Chapter 1

Being married is a whole different world than what I thought it would be. I never knew all the hardships and fights you would encounter as a married couple. However I still love Alex and he loves me so we get through it together. "Good morning Shorty." I hear Alex say before his arms wrap around me and he kisses me on the cheek. "Morning. Do you want anything before heading to work? I'm making pancakes." I tell him as I focus back onto the breakfast I'm cooking before I have to be at the book store. "No thank you love, I'm in a rush." He responds before turning me around giving me a kiss. "I love you Sam. Always will." He adds as he looks me in the eyes. Confused I slightly smile at him and tilt my head a bit, "I know Alex, I love you too. What's wrong?" I ask. It's not like him to be this way. Even when he seriously tells me he loves me he still calls me Shorty. That horrible day back in high school was the only time he has ever called me Sam and I didn't like it.

"Nothing is wrong I just want you to know that I love you." Alex says. "I know you love me but don't ever call me Sam again okay? I don't like it." I say with a chuckle as I recall the day I told him the complete opposite. Before I hated the nickname from him that he gave me but now? I feel hurt and lost hearing my actual name come from him. At my response he just laughs before nodding and kissing me again before saying bye and leaving out the door.

Since we have been married, Alex has taken a job at a business company working as associate. He doesn't really tell me details of his job, but I don't mind. I currently work and own a book store, I know shocker. The book worm in high school owns her own book store. I've always loved books and I still do so I opened my own store and I help make sells instead of hiding in an office doing boring paperwork, I mean I still have to do that but I mainly bring that home with me and do it here instead of being a lazy boss who doesn't help their employees.

After eating, I go and get ready before leaving for work as well. I intentionally opened my store within walking distance of home so I have to go far for work and I don't like driving myself much anyway. I arrive to the store unlocking the door with my keys and flip the sign to open on my way in. I normally have a couple hours to myself after opening as it's a small business so I don't have many employees and they don't show until later in the day.

I start my day by straightening books on shelves and readying the cash register as well as making the store look nice. A couple hours later, one of my employees Shawn shows up. "Good Morning, Shawn." I say to him. "Morning Sam." He replies as he heads to the register to sign into it. "Any new books in?" He asks as I head toward the back to get started on the paperwork. "Nothing I haven't read before." I reply as I disappear around the corner into the office hearing him faintly laugh as I close the door.

As I head toward my desk I casually glance upward and out the window and I don't believe what I see. Brooke and Dayton. I hurriedly rush towards the window and close the blinds before rushing back to my desk and picking up the phone. "Shorty, you okay?" Alex asks over the line. "Alex! I saw them! They, They're here. Outside." I say all in one breath not thinking he can understand me. "Shorty you have to slow down." he says as I catch my breath and calm down. "Alex, I saw them. They're here. "I'm hoping he believes me, he just has to. "Who is there? Who is they?' He asks. "Brooke and Dayton. They're right outside." I say calmly before I explode. "That's impossible, you know it is. Dayton is dead." Alex says trying to get me to be calm. "I-I don't know how he's here but believe me Alex he is." I shakily say. It all sounds crazy, even to me. "Okay, calm down, I'll be there in a bit okay?" he says as I reply with sure before ending the phone call.

After a bit of curling into a ball on my desk chair, I slowly sit up and head to the window. Sneaking a peek through the blinds I still see them both there standing on the other side of the word smirking at me.

I anxiously wait in my office for Alex to show up, not daring to open the window in case they are still out there. Is there plan to make me go insane or at least seem like to everyone else until I have no one? If so, their plan won't work I just know that Alex will believe me.

"Shorty?" I hear Alex ask from outside my office. Quickly, I rush to the door and run to him throwing my arms around his neck. "Let's talk in my office." I say quietly before leading him into my office and closing the door. Alex takes a seat in my chair as I pace back forth all the while he just watches me. "So tell me what happened." He says breaking me from my thoughts and pacing and stare at him questionably. "Why do you think you saw them and where?" He asks. Immediately I start to feel anger at his questions. "I don't think, I KNOW I saw them Alex. Real and there, very much there." I trail off and continue pacing as I try to make sense as to why they are here.