The Reckless Collision

Chapter Eleven

What else don't I know about him?

I chewed on the inside of my cheek, my mind racing. I thought I knew Scott. His favorite color was light blue. He loved the gym; we went together all the time. Two sugars in his coffee and he hated tea, and couldn't go a week without some wild story about girls.

A voice behind me jolted me out of my thoughts. "Are you snooping?"

I spun around to find Ray grinning, a bucket in hand. "Yeah, sue me," I said, laughing nervously.

"Find anything good?" he teased, stepping closer.

"Books," I replied, pointing at the shelf.

His smile faded slightly. "You've been quiet since we got here. What's up?"

I hesitated, pacing the room. "I didn't even know Scott lived here. That's weird, right?"

Ray nodded, his expression softening. "Yeah, it's a little weird."

I walked over to the window, peering through the half-open blinds. "I can see my balcony from here. He's been this close the whole time." My eyes fell on a telescope tucked behind an armchair. "I didn't know he was into astronomy, either."

Ray followed my gaze. "He is?"

"Why else would he have a telescope?" I muttered, moving toward a sleek black camera on the desk. I picked it up, inspecting the long lens. "And photography."

Ray nodded. "He mentioned something about a camera to my brother once."

The weight of realization pressed down on me. "I've known him for four years, Ray, and I feel like I don't know him at all."

I turned the camera on, curiosity prickling my skin. The screen lit up, and the first image froze me in place. Me. At the yoga studio, in the downward dog position, I knew it was me just because of the leggings with skulls at the bottom of them.

"Ray," I said, my voice trembling. "Come look at this."

He leaned over my shoulder as I clicked through photo after photo. Each one was of me. At the university. At the karaoke bar with Molly. Outside my apartment.

"He was there," I whispered, chills racing down my spine. "Everywhere I was."

Ray's hand tightened on my arm. "We need to leave. Now."

I nodded numbly, my thoughts a whirlwind of fear and disbelief. I turned off the camera and put it back on the desk, my hands trembling. Raymond dumped the bucket and grabbed my hand, leading me out of the apartment.

The moment we reached my place, I collapsed onto the couch, pulling my legs under me. Ray sat beside me, his presence grounding me in the storm of my emotions.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly, taking my hand.

I shook my head, my voice barely a whisper. "No."

Ray sighed, his expression dark. "You know what this means, right? He's been watching you, Sam. He's a stalker."

The word hit me like a slap. "A stalker?"

"Yes." His tone was firm but gentle. "And we need to figure out what to do next."

It felt like the room grew colder the moment Ray said it. Scott has been watching me. The words settled heavily between us, a lead weight I couldn't shake off. I wrapped my arms around myself and rocked slightly, a small habit I'd had since childhood to calm myself. But it didn't help. My mind spun out of control, racing with questions I didn't want to ask.

Why would Scott watch me? Is that why he never told me where he lived?

The silence stretched on as I fought to make sense of everything. Ray sat beside me, patient but watchful, as if ready to catch me if I fell apart. Finally, I stood abruptly, needing to do something.