The sound of my alarm wakes me up, I yawn tiredly and roll out of my bed shutting off the alarm.
I look at my phone to see the texts I've received while I slept during the night.
Willow, please call me. Love you. -Mom
Can you come into work early? -Jessie
Wake up, loser. -Quil
I giggle at Quil's message and call my mom, after three rings she answers the phone.
"Willow?"
"Hey, mom."
"How are you doing, sweetheart?" She sounds relieved to speak to me. Hearing her voice only brings a pain to my chest making me realize just how much I really miss her. I sigh through my nose so she doesn't hear me.
"Things are going really well," I try my best to sound reassuring so she doesn't worry. "Quil helped me get a really affordable apartment here in Forks."
"How wonderful! That was so kind of him. Have you been working a lot? How do you like your job?" She asks me, I could hear the excitement in her voice to hear all about my new life here in Forks.
"Working at the diner is nice, no one knows me and it's a laid back area. I like it." I answer her truthfully.
"I miss you Willow, I miss you so much."
My eyes shut and I try to fight the urge to cry, I don't want my mom hearing me cry. It will only cause her to worry about me. I take a deep breath and force a smile to assure myself that I'm ok.
"I miss you too mom." I reply without my voice cracking, I feel proud of myself. "You can come visit, my apartment has room for two."
I hear the familiar chuckle of my mother's laugh which causes me to smile automatically. "You know, I would love to." She says, "I can take some time off from work next week at the hospital and I will book a flight to come see you. And Quil too!"
"I can't wait to see you! Quil will be so excited too."
My mom and I end our phone call with loving goodbyes and I get out of bed. After my shower, I decide to make breakfast and some coffee.
The coffee reminds of the diner and I remember to text back Jessie.
Yeah, I can do that. What time?
Would two pm be okay? I have a date today and it's really important. Please. I'll pay you back! - Jessie.
Be there at two!
After finishing up my breakfast, I decided I still have enough time to run to the grocery store before work and pick up a few items I would need for dinner tonight.
I took the bus to a nearby supermarket, it wasn't raining today thankfully so I didn't need to wear boots so I settled with my sneakers instead. I grab a grocery cart and begin my shopping, heading over toward the fruits. As I reach for a mango, I hear someone clear there throat, my eyes look up to meet a familiar pair of brown eyes.
"It's Willow, right?" Jared asked me, he held a small shopping basket with a few items.
"Yes" I smile in a friendly manner, "I remember you." Jared nods and smirks at me.
"What are you doing here?" I ask idiotically and I internally want to kick myself for asking him that.
Jared shrugs his shoulders and puts a mango in his basket. "What do you think I'm doing here?" He teases me and a laugh escapes my lips at his smart-ass reply.
"I had it coming." I half smile, Jared grins and shakes his head.
"You and Paul seem to be spending quite a bit of time together." He states, his grin is now disappeared but his eyes are light and soft. "I can tell you make him happy."
Something about hearing Jared say that I make Paul happy made my heart feel warm. The idea that I made another person happy made me feel happy. I look down and smile at the ground before returning my eyes to Jared's.
"We're just friends." I say as I grab another mango from the bin. Jared raises a brow questioningly at my statement.
"Just friends?"
It was true. Paul and I had only hung out three times and we hadn't kissed. But nevertheless I enjoy being around Paul and I like his company, when I'm around Paul it's like I know he isn't going to judge me for anything and he's easy to talk to.
"We hang out, but we aren't dating. I mean, we haven't even kissed." My cheeks turn warm as I hear the words leave my lips and a small smile stays on my lips as I begin to imagine what it might be like to kiss Paul. Jared laughs and shakes his head.
"Okay, I'll be sure to tell Paul that if he ever wants to become anything more with you then he needs to ask you if he can kiss you." Jared's light laughter continues and my eyes grow wide with nervousness at his statement.
"What? You aren't going to really tell him that, are you? Please don't say anything." I chew on my bottom lip. Jared chuckles, shaking his head from side to side.
"Willow, relax. I'm messing with you, my lips are sealed." He says pretending to zip his lips closed.
I nod and we both head our separate ways through the store. My cheeks still feel warm at the thought of kissing Paul but I force myself to focus on work today instead.
After I return home from the grocery store, I put away the groceries and put on my work uniform. Since I need to save money for a car, I figure why not just walk to work instead of spending money on the bus today. I slip on my Vans and grab my apartment key and phone as I begin my walk, I don't live very far from the diner thankfully.
As I'm walking down one of the streets I hear a car horn honk and I turn my head to see Quil.
A smile spreads on my face and he rolls down his window.
"What are you doing?" He asks me. "Don't you usually take the bus work?"
"Yes, but I'm trying to save some money to buy a car and walking is obviously cheaper." I answer truthfully. Quil sighs and rolls his eyes playfully as he opens the passenger side door.
"Come on, get in. It's raining, I'll take you"
"Where were you headed?" I ask him getting in this car. "I don't want to make you late if you have something else to do."
"I was headed to the diner, actually." Quil says as he keeps his eyes on the road.
"Really?"
"Yeah, you guys have really good lunch and I don't feel like cooking anything today." He shrugs casually. "Don't you normally work later?"
"I do. But my co-worker has a date today so I'm filling in for her. Besides, I could use the extra hours anyway." I say and Quil nods understandingly.
He pulls into the parking lot of the diner and I thank him as I get out of the car and go inside to clock into work.
The afternoon goes by pretty quickly and before I ca blink it's already time for my shift to end.
I go to the back and clock out of work, a sigh leaves my lips. I'm more tired than I actually expected myself to be but I'm glad I was able to work more hours. I would have to thank Jessie for that.
Still thinking to save money I decide to walk home from work, it will be worth it when I have a car.
My shoes hit the pavement and I glance up at the moonlight from the sky, I can hear the sounds of birds chirping and crickets as I walk down the quite street.
I see a soft glow reflecting off of the street and I turn around to see a pair of headlights. The car seems to be slowing down the closer it gets to me. I turn my head back around and keep walking to avoid anxious thoughts. The car that is getting closer to me is slowing down even more so. The breaks are loud and squeaky causing me to turn around at the unpleasant sound.
It's too dark to see if the car is black or just a darker color. The driver seems to be droving slowly but to keep up at my pace to follow me. I frown nervously at this and I begin to think of running somewhere to avoid this car.
"Hey." A voice from behind me says lowly. I glance behind me and see the driver side window is rolled down.
"I know you can hear me." The voice is deep and sounds angry. I don't turn around this time, instead I begin to walk fasting.
"Hey!" The voice calls out.
Regret immediately fills me in my stomach about walking home from work tonight. I gasp in panic and I begin to run as fast as my legs are able to carry me, my eyes search for a street or alley I can turn on to get away from this car. My lungs begin to burn from the speed I am running, all the while I can hear the driver shouting, "I know you can hear me!"
A few tears fill my eyes but relief washes over me when I spot a nearby dark alley I can turn on. It's beyond dark on this street and there aren't any open shops nearby- I don't have any other choice. Panic fills my chest— I hear the loud squeals of the tires nearby, I spot a large dumpster as I run toward it.
I quickly lift up the lid before jumping inside of it- to my luck, it here aren't many trash bags inside of it so I sink down lowly.
My heart begins to pound so roughly in my chest at this point I'm convinced anyone would be able to hear it. The sound of the tires isn't far and I can hear the car come around the corner- and for once in my life I'm thankful to be hiding in a dumpster.
My phone vibrates in my pocket- I quickly grab it too terrified of what might happen if this man were to find to me to even bother to see who might be calling me.
"Hello?" My voice remains just above a whisper, I can feel my eyes betraying me as the tears spill onto my cheeks.
"Willow? Are you crying?"
It's Paul. My heart jumps as I cover my mouth to muffle my cries."What's wrong? Where are you?"
"I'm in a dumpster, I'm hiding." I keep my voice quiet, as I trying to get my quick paced breaths to return to normal.
"Why are you hiding in a dumpster? Wait, tell me where you are, I'll come get you." Paul says and I can hear the sound of his car door closing and the engine starting. "Willow?"
"I'm here, sorry. I was walking home from work and this guy just starting shouting at me from his car. He started following me so I ran until I found a place to hide." More tears fill my eyes and I hear the sound of the loud squeaky tires from the mans car come around the corner once more- he must be circling around the area. I cover my mouth and press my phone harshly to my ear.
"I'm so scared. He's back- it sounds like he's circling the area"
"I'm in the area, I'm driving to you right now. I'm going to get you, just say calm and as quiet as you can." I don't respond—I just close my eyes and keep my phone pressed against my ear.
"I just passed by the diner where you work, can you hear if his car is still outside the alley?" Paul asks me, he sounds worried.
"I can hear the sound of the car getting closer" I whisper quietly, my breathing becomes uneasy.
"Stay hidden for me, Willow."
Our phone call ends moments later and I frown in confusion, more tears brim the corners of my eyes to my dismay as I try to control my breathing. It's the only thing I can focus on in this moment.
The sound of a car door closing can be heard, he's found me, I panic internally. Complete dread fills my body- I try to brace myself if the lid to the dumpster gets lifted which I hope that doesn't happen. I listen closely and what sounds like a terrifying low growl of a grizzly bear can be heard.
My eyes widen in fear at what I am hearing, there is no way a grizzly bear can just appear in the middle of a alley during this time, could it? I can hear the man screaming and yelling things, I'm unable to make out his exact words- he sounds frightened but I would be just as frightened if it were in the alley instead of this dumpster when this grizzly bear decided to show up. My eyes are shut tightly and my mouth is covered with my hand, I want to just lift this lid and run as far as I can but I am unable to move- my body stays paralyzed. What ever this animal is, whether it be a grizzly bear or a mountain lion- I silently pray that it doesn't somehow open the lid to this dumpster and sniff me out. The sound of a car door slamming shut can be heard and the awful squeaking of the mans tires as the car speeds off into the night.
It's quiet now, I grab my phone and dial Paul's number once more. No answer.
What if he tried to come on the alley and was attacked by the bear, or what if Paul got lost trying to find me? Anxiety rides through me at my worried thoughts. The growling and heavy breathing from what I can only assume to be a grizzly becomes softer until it sounds faint as if the grizzly is getting further and further away from the alley.
A shaky breath leaves my lips and I lay there trying to calm myself down from everything that has happened in the last fourth five minutes. I grab my phone and call Paul, he answers on the second ring.
"Willow? Are you safe?" Paul answers and a breath of relief leaves my mouth.
"I'm okay, I've been hiding." I sniffle. "Are you okay? I was worried the man that was following me hurt you after our call ended. I think there was a bear in the alley. I heard screaming and then the car drove away..."
Paul sighs softly ignoring my previous words as I hear what sounds like another car door closing but gently.
"You're in the dumpster still, right?"
"Yes." I respond. My legs stand my body up and I push the lid to the dumpster open to be met by Paul standing outside in the alley.
He runs over to me immediately and he carefully carries me out of the dumpster. Luckily there wasn't anything poking outside of the large trash bags, but I still felt gross nonetheless. I wrap my arms around Paul's neck and he carries me to the passenger side of his car. Paul opens the car door and bends down to put me in the car, my cheeks feel warm at this gesture of kindness.
"Paul, it's okay really." I state softly at this but he ignores my statement and buckles me in as he gently shuts the car door. He walks around to the drivers side and drives out of the alley.
My heart beat finally begins to calm down and I can feel the tears on my cheeks beginning to dry.
"I was so worried about you." Paul says, he glances over at me. His expression looks upset yet relieved.
I rest my hands in my lap and I glance down at them.
"You called me at the right time," I say cracking a small smile. "Thank you so much, Paul."
"Of course. Do you know who the guy was? Were you able to see his face?" Paul asks me and I sigh quietly.
"No, it was too dark. I have no idea who he was. He just kept screaming at me until I ran and hid. After I made it in the dumpster you called me. Then I heard a grizzly bear, or what I thought to be one. It might have been a mountain lion, but whatever it was it scared that man away when it spotted him"
Paul nods. "Sometimes wild bears tend to make their way into town at night looking for trash to eat-It's not uncommon" He says. "I don't even want to think about what would have happened if that scum-" Paul stops talking and sighs as he shakes his head in disgust but he calms down and glances over at me and I give him a reassuring smile that I'm okay.
"I'm just glad you're safe" He says- Paul turns to the street by my apartments and I sigh nervously.
"What is it?" He asks me softly. I look down at my hands in my lap and I swallow the lump that seems to be growing in my throat.
Here I am living in a whole new state by myself, Quil and his mom are the only other people I know here and my mom is living in Colorado.
I'm alone, I couldn't be more afraid to be alone in my apartment after that man came after me tonight out of nowhere. But I couldn't be more grateful to Paul for helping me tonight.
"Will you stay with me tonight?" I ask him sheepishly. Paul's hand gently squeezes mine, I look up and lock eyes with him before glancing back down at our hands.
"I'll do anything for you, Willow." Paul says sincerely and I really do believe him. His eyes have truth in them and a gentle expression fills his warm brown irises. We smile softly at one another before we get out of his car and make our way up the steps to my apartment door.
