"Alexis are you okay? What's going on?"

The light was switched on to reveal Alexis holding on to her comforter in the middle of the bed. Nicholas saw the wild look of fear in his sister's eyes.

"Alexis," he said cautiously.

"He's here, Nicholas. I heard him," Alexis whispered.

"Who's here?"

"My stalker." Alexis looked as if she was going to scream again.

"Did you see him?" Nicholas began whispering as well.

Alexis shook her head. "I heard him."

"Okay, I'm going to look around." Nicholas proceeded to check under her bed and through the closet and adjoining bathroom. He didn't see anyone. He even checked the window to make sure it was locked. "Alexis, no one is here. Are you sure you heard someone?"

"Yes, I'm sure!"

Alexis watched the look of confusion on her brother's face turn into concern.

"I'm not crazy, Nicholas! I swear I heard someone."

Nicholas nodded. "Well I didn't find anyone here so what do you want to do? Should we call the cops again?"

Nicholas glanced at Alexis' cell phone which was charging on her nightstand.

"And tell them what? That I'm hearing someone whisper to me in the dark? I'll sound like a lunatic."

"Then what do you want to do? Tell me so I can help you."

"I don't know." Alexis began biting her thumbnail. It was a nervous habit she hadn't engaged in since she was a teenager.

Nicholas walked over to Alexis and grabbed her pillow and comforter. "Follow me."

"What are you doing?"

"Just follow me." Nicholas walked downstairs and tossed her blanket and pillow on the floor.

"Nicholas!"

He then went to his room and grabbed his blanket and pillow. "We're going to do something we haven't done in years, Alexis."

"What's that?"

"A living room camp out!"

"Nicholas, we're too old to be sleeping on the floor."

"Speak for yourself, woman!" Nicholas tossed their blankets on the floor along with their pillows. The house was dark except for the glow from the television in the living room.

"I know you've been stressed out lately. I didn't see anyone upstairs so let's just sleep downstairs for tonight until we can figure out what you heard in your bedroom. Maybe it was just some random noise that you think sounded like someone whispering to you like the AC vents turning on."

"It wasn't an AC vent but fine...just for tonight, Nicholas."

Nicholas laughed. "Do you want to tell ghost stories?"

Alexis didn't respond. Instead she tossed a pillow from the sofa at him.

"I'll take that as a no," Nicholas muttered.

The two of them settled in on the floor and slept. Alexis was grateful Nicholas wasn't directly calling her crazy or a coward. She felt like both.

A few hours later, Alexis woke and sighed. She wasn't getting much sleep because the floor was too uncomfortable. She thought about sleeping on the sofa but it would also be uncomfortable. She recalled what what Nicholas had said earlier and wondered if her mind was playing tricks on her. As a psychologist, she understood more than most how stress could affect a person's mind. It was totally plausible it was all in her head. She hated being afraid in her own home and she resented the man who had sent her the notes and texts in order to scare her.

Alexis sat up and looked over at her brother. He was fast asleep with his arms spread out. Alexis smiled. Nicholas was a good brother. He even sacrificed his bed so she wouldn't be afraid. She got up and tiptoed to the staircase. Alexis didn't want to be afraid to sleep in her own bedroom. She walked up the stairs slowly. When she reached her bedroom, she ran to her bathroom and turned on the light switch. She then walked to her bed and laid down.

For her, this was a test in bravery. Eventually, she drifted into a fitful sleep. An hour later, she awoke. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness and she could see a figure standing in her bedroom doorway.

"Nicholas?" she whispered.

The figure didn't speak. She couldn't see any distinguishable features, just the outline of his body as he stood in the doorway.

"Nicholas, what are you doing?" she asked. The bathroom light wasn't enough for her to see by, but it did allow her to catch a glimpse of the knife he held in his arm. "Nicholas?"

The man still didn't answer. Alexis was frozen with fear. "Nicholas!" Alexis screamed, hoping to wake her brother up. The dreadful thought that Nicholas could be dead downstairs filled her mind. She screamed again and the figure at her doorway ran away.

"Crap! Alexis, stay in your room! Call 911! Now!"

Alexis gave a quick prayer of thanks as she heard her brother yelling from downstairs. She quickly grabbed her cellphone and dialed the police. She heard her brother groaning, glass breaking, and then a loud thud.

"Nicholas?" Alexis had quickly given her house information to the 911 dispatcher and ignored her instructions to stay on the line. She disconnected the call and walked to the edge of the staircase. She could see the front door open and Nicholas on the floor.

"Nicholas!" Alexis ran towards her brother. He wasn't moving. She sat on the floor, calling his name. She noticed the welt on his face and a deep scratch on his left upper arm. "Oh my God. Nicholas, wake up!" She lightly patted his cheeks until he emitted a soft groan.

"Nicholas, wake up,"

"Enough already," he moaned. "What the hell happened?"

"Are you okay?" Alexis asked.

"Where is he?" Nicholas looked around, groaning in pain.

"I don't know. I think he ran out," Alexis said as she looked at the open front door.

A few minutes later the police and an ambulance arrived to find Alexis and Nicholas sitting on the sofa. Nicholas had a bag of mixed veggies over his eye while the paramedics bandaged up the cut on his arm.

"This is a fairly nice neighborhood," the officer remarked. "You said you didn't notice anything missing?"

Alexis shook her head. "I don't know. We haven't really checked but all of the valuables are in a safe. He was just watching me while I slept."

"And you didn't see his face?" the officer asked looking at Nicholas who cursed under his breath.

"No, he had some kind of ski mask on. He was dressed in black. That's all I remember before he hit me over the head with a vase."

The officer nodded and finished taking their statements.

After they left Nicholas looked at Alexis. "I don't know what's going on but we need to get a security system installed."

Alexis nodded. Tonight was scary. Alexis wondered if the intruder had been hiding in the house or had he picked the lock and broke in like the police officer suggested? She shivered at the thought of him being in the house and hiding.

"Nicholas?"

"What is it?" His rough tone told Alexis he wasn't in a good mood.

"I'm sorry." Alexis began crying, "I'm so sorry. This is all my fault."

"How is this your fault? Hey stop crying, Alexis. This is not your fault. Some guy broke in...how's that your fault?"

"He broke in because of me."

Nicholas shook his head and frowned as he hugged his sister. "Don't worry, Alexis. It's gonna be okay. I promise."

Alexis nodded but she didn't believe him. She had a feeling that from now on, things were just going to get worse.

"Larry! We have to see Dr. Reyna this Saturday. Did you finish your journal?" Sylvia called out to her husband who was downstairs working on some random art project in his study. She was in their bedroom putting laundry away. As she was about to leave the room, she noticed a small key on the nightstand by Larry's side of the bed. She picked it up and looked at the dresser drawer he always kept locked.

Sylvia looked around and quickly unlocked the drawer. Inside was a small journal. "Why would he hide this?"

She placed his journal with hers to take to their appointment on Saturday. "If I don't do this he'll forget it like always."

Ivy, Gabby, and Alexis sat at their local Red Robin gorging on the bottomless fries.

"So, Alexis, are you going to tell us what's going on with the dark circles under your eyes?" Ivy asked. "It looks like you were up all night. It wouldn't have anything to do with that handsome co-worker of yours, would it?"

"Someone broke into my house last night."

Gabby and Ivy stared at Alexis in disbelief. Gabby put down her burger and looked at Alexis. "So, why are you just telling us this now? That's not news you wait to tell your friends."

"Sorry," Alexis murmured, "It was a rough night and Nicholas got hurt."

"Your brother was hurt? Is he okay? Are you okay? Did they take anything?"

Alexis shook her head. "He's got a black eye. They didn't take anything. It was just a crazy night."

Ivy nodded. "I'm sorry, Alexis. but I'm glad you're okay."

Alexis gave a weak smile. "It's fine. My brother wants to install a security system."

"That's a great idea." Ivy looked at Gabby. "Don't you think so?"

"Yeah, of course it is. Alarms that automatically call the police are great in case you can't call them yourself."

"Gabby, I've been meaning to ask you--did you date a police officer before and not tell us?" Alexis asked.

Gabby looked surprised. "What?"

"What? Gabby hid a boyfriend from us?" Ivy laughed.

Gabby blushed and shook her head. "Of course not."

"So, you never dated an Officer Winters before?" Alexis asked.

Gabby looked uncomfortable. "Why are you asking me this, Alexis?"

"I'm just curious. I met him."

Gabby coughed, "No. I don't know him."

"Are you sure? Because he seemed to know you, Gabby."

Ivy looked puzzled. "That's weird. Why would he say he went out with Gabby if they didn't date?"

"I don't know." Gabby shrugged, "Maybe he has me confused with someone else."

Ivy didn't let it go. "You don't get confused about the people you date. Are you keeping secrets, Ms. Gabriella?"

Gabby tossed her napkin over her food. "Why do you keep asking? I told you I didn't date him. He must be confused. I'm going to the bathroom. Excuse me."

"You want me to come with you?" Ivy asked.

"No." Gabby noticed she was a bit too vehement in her answer so she answered again, "No, it's okay. Thanks. I'll be right back."

Alexis couldn't help but notice how upset Gabby looked.

"What was that about?" Ivy asked Alexis once Gabby left them.

"I don't know but it seemed strange. Officer Winters asked me to help him get back together with her...but she's telling us she never dated him."

"It's weird but maybe he did get her confused with someone else."

Alexis looked at Ivy and asked, "Hey are things okay with you? I mean you're not having any problems are you?"

Ivy laughed. "No. Why?"

Alexis shrugged. "No reason but if you ever have any problems, it doesn't matter what, you know you can come to me, right?"

Ivy smiled. "Of course I do and the same goes for you. You, me, and Gabby...we've been best friends since college. Deandra's gone but we're all important to each other."

Alexis smiled. Ivy was right. They were all important to one another. She thought of Gabby who was still in the bathroom. Alexis wondered, "Why did she deny dating Officer Dean Winters? Did he lie or was she lying?"

Gabby looked visibly upset when Alexis mentioned Officer Winters. There was more to this story than Gabby was letting on and one thing was definitely clear. Ivy, Gabby, and Alexis may be best friends...but they all had secrets.