Chapter 4The Backup Girlfriend

I slept for 14 hours straight.

Exams over, no more studying. I collapsed like a puppet with cut strings.

I woke up at dusk. Dad called to remind me about packing.

"Don't forget your acceptance letter."

"Okay, Dad."

I packed, then checked my phone.

Messages flooded the screen. My throat tightened.

Unknown number.

I knew it was Ethan.

[Can I come to your house tonight?]

[Leave the window open? Your security guard pulls hard, my arm hurt for days. But I was happy you looked at me.]

[Hunter has a girlfriend now. Stop wasting time on him. He won't stop us anymore.]

[I heard you're going to USC? I'll rent a place near your dorm.]

...

I scrolled down.

My teeth clenched uncontrollably. My body shook.

Ethan. The most invisible guy in the class next door. The reason I approached Hunter.

He noticed me freshman year.

Sophomore year, I realized someone had been following me for a whole year.

He mimicked my habits, my movements. He found out everything I liked. He sent love letters written while fantasizing about me at night.

My desk was always missing a used eraser, an opened pack of tissues, a half-drunk water bottle.

Every time I noticed, I went numb.

The worst was that one time.

I turned around on the street.

I saw him.

Walking fast, like he was about to pounce.

"What are you doing!"

He realized he was caught and laughed psychotically.

"Nothing. Just looking at you."

Later, he followed me home, even climbed through my window at night. We called the cops, but he kept following me like a ghost.

Then I became Hunter’s backup girlfriend. Ethan backed off for a year, scared to offend the big dog. Now he was back.

Luckily, I graduated.

I'm leaving the country.

USC? Just a smokescreen.

Thinking of this, I relaxed and booked a hotel.

Flight in two days. One last hideout.

But that night, I bumped into Hunter at a nearby convenience store.

And Lily.

He was staring at his phone.

When we bumped into each other, he froze.

"Stella?"

I ignored him.

Turned to leave.

Then I saw a familiar shadow in the distance.

Standing in the dark, staring at me unblinkingly.

Goosebumps exploded all over my body.

I whipped around and grabbed Hunter’s sleeve.

"Where are you going? Can I come?"

Lily froze, her eyes red instantly.

She gripped Hunter's hand.

"Stella, Hunter and I are together now. Can you stop?"

"Hunter, ignore her! I'm your girlfriend, she can't steal you!"

Hunter stared at me.

Said nothing.

After two seconds, he scoffed.

"Stella, what is this? Did you forget I gave you 30 minutes?"

30 minutes?

I was confused.

I’d heard count-downs like that a million times.

"Be here in 30 minutes or you're fired as backup."

"Five minutes. Or I block you."

...

Terror consumed me.

I clung to Hunter.

Almost begging:

"I apologize for being late. Last time! Just let me stay near you for a bit, okay?"

Lily started crying. Hunter ripped my hand away.

He laughed, a cold, amused sound.

"Stella, I thought you grew a backbone not replying to my texts."

"Turns out you're still this cheap. Can't live without a man? I look down on you."