« Skylar's POV »

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"You called the police for a break in." Nora stated the next morning, before sitting down on one of the dining chairs.

I looked at her from the television screen.

"Yes." I nodded with a sigh.

I already knew how she'd find out about it, one way or another. She knew those police officers. And she probably must've asked them.

"Why?" She asked in confusion. "Did you actually do that on purpose?"

"I did not, Nora. Somebody did break in." I did not even try to make it sound convincing. She wouldn't believe me anyways.

"But–"

"My room was a mess when I entered. Everything was a mess. There was a freaking message written over my wall mirror in red lipstick. The window was opened when I always close it. Everything was a mess." I explained, shaking my head a bit.

"But the police officers did not see anything." She pointed out.

I did not even know why I was explaining this to her. Only Chicken knew how this had been true. Sadly, she couldn't speak.

"Somebody got in and fixed it all." I shrugged. "You know, fairy godmother and all."

"This makes you sound crazy, Sky." She actually sounded pitiful at that point. As if I was a crazy child trying to gain attention by making this all up.

"Where's your brother?" I asked instead.

She nudged her head towards the door. "Out. For a morning walk."

"Is he involved in some sort of gang?" I asked. "Back in New York?"

She looked at me unbelievably but did not reply.

"He looks mysterious, you know." I added.

"Well, your boyfriend is mysterious as well. Is he in a gang?" She backfired with a raised brow.

I could've said yes. But Caden's gang had been a secret for a reason. It wasn't my choice to tell the whole world about it.

"You don't even know who my boyfriend is." I rolled my eyes. I never told her about Caden or my family or my friends. She was probably just making it up.

"Caden Miller. His name's quite popular among the police department, did you know that?" She asked with a smirk.

I narrowed my eyes at her.

"Here I thought I was a stalker. You are a creep, Nora." She just laughed in response.

"Anyways, Kyle's not in any kind of gang." She answered. "If he would've been, I would've known."

I blinked and looked back at the TV screen. The same moment, the front door opened and Kyle came in.

"Morning, ladies." He said before giving both of us a look. "What girl talk did I miss?" I just gave him a look. He seemed wrong. Something was so wrong about him.

"We were just talking about Caden Miller." Nora said.

It was her who I gave a really bad look this time. While Kyle went ahead and sat down on the chair beside her.

"Oh." Kyle said with his usual smirk directed towards me. As if he knew so much that I didn't. "What about him?"

I was trying my best to keep control of my frustration. And anger. Clutching the TV remote, I tried ignoring both of them.

"Nothing mu–" Nora started but he interrupted.

"I heard he's Blake Matthew's stepbrother or something."

"Really?" Nora asked in confusion.

Deep breaths, Sky.

"I heard he walks around with a gun. Always." Kyle continued, with an obvious teasing edge in his voice.

Deep, deep breaths.

"I heard that he killed–"

"Can you just shut up?" I glared at him.

He just smirked back. "–his parents." Nonetheless, he did end that sentence.

Nora looked at him with a frown. "He killed his parents?"

My eyes widened at that.

"No. I was just joking." Kyle said with a grin.

My anger at that point was just too much. Who did he think he was?

"Whatever." Nora said with an eye roll. "I'm going in my room." I heard her opening the door as she went inside.

"I also heard he's good with lies." Kyle added, looking at me.

He's lying, sweet Skylar.

"Did you write that letter?" I asked with an accusing look directed towards him.

"What letter?" He asked, stuffing his hands in his hoodie pockets.

"Don't act so clueless–"

"I really don't know what letter you're talking about." He interrupted before picking up an apple from the table.

"Who are you really?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.

"Kyle–"

"How do you know so much about Caden?" It was me who interrupted him this time.

He fell silent at that. Clearly enjoying the freaking suspense. A small smirk formed on his lips as he eyed me, a brown curl falling on his forehead.

"I can't tell you."

I blinked and gulped the sudden lump in my throat. "I will find out myself."

"Good luck with that." Was all he said before getting up and exiting from the front door.

***************

The family party was due Saturday since mom and dad were getting back to New York the same day, from Orlando. I, on the other hand, decided to go there on Friday.

I had no wish to stay there in my apartment when Kyle was lurking around. That guy was giving me the creeps now.

And anyways, I missed New York. Chicken missed it too. So, spending a little more time at my old house was so much better than spending it in my new apartment.

After my morning classes, I took the train to New York and arrived there in the next few hours.

"I wish I could come there. You know, like thr good old times." Alex said on the phone as I entered the familiar house. Thankfully, I still had a spare key.

"Why can't you?" I asked while Chicken literally ran inside the house. Probably jumping up and down in excitement.

"Hanna was actually coming here in Pennsylvania. So I can't just come there." He said.

"Oh." I nodded before I heard a loud clatter. Looking around for the sound, I placed the phone on my other ear. "Hey, I'll talk later. I think Chicken dropped something."

I just heard him laugh before I ended the call.

Turned out that Chicken had jumped on the kitchen counter and dropped some plates on the floor. Thankfully, they did not break.

Mom would kill me.

"Come on, Chicks. Don't be that excited." I murmured before picking her up and placing her on the couch.

"I actually missed this too." I whispered with a smile before sprawling down on the couch beside Chicken.

This house was big. And warm. And so much unlike my apartment in Pennsylvania. And I had really missed living here.

The next few hours, I stayed in my room. Going through my old stuff and enjoying my sweet old room was actually fun. In the end, I opened up my old laptop and curled up on my bed with Netflix.

And popcorn, of course.

"I want this life back, Chicks. As much as I hated high school, I still want this life back." I pouted, looking at the screen.

Until I heard the bell ring.

Looking up from the screen, a small frown formed on my forehead.

Who could it be?

And then it rang again. And again. And again.

Pausing the movie, I got down from the bed and ran downstairs with Chicken behind me.

I went towards the front door, but stopped. The exact moment, I heard a loud knock on the door. And then the bell rang again.

The frown deepened on my face before I took a step back. My heart was actually beating fast by now. Something felt wrong. Why the hell would someone keep on ringing the bell? Again and again?

"Who's it?" I asked loudly.

There was no reply. Instead, the person knocked again. Loudly this time as if pounding on the door. That just made me step back.

I looked around, making sure the back door was locked. And the big glass window. Meanwhile, the bell kept on ringing with the loud knocking on the door.

I gripped my phone in my hand. What if it was the same person who had sent me that letter? Or the person who had broken in my apartment?

God, was he following me everywhere? Even here in New York?

I flinched when I heard another loud knock on the door. Chicken mewled around my feet, just as scared as me.

"What do I do?" I whispered, frantically looking around.

I wasn't going to call the police again. That would be too stupid. They'd probably charge me this time if they don't find any evidence.

I went over towards the door to look outside from the peephole. My eyes widened in response when I saw a guy with a black hood on his face. He was right in front of me.

Just a door between us.

"Oh my God." I whispered cowering back. "Oh my God, Chicks."

My throat dried up. And I felt sick for some reason. Meanwhile, the bell rang again and again.

I blinked, feeling the corners of my eyes stinging. What was I even supposed to do? I couldn't think straight at this point. I couldn't shout for help.

This was just too crazy.

I looked around once again. I didn't know why I was expecting that guy to barge in from somewhere else.

But the loud knocking on the door continued. And the ringing of the doorbell. I didn't know who he was. He had a black hood on. I couldn't see his face. And I'm sure he was dangerous.

"I should call someone." I switched my phone on, scrolling through the contacts. "Someone. Someone. Someone."

I almost jumped in my position when another loud bang came from the door.

"I should call...Caden." I whispered scrolling. Before I could've pressed on his number, the knocking stopped. And so did the bell.

I looked at the door abruptly, fear clawing in my chest.

Where did he go?

What if he's coming from the backdoor?

Or climbing from the bushes up in my room?

I didn't even close my room's window.

"Oh God." My voice cracked at that as I looked up at the stairs, expecting the hooded guy to come down any second.

But to my surprise, only the bell rang. Again. This time, it was just once.

Blinking, I turned towards the front door behind me. The bell didn't ring again. Inhaling a deep breath, I went towards the door knob and slowly opened the lock.

And then the door.

"Caden."

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Crystal 🌿