Ivey's Pov
The next few days were like walking through a fog that only I seemed to see.
Josh didn't stop.
Every morning, there was something new — a folded note slipped into my locker, a single flower left on my desk before first period, a song link sent to my phone from a blocked number. Romantic, if it had come from anyone else. Terrifying, because it came from him.
I stopped opening my locker without Kayla nearby. I turned off my notifications. I even started walking to school with my earbuds in just to block out the world, but even music couldn't drown out the feeling that someone was always watching.
Lucas noticed. Of course he did.
"Another one?" he asked gently as I tucked the latest note into my bag without reading it.
"Yeah," I muttered. "I didn't even open it."
He looked like he wanted to say more, maybe even take the note and read it himself, but he didn't. Instead, he walked me to class like a shadow, just… there. Solid.
At lunch, I barely touched my food. Every time I glanced at the cafeteria doors, I expected Josh to walk in.
He didn't.
But that didn't make me feel better.
"He's obsessed," Kayla whispered when I showed her the rose I found on my windowsill that morning. "This isn't just 'trying to win you back' anymore. It's creepy."
I nodded slowly. "I know."
"What are you gonna do?"
I didn't answer.
Because I didn't know what to do.
That night, after I finished my homework, I sat on the edge of my bed staring at my phone. No new messages from Josh. No new missed calls. But I still felt like I was being watched — like any second there'd be another knock, another flower, another reminder that he hadn't gone away. That he hadn't given up.
I texted Lucas.
To Lucas:
Hey. Just checking in.
He replied almost instantly.
From Lucas:
Hey. Everything okay?
To Lucas:
Another rose this morning. On my windowsill.
From Lucas:
What the hell. You sure he didn't come inside?
To Lucas:
I don't know. My window was locked, but still. It freaked me out.
From Lucas:
Want me to come by? I can just hang out for a bit. We don't even have to talk.
I stared at his message, heart stuttering a little.
To Lucas:
That actually sounds kind of perfect. But I think my parents are on high alert right now. I'll be okay tonight.
From Lucas:
You sure?
To Lucas:
Yeah. Just… keep texting?
From Lucas:
Always.
The night crept on slowly. Every creak of the house made me jump. But somehow, between Lucas's steady messages and the hum of the heater, I eventually drifted off to sleep.
And for the first night in a while…
Josh didn't show up.
But I didn't trust that he was gone.