For a long time now, I've felt as though someone was watching me. I constantly look over my shoulder or shudder as if someone was staring at me with ill intent. I couldn’t even get a glimpse of this person no matter how hard I tried. They became a faceless being in my nightmares. Even without a face, I could feel their eyes trained on me. When I told my parents about it they told me that I was being too paranoid and talked me out of making a police report. We haven’t talked much since then. And as if this person knew my intentions of involving the police they drew closer. This time the feeling followed me home and remained there with me all through the night. I wanted to seek help but what if this got worse? What would I do then? Nothing. I couldn’t do anything about this. All I can do is force myself to sleep and hope they go away. But they didn’t. The next morning I woke and I could still feel them. Every day and night after that, for weeks, it was the same. I could feel them. After so long I got used to it. It was still creepy and unsettling but they had never done anything but watch. Sometimes I would even speak to them while I was alone. Of course, they never answered but I still had a one-sided conversation with them. Their eyes always felt closer to me while at work. I run a cafe in a two-story building in the center of the busiest street in the city. I guess that made it easier for them to watch me in plain sight. I was planning on moving into the top floor before they began to watch me but changed my mind. If they’re going to follow me, I'm going to make it hard for them. It’s not like I plan on telling anyone but I want them to feel like I might. I've found friends among my employees but they’re teenagers so I'd never even dream of getting them involved. Though I have been very friendly with a police officer who comes in everyday during his break. I guess teenagers are very perceptive because whenever he comes in they’ll ask me to take his order. Either that or I'm terrible at hiding my feelings. He usually pays me little to no attention after I take his order but it’s been different these past few weeks. I feel his gaze on me sometimes. Whenever I looked in his direction he’d look away but I knew it was him. It was strange because my stalker was never around during this time. I could never feel them at this time of day. I would think they’d watch me more intently while I was around the police or with someone I'm romantically interested in.

“Aaron, your favorite officer is here and ready to order. He’s waiting for you in his usual spot.” she smiled and pointed at him discreetly.

“Th-thank you, Alex.” my heart always races whenever he’s around. How could it not? He was easily my dream guy and he had girls fawning over him all around the cafe. I’m pretty sure they all come just to see him. I smoothed out my apron, grabbed my notepad, and headed his way. It’s so hard to stay professional around him but I try my best.

“Hey, Aaron. You’re taking my order today, too?” I nod my head shyly. I know my face must be bright red.

“W-what can I get you today, officer?” he was about to speak but paused and began to study my face. “Is something the matter?”

“No, you’re just really red. Are you feeling unwell?” I was so embarrassed and I did everything in my power not to run away.

“No, I'm fine. I’m just a little hot.”

“Seems more than a little to me. I’ll get my usual and you can come to sit with me. Maybe it’ll help you cool off if you take a break.” I just nod my head like an idiot and quickly walk away, back to the counter.

“So what happened? You’re beet red. Something must have happened.” Alex seemed to be bursting with curiosity. She always took a weird interest in my love life.

“Alex, leave him alone. You’re embarrassing him. Can’t you at least do your job?” she scoffs and crosses her arms.

“Thank you, Xavier, but she’s right. Something did happen. They both stop what they’re doing to listen.

“I think he was flirting with me. He wants me to come sit with him. What should I do?” Alex scoffs again but this time in disbelief.

“You take his order, sit down, and flirt back. You're only a few years older than us. You’re basically a teenager. You should know this!” I roll my eyes at the last comment.

“Well, excuse me for my lack of knowledge. I’ve never flirted with anyone before.” they both narrowed their eyes on me.

“How!? You have everything. Looks, book smarts, money, you’re every girl's dream guy. All of the good guys are either taken or gay.” Xavier huffs at her.

“Nice to know you think so highly of me.” she snatches my notepad out of my hand and starts on the order.

“I thought you were dating that super sparkly Insta model. What happened to her?” he sucked his teeth.

“Some good guys are taken by bad women. She cheated on me so I broke it off.” I pouted at him.

“I’m sorry. Don’t worry, you’ll find someone perfect for you.” he just smiles.

“What about me?” I raise a brow at her.

“That’s if you don’t send him running first, sweetie.” she dramatically gasps and puts on an overly exaggerated crying scene. 

“You wound me, boss. A true betrayal.” we all laugh and quickly get back to work as more customers pour into the cafe. Alex hands me the order and I hesitantly make my way back to the table. He looks up at me and smiles.

“Hey, you’re looking less red. Feeling better?” I sit his order down.

“Yes, thanks for asking. The cafe is getting a bit busy. I should go.” I turn to leave but he grabs my hand.

“Well, maybe you can tell me when you get off? We could take that break somewhere else. Only if you wanted to, of course.” I can feel my face becoming heated.

“Um…yes, I would like that.” another smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. He pulls out his phone and hands it to me.

“Put your number in and I'll text you later.” I freeze for a moment until my mind registers his request.

“Okay.” my hands shake slightly as I type my name and number in. As soon as I handed his phone back he texted me. I grab my phone from my back pocket and check. 

[My name is Finn.]

“Calling me ‘officer’ was kind of formal don’t you think?” I can't help but smile.

“Yeah, a bit. I’ll text you when I get off. See you later, Finn~” I walk away as gracefully as I can so he doesn’t notice how devastatingly nervous I am. Alex and Xavier see my face as I quickly walk over to the counter again.

“So? What happened? You didn’t sit with him?” they both try their best to continue working while waiting for an answer.

“I didn’t have to. He just asked me out on a date.” Alex puts down the drink she was working on to start jumping and squealing. 

“Oh, my goodness. You’re being serious, right? No jokes?”

“I’m not kidding. He asked me for my number and said he’d come by at closing time so that we could go out together. I’m so excited.” Alex reaches over the counter and hugs me.

“I’m so happy for you, boss. You being single was affecting my quality of life.” I choke out a laugh.

“How does my being single affect you?” she pulls away and purses her lips at me.

“It was getting so tiring watching you watch him every day but never ask him out. I guess he was, too.” I scoff at her remarks.

“No seriously, you deserve this, Aaron. No one works as hard as you do to make everyone happy. It’s about time someone pleased the people pleaser.” Xavier chimed in.

“Wha-okay, I am not a people pleaser. I just like seeing people happy and it makes me feel good to be the reason.”

“Yeah, that’s called a people pleaser.” I pout at them while they laugh.

“You know what? Get back to work! People are waiting for their orders.” they continue to laugh as I huff and walk away. For the rest of the day, my impending date was all the three of us could talk about. I ran around to take orders, worked behind the cash register, and even made drinks but the whole time I kept thinking of Finn. I didn’t have the time to be in a daze but he was all I could think about. From his long black hair pulled back into a messy bun, to his searing hazel-green eyes, all the way down to his very defined muscular build that I traced in my mind.  Even his deep brisky voice gives me a very sensual chill down my spine. He is perfect. Alex and Xavier watched me as I continued to work no doubt with a very dazed look on my face. They talked and bickered away about my date but all I could think about was what could happen after. I want to call my mother and brag about it but I don’t want my father finding out. He’d be very against it seeing how homophobic he’s been my entire life.

Time sped by and it was closing time already. As soon as Alex and Xavier were finally done teasing me they went home. Once they were gone, I rushed up the stairs to the second floor. I keep spare outfits here just in case. I rummage through my clothes until I find something decent to wear. Even though I'm excited I hesitate to get dressed. The feeling of being watched always becomes so intense when I'm getting dressed. Like whoever is watching me is staring at me lustfully. It gives me a bad feeling. I quickly get dressed and rush back down the stairs to text Finn but as soon as I pull my phone out I get a text from him.

[Hey, I couldn't wait to see you so I came early. I’m outside.]

I look up and see him standing in front of the door. I quickly went outside to greet him.

“Hey, sorry it took me so long. I don’t have much to wear here.” he just smiles and looks me up and down.

“You look just as good as always. Were you trying to get dressed up for me?” I let out a nervous laugh.

“Was it that obvious? I’ve never gone out with anyone. I thought I'd make a good first impression.”

“You already did. If not, I wouldn’t have asked you out. So…shall we?” he extends his hand out to me. I nod my head in agreement and take his hand.

“We shall.” he leads me down the street to his car and opens the door for me. We both get in and begin driving away. We sit in what feels like an eternity of silence until I realize that none of the streets look familiar.

“What’s the matter, Aaron?” I turn away from the window to look at him.

“Where are we going?” he chuckles lightly.

“It’s a surprise. This is our first date so I wanted it to be perfect. Just me and you. I set something up for us where no one will interrupt us.”

“Okay, if you say so.” we continue to drive for about forty-five minutes before we arrive at a cottage on the outskirts of the city. It's beautiful. Lit candles lead to the front door, the cottage itself is covered in flowers, and the land around it is so green. It's like nothing I have ever seen before.

“I hope you like it.”

“Like it? I love it! No one has ever done anything like this for me. It’s breathtaking.” he takes my hand and leads me down the candle-lit path.

“Well, I hope you can breathe long enough to have dinner with me.” I nod my head. He opens the front door and guides me inside. There’s a cute little living area and a long hall that leads to the rest of the home. Red rose petals lead down the hall to a dining area. He’d prepared a dinner with wine. It’s cute.

“This is so nice. I can tell you wanted to impress me. Consider me impressed.” we sit down and he pours me a glass of wine.

“I’ve been looking forward to this.” I take a sip of wine and try my best not to smile like an idiot.

“Me, too. I’m sorry it took me so long to speak to you. I’m quite shy.” he grins. Not the sweet smile I'm used to. More like he knows something I don’t. “What?”

“That’s not what I meant. I know you’ve had to have noticed. Or are you really that naive?” I sit my glass down on the table.

“What are you talking about?” he reaches out and grabs my hand. His fingers squeeze tightly around my hand and are only getting tighter.

“Aren’t you being watched?” I try to pull my hand away.

“Who told you that!? Did my parents put you up to this!?” he jumps up from his seat and comes around the table all the while still clutching onto my hand tightly.

“I’ve met your parents, yeah. But they have nothing to do with any of this. I’ve been waiting for the perfect moment. ‘Just get him alone’ that’s all I had to do. And now I have you all to myself.” I try to stand but my legs are numb. My whole body is. I slump back into the chair.

“Wh-what did you…do to me? Why~” my words trail off as my body grows weaker. Damnit! He drugged me. He poured me a glass of wine but never drank any himself. My vision begins to blur and fade to black.

“It’s alright. You don’t have to worry about anything. I’m going to take care of you from now on, Aaron.”