“What time do you work?” Alex asked outside of the dingy apartment.

With a dark blue fitted sweater that matched his sapphire eyes and a pair of black jeans, he didn’t fit in. Casual clothing somehow made him look even more like a model than usual .

‘Damn why can’t I ever look that good?’ I contemplated as I studied his strong physique leaning gracefully against the black truck.

“ Uh I work at 10:00 to 5:00” which sucked since I was barely awake at 9:00.

“ You better hurry and get your stuff then. Are you sure it’s okay to go back into your apartment?” He asked as I headed towards the front door.

“ Yeah the police already cleared the area so it’s safe” I said opening the door to an apartment awash with the sun’s early light. I recognized everything, the worn blue couch, white and blue curtains, the messy room I had yet to clean, it was all mine I’d put effort into the decorations it was my tastes my things but it didn’t feel that way now.

Hastily I grabbed the large black duffel bag behind my bedroom door, I stuffed it full of clothes and all of the necessities such as shampoo and conditioner. I looked back once more on my home, hoping that next time I came back it would actually feel like one.

I arrived at work with a few minutes to spare giving me just enough time to glance through my phone to check if Jaycee had sent and update on Renee.

‘Not yet apparently’ I thought after scrolling through my messages for a few minutes willing her to update me, I was so anxious.

“ Cassi you’re here early today...for once” Tammie appeared around the corner, a smirk glued to her unpleasant face.

‘Jeez was the ‘for once’ necessary I’ve only been late like twice’ I resisted making a very unlady like face in her direction while her tall spindly frame exited the building. Every interaction with Tammie was a test of my self-restraint.

The office was completely deserted, the sun dipped low a silvery glow alighting the purple grey swirl of clouds, dry leaves were sent dancing to the winds tune.

‘It’s going to snow tonight’ I thought while staring out the window, waiting for the clock on the wall to tick closer to 5 o’clock as I’d been doing since 4:00.

‘Wonder where Chase is?’ ten minutes had passed since his appointment, and he was still a no-show which was very unlike him, but heck what did I know.

“ Has Mr.Chase arrived?” Mrs. Knudsen asked from her office doorway.

“ Not yet” I replied.

“ Well then it looks like you get to go home a few minutes early. I have to stay late today to finish up some business so I’ll turn off the lights” she walked back into her office.

‘Good now I can go home and turn into a human puddle- oh wait that’s right I’m not going home’ my thoughts of vegetating were interrupted by the realization that my home wasn’t mine anymore… wasn’t safe anymore. Then I remembered whose house I was staying at.

Internally I groaned ‘how do I get into these situations? Am I cursed or something? This is going to be so awkward’ I didn’t do well around new people.

- Ding!

My phone chimed from within my oversized overstuffed purse. I fished around searching for the sleek rectangular form, hoping it was Jaycee.

Nope, it was a text from a random number.

It’s going to snow you better put your coat on it read.

Do I know you? I texted back

How could you not we do everything together was the anonymous number’s response.

K that doesn’t really answer my question seriously I hated mysteries.

U don’t know me,but I know u

it was starting to sound almost playful, and I was starting to question what to say next. Finally I settled on

I think you have the wrong number

I had the feeling that’s all I was going to get,but just in case I sent one more text

???

Maybe it was Alex? But that didn’t sound quite right, honestly it didn’t sound like anybody I knew.

‘Damn I really do hate mysteries’.