Waking up the next morning alone was not what I was expecting. Ryder wasn't even in the house anymore. I was here and so was Nicole. We passed out next to each other and now here I am laying in bed with my best friend drooling and snoring.

"Wake up Nic. We need to clean up and get ready for next week." I whispered.

She groaned and threw herself out of bed.

I might as well do something constructive now that our weekend was ruined. Everything left and I doubt they were coming back. I glanced at my phone hoping for a text but there was nothing.

I spent my day cleaning and washing clothes. I wasn't in the mood to do anything crazy or go out. But I do need groceries.

Nicole is knee deep in cleaning the shower as I walk out the front door. Grocery shopping won't take long I hope. I hate doing it.

It only takes me about 15 minutes to get to a larger grocery store as I cart around grabbing produce. My headphones in my ears I lose myself in picking produce and listening to Maroon 5.

I turn the corner to the cereal aisle and accidentally run into a display of a huge tiger displaying a cereal brand. I squeak and then laugh at myself for getting scared. I roll my eyes as I start looking at some cereal.

That's when I feel it. Like someone is right beside my breathing down my neck and staring in to my soul.

My hands quickly become clammy and I start to perspire.

"Fuck." I whisper out loud slightly jumping back with my cart.

Now the hair on the back of my neck is standing straight up. I feel creeped out...almost like I'm being watched again. But I know it's not Ryder. If he's being a creeper I can see him. But this it's different. This is even worse then I saw the shadow man outside my window the very first time.

I slowly glance around as I walk down the aisle grabbing a couple of boxes. I can't see anyone that I would deem to be creepy but I'm still getting the feeling. I can't shake it this time. Usually I can see something or someones shadow but it's only for a split second. I turn my head back and forth looking around the room.

I slowly walk down the aisles and grab the essentials quickly but always keeping an ear phone out in case I can hear someone or something.

As I get to my car I keep glancing around quickly throughout the parking lot. The feeling has followed me out into the parking lot. The sun setting in the background gives off a more eery vibe to everything. I throw everything in the trunk of my car and get in the driver's seat.

Immediately locking the door I turn the key as the car sputtered to life. I turn my head to look around the parking lot once more to check my surroundings.

The forest line looks clear but I'm not even wearing my glasses so I can't see super far. No one looked to be in the grocery store when I was in there and all the cars look to be empty.

I breath a sigh of relief and chuckle to myself knowing I'm freaking myself out over probably nothing.

A knock on my window breaks the dead silence that's in my car as I scream. The scream is loud, high pitch, and fully out of fear. My body is shaking as I turn to see who knocked.

Scott stood outside my mirror with his hands in his pockets staring at me like I was the crazy one.

"You ok Bambi?" His muffled voice came through my closed car window.

I sighed as I tried to calm my shaking body. I slowly got in front of Scott and shivered from the cold wind.

"You ok?" He asked softly.

I nodded but still kept looking around the barely lit parking lot.

"Charlie." He whispered tucking his finger underneath my chin so I was facing him.

"Don't lie." He whispered softly.

"Ummm...someone or something was watching me inside the grocery store and here before you showed up. It scared the fuck out of me." I said softly but laughed at the end.

"I know it sounds ridiculous but it really scared me this time." I finished and he nodded.

"Ok. Want me to take you home?" He asked looking around the parking lot for me.

"Please." I whisper and he calmly takes my hand and puts me in the passenger seat and drives off just a moment later.

In the couple of moments it takes us to get home I enter through the side door by the driveway. No one was home again. But Scott followed closely behind with the groceries in hand.

"Stay here. I will check on everything." He said as he placed the groceries down. I only nodded in response.

Nicole must be with Jack....as usual. Their bond was way different then mine and Ryder's. Jack couldn't stand to be without Nicole. But Ryder was perfectly fine leaving me alone all the time.

I didn't understand it but I was beginning to think this beloved shit was a bunch of well....shit. I can't think of anything better.

Scott came back down the hallway mumbling that nothing was amiss. He kissed my forehead and reminded me to lock up.

I unpacked my groceries and then curled up in my bed. I didn't change, I didn't shower, I just laid there. I was too afraid to move slightly. What if that thing came back and came in to my house?

What if it was a vampire that I accidentally invited in?

Maybe it was Dane? Or someone I knew?

Whoever it was. The shadow man was back and was keeping a close eye on me and I didn't have Ryder around to protect me.

Again.