Page 20 of Kalix

LAINEY

The aroma of coffee assaults my nostrils as I swing open the door to The Dark Roast. My body starts to buzz in anticipation of the warm and sweet liquidy goodness.

After I order, I chat with Mandy until it’s time to retrieve my drink. I check the time on my watch and there’s still a good thirty minutes before I need to be in class, so I decide to sit on one of the comfy couches to enjoy my coffee.

I’m scrolling through reels when I feel someone approach. I don’t look up right away, uncertain if they are going to try to talk to me.

“Lainey.” Lexie says.

I give her a soft smile when I look up from my phone, “Hey.”

“I’ve tried texting you.”

I shake my head, “I’m sorry. I’ve been studying and I must’ve forgotten to respond.” I did not forget, I just wasn’t ready to talk about what happened with Alex.

She smiles, “It’s okay. I get it. How’d everything go when Alex took you home?” She waggles her brows at me, insinuating that me and Alex had sex.

I chew on my bottom lip. Do I tell her what happened?

No. Because then she will make me call the cops.

I mean, if she told me that a guy tried to force themselves on her I would definitely try to make her report it.

But then I’d have to explain to her and the cops that the guy that saved me is really my stalker and that is a whole other story in itself.

I give her the best smile I can muster up, “It’s not going to work out.”

Her smile drops and she sits next to me, “Oh no. What happened?”

I shrug my shoulders and say the first thing that comes to my mind, “He’s just not my type.”

She scrunches her brows, “Oh, well. Okay. That’s a bummer. I was hoping we could all hang out again soon.”

“I’m sorry, Lexie. Why don’t just the two of us go out again soon?”

She smiles, “Yes, for sure.”

I look at the time again and grab my bag, “I will text you soon so we can plan it out. Class starts in ten minutes so I need to get going.”

“Okay. Talk soon!” She says as I head out the door.

I should’ve gotten a triple shot of espresso in my coffee this morning instead of the double.

I kept drifting off to sleep the whole lecture, and every time I did, it felt like something was hitting the back of my head, waking me up.

It wasn’t until the end of the class that I noticed paper balls on the floor around my chair.

I scanned the room to see who the culprit could’ve been, but nobody looked familiar. Kalix briefly crossed my mind. Could he have been the one throwing the paper balls at me? He wouldn’t, would he? No. It could’ve been a bored student.

Well, he is your stalker, Lainey.

I argue with myself in my head until I get to my apartment, trying to make sense of it.

I lock the handle and the deadbolt as soon as I enter. I still smell the faint scent of cigarettes, leather, and weed. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, letting it seep into my lungs.

I pop my eyes open as realization hits me. The smell is stronger than what it was when I left this morning. My heart starts to race as I slowly make my way into the kitchen.

On the counter is a teal vase with wildflowers. Next to it is a joint and a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos with a note that says “Sour cream is in the fridge. ”

I look over at the fridge like it holds all of the answers. Quickly, I take two steps and swing the door open, and sure as shit, there is a brand new tub of sour cream sitting on the shelf. I slowly shut the door and make my way back over to the stuff.

I notice that there is another note sticking out of the top of the flowers. My hands shake as I grab it and read.

Don't wait up for me again. I’ll see you soon, little rabbit.

-K

I throw my head back, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.

This mother fucker…

I glance around the room and quickly check the locks on the windows, finding them all still locked.

I finger the petals on a flower before snatching the joint off the counter to examine it. The smell is strong and makes my stomach flip in a good way.

He could’ve at least left a note telling me what kind it is.

I roll my eyes and push away from the counter.

With the joint in my hand, I grab my stash box and retrieve the lighter out of it.

I might as well use what he gives me. I know it's dumb smoking drugs from a guy I hardly know squat about, but my gut tells me I can trust him.

Cracking open my bedroom window, I light the joint and take a long hit before blowing out. Instantly, I start hacking up a lung.

Holy. Shit.

I put the joint out and chug down half of a water bottle that was on my nightstand.

Finally, I catch my breath and put my stash box away.

I already start to feel Mary kicking in when I get back to the kitchen.

Eyeing the chip bag, I think about it momentarily before snatching it off the counter and going for the sour cream.

“I mean, if you’re going to break into my house and leave snacks, you could at least leave me a drink too, asshole.” I say out loud, like he can hear me. I freeze before I get to my living room. My eyes dart around. He can’t hear me, can he? No. That’s just the paranoia of Mary setting in.

I shake my head and settle on the couch with my snacks and stack of books. I set the timer on my phone for an hour and get to work.

Forty minutes in and my eyes start to get heavy.

Maybe a little nap won’t hurt.

I decide to turn my timer off and pull my fluffy black blanket over me as I lay down. Just a little nap, then studying for the rest of the night.