Chapter 3

"I really can't help with your issue right now," I explain, keeping the phone between my cheek and shoulder. I'm currently filling up the bathtub with bubbles while talking to Haley.

After I left Jason's room, I decided that I needed a relaxing bath but just as I was getting it ready my phone rings with Haley's voice screaming about an emergency.

For the record, it isn't even a problem.

"I'm serious Bra-Bra, I can't-"

"I'm not helping you if you keep calling me that," I warn, rolling my eyes. "Plus that nickname doesn't even make sense when most fourteen year-olds have bigger-"

"Okay fine I'll stop, but I really need your help," she whines. I can just imagine her rolling around in her bed like she usually does when she's stressed, even though there's really no reason for her to be stressed about this.

"With what? A guy called you cute, what's the problem with that?" I ask, turning the water off when it almost spills to the sides. The lavender smell hits me nose making me instantly relax. Gotta love bubble baths.

"No, he called me 'pretty cute'. What does he mean by that? Does he mean that I'm pretty or that I'm cute? Braska this is a serious question!"

I roll my eyes and pull my hair into a loose bun. I washed my hair yesterday so I don't need to wash it again today. "Haley, the way I see it, a guy just complimented you. Are you really freaking out over the exact words he used? And just in case-"

"Wait! I think he's calling, I'll talk to you later," she hurriedly says, before the call cuts off. I give my phone an annoyed look before putting it near the bathtub.

I take all my clothes off and toss them to the side before getting in the tub. The warm water instantly relaxes my sore muscles and relieves all the tension. Taking off my glasses, I place them on the side next to my phone.

Leaning my head back, I decide to close my eyes and rest for a few seconds.

**

When I open my eyes again, the first thing I notice is how wrinkly my skin feels. The next thing I notice is how the room is darker than I remember. I then remember how the lights here automatically turn off after fifteen minutes to save energy.

Did I fall asleep? How long?

I feel around for my glasses before putting them on. Then I notice a small candle on the counter flickering. The candle is the only thing that lit up the entire room. Suddenly a chill creeps up my spine and I slowly look around the room.

I can't see it, but I feel it.

I grab the towel next to me and wrap it around my body as soon as I stand up. I'm not sure why, but for some reason I feel like I'm not the only one in the room. I walk over to the light switch and flick it on. A gust of wind rushes near me before the lights flicker on.

Once the lights are on, I look around and notice that the candle is missing. In its place, however, is a note.

Pulling the towel tighter against me, I look around and walk closer to the note. Even though it's not likely that the note will explode, I still feel a little bit scared to read it. The contents in the note are usually scarier than the actual note itself.

Don't worry love, I made sure you were safe as you rested.

Forever yours,

~L

I crumple up the note and throw it away in the trash. That creep was watching me in the tub while I was sleeping! Thank God I like my baths to be really bubble, hopefully if all he did was watch then he didn't see anything that he wasn't supposed to.

A shudder goes through me when I consider the option that he did more than just watch. I don't bother to wash off the extra bubbles and quickly change into my pajamas. I double check to make sure that the windows in the bathroom are closed and that the blinds are pulled so no one can see me.

My skin still feels sticky but I do my best to ignore it and grab my phone before walking back to my room. The heart shaped box is still sitting on my bed and I know that I have to open it sooner or later.

I walk slowly towards the box while making sure to listen in case something growled inside. Hopefully it's not like a cat or something because I'm allergic. Once I'm at the edge of my bed, I slowly shake the box to see if anything would explode. Something bumps against the side of the box but other than that there's no sign of anything alive or explosive.

Taking a deep breath, I slowly unwrap the box. The silk ribbon feels nice against my skin and I push aside the feeling I get when I notice that the ribbon is my favorite color. I can't believe Jason would just up and tell random strangers my favorite color.

I make sure that I'm at an arm's length away and that the box is facing away from me when I open it. I wait a few seconds to see if anything would jump out or move and when nothing happens, I creep closer to see what's inside. At the very top is a small note.

Your brother told me you enjoyed these, so I bought as much as I could find. Don't worry about the cost, no amount of cash is worth more to me than your smile.

Forever Yours,

~L

When I lift the note, I see stacks upon stacks of Sour Patch Kids. My hand flies up to my mouth as I take in the amount of them in the box. There's packets of all sizes that fill up almost the entire box.

Mixed feelings flood my chest as I take in the amount. It's true, I'm in love with Sour Patch Kids and my brother knows since I would never let him have any when I had some. Okay I would let him have like one when he cries but for the most part I wouldn't let him have any.

I can't believe this guy.

Shaking my head, I close the box and push it under my bed. I grab my phone and press speed dial 1. It's a few rings later when someone answers.

"Hello?" Her voice sounds really tired and suddenly I feel guilty for calling this late.

"Mom?" I ask, tears feeling my eyes.

"Nebraska? Honey are you alright?" she asks. Her voice cracks a little at the end which means that something bad must have happened with dad again.

"Um...it can wait," I tell her, wiping a tear that fell.

"Honey if it's important you can say something. I'm coming home in a few days and I'll be staying for the week. I can't wait to see you and Jason again! Tony's taking care of you all right?"

"Yeah," I mumble, grabbing a comb and starting to untangle my hair. I love that my mom will be coming home, but then that means she'll be here when I'm at school.

Her being here alone means that there's a big chance she'll come in contact with the stalker and I don't want her of all people to know. Of course I trust her with my life, but she's one of the most important people in my life and I can't risk losing her.

I'd rather take the stalker than risk my mother's safety.

"I have a question but I'll ask when you come home," I finally decide. Hopefully she'll forget by then and I won't have to ask or come up with a fake question.

"Okay, goodnight Braska. Tell Jason I said goodnight too, or goodmorning if he's asleep by now which he should be."

I hang up the phone and place it on the table next to my bed. Even though I close the windows and my door, I make sure not to lock it. Before, I used to always lock my door but then I realized how vulnerable that leaves Jason since he can't get in my room so now I leave my room unlocked for him.

Dangerous for me, but Jason needs me especially when he has nightmares.

I climb into my bed and pull the covers up to my chin so I would be hidden under it. I scroll through my multiple social media accounts for a while before my eyes get too heavy. Placing my phone under my pillow, I close my eyes and welcome the needed sleep.

I smile from my spot as I watch my beautiful angel sleep. Her chest rises and falls with each breath she takes. It's a little harder to get into her room but I'll be damned if I let a locked window stop myself from being with her.

She's everything to me.

She's my life.

The day I accidentally bumped into her in the park during the evening was the best day of my life. At first I was pissed at my brother for pushing me into a couple of humans taking an evening walk but the sparks flying through my arms made that anger simmer down to nothing.

I remember how I thought that the boy she was talking with was her boyfriend and how pissed I was. After following them for a while, I concluded that they were only friends.

Even though I know that they're only friends, it still burns me seeing him protect her from everything I should be protecting her from. It should be me wrapping my arms around her. It should be me comforting her. It should be me helping her.

I angrily bang the wall that I'm leaning against causing my angel to stir in her sleep. I move deeper into the darkness to make sure that she doesn't see me. Luckily, she only moves in her sleep to lay on her left before her breathing becomes steady again. I move away from the wall and sit in the chair of her study desk.

It hurts me so much to know that I can't be there by her side all the time. As much as I want to take her with me, I won't do that to her.

I can't; it'll hurt her too much.

That's why I picked her brother up from school. After a while of waiting, I watched as he was about to run outside to look for her before I stopped him. I talked the teacher into thinking that I was Nebraska's boyfriend before bringing her brother to the bakery.

I love that kid. He told me so much about Nebraska that I didn't know before. It's really going to help me into winning her over.

After another couple of hours just watching her sleep peacefully, I get up and walk over to her secret money box that she thinks no one knows about. She uses the money inside to pay for the bills and buy her brother clothes and other things he needs.

I remove the top off and slip in another hundred dollars. She hasn't realized it yet, but I always put in extra money to help her. She always spends the money on other people before even considering to buy anything for herself.

I figure that if she has extra money, then she would be able to buy things that she wants. I want her to be as comfortable and happy as possible.

After putting the money in, I walk over and place a soft kiss on her forehead. I brush back some of the hair on her face before reluctantly moving away.

Looking out the window, I see my brother signalling me to hurry up before continuing to look around the area. I glare in his direction before looking back towards my angel.

She gave a soft snore before switching her body position again. This time she's lying uncomfortably on her arm so I walk over and adjust her arm so that it isn't at an awkward angle to her shoulder. How she doesn't wake up with cramps and sore muscles confuses me since she always moves around in her sleep.

I feel someone come in so I turn around and glare at the figure. "Go away," I angrily growl out, moving to stand between him and my little angel.

He smirks before looking around me to look at Nebraska. "That's her huh?" he asks, moving closer.

"Take one more step and you won't make it out of the room alive," I warn. "Family or not I won't hesitate to kill you if you hurt her."

He rolls his eyes making me clench my fists. I wasn't lying when I said that I would punch him if he crosses me. "Calm down, I wouldn't hurt her. Trust issues much?"

I glance back to make sure that Nebraska is still sleeping before turning back to my brother. I would have really hurt him if he woke her up form sleep from how loud he's being. It's like he has no idea what an indoor voice is.

"Look, I'm just saying, how do you expect her to trust you when all she thinks of you is some creep who stalks her?" he says, before leaving the room in a flash. I growl under my breath and lean my body against the wall. I'll never admit it, but his annoying self is right.

As much as I want to be with her all day and night, I don't want her anywhere near my lifestyle. It's selfish on my part. Bringing her into my life would only complicate hers. I won't do that to her.

I give her one last kiss on the forehead before heading to the window. After I lock the window again, I take one last look at her.

"I'd rather have you safe in your world than die in mine."

With that, I jump out and run after my brother.

______________

I have a massive headache right now so I couldn't managed to edit this chapter, sorry if there were any mistakes, I'll edit them later when my head feels better

I don't know if I should do more of L's point of view or not. What do you guys think?