Part 8

Kristen:

I had the chance to see the person who helped me during my accident today. Unfortunately, I had forgotten his name and was struggling to recall it. When I approached him in the cafeteria, I noticed that he seemed annoyed looking at me and it made me feel uncomfortable.

"Hey, John right?" I said extending my hand to him with an unsure smile. John's stormy-grey eyes looked at me like he is going to murder me any second. My stomach turned a bit with nervousness as nobody have ever expressed this kind of hatred towards me. Despite his murderous looks, I offered my hand to introduce myself, but he ignored it and gave me an what the hell you want look.

I am not very confident in approaching strangers or starting a conversation. Despite this, I wanted to express my gratitude for his help, so I thanked him for saving my life. However, he just gazed at me with a look of animosity. His broad shoulders flexed when he folded his arms in front of him in an intimidating way.

"Um... I am looking for William, can you tell me where can I find him?" I asked warily fidgeting my fingers. After a long pause, he simply replied that William had left.

"What?" I asked once again, maybe I misheard.

"You heard me." He said glaring daggers at me.

What was his problem? I thought.

"Do you know when he'll be back?" I inquired, my heart rate starting to rise and my palms becoming sweaty. He raised his eyes to meet mine, and I felt a wave of fear wash over me. This guy was truly intimidating and I felt as if he could harm me if given the chance. I was extremely nervous under his intense gaze.

"Listen, William has gone back to London and he's not coming back," he spat out in a raised voice, drawing the attention of those nearby.

"What do you mean? Why would he leave so suddenly and without a word?" I asked, my confusion and frustration evident in my tone.

"Perhaps because he can't stand the sight of you," he sneered, rolling his eyes.

"Excuse me?" I retorted, my eyes blazing with anger. How dare he speak to me like that?

"I suggest you give up your search and find someone new to play with, because William is clearly not interested. He's way out of your league and a weak girl like you could never measure up to him," he hissed, his expression becoming even more serious. His eyes changed color for a split second, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared.

I was livid with anger. My heart was pounding as I confronted him. "How dare you talk to me like that?! Who do you think you are?" I exclaimed, my voice rising as I challenged him. He might have been intimidating, but he had no right to insult me in such a manner.

He continued to stare at me with a fierce gaze for what felt like an eternity before finally breaking eye contact and walking away. I huffed in disbelief.

I couldn't believe the audacity of his words. The thought of William disliking me was like a knife to the heart, leaving me feeling heartbroken and confused. I couldn't make sense of what John had said. Why would William leave without a word? I thought we were becoming friends, or maybe even something more, after he saved me from the accident. There was no fight or disagreement between us, so why would he just disappear like that?

Tears streamed down my face as I was overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions. That night, I was unable to sleep. I tossed and turned in my bed, cursing both of them for the turmoil they had caused me. My eyes kept drifting to the window, hoping to see William coming back for me. It took me a while, but eventually, I found the strength to calm myself and finally drifted off into a peaceful, dreamless sleep.

....

After two weeks, I tried my best to push William to the back of my mind. However, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.

But then Stanley appeared in my dreams again. I almost forgot about our first kiss and the warm feelings it brought up. But now, the same dream started to replay over and over, leaving me with a mixture of confusion and excitement.

I wasn't sure if I had feelings for William anymore, especially after John's harsh words. The dream with Stanley stirred something deep inside me, something I couldn't quite understand. Stanley felt so real to me, and I struggled to resist the urge to think about him. My dreams were always filled with memories of our first meeting, leaving me with a warm happiness that lingered throughout the day.

I was grateful that William wasn't here, but at the same time, I couldn't help but worry about him and the reason he left so suddenly and without a word. A nagging guilt gnawed at the back of my mind, but I tried to ignore it. I wasn't sure what was real and what was just a dream anymore.

William was real, yet he felt like a dream that had vanished. Stanley was just a dream, yet he felt so real and alive inside me. The confusion and conflicting emotions left me feeling overwhelmed.

I felt a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction as I walked down the street to my college. The cool breeze was a welcome change from the suffocating heat, and my mind was clear and ready to take on the day ahead. My steps were confident as I made my way to the college gates. The sense of responsibility to complete my work weighed heavily on me, but I felt determined to get it all done and done well.

As I entered the campus, I could feel a buzz of energy around me. Students were hurrying to their classes, some laughing and chatting while others were engrossed in their own thoughts. I took a deep breath and made my way to the classroom. I felt ready to tackle the day ahead, get my work done, and make the most of the opportunities presented to me.

....

"Hey, where are Emma and Lucy?" I asked Jacob as I walked into the history class and found the room empty except for him.

"Oh, hey! Come here." Jacob replied with a bright smile, opening his arms wide for a hug.

I eagerly hugged him, giggling with excitement. "I've missed you so much; it's been ages since I've seen you!"

"I missed you too," Jacob said with an adorable smile, making me hug him even tighter. He then placed a kiss on my forehead and held my cheeks in his palms, like he always does when he treats me like a kid.

"Stop it, Jacob," I said, nudging him and laughing.

We spent the rest of the time talking and catching up, and as we were early to the class, I was feeling glad to be back to my old self. I felt better talking to him, and I wished the day could continue in this manner. But just when I thought my day was going great, the door flew open and John walked in, ruining the moment.

He stopped at my table and started staring at me like he did at our last meeting. I will not let him have the satisfaction of running my day, so I just ignored him and looked ahead. Jacob looked confused as he noticed us staring at each other.

"What's going on?" Jacob asked, noticing the discomfort in my body language as John walked past us and took his seat at the farthest end of the room, completely disregarding my presence.

I shared with Jacob the traumatic events that occurred in the past week with William and John. The thought of John's cruelty toward me made Jacob's eyes flare with anger. He was deeply troubled by the way John treated me, and he gave John a stern, warning look as if to say, "I am watching you."

As for William, Jacob was oblivious to the situation. He had no idea that William had left without a word.

John's reputation as a campus bully was well known. He was known for his hostile and disrespectful behavior towards everyone around the campus.

"Is that jerk giving you a hard time?" Jacob asked, his tone filled with concern. "Do you want me to teach him a lesson?" "I've got your back, no matter what." He said it in a serious tone, which brought warmth to my heart.

A chilling chuckle leaves John's lips before he tilts his head to our side. We both looked at him. He had an expression that said "really," which made me roll my eyes.

"He is not worth it," I said and turned my head back to the class.

I just don't give a damn about him. It's not like he isn't aware that he is a jerk. The class went on for another half hour, and I felt John piercing holes in the back of my head with his eyes. I couldn't concentrate in class and just ignored him.

"That's all for today; I will see you guys tomorrow," Professor Hans says and dismisses us. I took a breath of relief.

Jacob stood up from his seat and stepped in front of me protectively as John approached us. "What's with the smirk, John?" Jacob asked, with a hint of anger in his voice.

"I see you have a new toy." He was looking at me with a sarcastic smile.

"What do you mean by that?" Jacob asked me.

John just shrugged and continued walking, leaving us behind.

"What was that about?" Jacob asked, turning to me with a concerned look.

I sighed. "John has been giving me a hard time lately. "I don't know what his problem is," I explained.

"Don't let that jerk get to you." "Just ignore him," Jacob said, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.

As we exited the building, I felt like I was being watched, but I tried to shake the feeling off. It happened to me often, and I could never figure out who was causing it.

"Hey, it's been a while since we went to a party." "Why don't we go out tonight and have some fun?" Jacob asked, his eyes lighting up with excitement. It sounds good. I said it while smiling.

"Did we just hear party?" Emma asked.

"Yeah, I think it's time to have some fun." "What do you guys say?" Jacob asked.

"Do you have to ask?" Emma said, rolling her eyes.

"I'm thinking of what to wear," Lucy said she was tapping her finger on her chin, which made me smile. I missed them so much.

"So, are you excited about the party tonight?" I asked Lucy as I helped her zip up her dress.

"Definitely! " "I can't wait to dance and have some fun," she said with a smile.

As we finished getting ready, Lucy suddenly turned to me and said, "Hey, I heard that John guy has been giving you a hard time lately." "What's going on with that?"

"What do you mean?" I asked, trying to hide the fear in my voice.

"I heard from Jacob that he's been acting creepy and stalking you. "And I saw him a few times watching you in class and in the hallways," Lucy explained.

I felt a chill run down my spine. "Why would he do that?" I asked, feeling a bit worried.

"I don't know, but I have a feeling that he likes you," Lucy said, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"That will be the last thing I look forward to on earth," I said sarcastically.

I couldn't help but notice the way she was looking at me with her eyebrow raised, causing a lighthearted smile to spread across my face.

"Lucy, John is a jerk, and I think I'll be the last person in the world he lays his eyes on," I said, my thoughts drifting to William.

"Well, my classmates also saw him stalking you, and trust me, I think he has a crush on you," she said, winking at me.

Disbelief washed over me. It was a bit scary to think that someone was watching me like that. "John means nothing to me. "Why would he stalk me when he could just come to talk to me?" I wondered, now realizing why I had felt like I was being watched all the time at school.

"Let's worry about that later; now we should just focus on having fun," Lucy said, grabbing my hand and pulling me outside.

The party was the same as always, with tons of drunk people everywhere—some making out on the porch, a few near the garden. I wasn't a fan of parties, but when my friends were there, I didn't mind. I was one of the few who almost never drank or danced. I just liked to enjoy the music and have fun with my friends.

As soon as Lucy and Emma disappeared to catch up with their other friends, I felt a sense of unease settle in my chest. I was used to being the target of jealousy among other girls in my college, ever since Jacob and later William had shown interest in me. But John was different. He was handsome, and every girl swooned over him, but the way he looked at me made me feel like I was under a microscope.

I made my way to an empty couch and sat down, waiting for Jacob. Suddenly, a familiar voice made my heart race and sent shivers down my spine.

"You look good," John said, his tone sending goosebumps down my arms. I tried to hide my fear behind sarcasm and responded, "John."

His eyes raked down my body, making me feel uncomfortable and exposed. I stayed silent as his eyes met mine no matter how brave I was, just his mere presence scared me.

"I see that you have a new boyfriend," he said, with a venomous tone, looking behind me. I followed his gaze and spotted Jacob. I didn't feel like correcting John, so I went along with his assumption, not wanting to stir up any trouble.

"Thanks," I replied with a smile. However, John's expression darkened, and he glared at me with such intensity that I took a step back. I couldn't help but feel scared in his presence.

"Have a good time," I said, trying to hide my fear behind a roll of my eyes. To my relief, he didn't follow me as I walked away.

"Hey," Jacob greeted me with a warm hug. "You look great tonight," he said, a soft smile forming on his lips. I couldn't help but smile at his compliment.

"Well, you look hot as always," I said, complimenting him in return, which made him grin widely.

We made our way to the dance floor where we saw Emma and Lucy already dancing and waving at us. We joined in and had a fun group dance to a few songs. It was great to be able to let loose and have a good time with my friends after so long.

"Let's play Truth or Dare," Emma suggested as we gathered on a couch after almost an hour of dancing.

"Oh no, not again," I groaned, making them laugh. I always lose the game, and they make me drink because I always choose truth, but when it comes to dares, I never have the guts to do what they ask.

Lucy spun the bottle and it stopped at Jacob. Emma's blue eyes sparkled with amusement, and I knew she was plotting something.

"Truth or Dare," she asked with a mischievous smile.

"Truth," Jacob quickly chose. We all laughed at his nervousness.

"Who do you love the most among us three?" she asked with a knowing smile. I knew this question was coming, she asks it every single time we play the game, and every time Jacob picks me without hesitation. The girls scowled, and I was sure that it would be no different this time.

"Of course, it's Kristen!" Jacob declared, pulling me close to him and placing a kiss on my cheek playfully. He flashed his signature smile, which made me laugh.

"I know, but can't you start loving them as well?" I asked, looking at the girls' scowled faces and crossed arms like children, which made me laugh.

"No, I love you the most," he said suddenly, looking straight into my eyes and holding my hand in a tight grip, which hurt a bit, but I didn't mind. I knew him better than anyone else.

"Well, I love you too, my handsome prince," I said laughing and looking into his puppy eyes.

Just then, I noticed John making his way over to us, standing with some guys whom I didn't know. He stood close to us, watching us with a vodka bottle in hand. His glare was intense, but I ignored him and pretended he wasn't there.

"Seriously?" John scoffed loudly, drawing our attention to him. He was glaring at me, his eyes flashing with anger.

But I refused to be intimidated and met his gaze defiantly. Something unspoken and dangerous passed between us, making my heart race. I swear his eyes changed color, but I couldn't be sure.

Ignoring John, we continued with the game. The bottle pointed at me this time. I sighed, knowing I was in for it.

"Truth or dare?" Lucy asked with a playful smile.

"Truth," I squeaked, trying to hide my nervousness.

"Who is your first love?" Emma asked, her blue eyes shining with amusement.

Jacob had passed out on the couch before I could answer. But before I knew it, the name "Stanley" rolled off my tongue. I couldn't help but blush, my mind flashing to the image of his handsome face.

Emma and Lucy looked at me with confusion, their brows furrowing in unison. "Who's Stanley?" they asked.

I hesitated for a moment, not wanting to admit the truth. "I don't know," I said, partially lying. "I think he's imaginary." I added that I was trying to convince them.

But before they could press me further, I noticed that John was gone. He vanished as quickly as he appeared, leaving me feeling both relieved and uneasy.

"Who the hell is Stanley?" He yelled, his voice echoing through the quiet backyard.

I was taken aback by his sudden outburst and anger. I felt my own anger start to boil inside me.

"That's none of your damn business!" I shot back, not backing down.

"I'm making it my business," he growled, his eyes still glowing with anger.

I took another step back, feeling intimidated by his proximity. But I refused to be scared of him.

"Why the hell do you care who I date?" I asked, my voice filling with disbelief and anger.

"Just answer the damn question!" he yelled, getting even closer to me.

I could feel the heat of his anger, and it was making me angrier by the second.

"Why should Yo"Youave no right to interfere in my life," I spat out, my own anger reaching a boiling point.

John's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I thought he was going to lunge at me. But he took a step back, his breathing heavy and ragged.

"You better watch yourself, Kristen," he warned before turning around and storming back into the party.

I was left standing in the backyard, my heart racing and my mind in a whirl. What was that all about?

"Stanley." Who the hell is he, and how did you meet him? John barked, taking a step closer to me with an intimidating look in his eyes. I felt my anger boiling over at his audacity to question me about my personal life.

"I don't owe you any explanations; get out of my sight," I spat back at him, feeling my body tense up with rage. The audacity of this man to come at me like this was beyond me.

But before I could say another word, I felt a warmth spreading through my body, as if some kind of magic was taking over me. I saw John's eyes widen as he saw the color of my eyes change. I was not going to let anyone walk all over me, not even John.

I spun around on my heel, storming away from him and leaving the party behind. I was beyond angry with John; his cold, deep voice was still ringing in my ears. I arrived home shortly after, throwing my purse onto my bed in frustration before changing into my pajamas.

I was so angry that I couldn't even focus on eating, but my growling stomach reminded me that I hadn't eaten anything since the party. I made my way downstairs and grabbed a piece of plum cake from the cabinet, eating it in silence as my anger dissipated.

But as the night went on, my thoughts started to shift to Stanley and William, two men who were constantly appearing in my dreams. Dreams about Stanley were replaced with haunting dreams of William after my argument with John. I tried to fall asleep, but I woke up in the middle of the night gasping for air, feeling as if I was being chased by unknown creatures. I know that I'm a big fan of horror and fantasy movies, but these dreams felt too real to be just my imagination. I felt like I was out of place in this world as if there was somewhere else I belonged, but I just couldn't find it. And then, in the dream, I found myself running from the creatures and running straight into William.

"Kristen! "What are you doing here in the woods?" William asked, his eyes filled with concern. I clung onto him tightly, panting for breath. "William, save me! There's something coming after me," I whimpered, fear overtaking me.

But as I looked around, there was nothing there. I was confused, but still scared. I returned my gaze to William, but something was different about him. His posture had changed, his body was tense, and his breathing was uneven. When he lifted his eyes to look at me, they were black, like the eyes of a devil.

I took a step back, cautious of his sudden change, but he was too quick for me. He grabbed me by the hair and pulled me closer.

"You smell so good," he said, taking a deep breath.

Terrified, I tried to struggle out of his grip. "What happened to you, William? "Please, I'm scared," I cried, tears streaming down my face. But he only smiled wickedly and revealed his fangs.

I screamed in terror as he sunk his teeth into my neck, draining my life force away. I felt myself slipping away into unconsciousness, but I couldn't explain the mix of emotions that coursed through me.

With a start, I woke up from the nightmare. My heart was pounding, and I had to take deep breaths to calm down. The darkness of the room made it even harder for me to shake the feeling of fear. I turned on the bedside lamp to dispel the darkness.

Days passed, but the visions of William continued to haunt my dreams. I couldn't differentiate between my nightmares and reality. I felt overwhelmed and in desperate need of a break from it all.

"Hey, Can you get home a bit earlier today?" I asked eagerly, my voice trembling with excitement at the thought of finally spending some quality time with Anne after being apart for so long.

"What happened, honey? Is everything all right?" she asked with genuine concern, her warm and comforting tone making me feel better instantly.

"Yes, everything is perfect! I was just wondering if we could go out to dinner tonight, it's been such a long time since we've been able to spend some time together," I said, smiling brightly at the thought.

"Of course, my love! I'll be there by 7 p.m. sharp," she replied cheerfully.

I quickly got dressed, choosing my favorite black trousers and a pink pullover, and paired them with my trusty sneakers. As soon as Anne honked from outside, I rushed out the door, eager to see her.

"Hey, Sup?" I greeted her excitedly, beaming with joy at the sight of her.

"I was just wondering what's been going on with you. You've been so distant lately and I was starting to worry. I thought maybe you were going through something and needed some space," she said, looking at me with those big, loving eyes of hers.

"What? No, no, nothing like that! I just missed you and wanted to spend some time with you," I replied, reaching out to take her hand.

She smiled, her eyes twinkling with happiness. "Okay, hon. Let's go."

As we made our way to the restaurant, we chatted about our days, Anne asking about my classes and if I had met anyone new. I hesitated for a moment, thinking of William, but decided not to bring him up.

"Do you mean there's nothing going on between you and William?" she asked suddenly, taking me by surprise.

"How do you know William?" I asked, my heart racing with excitement and a hint of fear.

"I met him at the hospital after your accident," she replied matter-of-factly.

I was about to answer when she interrupted me, "But he was just outside our house last night, looking at your window from his car. When I asked if he wanted to come inside, he just shrugged it off and said he was just passing through."

My heart leapt in my chest at the thought of William being so close to me, but I was also filled with confusion. Why would he come to our house and not come inside?

"Do you think he's stalking me?" I asked, my voice filled with a mixture of fear and excitement.

"I don't know, he seems like a nice guy, but there's just something that doesn't feel right about him," Anne said, her voice filled with concern.

Together, we talked it over, trying to figure out what could be going on with William. But no matter what, I was just grateful to be able to spend some time with Anne, my best friend and confidante, who always had my back no matter what.

I felt a twinge of surprise as we arrived at the restaurant, which was surprisingly empty on a typically busy weekend night. The emptiness only added to the eerie feeling that seemed to hang in the air. A few people glanced our way as we made our way to an unoccupied table.

"Don't you think it's strange that there aren't many people here tonight, Anne?" I asked, feeling a hint of unease.

"Yes, it's fine though. At least we can talk about your mystery man in peace," Anne said, her excitement barely masking her unease.

A stunning waitress approached us, but something about her just didn't seem right. I found myself intimidated by her beauty and couldn't help but stare until she cleared her throat, her tone tinged with amusement.

We ordered our food and engaged in small talk about my parents' upcoming trip to London. But my mind couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

When the food arrived, served by a different waitress, I felt even more perplexed. As we ate, Anne brought up a recent encounter she had with a boy named John, who had visited our library a few days prior. He was apparently from my school and had asked about me in detail.

I felt a jolt of William?"at the thought of someone being curious about my life. Anne noticed my discomfort and squeezed my hand in reassurance. "You should be careful around newbies," she warned, her face starting to pale.

I tried to ease her worries with a bright smile. "There's nothing to worry about," I reassured her, but I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air.

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