Alexandrea's P.O.V

"Danny" I breathed out in fear. He masked his smirk with a straight face.

"Madam, I'm afraid that's not on the menu" he said and Eli chuckled. I looked at Eli and forced a smile on my face. Everything is fine, he can't hurt you.

"I'd like to have Medittarenian Shrimp Kabobs, please" I said, avoiding his gaze with a forced smile.

"Okay, ma'am" he bowed and left but not before passing a secret sly wink. I almost threw up in my mouth.

"So what do you think of this place?" Eli asked, watching me. I smiled and glanced around. Honestly, I don't know what I thought. It seemed like people around me were giving me dirty looks because of my choice of dressing. Then I looked at Eli, he was smiling at me.

"I love it!" I said, just to keep that smile on his face. He gave me a proud wink and I blushed.

We talked about random things and I noticed that he avoided topics about his parents. He talked freely about his sister and told me some embarrassing moments of him and his sister. Then we started talking about him, Eddy and Nick. I leaned in to pay more attention.

"How did you guys meet?" I asked as I looked at him while leaning in the table.

He gave a thoughtful look "I met Eddy some weeks after I met Nick. We went to the same school and he goofed around a lot. We were in the same football team too and I can't really remember, I think he made a wrong move and our team lost so I just lost it and lashed out on him. We threw punches until we were both satisfied. Then some days after that, we both apologized and we started to get along, I guess." He shrugged.

"Hmm. Boys and their weird ways of making up" I said and shook my head as he laughed. "So what about Nick?" I asked and he bit his lower lip.

"Nick. Let's just say I met Nick at a very weak point in my life when I was about to give up. He helped me get through some really shitty things. You know, he is the strongest person and softest person I've ever met. Ever since we met, we just vibed" he shrugged and I snorted.

"He's not exactly the softest" I muttered as I played with the table cloth.

"He's just like that to people. You have no idea what he's going through for his sister and Granny. Even for us" he added the last part with a smile. A distant smile. I narrowed my eyes at him, wishing he would expand more on what he meant by 'going through'.

"Hm" I hummed in response, not really agreeing to what he said. "You said you met Nick at a weak point in your life? I don't understand" I asked looking at Eli with interest.

"Our food is here" he changed the subject, looking behind me. I bit my lower lip and looked down to my lap. I guess I went a bit too far there.

"Yeah" I said absentmindedly as another waiter brought our food. By another waiter, I meant someone that wasn't Danny. What if it wasn't Danny I saw? What if I was hallucinating? I should talk to Nick about this.

"Let's eat" Eli called my attention and smiled at me. I smiled back before picking up my cutlery and starting to eat my food. The food there was actually delicious. It had the right amount of spice and I would actually consider eating here some other time but not without a dress. The looks I got were enough to send me away.

We finished eating and stood up to leave the restaurant. The doorman opened the glass door for us and when I looked up to mutter a 'thank you', my eyes met Danny's ones. I almost choked on my saliva.

He leaned in a bit and whispered "Watch your back" then he leaned back and bowed with a smile. I hurriedly left the doorway and caught up with Eli who was waiting for me by his car.

"What did he say? You look terrified" Eli noticed as I breathed heavily. Watch my back? What does that mean? Does that mean he's going to do something? Is that a fore warning? Why is my life a mess?

"Nothing. Let's just go home" I answered Eli and got in the car. He frowned and got in the driver's seat. He started to drive and soon, we were on the road. My breathing had calmed down but I kept checking the rear view mirror if any suspicious car was following us.

"Hey, are you okay?" Eli asked as he glanced at me, worriedly. I gulped and plastered a forced smile on my face

"Yeah. I'm perfectly fine. Just Jeep on driving, please" I answered. He didn't look convinced but he continued driving. "Eli can you go home first? Then I'll take a cab home?" I asked. I needed to know he was going to be safe.

He parked on the side of the road and slammed the brakes "Okay. What is going on? You've been acting weird ever since that doorman whispered something in your ear!" He said, slanting on his seat to face me.

"Eli! There's nothing wrong! Just go home and I'll take a cab!" I said, desperately and constantly checking the rear view mirror.

"There's definitely something wrong! Why did you say I should go home first? Are we running from something? Why do you keep checking the rear view mirror? Tell me what's going Alex!" He demanded and I sighed.

"Eli just drive! Please!" I said as I saw the image of a black car coming from behind us. My heart sped up in my chest. I watched as Eli completely switched off the engine.

"You know, the relationship just started and I'm tired of all the secrets already. Is it me? Why are like this all of a sudden?" He said and my heart dropped at the words he was saying but I was not paying attention to that. The black car was coming with full speed.

"Eli! For fuck's sake! Drive!" I yelled at him and he frowned.

"You don't want to talk about this? You're trying to avoid the topics aren't you? You're being really unfair to me, you know" he said and I couldn't take it anymore.

"There's a black car coming for us! Drive!" I shouted and he gave me a confused look.

"A black car? Where?" Eli said and looked at the rear view mirror. "Oh shit. Why is it that fast? The driver needs to be reported immediately!" Eli rushed as he started the car and pressed this feet on the accelerator.

The car zoomed forward, jerking me back but I held on to the seat. "Drive faster!" I said to Eli as I noticed the car starting to catch up with us.

Eli drove faster, switching lanes often. He was driving so fast that if I was to roll down the window, my hair would get stuck in the air and I would probably fly out of the car. I took my broken phone and begin to dial Nick's number. He's the only one that knows Danny. I tapped on the headboard impatiently keeping my gaze on my phone and the car following us.

Immediately he picked, I heard his groggy voice snap into the phone "What? You interrupted my sleep so your reason for calling better me genuine" I rolled my eyes at him.

"Nick! There's a black car following Eli and I and it's coming with full speed!!" I yelled unto the phone. I heard him clicked his tongue.

"Eli, is that true?" He asked and I scoffed, because he didn't believe me.

"Yes! She is saying the truth! Can you report to the police or something, I don't know!" Eli freaked and I bit my nails in fear. The black car was slowing down.

"Shit. Do you have an idea who might be following you? And where are you?" He answered and I heard some shuffling.

"I think it's Danny. I saw him at the restaurant Eli and I went to! He said something about me watching my back! And we're at Overhead street" I yelled at Nick. I saw Eli give me a look but I didn't pay attention.

"Jeez can you stop yelling? I'm about to go deaf here!" Nick snapped at me. I huffed at him.

"I was explaining!" I said and snarled.

"I was explaining" he mocked me through the phone using an unbelievably ting and annoying voice.

"I don't sound like that! You prick!" I huffed. I narrowed my eyes at the phone when I heard more shuffling. Eli started to slow down the car and I looked at him, wide eyed. "Eli!" I called.

"I don't think they're following us anymore" Eli said, tight lipped. I looked back and realized that the road was clear. That is, there were no black cars.

"I'm right behind you already! I can't turn back!" Nick complained and we saw a cab drop him off as he jogged over to us. Eli had parked already and was wearing a scowl. I cut the phone call with Nick and watched him jig over to us.

"Hey! Are you guys okay?" Nick asked as Eli got down from the car.

"Yes, we're fine" I answered, getting down from the car as well. I stood beside Eli.

"What was that?" Eli asked, suddenly looking at me.

"I don't know too, I-"

"Just get in the car" Eli cut me off as he walked back to the car. Nick gave me a nod before walking away from me and calling a cab. I followed Eli and got in the front seat.

"What's wrong?" I asked Eli and he started to drive. He didn't answer and continued to drive. He was driving towards my house and kept his eyes solely on the road. "Eli-"

"Everything! Everything is wring Alex! I asked you first the doorman said anything to you! I asked you and didn't tell me and you told Nick in a heartbeat?!! The you flirted on the phone with him in front of me! Is this a game or what?" He lashed out at me and I flinched.

"I'm sorry" I muttered. "It's because you wouldn't understand and I don't want you to be confused" I said quietly, looking at my lap. He swerved to the right entering the junction to my street.

"Then explain to me, Alex" he said and I expected him to ask me a question but he didn't. I thought he was going to ask me who Danny was and how I knew him. But he didn't.

"I'll try to" I said. He continued driving and he sighed.

"I know who Danny is, if you're wondering" he said and parked in front of my house. My eyes widened and I looked at him.

"You know Danny?" I asked, surprised. He nodded in answer. "How?"

"You should have some rest. It has been a tiring day" he said and I frowned. Why is everyone keeping something from me? Nick, Eddy, Zoey and now, Eli?

"You're right" I said, with an expressionless face.

"Goodnight" he said and kissed my cheek. I blushed and got out of the car.

"Night. Call me when you get home" I said and he nodded before reversing out of my driveway. I sighed as I watched him leave. I brought out my keys and opened the door to my house. I got inside and locked it back, removing my heels immediately.

The sole of my feet was sore and a bit pink. Who created this punishment for ladies? I thought as I walked to my room with my heels and bag in my hands. I dropped them on the bed and changed into a pair of shorts and a pyjamas top.

I removed my hair from it's ponytail, suddenly feeling the pain on my head. I touched the place and saw a stain of blood on my fingers. I went to the first aid kit and brought out a painkiller, a bandage, a cotton wool and a methylated spirit. I put some methylated spirit on the cotton wool and dabbed the wound on my head, cursing in pain. It stung like hell.

I threw away the used cotton wool and used the bandage on my head, then took two tablets of the painkiller. Though I already had dinner, I was craving for something sweet so I took some Coco pops and went to my room. I sat on my bed and switched on my phone.

11:42pm. The crunchiness of the Coco pops was heard as I chewed while scrolling through my phone. I had two missed calls from my mom and one from Eddy. Eddy called? Wow!

I called my mom first and she picked up on the first ring. "Alex, how are you?" She said with worry.

"Hey Mom. I'm fine, why?" I asked, confused as to why she was worried.

"Bex told me you went missing this afternoon so I wanted to know if you were okay" she said and I smiled.

"I'm fine. I just had a little accident with my car" I laughed nervously, praying she wouldn't yell at me. My prayers were not answered.

"Alexandrea Dwayne! There's no accident such as little! What happened?!" She scolded and I bit my lower lip.

"I was over the speed limit so it crashed. Then a passerby saw me and I'm okay now" I answered and judging by the silence through the phone, I just made her more worried.

"You crashed your car! I hope none of the wounds were severe! Why would you be so careless. I'm coming back next week Monday, lady" she said and I pouted.

"I'm sorry" I apologized as I got comfortable on my bed.

"We'll talk when I get home. Alex?" She called me and I hummed in response. "The nightmares, do you still have them? I met a friend here and she's a great therapist and-"

"I don't have them anymore" I cut her off calmly, not ready to luck a fight with her.

"Okay. I love you" she sighed. "Goodnight then" she said.

"I love you too, Mom. Goodnight" I said and she hung up. I felt better already after having a conversation with her.

I called Eddy next but he didn't pick up. He is probably asleep. I got under the covers and faced the window, tiredly. I was too lazy to have a shower so I just chose to have the shower tomorrow instead. I yawned repeatedly as I checked my phone, waiting for Eli's call.

12:03am and Eli still hasn't called. I dialed his number but he didn't pick up. I decided to wait again. Everything is fine, he's going to call you and tell you he got home safely. There's nothing wrong.

I waited all night. But he never called.

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Writer: Hello sweethearts!
How are y'all doing? So chapter forty is up! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Don't forget to vote, comment, share and follow. Enjoy!

Eli, Nick and Eddy: *are tied to a chair with tapes over their lips*

Writer: Have a fabulous weekend, y'all! *Disappears*
17/12/2020