Ch. 7: An Unexpected Gift

"Kay! Wake your lazy butt up. It's almost noon!"

I groan when I hear Char's yelling. I slowly sit up in my bed and instantly regret it. My head is pounding to the point where it hurts to blink. After last night, I think it's safe to say I cannot handle my alcohol. I unplug my phone from the charger and check for any new messages.

1 missed call from Dad

1 new message from Unknown

I decide to ignore my call from my dad, making a mental note to call him back later. Curious, I click on the text.

Unknown:

Hey Makayla. It's Liam from last night. You want to grab coffee or something today?

Wait? Who the hell is Liam?

I try to think back to last night. After Asher pissed me off, I went to go dance with Nina. Okay, so what happened after that? I think for another second, but my mind is blank. Yeah, the night is a blur. I get out of bed and walk over to my vanity mirror. I cringe. Wow, I am such a vision of beauty in the morning from my smeared makeup and rat's nest of a head. After removing the leftover makeup off with a wipe and brushing out the knots in my hair, I throw my hair up into a ponytail and go to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face. Once I am all finished, I lazily make my way to the kitchen where Nina and Char are. Mumbling good morning to the two of them, I grab a mug out of the cupboard and pour some coffee from the freshly made pot. Thank God that Char is a morning person and makes the coffee for us or I would die. After pouring some creamer, I take a sip. I sigh in content. Much needed. I look up from my cup to see Nina and Char both staring at me, trying to hide their grins.

"What?" I ask.

Nina starts to talk, but Char cuts her off with a squeal. Nina puts her hands on her ears to quiet out the screams, while I almost drop my coffee from the shock of it all.

"Someone sent you flowers!!! At first, I thought they were from Lucas, apologizing for being a total ass last night, but nope. Anyways, I got up super early this morning and went for a run to clear my head, and I've come to the conclusion that Lucas is not worth my time anymore. Honestly, I should have dumped him a long time ago. I looked at the card and noticed that it was addressed to you, but I didn't want to be nosy, so I have had three cups of coffee, just waiting for you to wake up. But now I can't handle the excitement, so please please please open it already!" Char rambles out. I am amazed at how that girl can talk for so long without taking a breath.

"I'm also sort of curious." Nina remarks. Char nods at her in agreement.

"I bet it's Asher! He looked so pissed at you and Liam last night." Char added. Liam?

"Wait, Char. Whose Liam? Last night is really fuzzy in my brain, and this guy named Liam texted me asking to hang." I trailed off. I need to learn to cut myself off before I hit the point of blacking out.

"Oh my gosh! He texted you. Wow, this time last week you didn't even have a boyfriend, and now you have two! I'm Team Asher!" Char says, excitedly.

"Neither of them are my boyfriend, especially since I don't even remember Liam," I reply.

"Oh, by the way, quick side note: Colton and I had sex." Nina says. Char's eyes and I widen. Now, the night is slowly coming back to me, remembering seeing the two dancing close together before disappearing.

"Oh my god! Are you guys getting back together?" Char asks excitedly.

"Undetermined. I kind of bolted this morning before he woke up," she mumbles.

Char starts freaking out, talking about how she should have stayed to talk to him, since communication issues keep breaking them up. I see Nina start to get defensive. Before they can start bickering, I ask Char who Liam is again. "Oh, right. Liam is Noah's roommate. He's also on the football team with Asher and Noah. Now that you're all caught up, will you please open the card?" she asks.

I roll my eyes, knowing she won't stop asking until I do it. I walk over to the counter where the white roses are laying and pick up the card. My name on the card is handwritten in perfect cursive, but the delivery address is typed. I open the envelope and pull out the card inside. The card is decorated with ladybugs and hearts. I start to read but immediately drop the note and freeze up. My breathing becomes heavier, and goosebumps rise on my arms, as Nina and Char both are at my side, asking what's wrong. Shakily, I pick the card back up and stare at the words in front of me.

Be careful of the thorns. Wouldn't want you to hurt yourself. Hope to see you soon, Lovebug.

There it is again. Lovebug. The nickname given to me by my mother. My mom is dead. What the hell? This goes way beyond random text messages. These flowers were delivered to my apartment.

"Makayla, you're scaring me! What is going on? Who are the flowers from?" Char asks frantically. I hand the card to her, my hand trembling as I do. She reads it over before gasping. "Lovebug? It's happening again? Makayla, we have to report this. I'm getting worried now," she says.

"Can someone explain to me what is going on?" Nina asks. As Char fills Nina in on the messages I received this past spring, I walk over to the couch in the living room and sit down. I can't get my hands to stop shaking. The flowers. White roses. My mom's favorite. I look down at my phone and get an idea. I call my dad. Maybe he sent the flowers? He could also have sent me the message from the other night. He is the only person, besides Charlotte, who knows about the nickname. Maybe I am just reading the messages wrong. I guess they could be sweet, and I just misinterpreted them as creepy as hell. The phone rings for a few seconds before my dad picks up.

"Hey Makayla," my dad answers.

"Hi dad. Sorry, I missed your call. I was still sleeping." I say.

"Honey, I called you around lunchtime," he replies, while laughing.

"Yeah, well rough night. Anyway, I have a quick question."

"Okay, what is it?"

"Umm, did you send me white roses by any chance? There was no name on the card, so I don't know who to thank." I say. I leave out the part of the weird text messages and the mention of lovebug. I don't want to worry him.

"Not that I'm aware of," he laughs. "It seems you may have a secret admirer, Makayla," he teases. I fake laugh for his benefit. On the inside, I am freaking the hell out. If he didn't send them, then who? No one else knows that nickname.

Fuck.

I listen to my dad talk for little bit but quickly tell him I have to go when I see both Nina and Char walk over to me and sit down. Once I double-check that I hung up, I look over at my friends.

"So, did your dad send the flowers?" Nina asks, unsurely. I shake my head. She frowns, as Char starts freaking out.

"Makayla, if they aren't from your dad, then we need to call the cops. I know it seems drastic, but I'm scared, and it isn't even happening to me!" Char exclaims.

"NO!" They both look at me in confusion.

"Kay, Charlotte's right. From what she just told me, this is not going to stop. Whoever is doing this knows where we live." Nina explains Char's reasoning.

"Not to mention, this person called you Lovebug in the card! Your mom was the only one who called you that." Char reasons.

"Look, I'll admit when I got a text the other night with the unknown person calling me Lovebug, I freaked out too. But," I try to say, but am interrupted by both screaming "What!"

"Text message? This has happened recently?!? I thought the messages stopped five months ago when I staged the intervention. Why am I just now hearing about this Kay?" Char freaks out. Shit. I guess I had forgot to tell her about that.

"I know it sounds bad, but we could also be blowing it out of proportion! I mean, what can I even report? Random texts and some flowers? That's nothing to go on. I have spent enough time in police stations to last a lifetime; between visiting dad at work and mom's death. I know how this works. They tell you that they will look into it and get back to you. But, when they can't figure it out, they just keep lying to you! Saying, they are still looking into it or that they have a few leads. It's either that, or they don't care at all, and don't see it being worth investigated. I've been on that end of the system too. So, no! We aren't going to the cops until there is enough for them to go on." I rant.

"Are you crazy? We don't know who this person is or what they are capable of! What if it's some creepy stalker?" Nina asks, looking at me like I am insane. I glance over at Char and see her biting her lip, thinking what I said over.

"Okay. Fine. I won't call the police. This time. Promise me, Makayla, that if this escalates, we go to the station and talk to your dad or one of the other fellow detectives?" Char questions. Nina throws her hands up in bewilderment.

"Okay." I reply.

"No! I need you to promise me. I need your word." Char says, firmly. I know why she is relenting and letting me have my way. She was there for me through it all with my mom. She was my shoulder to cry on. While I was my dad's rock, she was mine.

"I promise, Char. If something like this happens again, I'll go to the police." I answer her. I just hope it doesn't come to that. She smiles, and we hug. Nina's arms eventually wrap around me too. I pull away from them when I hear my phone beep, notifying me of a new message. After what just happened, I'm anxious to check the text, but decide to anyway. I can't live in fear of getting text messages. My life isn't Pretty Little Liars.

Unknown Number:

Hey sweetheart. Hope the hangover is gone before our study session tomorrow night ;)

I quickly type back Asher?

Asher:

The one and only.

I roll my eyes, before sending a quick reply. How did you get my #?

Asher:

Don't worry about it. 6:00 pm tomorrow, meet at my place. Don't think I need to send you the address, assuming you can at least remember that from last night. Looking forward to it, babe.

What a cheeky little bastard. I type back. Okay, not looking forward to it, asshole.

He responds with a kissy face. I ignore it and throw my phone aside, while groaning.

Just when I thought the day couldn't possibly get worse, God sends me Asher Thomas.

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Disclaimer: I don't know the legality of using established references in works of fiction, but any mention of pop culture or fictional people, places, or things, are not my own. All rights to original creation.