Chapter 52

                                    

                                          

Lorna
It was the last day of school before the Christmas break, and my parents had finally allowed me to return for just this one day. Because of my stalker, I had to stay home and complete all my exams online. The school had offered me extra time given the circumstances, but I declined; I was confident enough to complete them within the standard time frame. Considering everything that had happened, it felt like a good distraction.
Today, I went back under strict supervision and a warning from dad not to go anywhere alone.I wanted to say goodbye to my friends before we all headed off for the holidays.There was still no sign of the stalker. 
The other day, I overheard my dad telling my mom that Reece's dad had sent some of his own contacts to try and catch him because the police weren't doing much about it. They claimed they were tight on "police officers." My dad was furious, threatening to sue them if anything happened to me.
Reece's dad's men had come close to catching the stalker, but he had managed to escape. How, no one knew. They believed he had received a tip-off. From what I overheard when Reece's dad was talking to Reece one night, they had found some pretty disturbing stuff—all about me. There was a journal detailing how much he loved me and wanted to marry me and have children with me. He had hidden pictures of me in his closet, some with Reece where Reece's head was cut out and replaced with the stalker's. They also found his phone with all the videos, pictures, and messages he had sent me.
I had to admit, I was terrified. Nobody would tell me anything; they were afraid I'd slip back into myself like the last time. It had taken me years to finally overcome my fear of leaving the house and talking to new people. Reece, of course, was my constant shadow—not that I minded. He was my very own personal bodyguard, along with the other bodyguards who followed me around whenever I had to go out.
As I walked through the familiar halls, trying to enjoy the last day, I couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched. Every shadow seemed menacing, heightening my anxiety.
Despite the festive atmosphere, the fear never fully left. Dad's parting words played on repeat in my head: "Stay close to your friends, and don't go anywhere alone." The stakes felt higher than ever, but for now, being surrounded by friends and the normalcy of school was a small comfort.
"Are you okay, baby?" Reece's voice snaps me out of my thoughts. I give him a gentle smile. "I'm fine."
"Are you sure? Because if at any time you want to leave, just say the word, okay?" He wraps his arm around me, hugging me into his side.
It was lunchtime, and we all decided to go to the diner down the road. I rode with Reece, of course. Connor and Austin came with us for added security, even though they denied it. I knew there were also bodyguards following us; Reece had given them a heads-up that we were leaving the school but had told them to maintain some distance so it didn't look too obvious. It was already embarrassing having Reece and his friends follow me everywhere. They even followed me to the bathroom and waited outside until I was done. Reece would sometimes come into the bathroom with me. It was ridiculous.
"How's your nanna?" Sarah asks, trying to steer the conversation away from the stalker. I smile at her in appreciation; she always knows how to read the room and is so considerate of people's feelings.
"She's doing much better," I say. "She's home from the hospital now. Dad hired some caretakers for her. She still needs help getting around, but she's getting there."
Sarah tells me she's glad to hear it.
As we all fall into another conversation about our holiday plans, I mention that Reece's family and mine are heading to our lake house cabins, which are right beside each other. I couldn't wait to forget about all the worry and stress of the past few weeks.