"Are you okay Alexis? You've been acting weird since we left off that Chace guy." Nicholas was pulling a water bottle from the refrigerator.

Alexis was sitting at the kitchen table, "He's Dr. Ryder and I'm fine Nicholas. I'm just tired...that's all."

Nicholas nodded, "Are you freaked out about that note? I'm telling you it probably wasn't for you. Some drunk person more than likely thought it was for one of those strippers."

Alexis smiled, "Do my eyes and ears deceive me? Is my brother worried? I do believe he is. Awww thank you, baby brother."

Nicholas flicked her off, making her laugh.

"Seriously, are you okay?" he asked, uncapping the bottle of water and taking a drink. He offered Alexis some and she shook her head.

"Yes. I'm fine. It was just weird...that's all."

"I'm sure it's nothing to worry over. If it turns out someone is leaving you creepy notes, just let me know. I'll crane-kick them to hell." He noticed Alexis didn't laugh like she normally did when he made a Karate Kid reference, "You going to sleep okay?"

"My Tylenol PMs will ensure it."

"That's my sister...the pill popper," Nicholas smiled and ruffled her hair as he walked past her to go to his bedroom and call it a night.

Alexis checked the doors to make sure they were locked and then turned off the lights. It was a nightly ritual for her. Check the locks on the doors and windows and then turn off the lights. Then she could sleep in peace.

She walked to her bedroom and flipped on her laptop. She needed to check her e-mails for her advice column that she wrote for the local newspaper. She had clicked opened her e-mail account and smiled. She had over a hundred messages. It felt good to be popular. She clicked open the first message.

"Dear Alexis, My boyfriend thinks it's okay to keep talking to his ex on Facebook. She's always interfering in our relationship because she knows what's going on with his life. Should I ask him to delete her as a friend or should I just delete him as a boyfriend? –Fed up with Facebook"

Alexis chuckled, "What's up with relationships having problems with Facebook these days?"

She typed her response.

"Dear Fed up, Your insecurities about your boyfriend speaking with his ex should be discussed with him. Everyone has baggage but if he's unwilling to let go of his, you may have a problem. Evaluate your relationship after you speak with him about how you feel. If you're contemplating ending the relationship, it sounds like you may already have your answer. Follow your gut not your heart. –Alexis"

Alexis clicked on the next question.

"Dear Alexis, I've been dating "Jack" for three months now and he said it's way past time for me to have sex with him. I'm still not ready but if I don't sleep with him I'm afraid he'll break up with me. What should I do? –Scared of Sex"

"Dear Scared, I'm going to take a shot in the dark and guess that you're still a teenager. Even if you aren't the advice is still the same. Your body is YOUR BODY! No one should make you do anything you don't want to do. If "Tom" is pressuring you to have sex and you don't want to, he needs to respect that. If you don't feel ready, there's a reason for it. It's because...you're NOT ready! If Tom dumps you, then let him go. I'm not saying it will be easy...it may be very hard but so is living with the regret that you gave yourself to the wrong person. If you are a teenager, I would also suggest talking to an adult you're close to like a parent or visiting a free Health Clinic because I as I hope you know, having intercourse leads to having babies."

Alexis clicked on her next e-mail. It was actually an e-card. It had a picture of a cute cartoon porcupine with binoculars and the caption, "Don't forget." She opened the e-card and music started playing. She turned up her speakers. It was a song from the 80's by the Police. It was titled I'll be Watching You.

As they lyrics played, she couldn't help but feel a shudder run down her spine, "I'll be watching you? Great. It's the perfect anthem for a stalker." She flipped off her computer and took a deep breath. She wasn't sure if it was a string of coincidences or if it was the same person sending her messages but for now she was going to ignore it and hope that it stopped. If it didn't, she was going to have to get the authorities involved.

The Next Day

"Nicholas, I have some clients coming over today so make yourself scarce. Got it?"

"I still can't believe you let them know where you live," Nicholas said shaking his head in disbelief.

"Believe it or not, many psychologists and therapists treat clients out of their homes."

"Yeah...because they need to see a therapist themselves. You'd have to be crazy to let these people know where you live."

"Nicholas. These are couples looking for couple's therapy...not clients that have mental illnesses."

"So if you're married, you can't have schizophrenia? Is that what you're saying?"

Alexis gave him the stink eye, "Shut up. You know what I mean. Now go find something to do for an hour or two."

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay in case they get too rowdy? I could be your personal bouncer or something. I'll kick them out if they start fighting."

"Go!" Alexis was pushing a laughing Nicholas out the door.

Fifteen minutes later, Alexis' doorbell was ringing. It was Sylvia and Larry French. Alexis greeted them and brought them into her study which she used as her office to see clients in.

"Dr. Reyna. He's doing it again! He's been hiding in the closet." Sylvia was sitting as far away from Larry as she could.

Alexis took in Larry's wrinkled shirt and jeans. He was a stark contrast to Sylvia's pressed dress and heels. Alexis wasn't sure but she thought he even had a ketchup stain on his collar.

"Larry, is that true?"

Larry looked uncomfortable and fidgeted in his seat. He didn't want to admit to doing something embarrassing.

"Just tell her Larry! You like to hide in closets. Dr. Reyna," Sylvia put her hand up to shield her mouth and whispered, "Do you think this means Larry is secretly gay?"

"What?" Larry shot a quick glance to Dr. Reyna before chastising his wife, "I'm not gay Sylvia!"

Sylvia shrugged her shoulders.

"Sylvia," Dr. Reyna smiled, "Can you tell us what made you fall in love with Larry in the first place?"

"Hmmm...I don't remember really. He used to make me laugh all of the time and he was smart. He always was always a gentleman."

"That sounds great Sylvia. What about you Larry? What made you fall in love with Sylvia?"

Larry looked at his wife who was preening in front of him. "Well she's beautiful. She used to be really kind before we got rich...then she changed."

"Changed? How did I change Larry?"

Alexis cut them off before they began arguing again. She had watched them argue enough to learn their patterns and didn't need to witness anymore. "I'm going to give you each a journal to write in."

They both took a journal as Alexis explained what they were to do with the journals. Then they discussed spending more time together.

"I want you two to do activities together. Start rebuilding the emotional bond you two once had."

Alexis listened to them decide to take an art class together. "That sounds great!"

After the couple left Alexis texted her brother to come back home. Her phone rang and she thought it was going to be Nicholas but instead it was Gabby, one of her best friends.

"Hey Doc, are you coming to meet with us for lunch today?" Gabby asked.

"Who's going to be there?"

Gabby laughed, "The usual. You, me, Deandra, and Ivy."

"Where are we meeting?"

"The Cornish Hen. Ivy keeps asking to eat there."

"Okay sounds good. I'll see you in twenty."

Alexis sent a text to Nicholas that she would be out and quickly got ready to meet with her friends.

At the Cornish Hen

"So? Who's the sexy sounding Dr. Ryder on your show?" Ivy asked.

Alexis blushed, "He's Chace Ryder and he's a colleague. Nothing more."

"Yet," Deandra chimed in. They all started laughing. Alexis had been having lunch with these girls for years. They had all become friends in college.

Alexis' phone dinged and she checked her message. It was from her brother.

"What the hell??? You went to have lunch without me? What kind of big sister are you?" The text caused Alexis to laugh because she knew that her brother was joking. She looked at the women around her and asked, "Oh did I tell you all? My brother is back in town!"

"What! When are we finally going to meet him?" Gabby asked.

"I don't know. He might end up hitting on one of you and that would be awkward."

Ivy laughed, "Is he cute?"

"He's my brother but even I will admit that he's handsome. I mean really handsome."

"Where was he?" Deandra asked as she took a sip of her sweet tea.

"He wouldn't tell me. He can work from wherever since he's a freelance graphic designer but he wouldn't even give me a clue."

"That's weird. You're his sister," Gabby said.

"Tell me about it. I'm afraid he secretly knocked some girl up and doesn't want to admit it to me. Ladies, I love my brother...but he's a player."

They all started laughing.

"So does he not have a steady income?" Ivy asked.

Alexis raised her brow, "Please don't tell me you're actually interested in meeting my brother."

Ivy raised her hands in defense, "What? He's single...I'm single."

"He makes good money. A lot of companies want him to become a steady employee with them but he likes to travel too much to stop doing freelance. If you can get him to settle down, I would love it."

They all started laughing as their lunch was being brought to them.

Meanwhile

In a corner of the Cornish Hen sat a man who was staring at four women having lunch. He hadn't expected to see them there but what a wonderful surprise it turned out to be. He was close enough to listen to their conversations. He learned their names: Gabby, Ivy, Deandra, and of course Alexis Reyna. She was the woman that would have to be taught a lesson. He flagged the waitress and asked for his meal to go along with the check. As she brought his food in a Styrofoam box, he stood up quietly, not wanting to be noticed by the four women. He went to pay and as he did so, he wrote a quick note on the back of a napkin. He asked that it be passed to the table that the four women were at. The cashier nodded and after the man had left she passed it to one of the waitresses.

"Excuse me, is there an Alexis at this table?"

The four women looked up in surprise.

"I'm Alexis. Is there a problem?"

"A customer that left asked that we give this to you?"

"Me?"

The waitress nodded.

Alexis read the note and paled.

"What's wrong Alexis?" Gabby asked.

Alexis flagged the waitress and asked her, "The customer that gave you this...what did he look like?"

The waitress shrugged, "I don't know. I didn't see him. I'll ask the cashier." She quickly left and then came back. "I'm sorry she doesn't remember. All she said was that he had dark hair."

"Well that helps a whole bunch," Ivy said sarcastically. "What does the note say Alexis?"

Alexis shook her head and stuck the note in her purse. "It's just a fan, that's all. Hey Ivy are you going to eat that biscuit?"

The girls weren't sure whether to let it drop but they did once Ivy answered, "No. I don't need to be eating anymore carbs as it is. Take it from me you heifer."

After lunch was over, Alexis sat in her car and pulled out the napkin. She thought of the e-card she had gotten earlier and sighed. The note had to be from the same person. So much for being a nightly stalker. It was lunch time and she was getting creepy notes. The lyrics from the popular Police song were right in front of her as she read the note again and the last line was underlined.

She couldn't help but ask herself, "He'll be watching me?"