Chapter Nine

Mallory

It’s been four days and I’m still pissed at Lennox for that fucking comment. I’m aware he doesn’t know anything from my past, but still, you shouldn’t make a comment like that to any woman. “I’m going home”, is all I said before I got in my car and peeled out of the parking lot. He started to say my name before I cut him off with the slamming of my car door. I knew if I heard my name fall from his sinful lips I’d be putty in his hands. “Mal-,” the sound of his defeated voice haunts me. I was really quite rude. But, for the first time in my life I somewhat stood up for myself and that feels good. I’ll make that asshat grovel for my forgiveness, and maybe I won’t even give it to him.

Officer Graves still escorted me home that night despite my silent treatment. When we arrived, he got out of his cruiser and called after me. I tuned him the fuck out and stormed into my house, still fuming, and slammed the door behind me. I could see him raking his hands through his hair, clearly frustrated with himself for being such a blatant tool. Good. I don’t want to be that weak bitch anymore. He quickly surveyed my yard with his flashlight then got back in his car and 'whoop whooped' the sirens at me as he pulled out of the driveway. Yeah, 'whoop whoop' to you too, motherfucker.

I don’t know what has me acting like this today. It’s been a good few days aside from my spat with Lennox. I’m ecstatic I didn’t get a speeding ticket the other day when I was rushing back to work from getting myself some necessities, like coffee and tampons. I was let off with a warning this time and told “If I catch you again, I won’t be so nice about it.” He called me ‘darlin'. It was gross, he was gross, but I didn’t get a ticket so I’m not going to complain. It could also be all the praise I’m getting from my masked man. It’s empowering. I haven’t seen him again, but he’s been messaging me occasionally these past few days. I haven’t replied but his words are building me up inside.

Unknown number:

Get rid of him.

That’s my good little siren.

Don’t ever let anyone speak to you like that again.

You decimate them with that fire you have burning

inside of you.

Or I will.

I’m so proud of you for sticking up for yourself.

Fuck, you’re perfect.

I could watch you all day, little siren, but a mans gotta work.

Your confidence makes me so fucking hard, little siren.

I’m starting to look forward to his messages and I’ve almost replied a few times. I always chicken out and delete the message though. I wonder what he would do if I replied. Could we have a normal conversation? Probably not. I still can’t believe I messaged him back calling him a creep the other day. I was all worked up because of Nox and clearly not thinking straight. Tonight is my last shift before having three days off for the first time ever and I’m ecstatic. I don’t know what stars aligned for that to happen without me having to talk to Rita about it but I’m grateful. I have a mountain of laundry to do and cleaning to catch up on. To say I've been slacking would be an understatement. Working back to back shifts five days in a row is really driving me into the ground, but at least my bank account isn’t lacking anymore.

The day goes by in a hectic blur, like always. Clean this, dust that, vacuum, scrub, wipe, and by the end of my first shift I find myself wanting to text my stalker. I’ve been thinking about him on and off all day. Something about him is so alluring and I won’t deny I like the way he is making me feel. Like I’m worthy, valuable, and protected. I’m his. Yeah, I know, I shouldn’t need a man for validation, much less an unknown and possibly psychotic one, but self love has to start somewhere. When you have no idea what love is or how it should feel, you have to take what you can get and start from there. If I've never been shown love, how can I love myself? I can’t, not really.

I’m sitting in my car waiting for my waitressing shift to start and staring at our text thread on my phone. I have no idea what to say. Witty comment? Something sexy? Do I ask him what his name is or where he’s been? I suppose that even if I don’t see him, it doesn’t mean that he isn’t there. I don’t even know how long he was watching me before I saw him last week. I was too busy being lost in my own head for so long, God only knows what else I’ve missed out on. Trauma really knows how to fuck you up and kick you when you’re already down. Then, when you’re finally starting to feel better, depression shows up and slams its fat cock into your ass without lube.

My phone alarm goes off, ripping me from the whirling tornado of ideas I was swept up into. I spent almost my whole break lost in my thoughts of Ghostface, never coming up with something of value to say. Shutting off the blaring siren of my alarm, I see I have a missed message.

Unknown number:

Thinking of me, little siren?

Holy shit. Can he see me now? Where is he? Clutching my phone to my chest, I scan the parking lot. It’s empty. What the fuck? How could he possibly know? He can’t. He’s just messing with me again, hoping I’m thinking of him. This is my in though, I should reply.

Mallory:

In your dreams.

His response is immediate and for some reason it makes me smile. He’s hanging onto every word I say like it’s his parachute and he’s in a free fall. How long has he been falling? The need to know is overwhelming, but so is my apprehension. What if he gets to know me on the inside and doesn’t like what he finds? He will leave.

Unknown number:

Every day and night, baby.

Well, that was adorable. Damn him. He’s a stalker. An enigma. A big scary monster that probably loves cuddles and long walks on the beach. Here come the butterflies again, violently fluttering around in my chest. Yet again I ask myself, what the fuck is wrong with me? Locking my car and making my way into work with a smile on my face, immediately grabs Victoria's attention. “What’s with the face, Mal?”

Puzzled by her question, I simply respond, “Huh?”

“You’re smiling. No offence, but that doesn’t happen very often. And definitely not when you’re on your way to another back to back shift. Half the time you can barely keep your eyes open.” Victoria is blunt and doesn’t sugar coat anything. If I look like a tired bag of rotten potatoes, she’s going to tell me. Honestly, I love that about her. The brutally honest friends are the ones worth keeping around, if you're strong enough. You have to love them despite their constant roasting of your appearance, place of residence, and sex life. More like, lack of a sex life. She once told me to stop turning down her attempts to set me up before my vagina grows cobwebs, and I almost choked on the milkshake she bought me. Because she also takes care of me in the way I think a sister would. Which is why I’m absolutely not going to tell her about Ghost. Ghost? Looks like I’ve named my stalker. Aren't you not supposed to name the stray animals because then you'll keep them? Fuck.

“I’m just excited to have three days off in a row. No offset shifts, I’m free for three whole days.” The thought actually has me beaming and I need to make sure I thank Rita for it later.

“Oh shit! Does this mean we can get drunk with the ghosts in your house finally?” She’s ecstatic. My heart swells at the thought that she wants to hang out. She is willing to make the effort in our friendship and drive all the way to my murder house in the woods. I’ve never had someone make an effort for me before.

The feeling is new and I don’t know how to process it. “That would be great, when are you off tonight?”

“Ten, same as you. I checked the schedule last night,” she replies. “Ahhh! This is going to be so fun. We can get pizza and watch that movie you keep going on about.”

“Scream.” She doesn’t know why I fancy that movie but maybe she will figure it out by the end of the night. My face heats as I think of my own Ghostface. Will he be there watching us through the window? My insides turn with wicked thoughts. Will he get jealous of my crush on Billy and Stu? Anticipation fills me as I think of all the ways he could punish me for being bad.

“Hey, earth to Mal…” Victoria is waving her hand in front of my face and I flush with embarrassment. “Where did you go just now?”

“Umm, just thinking about what kind of pizza goes well with slasher flicks. I vote Hawaiian, what’s your favourite? We can get two!” I reply.

“Ugh, fuck yes, I’m such a slut for Hawaiian pizza, get extra pineapple. And a pepperoni or meat lovers or something. You know I like both.” She winks and giggles at her own implication of being bisexual. I had assumed before that her and Jackie were more than roommates, but who am I to judge? If she’s happy then I’m happy for her. I’m literally falling for my window licker so… stones and glasshouses… or however that saying goes.

“Alright, you weirdo. Let's go before we’re late,” I say, chuckling.

We head to the backroom to store our coats and bags. I wrap my apron around my waist as I make my way to the bar to clock in on the computer. Through the window I can see Graves sitting in his police cruiser. He’s been out there every single night for a few minutes at a time, doing multiple check-ins throughout my shift. I know he said he was on highway patrol this week so he’s in the area. I appreciate his dedication to the job and to keeping me safe but I don’t know how to feel about his lingering presence. Is he here for more reasons than just the job? I know we flirted a bit but I do not have room in my life for a stalker and a boyfriend. He may not even want to date me, just fuck and chuck me like the rest of the male population.

He hasn’t tried to talk to me since I basically slammed the door in his face and I appreciate him giving me space. I’m apprehensive to accept his apology because I don’t want to be looked at as weak. I was hurt by what he said, whether he meant it as a joke or not.

I turn my head to look at him but he’s already watching me. I can extend an olive branch, be the bigger person. Everyone makes mistakes. I raise my hand and gently wave at him. It’s more than he’s gotten from me in days, I’ve been actively ignoring him. His face lights up and he smiles. I’m constantly awestruck by how sinfully gorgeous he is, it’s unfair. I smile back. I’m sure he sees my simple acknowledgement of his presence as a win but I will stay strong. That’s all you’re gonna get from me, Graves.

He disappears for the rest of my shift and it’s a welcomed reprieve. I can feel him watching me before I even see his cruiser in the lot. The restaurant is dead as a cemetery tonight, which is probably why he leaves me alone for the first time in four days. Victoria and I are able to finish all the close-up tasks well before our shift is over and Tony, Rita’s husband, lets us off at 9 pm. This almost never happens but I’m not going to complain. We order our food and then fly out the door like a bunch of kids heading to a sleepover. It’s a first for me and a saddening thought, but I’m not going to let it ruin my night. Better late than never.