Ten

Julie tried to hold back a smile as she worked on her laptop, but it was hard when her thoughts kept trailing back to him. Who was he, and why was he making her this way with just some simple words? And why did she have to give a reply like that? She should have told him not to show up again, other than she wanted him to show up again. She glanced at her calendar and saw that a week had passed already. During the whole week…she had oddly been thinking about him showing up. And he finally did, when she had decided to forget about him. She wanted to know more about this Stranger dude. She even let him walk her own, something she would normally never allow. She would have found ways to avoid him, like she did to most people. 'Mom, what do you think… Do you think he is a creep…should I be more careful" She muttered as she finished her work and closed her laptop. She yawned and stretched her hand, her eyes darting to her clock. It was past midnight… She got up and slowly walked to her bed, slumping on it. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep… Julie stirred in her sleep as she kept hearing a persistent sound from nearby. What was it… it slowly became closer and closer till it jerked her right awake. She got up abruptly on her bed and turned towards the direction of her room door. It was a knock, coming from the front door. She glanced at the clock, and she said that it was almost four in the morning. She was asleep for a few hours. Who was it so early? She got up from her bed. Her footsteps are slow and quiet. Fear slowly creeps into her heart. Was it a thief? Would a thief bother to knock so persistently? 'Who is it!" Julie yelled when she got close to the door. Thankfully, she had bolted it locked. 'it's me Alex" She heard a reply, and immediately, a look of confusion and surprise flashed through her face. What was he doing at her house at such a time? 'What are you doing here!?" she yelled again, the fear in her heart still there, but had reduced significantly. 'I just need to check if you are okay…please open the door," He said, sounding concerned. She could hear the fear in his voice. Why wouldn't she be alright? What was going on? What did he mean… 'I'm alright…what is going on" Julie said, slowly walking closer to her door. 'Open the door. I will explain…you need to be alright" He said again…the fear in his voice was more evident this time. Julie ran her hand through her hair, unsure of what to do. She didn't want her neighbour to get wind of what was happening. They wouldn't hesitate to call the police and further escalate things. Maybe she should be the one to call the police…but maybe not… What if he didn't mean any harm… "Why did it feel like she was still dreaming… Strangely, she knew he wouldn't hurt her, but she was still being careful. She paced in front of the door for a few seconds before she finally walked to it and opened it. There he was staring at her, fear completely etched in his eyes. 'You are fine…you are fine…" he muttered and dragged her into his arms protectively. Burying his face in her hair. She was okay… Julie needed a few seconds to process what was happening before she finally realized the position they were in and struggled to break free from his arms. 'What do you think you are doing!" She snapped, unsure of what his problem was. She was so confused at that moment as she stared at him waiting for some kind of explanation, any sort of explanation to make her understand why he was here and what was going on.. 'Well say something! Or please leave!" She burst out when he wouldn't start explaining and just continued to stare at her… 'I was just afraid…that something had happened to you…" He said in a low voice. Julie was still totally confused. 'Why would you think something had happened to me?" Alex looked away from her, unsure of what to tell her. He couldn't possibly tell her about what had transpired with his family. It would only scare her away…she couldn't know… "Alex?" Juliet waved her hand in front of him to get his attention because it looked like his mind had completely wandered off. She got his attention, and he looked at her again. "You haven't answered my question. Did someone try to break into my house? I should call the police. " Juliet disappeared into her room and came back with her phone. She was about to dial the emergency number when Alex held her hand, stopping her. "I'm sorry for intruding and disturbing your sleep. No one tried to break in I was just worried you were here alone all by yourself" Alex lied, so she wouldn't worry and so she wouldn't ask him any more questions about who he was. Juliet sighed deeply and raised her eyes to look at him. "As you can see, I'm fine. you can leave now. Weirdly, you came here this late to check on me. we are not that close. please don't do this again. I will call the police if you do, " She said sternly, now on defence that she was completely alone with him in her house. "I'm sorry," Alex said and turned away. She watched as he walked out of her house, and she immediately bolted her door when he was fully out. She walked to her window and watched as she got into his car and drove off into the night... "He is such a weird guy. Why would he come all the way here to check if I was fine? " Se muttered to herself and shook her head. He didn't look like he had come to harm her, but it looked like he was genuinely worried about her. Did he perhaps see someone trying to break in but lied so she wouldn't get worried? Juliet immediately sprang into action... She walked to all her windows and made sure it was bolted tightly... That night, she thought about him as she fell asleep. He was such a mysterious person...