Eve POV

It's around one o'clock on Monday and I'm downstairs.

Doug is still hanging by Lexi, which I don't mind. I love seeing Doug interact with people.

I see Lexi in the living room watching TV. Her feet dangle off the couch which cause me to smile a little. "Where's uh..." I travel off. I'm not used to saying 'our Dad'.

"Daddy is in the kitchen," I nod and walk to the kitchen. I see him on the phone. His face looks annoyed and his voice confirms that he is.

Eventually he hangs up and tugs his hand through his hair. "Everything alright?" I ask.

"I got called into work because one of the guys got the flu," His eyes roll.

"I can watch Lexi if you want," I offer. "I know I just met her and all, but uh, I don't mind. I'm not going anywhere,"

His brown eyes soften at me. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah," I say. "It can be our bonding time," I come up with. A smile goes on his lips.

I do want to know Lexi. I didn't expect me meeting her for the first time to be a comfortable thing. To her I'm a stranger and that goes for me too.

"Thank you Eve," My Dad says.

"Of course," I murmur.

"I would hug you but we're not on good terms," He says with soft eyes.

I wrap my arms around my Dad and close my eyes. He hugs back and my eyes sting with tears.

No matter how mad I am, I still love him. He's been the person in my life I could always rely on no matter what.

Plus, looking at old photos made me sad because I got little memories of me and my Mom. Just seeing photos of us together make me miss her, or miss the thought of her. I never had that woman influence in my life, and I wish I had it.

"I'm sorry Eve," My Dad says. "I really am,"

"I know," I mumble against his chest. "I just have to learn to move forward,"

"That's understandable," He says. "I love you darling,"

"I love you too Dad," His grip on me tightens and he kisses the top of my head.

Our long hug soon ends and he wipes his eyes which makes my own eyes sting again. "I'm sorry I just missed our calls and stuff," I laugh a little causing him to grin. "You know you'll always be my little girl, right?"

"I know," I say with a gentle smile. "Now, go get ready for work. When will you be back?"

"Around seven," My Dad huffs.

"When is Zoe picking her up?"

"I was gonna drop her off at six. But I can drop her off when I get home," He tells me.

"Okay," I say.

"Thank you again,"

"It's no problem,"

Soon he heads upstairs to get changed and I walk into the living room. I sit beside Lexi who is sitting beside Doug. Her hand is on his body and a gentle smile rests on her lips.

"Uh, your," I pause. "Our Dad has to go to work, he got called in. So, I'm going to watch you, if that's okay," Her brown eyes look to me.

"Okay," She says. Her eyes look into mine. "You're very pretty,"

"Thank you," I say. "You are too," She smiles.

"Daddy says I get my prettiness from him," I chuckle as she smiles more. "But I think I got it from my Mommy too because she's pretty. Daddy is pretty too but my Mommy is more pretty. Is your Mommy pretty?"

"She was, yeah," I answer.

"Daddy said that you look like a mini her," Lexi tells me.

"When did he say that?" I ask.

"A few weeks ago. I was curious to why I'm only half related to you guys, and he told me. I still don't understand but it's okay," I grin a little.

My Dad emerges into the living room wearing his mechanic clothes. "I'll be back at seven,"

"Okay," She hugs her--our Dad goodbye and kisses his cheek.

Soon he leaves the house and Lexi looks back at me. "Where's your sister, um, Rachel is it?"

"She's at her friends house," She tells me. "She's very popular at her school I'm told. Were you popular?"

"No, I didn't have a lot of friends growing up," I say.

"Oh, that's okay though," Her eyes are bright. "How old are you?"

"Twenty five,"

"Do you like being twenty five?" The four year old in front of me asks.

"I've only been it for a month. I like it so far," I grin a little.

"I turn five in May,"

"May what?"

"I don't know," She says causing me to chuckle. "12th. Yep, that's my birthday,"

"May 12th?" I clarify.

"Yep." She says with a nod. "When's your birthday?"

"On Christmas Eve," I say.

"Oh that's cool!" She perks up. "I love Christmas."

"What do you like about it?" I ask.

"The snow, and presents. But Mommy and Daddy always make it fun. Like in the morning we have huge pancakes with hot chocolate and we watch movies in our pyjama's all day," She seems happy talking about that stuff.

"Sounds like a lot of fun," I say.

"Did you do that with your Mommy and our Daddy on Christmas?" Lexi asks me curiously.

"Dad wasn't home on Christmas when I was six and under," I answer.

"Why?"

"He was in the Marines then and didn't make it home," I answer.

"What's the Marines?"

"The army," I say.

"Is that like war related things?" Lexi asks me.

"Yeah, I suppose," I answer. She nods.

"Did your Mommy do anything special?"

"She used to make french toast in the morning for us. Then we'd open presents. She worked Christmas afternoon usually so she can make some extra money, but she would come home around five and make dinner. We were usually occupied with our toys to notice she wasn't home."

"Your Mommy left you home alone?"

"Yeah," I chuckle. "When I was let's say six, Daren was fourteen so he was old enough to look after my brothers and I," Lexi nods.

"That's cool," She says. "Am I asking too many questions?"

"No, you're good," I assure her. "Do you and your sister get along?"

"Yeah, she's my best friend," I smile at her words. "I wish we had the same Daddy's though. Her's left,"

"Oh," I say.

"But Daddy treats her like his daughter so it's okay," Lexi perks up again.

We go on talking for a while until her nap time comes around. She told me she takes a nap around two.

I told her she could sleep in my room. The couch isn't the comfiest and I don't mind her sleeping in my room.

I'm currently straightening up the living room cause my OCD is kicking in.

My phone starts ringing and I see it's Anna. "Hello?" I say.

"Hey, Eve," She says. "I know you said I'm off this week but I left my cooking knives at your apartment from Saturday, so I stopped by because I have a key and all, and I thought you wouldn't mind. When I got here the door was wide open," My heart falls.

"It was?" I ask.

"Yeah, uh," Anna doesn't answer. "Should I call the cops?"

"I'm watching my little sister right now so I can't get there. Are you inside now?"

"No, I like living," I laugh at her words. "I'm in the hallway near the elevators,"

Worry starts to pound through my veins. John is in jail so I know he's not there. But who could it be?

"Shit, I'll um call Harry asking what we should because I don't know," I say.

"Okay," Anna answers.

Our conversation soon ends and I tug my hand through my hair.

I look out the window and see a car parked across the street. It's been there all day, and I thought it was the neighbours, but someone is in the car like this morning still.

I dial Harry's number but it hits voicemail. Shit he's in a meeting probably. I bite my lip and call again.

No answer.

I'm about to have a panic attack and he's not answering.

I know the back door is locked, I checked. The front door is too. So I'm semi safe.

I call Harry one last time and he answers. "Eve I'm in a meeting," His voice is low and hushed.

"Someone broke into the apartment," I blurt out.

"What?" He says. "Why the hell are you there? Are you alone?" His voice raises and I hear him start to walk.

"No, Anna called me saying she stopped by to grab something she left there and the door was wide open." I explain.

I sit down on the couch and try to take deep breaths. "Then there is a car parked across the street and it's creeping me out. The car has been there all day and someone is in there still," I add.

"Is your Dad there?"

"He had an emergency call for work and left. I'm here with Lexi,"

"Can you please call him asking to come home? And ask him to tell the creep across the street to leave,"

"Okay," I say.

"Is the car still there?"

I get up off the couch and check. The person in the car is gone. That makes my heart fall. "The person in the car left," My breaths become shaky.

"Eve, please calm down,"

"I'm trying too. I'm scared," Tears start to run down my face.

"I know you are," His voice sounds sad. "I'll finish up this meeting then I'm booking a flight back to New York, okay? When I get there we'll stay at a hotel until we find a place to stay at," I bite my quivering lip,

"Okay," I mumble. "I'm sorry for interrupting your meeting, I didn't know who else to go too,"

"You're fine, I'm glad you called me. I'll text you when I book the flight. Call your Dad though,"

"Okay," I murmur.

"I love you,"

"I love you too," I soon hang up and take a deep breath.

I call my Dad who answers on the third ring. I start explaining to him what's going on and before I even ask him to come home he says 'I'm leaving now'.

After that conversation I head upstairs with Doug in my arms.

I enter my bedroom and close the door behind me. I also lock it. I look out the window and see the man walking back to his car. He looked like he was on my side of the street near my house. A pit forms in my stomach.

I lay down on my mattress and let out a deep breath.

I don't want to put Lexi in any harm because of me. I just met her, but I want her safe. Especially in her own house.

I pull the blanket to her shoulders and adjust her pillow.

***

My Dad texted me saying he was home. So I go downstairs after hiding up there.

"There was a note on the door," He tells me once I see him.

"What was it?" I ask.

He hands me the piece of paper with tape on it.

Always watching
~J
P.S
1,095 days remaining

"I feel sick," I say while pressing my hand against my mouth.

"Did you call Harry?" My Dad asks. I nod.

"He said he's going to try to book a flight today," I answer. A lump still remains in my throat. My eyes start to well up. "I just want to be left alone by him," I start to cry.

My Dad pulls me into his chest. I cry into him and let myself break down.

I don't like the thought that in three years John can find me again. I don't like it at all.

A://N

Hello

I'm told I should bump up my comment goals so uh

Comment goal: 100?

I don't think I ever make one 100 omg I feel bad for making one that high

Tysm for reading !

~lauren