Disclaimer: I make no claims on VC Andrews, her stories, ideas or characters. For all intents and purposes this is an original story, inspired by the late great VC Andrews.

Summary: Stranger and stranger things happen, making Spring wonder if she is indeed sharing a house with a ghost.

A/N: Also, for the person who was wondering about Spring's relationship with Brandon, he is technically her half-brother, although she isn't "blood related" to either Jeremy or Claire. Coming from someone who was adopted, it's kind of hard to suddenly stop thinking about the people who raised you as your family. So basically, he's her half-brother by law.

- - -

CHAPTER TWELVE: STALKED

When I awoke the next morning, I was surprised to find a small bouquet of camellias at the foot of my bed, bound with a piece of string.

I held them to my nose and breathe in the scent; it reminded me of Mommy, and still does to this day.

I could almost imagine I was back in her arms again.

- - -

"Daddy, did you leave the camellias in my room?" I asked him, when I came down from my room for breakfast. I placed the flowers in small vase and filled it with water.

My father arched an eyebrow at me, as he stood over a frying pan of sausages and bacon. "No, Spring, I didn't."

"Well, when I woke up, I found them at the foot of my bed. I figured you'd left them for me," I replied, shrugging my shoulders, setting the little vase on the windowsill above the sink.

Daddy sighed. "Well, it wasn't me. You must've gotten them from Mommy's garden and forgotten about it," he explained, running his hands under the faucett and wiping them on a towel.

"Well, if it wasn't you, or me, who was it then?" I asked.

"I don't know. Maybe the ghosts." Daddy rolled his eyes at me. He frowned when he realized I didn't laugh along with him. "Come now, Spring. You don't actually believe we have /ghosts/ in here, do you?"

"I don't know. Maybe we do," I sighed.

"There are no such things as ghosts, dear." My adoptive father shook his head at me. "You're old enough now to stop believing in silliness like that. Leave that to little Brandon."

"Well, whatever. I need to get ready for school."

* * *

When I closed the front door behind me, Brad was waiting on the porch for me. "Hi, Spring!" he said, chipperly, slipping his arm around my shoulders.

"You're /way/ too perky for seven in the morning," I grumbled, as we headed for his pick-up truck. "I'm still half asleep."

Brad grinned at me. "I'm just happy to see you, m'dear," he beamed.

I only rolled my eyes. "Riiight." As I opened the passenger side door, and turned to get in, I spotted something amongst the shadows.

Something or someone.

"Brad... There's someone hiding in the bushes." I pointed to the dense thatch of evergreen bushes, tugging on the sleeve of Brad's bright blue windbreaker.

"What? I don't see anything, Spring," he said, squinting to where I was pointing.

"I saw someone crouching in the evergreen bushes," I exclaimed, tossing my bag in and shutting the door. "I'd better investigate..."

Brad just shook his head, following after me. "Spring, come back! We'll be late for first perio - "

"Forget that, Brad. This is important," I repled, firmly, waving him off. "It could be a burglar or something..."

I headed directly for the bushes, Brad hot on my heels, and poked around, peering in, trying to see if I could find any evidence of a lurker.

"Find anything yet?" he asked, impatiently, tapping his toe.

"Hmm... not yet," I answered, dropping to my knees. I picked up a small scrap of torn material and turned it over in my hand. It looked very familiar to me. "Looks like a piece of his or her clothing got caught on one of the bushes." I held it up to Brad, and he inspected it closely. I raised it to my nose, and gasped in surprise.

It smelled faintly of my mother's camellia perfume!

"Someone was in my room last night - whomever was hiding in the bushes must have been in my room!" I cried, shrilly, pocketing the piece of material. "Oh Brad... What if I'm being stalked?"

"We should call the police, Spring."

"Right, let's go in and tell Daddy what we've found! He can call the police!" Brad and I ran into the house to get my father.

- - -

Daddy sniffed the piece of cloth, and set it on the kitchen table. "It does smell like Mommy's perfume, Spring, but don't you think you're overreacting?" he asked, doubt evident in his voice.

"I'm not overreacting, Daddy! I saw someone in the bushes, and when Brad and I went to investigate, we found this scrap of clothing."

He sighed yet again. "Well, I wouldn't want to jump to conclusions," he stated, shaking his head, "but I'll call the police if it'll make you feel better."

I sighed. "Thanks, Daddy... I'm worried about this person. Whomever he or she is got into my bedroom last night and left the flowers on my bed."

"Don't worry, dear. I'll take care of everything." Daddy got up and gave me a peck on the cheek. "Now, you two had better be off to school, or you'll miss your first period."

- - -

School was boring and uneventful, and Brad and I could hardly wait before we were finally free.

We immediately headed for his pick-up, when I spotted an unfamiliar person by his truck.

"Who are you?!" I called out, tensing. "Why are you following me?"

The person emerged from behind Brad's Ford, a puzzled expression on her face.

"Spring? Is that really you?" Cristina Ledezma, an acquaintance from middle school, wass standing by Brad's truck, gaping at me. "Oh my god, Spring! It's been such a long time!"

"Cris, are you the one who's been following me?" I asked, bewildered, my jaw dropping.

Cris stared at me, onfused. "No... I was waiting for Brad," she explained, shrugging her shoulders. "We were supposed to go see that new Ben Affleck action flick after school."

I turned and looked at Brad, and the horrified expression told me he'd forgotten all about his date with Cris.

"Oh god, Cris, I totally forgot!" he gasped, stricken with horror. "You see, someone's been stalking Spring, and we've been kinda preoccupied with it... Her dad called the cops, but they haven't turned up anything..."

"For real?" Cris gasped, her jaw dropping in shock.

Brad nodded. "They broke into her bedroom last night and left a bouquet of camellias on her bed."

"Camellias were your mother's favo - " Cris stopped herself. "Oh wow... This is so scary... It's ok, Brad... We don't have to go out. You can go with Spr - "

"No, you guys can go," I said, backing away from Brad and Cris. "I had some stuff I'd wanted to take care of anyway."

"You sure?" Brad asked, worriedly.

"Yeah, I'm sure. You made plans with Cris before this all happened. I'll be fine," I explained, grinning at him. "See ya later, I guess?"

"Yeah," Brad said, a little unsure, opening his door. "Stay safe, ok Spring?"

"I will. See ya, Cris." I waved back at them, as I headed back toward the school building.

"Bye, Spring. Lemme know what happens with this creep," she called out.

I nodded at her, and rushed back into the school building.

- - -

After meeting with my English teacher, I emerged from the school, and to my surprise, it was all ready dusk.

Sighing, I headed for the bike path.

It seems that all of our senses are heightened at night time. The cracking of tree branches sounds a hundred times louder when it's dark out.

The hairs on the back of my neck rose, and I rubbed the goosebumps on my bare arms.

'Shouldn't have stayed so late with Mrs. Steele,' I thought to myself, imagining that there were footsteps behind me, and very thankful our house was only eight minutes away from school. 'I should have gone with Brad and Cristina.'

As I picked up my pace, the footfalls behind me also pick up their pace.

Now I was sure I was being followed.

- - -

TBC

Alex