.

I cried until my chest hurt, and had no tears left.

Time seemed to lose all meaning.

My phone continued buzzing beside me.

Call after call.

Notification after notification.

Eventually, I reached into my pocket and picked it up.

I left John’s messages unanswered and opened the most recent text from the unknown number.

My hands trembled so badly I could barely type.

After several deep breaths, I finally sent a reply.

Me: Please... don’t hurt him.I’ll never see him again.

The response came almost instantly.

Unknown number: Good girl.

Just two words.

But they were enough to make my blood run cold.

I stared at the screen in disbelief.

Steven had won.

I closed my eyes.

“Pull yourself together, Katie,” I whispered to myself.

“You have to think. There has to be something else you can do.”

I forced myself to stand.

Mechanically, I got out of my clothes and stepped into a hot shower, hoping the water would wash away the fear to clear my mind.

It didn’t.

When I finished, I changed into my pajamas and sat quietly on the edge of my bed, my thoughts refusing to settle.

I opened my group chat and started a group call.

Susan answered first.

“Hey, girl! What’s going on?”

A few seconds later, Liv joined.

“Hey, ladies! Please tell me I’m not late to the drama.” ”

Rose appeared next, her smile fading the moment she saw my face.

“Katie....what’s wrong?”

Mia connected right after.

“Hey, everyone. What did I miss?”

Finally, Ava appeared on the screen.

The second she looked at me, her expression hardened.

“Katie....you don’t look okay.”

I let out a shaky breath.

Five worried faces stared back at me.

“Something awful happened tonight.”

No one spoke. They simply stared at me, waiting.

My throat tightened, my heart pounded against my chest, and beads of sweat trickled down my face.

Liv was the first to speak.

“What happened?”

“So...” I began, taking another shaky breath. “As you all know, John invited me to dinner tonight.”

Ava leaned forward immediately. “What did that prick do to you?” she snapped.

“Nothing!” I answered immediately. “John didn’t do anything.”

Her expression softened, but only slightly.

“Then tell us what happened?” Mia asked, her voice filled with concern.

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“Before we got to the restaurant... I received a text from an unknown number.”

Their expressions immediately changed.

I swallowed hard, fighting back the tears as I tried to steady my voice.

It read:

“I told you to leave this guy. Now you’ll see what happens to people who don’t listen.”

Silence filled the room.

“I know it was Steven,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Guys... I need your help.”

Rose closed her eyes for a moment.

“Katie...... You have to go to the police.”

I slowly shook my head. “And tell them what?”

“I don’t have any proof he sent that text. It’ll just be my word against his.”

Ava let out a frustrated groan and hit the arm of her chair.

“This is unbelievable! There has to be something we can do.”

“What kind of person does this?” Mia asked, her voice filled with anger.

“A psycho,” Liv snapped. “Who clearly missed the part where normal people leave others alone.”

Susan’s expression softened as she looked at me.

“Katie, don’t blame yourself for what he’s doing.”

I swallowed hard, my breath catching as a sick knot tightened in my stomach.

“All I can think about is what Steven might do to John. I can’t let anything happen to him.”

My voice cracked. “Maybe I should stop seeing him.”

Five shocked faces stared back at me.

“That way Steven won’t have any reason to go after him.”

“That’s exactly what Steven wants,” Liv said. “You’ll be handing him the victory.” She pointed toward the camera.

“I’m just scared of him,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

“So what? We’re supposed to let some sick bastard scare you into giving up the person you care about?” Rose snapped. “Don’t give him that satisfaction.”

Tears filled my eyes.

“What choice do I have?” I looked at each of them.

“If something happens to John because of me... I’ll never forgive myself.”

I turned toward Susan.

“Susan...”

She met my gaze, her expression softening.

“What would you do if you were me?”

She hesitated before answering.

“Katie...”

Her voice was gentle.

“If I were you, I’d tell John.”

I slowly shook my head.

“No. I can’t tell him.”

My voice trembled.

“That would only put him in even more danger.”

Liv leaned closer to the camera, determination burning in her eyes.

“I’m not going to sit here and do nothing.”

She shook her head, her jaw tightening.

“I’m telling every nanny what that jerk did. If he wants attention that badly, we might as well give him some.”

Liv took a breath before continuing.

“He thinks he can threaten people and still serve everyone like nothing happened? Let’s see how long those customers keep coming back.”

Ava crossed her arms. “If he thinks we’re going to sit back and let that bastard push Katie around...”

She shook her head.

“He seriously underestimated just how many people have your back.”

Rose nodded, her anger evident.

“We’re done letting him think he can scare Katie. If he wants trouble, he’s about to find it.”

I looked at all of them through the screen, tears filling my eyes.

“You guys...”

“We mean it,” Susan said softly. “Whatever happens, we’re with you.”

“There is nothing more we can do right now, so try and get some rest, Katie, we will talk more tomorrow,” Ava said.

“Thank you, girls,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. “Thank you for always having my back. I truly appreciate every one of you.”

“We’ve got you,” Ava replied.

“We’ve got you, Katie. Steven picked the wrong woman to mess with—and the wrong group of women to piss off.” Liv said.

I nodded, wiping away a tear.

“I’ll see you all tomorrow.”

“Goodnight, Katie,” they said almost in unison.

After I hung up, I stared down at my phone, knowing what I had to do next.

Every part of me wanted to throw it across the room instead.

With trembling fingers, I opened my messages and typed....

John, I’ve really enjoyed the time we’ve spent together, but I don’t think we’re the right match to continue seeing each other. I wish you nothing but the best.

I read the message three times.

My heart ached as I squeezed my eyes shut and pressed Send.

“So that’s it,” I whispered to myself.

“That was the last message I’d ever send him.”

Almost immediately, my phone began ringing.

John.

I stared at his name glowing across the screen, but I couldn’t bring myself to answer.

The call ended.

A second later, a text appeared.

Then another call.

Then another message.

Each vibration made my heart ache a little more.

He was worried and deserved an explanation, but I couldn’t risk telling him what was happening.

I knew I was hurting him by ignoring him.

But I couldn’t answer.

Not when answering might put him in even more danger.

For the first time, keeping John safe meant pushing him away.

With tears filling my eyes, I turned off the volume, placed my phone face down on the nightstand, and crawled into bed.

I closed my eyes, but never sleep truly came.