It was just a misunderstanding; or so Ian said, but the longer Amelia thought about how everything had played out, she couldn’t help but grow more anxious. 

Sure, the man played calm when Ian approached him, but isn’t that what any creep would do? At least, any creep that didn’t want to instantly sell themselves out. The events as they’d happened were undeniably suspicious, and although she’d talked herself down at the time, now having some time to think, sitting in the back of an uber with Ian, she found it odd that someone innocent would call it a night and leave after being approached in the way he was. Wouldn’t most innocent people argue a little bit more, or be offended at such an accusation? He looked like a decent man, sure; certainly not your average creep. As Ian had pointed out, he was well dressed and surely not much older than the two of them, and he looked respectable enough, like someone you’d expect to have plenty of friends, but… did any of that really mean anything? There was no telling who a person was from a glance, and she just couldn’t shake the sense that something was amiss.

Even still… None of this was something she could say aloud to Ian. If he knew she was still dwelling on it all at this point, he’d really think she was a paranoid weirdo.

The car came to a slow halt in front of her apartment building, and Amelia felt a greater sense of relief wash over her, never having felt such solace upon returning home after a date. Of course Ian wasn’t to blame for her discomfort, and she felt frustrated that uncontrollable circumstances, or perhaps her own anxiety and paranoia, had ruined their date for her. 

With a gentle sigh, Amelia swung open the door, stepping out and giving her thanks to the driver before her attention turned to Ian.

“Tonight was fun! I’m sorry it had to end the way it did… Maybe we can get together again soon.” Amelia offered, a kind smile pulling at her lips.

“Don’t worry about it, Amelia, people who drink black coffee scare me too.” So he was still making light of it all, even now… Ian seemed pleased with himself, however, chuckling as he raised his phone up in the air. 

“I’ll text you when I get home, ‘kay?”

“‘Kay!” Amelia grinned in reply, waved goodbye and shut the door behind her. The car seemed to stall a moment as she unlocked her front door, but once open, the car began to drive off. At least it seemed like Ian took her seriously enough that he would ask the driver to wait until she was safe inside. It did make her feel the slightest bit better, even if she knew she was being a bit paranoid.

Finally in the peace and comfort of her own home, Amelia locked the door behind her and leaned tiredly against it, wanting to just slide to the ground and call it a night right then and there… but, like the responsible adult she was, she dragged herself to her room to get changed, slipping on her coziest pajamas to comfort herself. She peeked at her phone while combing a gentle hand through her hair when her gaze landed upon a text from Eirine that simply read:

“How did it go?”

Amelia couldn’t help but smile. Her finger tapped on Eirine’s name, then the call button and the speaker button, and she placed the phone down on the counter while she pulled her blonde hair up into a ponytail.

“Hey! I just got back home! I know it’s pretty late, but I did say I’d call!” Amelia was quick to speak the very second she heard noise on the other line, not even waiting for a greeting from her friend.

“Oh, hey Amie.” Eirine yawned, letting out a little squeak that made it obvious she was stretching. 

“How was your date with Ian?” 

“It was fun! A little weird… I mean, there was this weird guy I thought was following us, but it seems like it might have just been some big misunderstanding? Ian confronted him and all, and even though we settled everything, the guy left, so…” Amelia muttered all the while looking at and fiddling with her hair in the mirror. 

“Well… Yeah, it was weird.” She elaborated oh so eloquently. 

“Some guy was following you?” Eirine’s voice got louder and more serious, sounding far more concerned about the issue than Amelia had expected.

“When you say it, it sounds like a big deal.” Amelia chuckled.

“Because being followed is a big deal, Amie.” Eirine scolded her in a tone far more stern than what she was used to, and she wasn’t stopping there, though she softened her tone some.

“…Maybe you should spend the night here at my place. I’d feel a lot better if I could keep an eye on you after hearing that.”

“Oh, I mean– I’m sure it’s fine. He didn’t seem so bad after Ian talked to him… I think.” Amelia trailed off with hesitance.

“Your ‘I think’ doesn’t inspire much confidence. Forget it. I’m coming over. Just in case.”

“O-oh, really? If you’re sure… I guess I wouldn't mind the company. I am still a bit creeped out, honestly….”

“You have every right to be creeped out, and your gut is telling you that for a reason. I’m on my way. I’ll be there as fast as I can.”

“Okay… I’ll see you soon. Bye.” Amelia murmured, waiting for Eirirne to hang up before picking the phone up off the counter and moving to her bedroom. There she slid on a pair of her fluffiest slippers and allowed herself to fall face first onto her bed. She couldn’t quite put her finger on exactly what drove her to become this exhausted. Maybe it was the stress of a long outing, the date itself and all the shenanigans that followed, or maybe it was her own paranoia and all of the anxiety it caused her. Whatever the case, Amelia felt like she could pass out right then and there.

She laid like that for a good few minutes before her tired eyes tried to close on her, leaving her with no other choice but to stand before she fell asleep waiting. Instead, she made her way down the hall and toward the main room. She wanted so badly to flop down on that couch and doze off without a care in the world, but Eirine might just kill her if she fell asleep and left her waiting outside in the cold at this time of night.

But, Amelia didn’t need to wait another second. A sudden knock nearly had her jumping out of her skin, but once she steadied herself enough to peek through the peephole to see Eirine outside, she excitedly swung open the door.

“Wow, that was quick! You really weren’t kidding about getting here fast!” She chuckled, ushering Eirine inside with a smile.

“Of course I wasn’t. I said I was going to keep an eye on you, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.” Eirine spoke matter-of-factly, nonchalantly shedding off her coat as Amelia shut and locked the door behind her.

“Thanks for that, Eirine…. Ian didn’t really buy it when I told him. I mean… I’m sure it’s all fine anyway, it just gave me the creeps is all.”

Eirine’s brows furrowed at that. Did Amelia even hear what she just said?

“He didn’t believe you?” Eirine’s tone grew judgmental.

“No, not really, but–” 

Eirine sighed, hanging her coat just beside the door before she spoke up again.

“I better not hear you say that it’s fine again. If anything, the fact that the guy left after Ian confronted him is even more of a red flag, and Ian not believing you is insane. Is he not worried about you at all?”

“Well, I was being a bit paranoid, so I don’t think he was necessarily wrong not to be worried.” Amelia waved it off like it was nothing and casually moved to the kitchen. She didn’t know what urged her to defend Ian at that moment, yet found herself doing so anyway.

“‘Paranoid’ is just a fancy word men use to invalidate us and make us look crazy so that we’ll be quiet the next time something happens.” Eirine scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest as she trailed behind Amelia.

“The guy followed you across town, didn’t he? And you don’t feel justified in being worried about that?”

“Well, I thought I remembered seeing him on the train, then again at the bar, but… Maybe it really was just a coincidence. It’s not like no one else would take the train to get there. And just because he didn’t have friends doesn’t mean he can’t do karaoke….” Amelia sighed, leaning her elbows against the kitchen counter, her face balancing atop her hands.

“Do I need to repeat that you said the guy left when Ian confronted him? That’s beyond suspicious. Don’t let Ian manipulate you into thinking this is no big deal, Amie, please.”

Amelia looked caught off guard by the intensity of that statement, but relaxed herself again with a gentle sigh.

“I wouldn’t call it manipulation. He’s just… I don’t know, a carefree kind of guy.”

“Carefree…?” Eirine scoffed with a roll of her eyes.

“Yeah, he seems to always act so casually and unbothered about everything. Seems a little fake if you ask me. All he’s trying to do is act cool in front of you– it’s not genuine at all.”

“...You think so?” Amelia’s brows furrowed.

“I’m positive he’s not being genuine with you. Any decent guy would be worried sick about their girlfriend being stalked across town.”

“…Maybe. I don’t know… I guess I could try talking to him about it next time we’re together in person. I’m sure he didn’t mean it like that.”

There was a short lasting, almost awkward silence between the two before Amelia pushed herself off the counter and creaked open a cupboard.

“Have you eaten yet? I’d be happy to cook you something for dinner if you’re hungry.”

“No, I’m okay. You need to worry about your sleep.”

“Oh, so you’ll be taking the night watch, then?” Amelia joked, nudging her raven-haired friend with her elbow.

“Exactly.” Eirine let loose a chuckle, nudging Amelia back with just a little more strength.

“So go get to bed and let me worry about the bad guys.”