Chapter 59: #FIFTY-NINE

NICHOLAS’S POV

I pulled away from the hug after a few seconds and sat back on the bench, rubbing my palms against my jogging pants while I tried to figure out how to begin. I had spent the entire day telling Jayden that nothing was wrong, even though I had called him because something was very clearly wrong, and now that I had finally allowed myself to relax around him, keeping the truth to myself felt pointless.

He didn’t know what had been happening to me for the past few weeks, and maybe that was why talking to him felt way easier than with anyone else. He wasn’t one of the people involved in everything that had happened at home, and he didn’t get angry when Elijah had attacked him and accused him of being an accomplice.

turned toward him and took a slow breath. "There’s something I’ve been keeping from you."

Jayden’s expression changed immediately. "Alright. I’m listening."

"I didn’t tell you because I didn’t know whether I could trust anyone with it." I paused, looking down at the ground before forcing myself to continue. "It started when I noticed someone following me at school. At first, I thought I was imagining it because I’d see the same person in different places, but then I started getting messages. They knew things about me that they shouldn’t have known, and eventually I realized it wasn’t just some random person trying to scare me."

Jayden sat straighter. "What kind of messages?"

"Threatening ones. Sometimes they’re just trying to get a reaction out of me. Sometimes they send things that prove they’re watching me." I deliberately left out what some of the photographs contained. Even saying this much made my stomach tighten, and I wasn’t ready to explain everything. "The worst part is that I don’t know how they’re getting some of the information. There’s also been someone getting into the house, and I think the person following me and the person breaking into the house might be connected."

Jayden stared at me for several seconds without saying anything and I could see him trying to process everything I had just told him. "You’ve been dealing with this by yourself?"

"Mostly." I shrugged.

"Why didn’t you tell me? We’re friends, Nicholas"

"I didn’t know what to say. And I didn’t know if you’d believe me." I rubbed my palms together.

His expression changed immediately. "Nicholas, why wouldn’t I believe you?"

"I don’t know. It sounds crazy when I say it out loud. Someone following me, sending me messages, getting into the house and somehow knowing where I am..." I shook my head. "I don’t even understand how they’re doing half of it."

Jayden looked genuinely disturbed. "I honestly don’t even know what to say."

"I also don’t know how to react to it till now."

"No, I mean it. I’ve been sitting here all day wondering why you looked so distracted, and I had no idea you were dealing with something like this." He moved closer and pulled me into another brief hug. "I’m sorry. I really am. I wish you’d told me sooner. I didn’t know you were carrying all of this around."

I closed my eyes for a moment. "It’s not your fault."

"I know it’s not, but I still feel bad. No one should have to go through that. I’ll try to help in any way I can, this is terrible."

For some reason, I found myself thinking about the brothers. They had been trying to get me to talk to them too. They had knocked on my door, brought me food and kept asking if I was alright, even after I’d pushed them away repeatedly. I’d been so angry that I’d convinced myself none of it mattered, but sitting there with Jayden made me realize that they had at least been trying.

Shaking my head, I pushed the thought away. I wasn’t ready to forgive them.

Jayden released me and looked at me seriously. "So what are you going to do about the stalker?"

"I don’t know." I admitted.

"You don’t have a plan?"

I shook my head. "No."

He frowned. "Huh? Nothing?"

"Nothing that I know will work. I don’t know who they are, I don’t know how they’re getting close enough to take some of these pictures, and I don’t know whether they’re connected to the person who got into the house. I’ve tried looking for clues, but every time I think I’ve figured something out, I end up with more questions. It’s an endless circle and I gave up after a while."

Jayden leaned back, thinking. "And Elijah knows about this?"

I hesitated. "Not everything, but yeah, that’s partly why we were at your house."

"But he knows about the stalker?"

"Yes." I nodded.

"Then that’s why he’s been acting like that."

"What do you mean?"

"I was wondering why he was that angry. But hearing that someone is following you this much and may be a threat to your life, it puts it into perspective. Sounded weird before, but if he knows someone is following you, then it makes sense."

I looked away. "I still don’t like how he handled things the other day."

"I’m not saying you should. He also didn’t defend you at school. Everyone is talking about it too. But I get why he was being too overprotective."

I remained quiet and Jayden studied me for a moment before asking, "Then why did you tell me?"

I looked at him.. "Because I trust you."

He seemed surprised.

"After everything that’s happened, you’re one of the few people I don’t feel like I have to explain myself to before you’ll listen." I whispered.

He nodded slowly. "Then I’ll help you."

I huffed a laugh. "You don’t even know what you’re going to do."

"No, but I’ll figure something out."

I almost laughed again. "That’s not exactly a plan, it’s literally just pipe dreams."

"It doesn’t have to be. You said you don’t have one either, so we’re already starting from the same place."

I shook my head.. "You really think you can help?"

"I don’t know yet. But I’ll look into what I can, and we’ll figure out how to identify whoever is doing this. I’m not going to promise something impossible, but I’m not going to sit around knowing you’re dealing with this and do nothing."

I nodded. "Thank you."

"Stop thanking me every five minutes." He rolled his eyes.

We stayed at the park for several more hours, talking through whatever details I could remember. I told him about the first time I’d noticed the stalker, the messages that followed and the strange things that had happened around the house. I didn’t tell him everything, especially the contents of the photographs, but I gave him enough to understand why I was frightened.

By the time we finally decided to leave, the sun had started going down and Jayden walked with me all the way back to the Blackthorne mansion. "You didn’t have to come this far," I told him as we approached the gates.

"I know I shouldn’t have, but c’mon, why not?"

I smiled faintly.

When we reached the gate, we stopped. Jayden turned toward me and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze before letting go.. "Don’t let this get into your head tonight. Thank you for telling me. Please keep me updated, I’ll make sure you’re better later."

"I’ll try."

"And if you remember anything else, call me. I’m always available and ready to help you." He told me with a straight face.

"I will."

He gave me another reassuring look before stepping back and I was about to say goodbye when a car turned into the driveway.

I recognized it immediately.

Roman.

The vehicle slowed as it approached the gate, and the moment he saw us standing there, his attention shifted from me to Jayden and the car came to a complete stop.

The door opened and Roman stepped out.

He shut the door behind him and stared at Jayden without saying anything.

His expression was enough to make the atmosphere change as he walked toward us slowly, his eyes moving over Jayden from head to toe before finally settling on me.

"Who is he?"

I froze but Roman didn’t look away.

He waited for my answer, his expression stern and unreadable as he glanced once more at the person standing beside me.

"Who are you with, Nicholas?"