Her Stalker

7

On getting to the restaurant, Xavier pulled over and they both walked towards it. On it was written boldly STARBELLY. It looked absolutely exquisite. She liked the lilac color used on the outside. It also had silver decorations on the doors and windows.

The restaurant was huge, she had to admit. It looked like it was meant only for the rich. Javier held the door for her to enter into the restaurant. Her mouth opened in amusement as they both stepped in.

She made an effort to limit her excitement, trying to act as civil as possible. Raising her head high, she walked elegantly. They both sat on a table that was close to the window. She liked the fact that it was close to the window. That way, she would have were to turn her head to if Javier starts looking at her funny. The resturant had few people in it. From her observation, it was mostly couples.

"Would you like to order anything?" he asked calmly.

"Yeah I would like something to drink"

"Just drink? This isn't a bar Hattie" he teased her.

"I don't have an appetite for food right now" she stated, which was true.

"Okay, do you take alcohol?"

"Yeah"

"Okay"

"What are you ordering?"

"Probably vodka" he beckoned on a waiter.

"What would you like sir?" the lady asked with a complacent smile. Hattie hated that smile on her face and felt like smacking it off so badly. She also despised the way she talked in a flirtatious way to Javier. Hattie already concluded the waitress had an eye for Javier. He did have the looks and charisma to pull any woman in the room and that was what scared her.

"Just vodka" Javier stated, unaware of the situation entirely.

"What flavor?"

"Ketel one oranje please"

"Anything else?"

"That's all" Hattie snapped. Javier turned to her, surprised by her sudden tone. Her cheek flushed in embarrassment as she let out a reassuring smile. The waiter walked off with their order.

"You know I barely know anything about you" Hattie spoke out which made Javier chuckle dryly.

"Why do you want to know anything about me?" he tilted his head to the side in a playful manner.

"We are on a date and it's only fair enough that I know about you"

"True” He nodded. “What do you want to know?" he leaned away from his seat and towards her.

"Where are you from?"

"Seattle"

"I'm from San Francisco" Hattie blurted out although he never asked.

"Does your mum live in Seattle?"

"No, my mum lives in California. I told you this already"

"Oh ok, lucky you"

"How do you mean?" he narrowed his eyes in confusion.

"My mum is dead remember? She was killed"

Javier stiffened in his seat as he shifted uncomfortably. He looked at Hattie whose eyes held pain. He didn't even know how to comfort her. He cursed inwardly at himself. He cursed at Andrew too for making him go through all this.

"Hello," Hattie said snapping her fingers in his face.

"Yeah?"

"I thought we were having a conversation here," she asked awkwardly.

"I know" he replied bluntly

" Then why does it feel like I'm talking to myself?" she frowned.

"Sorry about that" he apologized, leaning back on his seat with his fingers nervously tapping on the table.

Hattie turned to see a waiter walking toward them with a bottle of vodka and two cups laid on a tray. Hattie was glad that it wasn't 'Miss Flirt' who was delivering the drinks, rather it was a guy. He carefully put the bottle on the table and set the two cups for both of them. He was about to pour the drinks into the cups when Javier held his hands

"It's fine, I will do that" Javier offered.

"Okay," the waiter said bowing his head slightly before leaving.

Javier took the vodka and proceeded to pour it into Hattie's cup first, before his.

***************

Javier and Hattie strolled out of the restaurant. She felt the cool air caress her soft skin. The night looked beautiful, probably because Javier was there. She looked up in the sky and she felt peace for the first time.

She turned to Javier who seemed lost in thought, staring at his phone intently. She tried peeping at his phone but she realised how rude it would be. They weren't entitled together, but she smiled at the thought of having him for herself.

"Are you all right?" she asked calmly. He looked at her as something flashed in his eyes. It was too quick that Hattie couldn't decipher it.

"Yeah I'm fine" he let out but didn't seem relaxed a bit, Looking around suspiciously.

"Is there something wrong?" She asked also accessing the area.

"It’s fine Hattie" he said with a hint of annoyance

"Oh” Did she do something wrong? “Sorry" she let out incase he got angry at her question.

"For?" He asked in confusion.

Hattie shook her head. He had to be the most confusing two-faced person ever! "Nevermind" She let out although still worried due to Javier who looked too apprehensive.

"Let's go" he suddenly held her hands roughly, pulling her toward the car. She didn't complain, she was too confused to even say a word. Why was he acting so wierd? She thought inwardly. He opened the car door and she stepped in. He entered into the car and started the engine without uttering a single word.

Hattie just sat there looking like a lost puppy, hoping and praying for him to say something. The silence was too overwhelming. She turned to him. He didn't look angry, neither did he look happy. She wasn't sure but his expression held uneasiness. He just kept tapping on the steering nervously.

"Hattie?" He finally spoke up

"Yes?" Hattie immediately felt relief from the immense tension that had previously taken over the atmosphere.

"Let's end all this" he blurted out with his eyes still on the road

"End what?"

"Me and you"

"What do you mean?" Hattie panicked. What the hell was he insinuating?

"We are not meant for each other" he let out with great difficulty.

"Why do you want to end it?" Her voice was already shaking. Why did he want to end something that was leading to a perfect union? She could feel it, he was the right man for her. The only man who she truly wanted to be with.

"You can't love me" he turned to her. There was some sort of hurt and void in them as he stared. There was definitely something he wasn't saying.

"Why?"

"You would never understand"

"Then make me understand"

"I'm not who you think I am"

Hattie froze, staring at him puzzled. What the hell did he mean? "Who are you?"

That single question seemed to have trigger him and he lost it "Stop with all this damn questions, Hattie!" He yelled hitting his hands hard on the steering, causing her to flinch.

Hot tears rolled down her cheeks. How could he change so fast? She realized she might not like his two faced personality after all.

"You can't just ask me on a date and then tell me you want to leave"

"I actually thought this would work out, but no"

"Why does everyone keep doing that?" she yelled "They always leave when they matter the most"

"I'm sorry Hattie" he looked at her. His eyes held different emotions "But I'm not the man for you"

"You crazy psycho!" She cursed angrily, losing it "You know what, just stop me here. I will find my f*****g way home!"

"Hattie calm down" He spoke calmly, hoping to ease her down.

"Don't f*****g tell me that! Stop the damn car!"

"Its too dangerous" he persisted.

"Oh please! Don't act like you care! Open the door!"

He exhaled sharply "If anything happens to you Hattie, I would never forgive myself"

More rage built inside of Hattie the more he tried to act nice when he just said they aren’t meant for each other. "If you don't open this door this minute, i will scream at the top of my voice!"

"The car is soundproofed" He let her know, shattering her agenda.

"Javier, let me out now," she said more calmly since she realized screaming wasn't getting her anywhere.

Javier looked at her in defeat before finally stopping the car. Hattie opened the door angrily and slammed it shut. She started walking as fast as her legs could carry her. She heard a door slam behind her immediately. She didn’t bother turning around, since she already knew Javier was chasing after her.

"Hattie stop" he held her hands, turning her toward him. She yanked his hands away and continued walking.

"You made yourself clear, why are you still following me?"

" I'm just trying to protect you"

"From who!" she turned around angrily

"Please Hattie let me take you home"

"I would rather die" she spat fiercely and turned to continue walking

"You don't mean that"

" Are you testing me!"

"Hattie stop being stubborn"

Hattie was about to reply when she heard her name from afar.

She looked around to see who was calling out. A guy in his early twenties was running towards her. He looked quite excited, with a bright smile printed on his face. It was dark but Hattie could tell that he looked really familiar. She must have definitely seen him somewhere.

"Hey" he said catching his breath as he stopped in front of her.

"Who are you?" Hattie asked.

"You don't remember me?"

"Urm no" Hattie replied unsure.

"Who are you?" Javier snapped at him, taking a protective step towards him.

Hattie made eye contact with Javier, signaling him to be nice. She wondered why he acted like that after the stunt he pulled just few minutes ago. She glared at him before slowly tuning her head towards the person who was standing in front of her

"I'm peter, we attended the same high school, remember?" He smiled wittily.

Hattie snapped her finger as she finally remembered. The name sounded familiar, she didn't have alot of friends in high school but she surely couldn't forget Peter. Peter, the blonde nerd. Although he didn't look like a nerd anymore.

He really changed alot. They weren't close friends back then but they were friends. He had told her that he had a crush on her once but she never liked him back. How mature and handsome he looked now.

"Ohhh, no wonder you looked so familiar"

"Do you stay around here?" He asked

Xavier tried to be protective again as he chipped in. “Why would you want to know that?”

Hattie glared at him to stay clear and then she turned to Peter who already felt intimidated by the 6ft3 man who wouldn't stop glaring at him.

"Not really" Hattie replied briefly

Peter nodded and then his eyes darted from Xavie to Hattie “Your boyfriend?" He asked casually.

Hattie's heart raced as her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. Why would he ask her such a question when they just met? That was absolutely absurd. He was being too nosy!

"No!" she snapped, looking at Javier with bitterness. Javier didn't seem to care about the question. He just kept looking at Peter intently. With the way he looked so hard, Hattie concluded, he wasn't staring at just Peter’s face, but definitely his soul.

"Do you live around here?" Hattie asked.

"Yes, i was actually coming from a bar nearby "

“Peter at a bar? Who would have thought?" she asked in disbelief as they both chuckled. "I see you didn't only change in looks"

"What do you do now by the way?"

"I'm a psychologist"

"Wow i really did see it in you back in high school" Peter complimented and she smiled.

"No way"

"Yeah, you were very good at making me feel uncomfortable. That's what all psychologists do, isn't it?" Peter teased

"Urm Hattie" Javier cut in when he couldn't take the intense familiarity they shared anymore.

"What!" She snapped. The reason she delayed with Peter was to make Xavier pissed enough to leave her alone since that was what he wanted in the first place.

"Can I please drop you home?" He didn't fail to hide all the impatience he had felt for the past few minutes.

"No” she shrugged. “Peter here would walk me home. Won't you Peter?" She asked, turning to Peter

"I would?" Puzzled Peter asked.

"Of course!" Hattie nudged him to play along.

"Oh… Well okay," he gave in.

Javier groaned in frustration "Hattie stop all this" He held her hands "Look at him. Does he look like he can protect you!" he fired, referring to Peter

"Protect me from what exactly!” She couldn't understand why he was acting like she was in some sort of danger and was going to die that night.

She took a step closer, pointing her index at him. “You made yourself clear Javier, now leave. Let's go Peter!" she yanked Javier's hand off hers and started walking fast with Peter trailing behind as confused as ever.

Javier did not bother walking after her. He stood there in defeat but he did not regret what he said earlier. She really needed to stay away from him. As far as possible. She was too innocent to be caught up in all his troubles.

He watched as she walked angrily with the annoying Peter by her side. He signed as he brought out his phone.

He decided to read the message over again.

'I see you are having a lot of fun, Hattie is very pretty by the way. Too pretty. I wonder how burn marks would look on her face

Javier had seen this message when he and Hattie were still at the restaurant. His heart stopped the

moment he saw it. He didn't want any harm to come to Hattie. The thought of Andrew laying his hands on Hattie made his blood boil in anger.

Letting her go was the best option. But he had to find a way to take care of Andrew. He went to his contact and dialed his number. The call was returned on the second ring

"Javier" Andrew's voice called out from the other end.

"Do you have a death wish?" Javier asked with venom in his voice

"Really?" Andrew asked amidst a chuckle.

"Now listen. If you hurt a single strand of hair on her body, I will drain life out of you and watch you suffer a slow painful death" Javier said in a calm tone, but the both of them knew he meant every single word.

"That just sounds fun. You should really work on your threatening skills, Javier"

"You know very well what I’m capable of doing Andrew,” Javier said through gritted teeth.

"And you remember what I did to Zenni? I can do worse to Hattie if you keep testing me"

"You won't dare!" Javier angrily banged his fist on his steering wheel.

"Trust me, Javier, when I want something, I go for it," Andrew said, ending the call.

"Arrghhhhhhh!" Javier shouted, smashing his phone on the floor. His pulse quickens. A familiar sensation, a combination of adrenaline that made his blood quicken and electricity that made his skin tingle.

Voices started echoing in his head. He held his head, banging it on his car in an attempt to stop it. The voice started becoming louder. Beads of sweat gathered on his forehead as he fought the voice. He suddenly felt the urge to kill, to rip somebody's heart out, to stab a body till it had no life in it, To torture a soul.

********

Hattie sat on her bed. Her heart was ripping into different pieces. She couldn't even cry. She tossed the pillow that she was holding angrily on the floor. He didn't even give her a chance to love him before kicking her away. He left, just like everyone did. She was like a plague that everyone kept avoiding.

She remembered the look in his eyes when he told her that they should end it. He didn't even show an atom of concern. They were not dating but there was chemistry between both of them and she was certain that he felt it too. Or not. She clearly overreacted but couldn't help it

'You can't love me' the voice echoed in her. What did he even mean by that? He said it in a way that made it seem like loving him was impossible.

Why does it hurt so much? She thought. She couldn't ignore the constant sting in her heart. She wasn't herself from the moment she walked out on him.

Peter who was trying to start a conversation with her failed terribly, as she kept on giving one syllabic answers. Peter got tired of talking and just stayed quiet throughout. Then he suddenly asked

"You love him?"

"No" she snapped at him

"Oh ok, sorry for being nosy, I couldn't help but ask”

"It's okay, but do I make it look so obvious?"

"What?"

"Like, do I act like I love him?"

"From the way you looked at him. The way you seemed so hurt for a reason I don't know of. I could tell that you love him"

Hattie couldn't help but sigh frustrated "They just keep leaving"

"What do you mean?"

"Everyone" She looked at him as tears gathered in her eyes. She blinked rapidly to prevent it from falling.

"How?" he asked with concern.

"My dad, my mum, Westin, now him?"

"Who is Westin?" He asked curiously

"My boyfriend"

"He broke up with you?" he asked

"I wish that was the case" she paused as she took a while to breathe "he is dead"

His eyes widened "What? How did he die?"

"I found him dead in his house…. I don’t want to talk about it" she let out

I understand. I'm really sorry" he consoled her

"Thanks a lot" she said

****

Hattie got up from her bed as she dragged her feet to the bathroom to take a shower, hopefully, that would make her fall asleep. The cold water landed on her back which made her shiver slightly. She felt empty and lost.

'I guess it's over now' she thought inwardly