Chapter twenty three: Stalker

Lincoln and Leni were sitting at the table in the restaurant "Lynn's Table" and eating spaghetti.

"So, we were sitting there. And Eliška moved close to me, and eventually wrapped her arm around me."

"Oh my gosh. Really?" Leni asked surprised.

"Yes...I guess she likes me."

"You don't know if she's the one."

"I guess… what do you want to do?"

"Not sure."

The two continued eating. A girl, about twelve years old, with long, shoulder-length jet black hair, and a black dress. She crept to the cash register and ordered something. She took a box from the cashier and paid.

"Lincoln. There is one. Follow her." Leni said.

"Okay Leni."

Lincoln stood up and followed the girl who went to the door. The girl left the restaurant. Lincoln overtook her and spoke to her.

"Hi." Lincoln Said. The girl looked at him and continued walking. Lincoln followed her again and spoke to her again.

"I saw you at the restaurant and I really liked how you looked."

"Okay..."

"I thought, maybe, we could know us better?"

"I guess. It's always interesting to meet unknown souls."

"Okay… but don't use me for some rituals please."

"Before I do that, I would catch your soul in a jar."

"Do you want to go back?" Lincoln asked.

"Actually, I wanted to eat alone."

"Where do you want to eat?"

"At home. But I won't take you there."

"Okay. So where?"

"Behind the restaurant?"

"Behind the restaurant? Okay… Then let's go there."

The two went behind the restaurant and sat against the brick wall. The girl opened the box that had chicken nuggets in it. Lincoln looked around. This place wasn't really clean.

"Aren't you afraid of getting your dress dirty?"

"No. Dirt is nothing I worry about."

The two began to eat. The girl covered her mouth while she ate.

"What's your name?"

"Is this important?"

"Yes?"

"It's Sarah."

"Nice name. I'm Lincoln."

"Okay..."

A few seconds of awkward silence fell over the two of them. But Sarah broke this.

"Why did you want to see me?"

"I just thought you were interesting."

"Okay..."

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No, but I just prefer to be ignored."

"I don't think you should be ignored."

"Maybe."

"Would you like to have someone who notices how beautiful you look?"

"I would lie if I denied that."

"Do you want to hang out after we ate here?"

"Uhm… I'm not sure."

"You know, maybe we do something you like."

"I guess that's a good plan?"

The two stood up. Sahra ran off, leading Lincoln to a forest on the edge of Royal Woods. Five meters behind the edge of the forest was a hill in which an old concrete pipeline ran.

"What are we doing here?" Lincoln asked confused.

"I always go ten meters into this pipe and stay there until dinner."

Sarah bent down and crawled into the pipeline with Lincoln and sat down ten meters into the pipeline.

"What are we doing here?" Lincoln asked.

"I just think about what I did in school, or at a weekend, I just think about my life."

"What's about your life?"

"I just think about my life. Nothing special happens there."

"Just tell."

"It's nothing special as I said. I wake up in the morning, go to school, and go here. At dinner time, I go home."

"So you don't experience much?"

"No. I just like to be alone here."

"I teach you to be more social."

"But I don't need to."

"It will help you."

Sarah grumbled. Rita and Alison stepped in front of a house with a white facade and a crooked roof.

"Okay. It's gonna get really important." Rita said.

"Because it's an actual baby?" Alison asked.

"Yes."

Rita rang the bell and a minute later Karen Kennedy opened the door. She had short black hair, an orange blouse and blue pants.

"Oh. Great that you're here." Karen said.

"Where is the baby?" Alison asked.

"Oh, Michael is asleep."

"So, I know that you have eleven kids Mrs Loud, so I don't need to explain what you have to do?"

"No. I know what."

"I have to say goodbye to him."

Karen rushed into the house. Rita and Alison entered.

"How hard will this job be?" Alison asked.

"The worst thing is that we have to change a diaper."

"Not hard at all I assume."

"If everything works of course. Babies are pretty strange sometimes."

Karen came back.

"I have to go now. He's sleeping. So, enjoy the peace before it ends."

Karen left. Alison and Rita went into the room where Micheal was sleeping in his crib.

"He's pretty cute." Alison said.

"No doubt, he is." Michael moved a bit.

"Let's let him sleep."

The two left the room and went into the kitchen. Rita made herself some coffee.

"How do you still handle so many kids?" Alison asked.

"I don't know. I just can."

"Yeah but, it's impressive."

Rita took a sip of coffee.

"Coffee is something that keeps me cool in critical situations with my family."

"I hope I'm as good as you."

"Every mother has her own success."

Alison felt her baby kicking again. She froze.

"Uh...she does that again."

"Who?"

"She kicks again. Surprisingly, I'm not afraid of her coming."

"That's good I guess."

Rita finished her coffee and went back to Michael. Lincoln and Sarah were still sitting in the pipeline. Sometimes Lincoln sensed you Air flow from the inside of the pipeline.

"You seem to be very hurt." Sarah said.

"Why do you think that?"

"Because you annoy me here for no reason, and want me to go out."

"Yes I am hurted. My girlfriend broke up with me!"

Sarah made a brief noise that sounded like an hmm. She stood up.

"Let's go." The two crawled out of the pipeline.

"Let's just stay in contact." Lincoln said.

"How ?"

"Numbers?"

"Okay."

The two exchanged their numbers and went their separate ways out of the forest.

Amira had finished showering. She changed into fresh clothes and left the small bathroom in the garage. She was surprised to see Patrick sitting on her bed and waiting.

"What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you." Patrick replied.

"There's a fifty percent chance that I'll kick you out. Do you have a reason for me not to?"

"Because I know you have something on your mind."

"And what exactly?"

"I guess you know what, but I miss Lincoln. And his white hair…"

"You're too old for him."

"I know. I hate my life. To be something I don't want to be."

"I'm sorry you suffered because of it."

"I actually deserve to suffer."

"Even though you're an absolute demon at times, you don't deserve to suffer."

"Don't call me a demon again!"

"Okay, okay. Calm down."

The two heard someone outside the garage. It was Lincoln. He whistled to himself.

"Well, there's Lincoln I guess." Patrick said.

"What do you have in mind?"

"Go to him and apologize for how you acted."

"Well...okay?" Amira said nervously.

Amira went to the side door and opened it. As she saw Lincoln walking to the front door, she closed the door and looked at Patrick with a stressed look.

"That was a stupid idea."

"What happened?"

"I feel very uncomfortable seeing Lincoln."

"But you miss him."

"That's why I feel this way."

Rita and Alison sat in Michael's room.

"I have to admit something." Rita said.

"What?" Alison asked.

"I disguised myself to spy on you and Lily."

"Wow..."

"I know..."

"Why did you do that?"

"Because I didn't really trust you." Alison stood up.

"Well, have fun with Michael." Alison left the house.

"I shouldn't have said this."

Rita stood up and went to Michael, who was awake in his crib. Micha smiled and tried to reach up to Rita. Rita took him.

"Hello Michael. Did you have a good sleep?"

Michael grabbed her nose.

"You got my nose little guy."

Alison arrived home ten minutes after leaving Rita alone with Michael. She entered her home and ran up the stairs.

"I can't believe it! She's such a traitor! I don't want to see her anymore!"

Constance came out of a room with a laundry basket in her hand.

"Hi. You seem to be upset."

"I am upset! Rita told me she was spying on me. Because she didn't really trust me."

"Oh. That's not nice."

"I don't want her to see me the next few days."

Alison went to her room. Constance went down the stairs into the living room. She sat on the sofa and took out her phone. She quickly dialed Rita's cell phone number. Rita's cell phone rang.

"Oh great. I'm sorry Michael."

Rita carefully took her phone out of her pocket while holding Michael with her other hand.

"Oh it's Constance." Rita pressed the green phone button.

"Hello Constance."

"Hello Rita. Alison is pretty upset."

"I know why..."

"What did you do to her?"

"I admitted that I spied on her."

"Why did you do that?"

"Because I was suspicious."

"What did you make so suspicious about her?"

"She started hanging out with Lily. But I didn't trust her at first."

"And you let someone take care of your youngest child you don't even trust. What's wrong with you?"

"I thought she would end up doing something bad to her."

"You think that and still let them alone together?! I thought I'm a bad mother!"

"I do whatever is necessary to make this up."

"Okay… When Alison wants. And that's not today for sure."

Constance hung up. Rita put her phone aside. She looked back at Michael.

"You're a cute little boy."

Amira and Patrick were still in the garage. When Lori entered the garage, the two of them didn't know why.

"Amira...we have a problem here." Lori said calmly.

"Which problem?"

"You were really rude to my brother when we visited you in the hospital. I have decided that I will not accept this."

"I know what I did was wrong. What should I do?"

"Good. You read my mind. Well, at first I thought you should talk to him. But I saw your awkward behavior today and thought you should write a letter. You know, better for your feelings and better for Lincoln."

"So I'm writing a letter?"

"Yeah. I have everything you need here."

Lori gave Amira a piece of paper and a pen. Amira looked at Lori and thought. Then she started writing.

"Dear Lincoln.

I have to apologize for my behavior in the hospital. It's so hard for me and it hurts to see you because I love you. I really miss you. I'm not sure, but I want to spend time with you again sometime.

Love

Amira S."

Amira folded the letter.

"How do I give him my letter?"

"You give it to me and I'll give it to him," Lori said.

Lori left the garage. She went into the house. Up the stairs to Lincoln's room. Lincoln sat on his bed, busying himself with his cell phone. Lori held the letter out to him.

"Here." This is for you." Lincoln left the letter behind. He folded the letter and nodded sadly.

"Are you okay, Lincoln?" Lori asked.

"No. I can't see her without my heart hurting."

"What are you going to do about it?"

"I don't know. All I know is that I can't see her without crying."

"Shouldn't it matter if you cry or not?"

"Lori...do you remember when Bobby broke up with you for a while?"

"Yeah... it was horrible."

"That's how I feel every day since Amira broke up." Lori gave Lincoln a side hug.

"I always have your back."

"Thanks Lori."

"Hey. Let's just have fun together. Do you want to play a video game or read a comic?"

"I prefer a game. But why are you like that?" Lincoln asked confused.

"I can't be the bad big sister all the time."

"I'm sorry."

"Forget it. Let's just play your little game."

Lincoln and Lori left the room.

"Actually, I never thought you were evil. I always thought Lola was the devil."

"Yes, she definitely is."

Rita was at the end of her job. SHe handed Michael to Karen.

"How was it with Mikey?"

"It wasn't much at the end of the job. Just sleeping and staring."

"Oh, that's how I know my little Mikey."

"Is there anything else you need to know about him?" Rita asked.

"No. But his name…"

"What about his name? Michael is a nice name."

"It definitely is. But his father wanted that name because of him."

Karen pointed to a poster of a man with short brown hair wearing a suit. Above the man was the title of a video game. GTA V.

"His father... my husband is a GTA freak. He wanted to name him Michael because of the main character in this game."

"That's... strange..."

"But I can choose the name of our next child. That was the deal."

"Let's hope it's a nice name. Hey, I have to go. I wish you a nice day."

"Bye. Mikey, did you have fun with Rita?"

Rita left the house. Rita walked a hundred meters down the street. Then Constance faced her problem?" asked Rita.

"I don't know it. What do you think?"

"I think you're acting really strange."

"Oh, really? Well, from my point of view you're acting really strange."

"What do you mean by that?" Rita asked sternly.

"Well, I just said what I thought. You ask really strange. Or should I say, like a stalker?"

"Why are you calling me a stalker?"

"Well, you stalked my daughter."

"I couldn't trust Alison at first."

"Yeah, sure. That's absolutely a reason to commit a crime." Constance said with a sarcastic tone.

"I haven't committed any crimes."

"You're talking to an ex-cop."

"Uh..."

"But never argue with me about the law. You always lose."

Rita continued walking slowly. Constance continued running in the opposite direction. Lincoln and Leni walked down the sidewalk, talking about what happened with Sarah. Both decided to go outside again this evening.

"Sarah is pretty strange." Lincoln said.

"What's strange about her?" Leni said.

"I'm not sure. She avoids any contact. And often sits in a concrete pipeline."

"Why?"

"She said that she thinks about her life there. I'm not sure what she meant."

"I guess she isn't the best option for you."

"I guess. But she was kinda cute."

"Trust me Lincoln, she isn't the one for you."

A brown-haired man with shoulder-length hair, blue jeans and a pink jacket was walking down the sidewalk. She was overweight and ate an apple.

"Hi how are you?" Lincoln said to the girl.

"Hi? I guess good?" The girl said confused.

"In the Lincoln."

"I'm Kate..."

"I guess I confused you."

"Yes..."

"I'm not sure why I did this but I just wanted to say hi to you."

Kate looked at Lincoln with kind eyes. Lincoln and Leni got a bit confused.

"Everything okay?"

"Oh not at all. Everything is fine." Kate said.

"I see."

"But you're cute."

Lincoln blushed. "Thanks."

"No problem."

"I'm… uhm…"

"If you want to hang out with me, just ask."

"Sure… See you later Leni." Lincoln and Kate walked off.

"Wanna go to the mall?" Lincoln asked.

"Sure. The mall is always great." Kate said.

Both went on their way.

End of chapter