Chapter 26: Chapter 4: A Chilling Gift

JOCELYN

The next few months fly by with school, and Mary and Kerri have quickly become my best friends.

I’m called into the office every month for something and always come back with roses and chocolates or some gift. It always has the same thing on it—~S.A.~

Everyone at home is questioning and wondering about who it possibly could be from. If it had a name, I would know, but it doesn’t.

For a while, I thought it might be Jessie, until he was cornered by my dad, Nate, and Uncle Frankie. I started freaking out, but he had no clue what they were even talking about.

The screaming between them and him got to be too much. I even jumped in the middle because I knew he wouldn’t do that; it could mean his job. He even got his bank and credit card statements for them to look at and to prove it’s not him.

The thoughts keep going through my head about who it could possibly be. Either way, the mystery of who it could possibly be makes the butterflies appear in my stomach.

Mary, Kerri, and I hang out all the time, at school and outside of school. I am always seeing this kid everywhere at school. I swear he follows me around. Every time I turn around, I see him staring at me.

Mary and Kerri are friends with him, so one time, when Mary was walking with me, I quietly pointed him out. She informed me that the kid’s name is Ricardo.

So that’s who he is, and now I know his name, but why is he always around? He never says anything to me but follows me everywhere.

I have tried to go up to him, and even when I try and say hi, he just quickly walks away. Mary said he asked her about me and asked my name but that was it.

It’s the last day of school before Christmas break starts. Classes go by quickly and are pretty easy since we really aren’t doing anything except watching movies. We don’t get far into the movies, but it seems like it’s just to pass the time.

When the bell rings, I head to lunch and sit with my friends inside since it’s too cold to sit outside. Mary pulls a gold-colored gift bag out of her bag and hands it to me. I give her a questioning look, and she starts to laugh.

“It was left on my desk in third period. It has your name on it.”

I look at her with wide eyes and slowly take the bag from her. I look around the bag and don’t see a tag or name anywhere. Oh, wait! Inside, there’s a note.

~S.A.~

“~S.A.~ What do you think that means? It’s been on everything that has been left for me. I know we keep talking about it, but I still haven’t figured it out.”

“I don’t know, but it’s been on the roses and chocolates also. I don’t know anyone at school who has the initials ~S.A.~ Do you know anyone, Kerri?”

“I don’t, but I might have an idea. What if it stands for ~secret admirer~?”

“Oh, maybe that fits the ~S.A.~ Well, let’s see what it is.”

I take a deep breath and slowly open the bag. Inside is a box done in a gorgeous gold wrapping with ribbons. I slowly unwrap it, and as I pull the contents out, I see it’s a jewelry box.

I just stare then look up at Mary and Kerri. They both have their hands to their mouths, smiling, waiting in anticipation to see what’s inside.

I take a gulp and slowly and delicately open the box. I feel tears well up as they both gasp. It’s a gold diamond snowflake necklace that absolutely sparkles.

I’m afraid to touch it because it looks so delicate. I feel if I touch it, it will melt away. I don’t know what to do or say. It’s absolutely stunning.

I take it out gently and slowly put it on with Kerri’s help. As it settles on my chest, I can’t help but touch it and silently shed tears. Kerri wraps her arms around me as we start to hear high fives and cheering from outside.

We quickly look around and we see Ricardo and his friends. They see us looking at them, and they duck and hide around the corner of the building.

No…it can’t be, can it? Why would Ricardo get me stuff? I’m a freshman and he’s a junior. It must be one of his friends he is helping, right? But they are juniors also. What if it is Ricardo? Why won’t he talk to me, though?

I continue to talk to my friends till the bell rings to go to the next class. Only a couple more classes and we are out for break! The rest of the day goes quickly, and as the day ends, I run over to my locker to load all my stuff up.

When I open my locker, I see a card with my name on the inside. Someone must have shoved it through the slit to make sure it got in. I look around and don’t see anyone I recognize, so I wonder who it’s from.

I open it and start reading.

~To my little one,~

~Every day I get to see you and thank the stars above that I found you. I know you don’t know who I am yet but it will all be revealed soon. ~

~I think about you day and night, and can’t wait to see you again. These next 2 weeks will be torture since I won’t be able to see you. So until then.~

~Mi amor~

~S.A.~

I just stare at the card and pull it to my chest. I don’t know how long I stood there for, but I can hear Frankie yelling from in front of the school.

“Where the fuck is she!”

I swear—him and his language! I hear him getting reprimanded for it by an instructor and laugh to myself. I grab everything, shove it in my bag, zip it closed, and slam my locker shut.

I walk up front to see him on his phone looking pissed. I see the instructor standing there, staring him down with her hand on her hip.

“Sorry, sorry. I was loading up my backpack,” I explain.

“Jocelyn, if you’re going to run behind, let us know!” Tank says.

“Okay. I’m sorry, Tank.”

“What the fuck is that! Who gave you that?” Uncle Frankie asks.

“I don’t know, Uncle Frankie. It was left for me on a friend’s desk, and it just says from ~S.A.~”

“I bet that Jessie kid has someone doing it for him, Frankie.”

“That must be it, Tank. We are gonna have to do something about it.”

Everyone stops and stares at something behind me. I turn and see Ricardo walking up with his guys, and as he walks by, he winks at me. I squeeze my thighs in response without even thinking. What the hell am I doing?

Uncle Frankie instantly sees red and starts yelling. “Did that fucker give it to you!”

“No, no… I don’t think so.”

“Jocelyn, what do you mean you don’t think so?”

I look over at him as he loads up with his boys. I can see him through his car windshield as he locks eyes with me from the back seat and smiles. He pats his chest over his heart as the car drives away, and I feel butterflies in my stomach.

No, it can’t be. I stand there in my thoughts, wondering if it could be. Why me, though? What does he see in me? God, he’s dreamy and gorgeous and the muscles… If he wrapped his arms around me, grabbing my ass, crashing his lips to mine…

I’m ripped from my thoughts by Uncle Frankie right in my face.

“Earth to Jocelyn! I saw what he just did. Is there something you need to share with us?”

I shake my head then I quickly load up into the SUV. My mind is going a hundred different directions, and I know this won’t end well. I see Frankie and Tank take out their phones and each make a phone call.

I couldn't care less right now. All I’m thinking of is him. I’ve seen him around wearing just a shirt that fits tight over his muscles and wonder what it’s like being in his arms. Holding me up next to him while my legs are wrapped around his waist.

All I do is think about him, dream about him. I tried talking to him, but he always seems to walk away.

I’m pulled out of my thoughts when I hear the car doors open and close as Frankie and Tank get in and, boy, do they look pissed. They slowly drive away from the school and head to the house.

I can feel the anger coming off of these two and can’t understand what the issue is. Why is it such a big deal? It’s not like I am being pursued by someone not at the school. Hell, I can’t even look at Jessie without people bitching.

This is getting absurd! I just want to get home and enjoy the next two weeks. Is that so much to ask? Yet, sure enough, the moment we pull up to the house, my dad is standing outside, pissed.

Fucking tattletales! I know now who they called, so of course he is. I don’t even get out of the car before he starts yelling at me.

“Where is the fucking necklace!”

“She is fucking wearing it!”

“Give it to me!”

“Dad! Please, no! What are you going to do!”

I start sobbing as I try to hold onto it. I have a feeling this will be the last time I ever see it, and it hurts. I am blessed to be born into such an amazing family but hate it at the same time.

My hands start to tremble as I undo the clasp and slowly take it off. I know if I don’t, he will gladly help take it off. I hand it to him and he walks inside the house.

I slowly follow him in, and as I walk inside the entry, I see his jeweler sitting on the couch. I watch my dad walk over and hand over the necklace.

“Does it have a tracker in it?”

“Give me a minute and I can tell you. It’s not one of my pieces, so they didn’t get it from me, but the work is top notch.”

As we all wait for the jeweler to inspect the work, my dad turns to me and I can tell he is fuming.

“Where’s the note it came with? Hand it over!”

“Jocelyn, you are my niece and we are just trying to keep you safe!” Uncle Frankie adds. “If that shit has a tracker…”

“It doesn’t. No tracker.”

Everyone seemed to let out a breath they had been holding. I unzip my backpack and go to grab the bag. Everyone can see the card sitting there. Shit!

I hand my dad the bag and the note as they all glare at me. My dad points to the card so I hand that over also and start sobbing.

My mom comes into the house with my little brother, Jace, and sees three pissed-off men, a jeweler, and her daughter having a mental breakdown.

“What the hell is going on, Caden!”

“Someone gave her a diamond necklace at school, which thankfully doesn’t have a tracker. She also has a card.”

“Have you read the card yet?”

“No, not yet.”

She walks over, taking the card and slowly opening the envelope. She pulls the card out, opens it, and quickly scans it as her hand covers her mouth and her face pales.

She looks at me and then hands the card to my dad. He quickly scans it, and if I thought he was pissed before, he’s even more so now.

“Jocelyn, do you know who this is from?”

“No, Dad, everything that is sent to the school is the same. ~S.A.~ That’s it.”

“Caden, you don’t think it is who we think it is, do you? Of all the kids at the school, he wouldn’t do anything, would he? He can’t be this stupid, can he?”

“Would who?” I ask.

I am trying to get some info. It’s like everyone fucking knows something but me! Yet no one will tell me anything!

“Eva, baby, I can’t imagine he would?”

“Do we need a guard with her at the school?” Frankie asks.

“Frankie, we can’t have a guard with her at school! Oh, wait…can we? They are off for the next two weeks. We will have to decide when she goes back.”

I have had enough and yell out loud. “What? Now I need a guard? What are you guys not telling me? Will someone just fucking talk to me already?”

Everyone stops talking and stares at me.

“I don’t need a bodyguard. If this person wanted to do something he would have. I’ve been there three months already. It seems that the only thing he is interested in is giving me gifts. Why, I don’t know.

“The moment I get any kind of attention, all of you are the first to shut it down. Instead of talking to me like I am here, you act like I’m a five-year-old. I’m going up to my room, and I’m taking my card, bag, and necklace.”

I quickly grab all my stuff from my parents’ hands along with my backpack. I go up the stairs to my room and storm down the hall. I have had it with being treated like a fucking child.

Yes, I’m fourteen, almost fifteen, and don’t know everything, but still... I just want to be listened to.

I make my way down the hall, throwing open my door and slamming it behind me. I set my stuff down and put the necklace back on. I hold the card to my chest as I flop down on my bed crying.

I have so many thoughts going through my head that I don’t even hear my mom come in until she closes the door behind her.

“Jocelyn, baby, I am so sorry we all acted like that. I know the guys can be tough. We all just want to keep you safe.”

I quickly sit up, wiping away my tears.

“No, Mom, you don’t get it. I have two friends that are girls at school, that’s it. No one will talk to me or be around me. Tank and Frankie have the whole school scared.

“No one will sit next to me in my classes, let alone eat lunch with me or even talk to me in the hallways. I have Kerri and Mary—that’s it. I can’t have a party here, can’t have friends over—nothing.

“The people that do come around, like the guards, can’t talk to me either. I can’t talk to anyone! No one acted like this with Nate or Jace. They could talk to anyone.”

“Jocelyn, I am very sorry. I know with this line of work it can be hard to trust anyone. So the guys are just nervous. How about this? At the end of the year, you throw an end-of-the-year-slash-birthday party here and invite who you want.

“I will talk to your dad, and we can have guards around if needed to make him feel better. Maybe assign one to be around you to make sure you are safe. Have him blend in, if you will. He will have to be young enough, though, so he looks the part.”

“Really, Mom, we can do that? A party?”

“I don’t see why not!”

“Aw, Mom you’re the best!”

She smiles and leaves my room. I quickly text Mary and Kerri in our little group chat about what might happen and that we will have to think about decorations. If my mom can make this happen, I will be beyond ecstatic!

Who will we invite? What if Ricardo comes? Oh, and if we have a pool party and he is shirtless… Oh my goodness, I seriously need to stop.