Well we have a posting schedule for you now, one chapter a day for a total of nine chapters.

Chapter 2

I sit and eat my breakfast with Angela who's reading the paper.

"OH MY GOD," she yells.

I look up at her and her face is pale. "What– Ang, you're kind of scaring me?"

"Some poor girl—a suspected prostitute—was killed last night."

"Yeah, that's nothing new, like number seven in the past six months, right?" Sadly, it feels like you can't open the paper or put on the news without hearing about someone being killed, but someone is targeting hookers.

"Bella, this happened on North Bridgewater Street last night or early this morning. She was found a little after four this morning. They are placing her time of death around two to three in the morning. We were walking in the same exact area at that time last night. That is so creepy, it gives me chills."

I get up and move so I'm behind Angela, reading over her shoulder.

I sit back down feeling the shock course through me. "That's just ... wow," I say after a few minutes. My cell begins to ring and by the tune it plays, I know my dad Charlie's calling.

I accept the call by hitting the speaker button. "Morning, Papa," Angela says at the same time as I do.

This causes me to giggle and shake my head.

"Hi, baby girls, just calling to say I'm on my way over." I look at Angela who also looks a tad surprised at his words. Charlie lives a little more than four hours away from me and doesn't make casual visits, ever.

"Why are you coming for a surprise visit today?" I ask.

"I'll tell you when I get there. Just make sure the other Brownies are there, too. I'll see you in about four hours." He hangs up without a goodbye, but I know he doesn't like to talk over the phone while driving, even if it's hands-free.

"I better take my shower and get off to work," I say with a sigh. "Charlie will be here for at least an hour before my shift ends, can you call Jess and Lauren?"

"Yep," Angela says.

I am about halfway through my shift when Edward walks in. When he takes a seat this time, he's at one of my tables. I walk over to him and give him a smile.

"Hi, Edward, are you wanting your usual?" I ask as he rearranges the table's contents. He only nods and I frown watching him make quick work of organizing the sugar, Sweet and Low, and Splenda packets. After they are all facing the same way and sorted, he arranges the salt and pepper shakers and the napkin dispenser. Everything is very methodical and when he's done, I can see he seems to relax a bit.

I walk away and fix his normal meal and make my own lunch as well. Once everything's on the tray, I walk back over to his table. "Do you mind if I join you for lunch today, Edward?" I ask as I place his plate and coffee down in front of him.

He stops what he's doing and just looks at me. He then gives me a little nod, and I place my food down on the table across from him. I set the tray on the table next to us and sit down.

"Did you get much research done last night?" I ask after a few minutes of silence passes.

"Yes, I did actually. It was a rather eventful night."

"Yeah," I sigh. "Oh, did you see there was another killing last night? This time it was on North Bridgewater Street, not far from the bar we were at. My friends and I must have passed by just before it happened," I say shaking my head.

"What?" Edward says sounding worried.

"Well, we left and walked down North Bridgewater Street to go to the bus station, where we grabbed a cab. We had to have walked along there around half past two. The newspaper this morning claimed investigators think she was killed between two and three this morning. I guess she could've already been killed, when we walked by. Thank God I didn't see a dead body."

"Have you told the police about this yet?" There's a hint of worry in his voice and I am not sure what it's about.

"No, why would I? I mean there were a lot of people passing by."

"Hmm," he says and then clears his throat. "Did you see anyone hanging around or looking out of place?"

I think back and remember the man that fell, and then the feeling of being watched and followed comes to mind. "Yeah, come to think about it, there were some odd feelings while we walked last night. Do you really think I should speak to the police? I mean, it could be just my mind playing tricks, too."

Edward goes to speak but the door buzzer sounds and I look up to see Sam standing there just looking at Edward and me.

"I guess I should go and sit with him," I say softly and I stand up, but Edward catches my wrist.

"Be careful, things are not always what they appear to be. My door is always open to you, just remember that. I may not be the ideal person for you to run or come to, but I will never turn you away."

I give him a nod and pick up my half-eaten lunch before making my way to the table Sam sat at.

"Why were you sitting with him?" Sam asks right away and I know by his tone he's not happy.

I shrug a little. "He's here often, and I don't know, he looks like he could do with a friend."

Sam sighs and rolls his eyes. "What is it with you and strays? I think this stray may stick around longer than you intend."

I slap his arm and give him a disapproving look before glancing over at Edward who looks angry and upset. It's almost like he can hear what we're saying.

"Leave him alone – he just may need a friend."

"I know, Bells, but it doesn't have to be you."

I sigh, but hold my retort not wanting to argue. "Charlie's coming to see me and the girls. He should be here in town soon," I say changing the subject.

"Why?"

I shrug a little not knowing. "He didn't say when he was on the phone. I'm sure I'll find out when I get off of work. He wants all us girls there, too, so it could have something to do with the killings. Oh, on that note, I was telling Edward that I saw some guy on the way home; it looked like he was hiding from someone. Now after thinking about it since that girl was killed and all, I think I should tell the police."

"Why didn't you tell me that you thought someone was following you last night?" Sam asks harshly.

"I didn't think anything of it. When I was talking to Edward it came to mind," I say a little taken back over how upset he is.

"I'm sorry, baby, just ..." Sam sighs rubbing his face. "I don't want to lose you. I love you, Bella."

I cover his hand with mine and give him a smile. I hate that I can't say it back to him and I know it hurts him, but I can't bring myself to lie and say it back.

"I'll come get you after your shift and drive you home," he sighs out.

"I'm sorry, Sam, you know I care deeply about you."

Sam doesn't say anything as he stands up. He gives me a quick kiss and leaves. I sigh, picking up the mainly uneaten lunch and wrap it up knowing that I can give it to him later.

"Bello, if you find yourself in love with two people, choose the second person."

"Huh?" I say looking at Edward.

"If the first person was to be the love of your life you wouldn't have fallen in love with another."

I run over what he said in my head again not getting it. "Huh?"

"Hmm, how do I explain this? Sometimes we can love someone deeply, but then someone else comes along, and we find ourselves torn between someone that you know and loved for a long time, and someone that's fresh and new. You should go for the new person, because if the first person was truly yours you would never have found yourself wanting the other."

I raise my eyebrows and nod at him.

"Love can come in many shapes and sizes. Sometimes we find our one too early and we are torn from them only to get back with them when the time is right. However, we know we—well, people like you anyway—will always find the one true love."

"What about you?"

I watch as he rubs his neck. "People like me don't find love easily, and well, it's hard for others to see me as anything other than creepy or freaky."

I swallow as the guilt again hits me for secretly calling him the creepy guy. "You're not," I say and he shakes his head.

"It's okay, Bello. I'm thirty-two and have been called creepy and freaky for twenty-seven of them. I'm sort of used to it now. Anyway, here's my payment – keep the change. I'll see you here the same time tomorrow."

I look at my hand seeing another twenty; I sigh knowing I need to tell him he's over tipping me. When I look up, he's already to the door and leaving. I start to wipe down the tables when my cell rings. I pull it from my pocket and answer it without looking to see who it is.

"Hello," I say, but frown when I don't hear anything back. "Hello, Dad, is that you?" I ask and then take the cell away from my ear and see that it's an unknown number.

"Hello?" I try again.

"You're a fucking slut and you will pay for your misdeeds," an evil voice husks out.

I swallow and my mouth opens in shock, but nothing comes out.

"I'm watching you very carefully," the same voice threatens before the call disconnects.

I pull it from my ear and just stand there looking at it. I can't deal with this shit again. I was stalked for two months after my attack. It's one of the reasons I cling to Sam now. For a little while he was the only person I felt safe with. I switch my cell off knowing that anyone wanting me will call The Coffee Shoppe's main number to get me.

"Isabella?" I hear from behind me, and jump having not heard the door buzzer. I turn around seeing Alice Brandon standing there. Alice is the owner of Sunflower School, where I had my last interview. I wonder what she's doing here.

"Oh, hey, please take a seat and I'll take your order."

She sits down at the table I was cleaning. "I actually came here to see you, not eat."

I frown looking at her.

"I was hoping to change your mind, and hope I could talk you into taking the job offer."

"What? I mean, what job offer?" I question and watch as she frowns.

"I left voicemails on your home number and sent you a letter saying that you had the job. Both you and Angela were offered the positions for which you applied as a matter of fact."

"We didn't get any call or any letters, and I know for a fact that she, too, will take the job offer, if it's still a valid offer?"

Alice smiles and nods at me. "Yes, it is – why don't you both come in tomorrow around nine and we can fill out the paperwork and show you your classrooms. You'll need to be ready to start in two weeks; then school will start a week later."

I smile and nod. She jumps up and I hug her back instantly as she pulls me in. "Thank you so much," I say happily.

She chuckles as she pats my back. "No, thank you – I'll see you tomorrow morning?"

"Yes, I will call the owner now and let them know Angela and I will not be able to come in early in the morning."

"Okay, be at my office by nine. Call if there are any issues."

I agree and wave as she walks out the door before doing a happy dance.

The rest of my shift I have a spring in my step. I talk with my boss when she comes in. She knew Angela and I applied and was happy for us. After her assurance not to worry, I feel even better about today.

At the end of my shift, I wave to my boss when I see Sam pull up outside.

"Hi," I say excitingly as I get in. I lean over to kiss him, but something feels off. "What's wrong?"

"Just a bad day, I'm sorry," he says sounding indignant.

I nod as I buckle up. "Do you want to talk about it?"

He shakes his head at me. "No, it's fine, really. How was the rest of your day?" he asks.

There's a part of me that wants to tell him about the job, but the other part knows I should talk to Angela first.

"I have some news, but it can wait until later."

He gives me a curious look, but doesn't question me any further.

I am happy to see my father has arrived as I walk in the apartment and straight into his open arms.

"Hi, baby girl," he says kissing my head.

"So?" I ask and he sighs shaking his head.

"Wait until all of the girls are here first, I don't want to go through this twice."

I swallow as my heart starts to race, and I know that this is not going to be good.

I leave my dad and Sam talking as I make dinner for everyone. I'm just plating up the food as they arrive. Everyone, of course, hugs my father in greeting before sitting at the table. With Angela's help we carry everyone's plates to the table and sit down. We all look to my father and after he says grace, we tuck into our meal. While we eat there is nothing more than happy small talk around the table. Once we're done though, we all turn and face my father, knowing we need to discuss what he's here for.

"As you know, girls, there have been some killings going on around the city. Well, I'm here to talk to you all because they think they're dealing with a serial killer."

We all just look at my dad in shock.

"That's not the only thing; the girls have all been between eighteen and twenty-seven. There are some very big similarities among the victims as well. The average height has been between five-foot and five-foot-six. They all have had a petite and slim build. They all have had brown hair and eyes."

I look at my friends, feeling the fear we should all feel, because we all fit that description.

"They have no idea who's doing it, only that the killings are brutal and violent in nature."

My dad stops talking and after a minute clears his throat. "Anyway, I signed you four up for some self-defense classes, and brought you each a new canister of pepper spray."

I cover my dad's hand knowing he's worried about us.

"I would rather the four of you came home, but I know you all are too stubborn for that. So, I just want you all to promise me that you're going to watch out for each other. No walking home alone, take a cab or call a known friend for a ride. No talking to someone: man or woman who you don't know. Most of all, for the love of God, report anything strange you see or hear immediately."

We nod, having all gone quiet. I'm sure the reality of the situation is weighing heavily on each of us. I know I'm frightened. I feel Angela's hand in mine give me a squeeze.

"Oh, Angela, this may not be the best time, but I have some happy news. Alice Brandon came to see me today, it turns out we've both been offered the jobs. She wants us to come see her tomorrow at nine, and I've already cleared it with The Coffee Shoppe."

"Really?" she asks sounding truly happy.

I nod at her with a big grin, knowing I felt the same jubilation earlier myself.

"Baby girl, I'm so happy for you both," my dad says hugging us.

I look to Sam, who's smiling, but it seems a little off. We all spend the rest of the night talking and laughing about different things. It's late when Sam says he will give Lauren and Jessica a lift home. I walk them all downstairs and the girls get in the car, giving me time to say goodnight to Sam.

"I don't get why you won't let me stay over just because your dad is here," he says kissing my neck.

"My dad carries a gun and is happy thinking I'm still a pure and good little virgin girl."

Sam chuckles against my neck. "You're anything but pure, my dear, you're a very dirty girl."

I slap his chest and he just chuckles again.

"I love you being MY dirty little girl," he says running his hand down my side. He rubs down my thigh and tries to put it around his hip as he moves it back up my body. Before he can pull my leg to its intended place, I pull back looking to his car.

"Come on, Bella, they're not looking."

I sigh a little in frustration. This is one thing we do fight about. The whole matter of how much PDA is too much. For me, he was just about to cross that line of comfort and he knows it.

"It's been four weeks since I have been inside of you. Three since you let me touch you under your clothes. Two since we've done anything other than kiss," Sam moans out.

I try not to get upset, after all four weeks ago was my monthly time. Then I was sick, throwing up everywhere, which lasted almost two weeks. I have only just begun to feel better and now he tries to make me feel guilty. I hold back my anger, because fighting now is pointless. "Goodnight, Sam," I say walking away, but he catches my wrist pulling me back to him.

"I won't say I'm sorry. I've missed you and I want to show you just how much I miss you. Just because your dad's here you won't let me stay. I just wish I knew if you wanted this, too, to be with me?"

I kiss his chest feeling a little guilty about getting mad, knowing he needs reassurances from me, too. "I do, I'll come over to your place tomorrow and spend the rest of the week with you."

I watch as he smiles and nods at me in response. "I better get the girls home; I'll call you later, baby."

I watch from inside the security door as they drive off. I head back upstairs and help pull out the sleeper sofa bed for my dad to sleep on.

I lie down in my own bed and it's not long before my cell rings. I chuckle that Sam always seems to know when I've gotten into bed.

"Hi, baby," I say in my sexiest voice.

"Does your boyfriend know you answer the phone like that?" the harsh voice from earlier asks. "I'm very fucking disappointed that you switched your cell off after our last talk."

I sit up looking at my cell again showing an unknown number, but how in the hell did it ring in playing the song I set for Sam. "Who are you?" I ask boldly, while my inner voice is screaming at me to hang up.

"Shut up – who I am, is none of your fucking business, slut. Now start being a good whore or I'm going to fuck you up. I don't think the red of your blood will look good in that black dress you wore last night."

I hang up and run out to the living room shaking my dad.

"What the hell?" he asks looking at me, and then springs up. "Bella, baby ... what's wrong?"

"I got a call from someone, a guy, I think. He said he's going to fuck me up," I say and my dad frowns at me.

"Bella, take a deep breath, and sit the hell down." He pulls me to him and wraps his covers around me.

"What's going on?" I don't turn to Angela as she walks in the living room.

"I'm not sure, but could you get her a warm, sweet tea?" I hear my father say.

I don't really understand why he's asking for a warm, sweet tea for me, and he knows what's going on because I just told him.

"Here, Bella," Angela says handing me the mug of warm tea. It seems odd to me she's back so fast, didn't she just leave the room to get it? I sip it slowly with both my dad and Angela watching me.

"How are you feeling, baby?"

"Fine, Daddy," I say and he kisses my head.

"Okay, I can understand you now. Start over – can you tell me again what happened?"

"Someone, a guy, called me. He said that I was slut and if I wasn't a good whore, he was going to fuck me up and the red of my blood wouldn't look good with the black dress I wore last night."

I know my dad and right now he's trying hard not to go ape shit.

"Last night we walked down the same street that the dead girl was found on this morning. Last night I felt as if someone was following me, but I was with everyone else."

My dad sighs and then looks at me. "Wait, did you go in and talk to the police?"

I shake my head at him.

"I'll take you tomorrow early, before you head to see about your job."

I nod at him. "I'll take this," he says picking up my cell from beside me. "Hopefully, we can get something off of it."

I lean my head on his shoulder and he kisses the top of my head. "It's going be okay, baby, if this is the same asshole as last time, he will not get away from me this time."

My dad helps me back to my room, and I'm just falling asleep when my cell goes off again. I freeze up hearing the song that normally makes me smile. It cuts off and I hear my father's gentle voice talking.

"I am going to sleep with you tonight, okay?" Angela asks as she gets in bed beside me.

I smile and give her a nod. I grab hold of Angela's hand and pull to wrap her arm around me. "I miss us doing this," I say and I feel her kiss the back of my head.

"Me, too, BB," she says. I chuckle at her; it's been a long time since someone called me BB. When we girls all started hanging out together, they tagged me with the nickname, Baby Brownie, because I'm technically the smallest. I drift off to sleep in the arms of my best friend.

My father and Angela walk with me into the police station. My father flashes his badge getting us seen by two detectives right away. Jasper Whitlock and Emmett Cullen introduce themselves to us with handshakes.

After telling them about the two calls and about feeling like I was being followed home, Jasper leaves the small room saying he'd be right back. When he returns, he looks at me with clear worry on his face.

"Bella, I'm going to show you a photo of the girl we found yesterday morning."

I nod and he places a photo on the table in front of me.

I feel myself pale knowing this is the same exact girl who I bumped into.

"That's the girl who bumped into me—or me her—just as I noticed the person off in the shadows."

Jasper sighs rubbing his face, and I look to my dad who looks worried, like he's about to run away with me.

"We need to find your stalker. Whoever they are, may be helpful to us, they may have seen the person who committed this murder."

"So, you don't think it's the same person?" I ask in shock.

"Signs are pointing that this is two different people, but I would change your number, all of the locks on your doors, and even change your normal daily routine. Try to be more observant and aware of your surroundings, when you are walking around. Try not to go anywhere alone, unless there is no other choice and be very careful."

I nod at Jasper again, and he gives me his and Emmett's direct cellphone numbers. They sadly keep my cellphone and I know that's something I will need to get replaced right away.

My dad follows Angela and me until we get outside of Sunflower's building. I give him a wave as I walk in, knowing he is heading for home.

"Angela, Bella," Alice says walking to us. "Come on, I'll show you around."

Sunflower is the most amazing school ever. It's very calming and light – there are nothing but happy colors on the walls, and everyone we meet seems to be nice and cheerful. It's clear everyone we meet enjoys working here, and for me that makes things so much better.

A/N: So Jasper and Emmett are detectives, and they don't think the killer and the stalker are the same. What are your thoughts?