The week passes and before I know it, it’s Saturday night. I work the closing shift again at Sun Valley Station, only this time, Aaron has the night off so he can go watch the girls’ basketball game. The season just started and Kasey plays on the JV team, though not by choice. She hates sports but I guess her parents are forcing her into some extracurriculars. Aaron’s going so he can make fun of his sister later.
I was originally given the night off too, and Aaron invited me to come, but I couldn’t stomach the idea of attending another school event.
The diner is slow the first few hours I’m here, but I know once the game is over that’ll change. Everyone will either go out and party or come here for food since other restaurants in the area will be closed, so I take advantage of the reprieve and make sure all the dishes are clean and stacked so that when the rush hits, I’m ready.
Julio had to head back home this morning. I was bummed to see him go but he can only take so much time off from school. He offered to stay longer but I didn’t want to take advantage of him. I appreciate the week he gave me, though. I’ve only had one panic attack since Monday and true to his word, when Julio wasn’t around, Aaron did his best to step in and help make me comfortable.
The volume in the front of the diner increases and I chance a look at the clock, noting that it’s just after nine. Less than two hours until closing and we’re just now getting busy.
I keep myself occupied, scrubbing dishes down while I listen to some older My Chemical Romance songs. I’m bouncing to Black Parade a little over an hour later when Emma pops her head in the back and says, “I have to leave early and handle some stuff. Julie will be the one closing up with you tonight.”
I nod. Julie’s one of the waitresses who works here full-time. She’s in college and from what I’ve gathered, also a family friend so she’s trusted with a key and closing out the register.
Tonight’s cooks, Rodrick and Ben, let me know they’re heading out when they fulfill the last order of the night and I wave goodbye to them. They’ve mostly kept to themselves since I started working here and a part of me wonders if Aaron said anything to them about me. I wash the last of the dishes just as the double doors swing open and Julie bounces into the room.
“Are you almost done?” she asks.
I nod. “Yeah, just a few more.”
She eyes my stack of dishes with a frown. It’s not that big and should take ten minutes tops to get through. “I’m supposed to meet some friends at a party and I’m already running late. Are you okay if I head out? The doors are already locked and the till is zeroed out. All you have to do is make sure the door is closed all the way when you leave.”
“Yeah. That’s fine.”
She squeals. “Thank you so much. You’re a doll. I’ll see you next week.”
And then she’s gone.
I finish up the dishes, no longer in a hurry, and then collect my bag and hoodie. I shut off the lights and I’m just about to open the door when I spot a man standing across the street. All the lights are out inside the diner so I’m confident he can’t see me, but it’s like he’s staring right at me anyway, even though I can’t make out his eyes.
Goosebumps break out all over my skin.
The streetlight casts him in shadow, hiding his face but illuminating enough of his body that I can make out his dark washed jeans and flannel shirt. He’s big. Built like a man and not one of the boys I go to school with.
Fear freezes me before I stumble back a few steps away from the door. The man never moves. I glance toward the parking lot, spotting my Audi right where I left it. In the furthest spot on the lot because I hadn’t wanted to be parked close to anyone.
The ten yards or so between it and me feels like a mile.
Can I make it to my car before him? If I run I probably can. Maybe. What reason does he have for standing out there, lurking?
“Come on, Allie. Pull yourself together,” I mutter to myself. Just because I was attacked once before doesn’t mean it will happen again. But my attacker’s words echo in my mind as if he’s standing over me again. “I’d be happy to make another visit,” he’d said. What if this is him, or his friend? What if Gerald messed up again?
Gerald and I never talked about what caused the attack in the first place. He just said he’d take care of it and then he never brought it up again. I should have brought it up again. I should have made sure something like that could never happen to me another time.
Oh God. I’d been so stupid.
I slump into one of the booths toward the back, away from the windows, and pull my phone out with shaking fingers. I dial Julio’s number before I realize he can’t help me and hang up. Okay. Plan B. I’ll try Aaron.
I call him and wait. The line rings once, twice, six times.
Voicemail.
Dang it.
I try again.
Voicemail again.
I wipe my clammy hands on my knees and stare at the screen of my phone. I don’t know who else to call. Feeling desperate I try Janessa. She doesn’t pick up. Against my better judgment, I try Gerald next.
“You’ve reached the voicemail box of…”
I hang up.
My heart skips a beat. The man is still out there. What is he waiting for? A knot of dread expands in my chest. It crawls through me and my entire body begins to shake. I squeeze my eyes shut. I need to get it together. I can’t think if I panic.
My breaths are ragged as if I’ve just run a marathon. My chest heaves up and down. I press my forehead down on the cool surface of the table and force myself to slow down my breathing. I can’t have a panic attack. Not here. Not now.
Think, Allie. Just think.
The idea to call Roman leaves me as quickly as it came. I swallow hard and chew on my bottom lip until I’m certain I’ve bitten through the tender flesh and the tang of copper fills my mouth.
I try Dominique.
He answers on the second ring. “Allie?”
“Oh, thank God.” I choke out the words on a sob.
“What’s going on?”
His voice is hard, and a sense of urgency has me rushing to say, “I just got off work and there’s a man outside. I think he’s waiting for me. I let Julie leave early and I’m alone and my car is far away and—”
“Breathe, Allie. Take a breath. Slow down.”
I try to do as he instructs but I can’t seem to slow down.
“Where are you at?”
“The Sun Valley Station.”
“Okay. I’m on my way. I’ll give you a lift. We can get your car tomorrow morning.”
I nod even though he can’t see me. “Thank you.”
“Just hang tight. Go in the back. I’ll be there in ten.”
