Alyssa's PoV

Hours had passed as Cody and I sat at home, both feeling miserable as the day hadn't gone as we had planned. I was excited to get to know Luke better, the first parent I'd really connected with since I'd had Cody. My sister was a dog parent, but never wanted to have children, and after Harry decided life was too hard and left, I gave up trying to get to know anyone. Cody was finally happy to have a kid to play with that was his age, he'd always had me and went to nursery but I'd never become friends with any of the parents so he never met up with any of them outside of work hours.  Once again that spark that was in his eyes had been extinguished, just like I'd promised myself I'd never let happen again. I felt terrible for even opening us up to new people, for getting Cody's hopes up just for them to be crushed.
We sat on the sofa, watching kids videos with snacks as we cuddled under a blanket, trying to make the both of us feel better.

"Mum, why was Kira's dad so upset?" Cody asked. This was probably about the sixth question he'd asked about either Kira or her dad since we'd been home. I couldn't be angry at him, knowing he just wanted to find out why a good time ended badly.

"He's just working out some stuff, Code, don't worry." I said, offering him some crisps to take his mind off it. With a smile, he accepted the crisps and we continued to watch the videos in a comfortable silence, just laughing now and again at the silly moments happening in the show.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door that made us both jump.

"Who's at the door mummy?" Cody asked innocently. I'd be lying if I said my mind didn't instantly spring to Luke. Maybe he'd come to apologise? To say he'd overreacted because of what he'd had happen in the past and that he was sorry for lumping me into the same category as a stalker. I gestured for Cody to stay where he was as I headed to the door, planning that I would open it slightly so I could peek through the gap to see who was. We never had anyone come round and Daria was on holiday until Monday when she started her childminding duties to help me out again. It was times like this that I really missed her input and advice on life and how to handle it.

I opened the door, just about enough to glance through the gap when the person on the other side shoved the door open with such force it hit the wall and made me jump backwards before they slammed it shut again and stood with their back up against it. My eyes were wide in shock, my heart beating at triple the pace as I took in the person before me.

"Calum?"

He seemed out of breath, sweat forming on his brow as he looked back at me with fear in his eyes.

"I'm so sorry." He said, pulling in a big breath between words. His chest was rising and falling fast as he tried to catch his breath.

"What the hell- what's wrong?" I panicked, grabbing him by the arm and leading him to the living room as I watched his face pale like he'd seen a ghost.

"She's back." He breathed out, his shaky hands trying to grab and unlock his phone. Cody was now staring up at us with confusion etched on his face too. Calum kept putting his passcode into his phone wrong so I took it off him and sat him in a chair.

"Calum, you're going to need to slow down. You're making no sense. I want to help." I tried to remain calm as I saw Cody pull the blanket tighter up to his chin in fear. Calum looked into my eyes, barely blinking as he slowly his breathing and began to calm down. I put a hand on his arm as I waited for him to explain what was going on.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have barged in. The stalker, I'm sure it was her, she saw me and I panicked. Your place was closest so I just ran here. I need to tell Luke." He was fearful, though a lot calmer than before, as I handed his phone back to him. He stared down at it like it was an alien object, obviously trying to work out how to word it.

"Look, I'll call him. Cody, get Calum a cup of water please." Cody nodded quickly, knowing it wasn't a good time to mess about, and ran into the kitchen as I put my phone to my ear. After a few rings, he picked up.

"Alyssa I'm sorry, now isn't a good time. Can I call you back?" His voice was tinged with sadness as he spoke to me.

"No, sorry. Calum's here, at my house. He's a mess." I blurted out, making sure I had his attention. Cody quickly shuffled in with a glass of water which he handed to Calum.

"Thanks man, you're a star." Calum thanked Cody cheerily, trying desperately to hide the emotions he was feeling right now.

"Wha- why?" Luke suddenly seemed angry, whether that was because I said He couldn't call me back or because I told him Calum was here I'd never know, but I needed to help.

"He said he saw the stalker? He just ran to the closest place. Honestly he looks so freaked out, I'm scared." I gripped my phone to my ear as I waited for a response. All I heard was a sigh.

"Alright. Tell him I'll pick him up in a minute. I've just got to sort something out." He seemed unbothered about everything as he spoke, like the fact the stalker that he was so fearful of he nearly crashed his car with us in it was not a big deal.

"Luke, didn't you hear me? The stalker is around here. It wouldn't be safe for you to come to get him." I reiterated, my palms beginning to sweat.

"So why are you calling me? What did you want me to do, soothe him down the phone?" Luke snapped, making me pull the phone away from my head. "How are you suddenly always involved in everything to do with my life?" I gritted my teeth in annoyance. How dare he speak to me like that when I was trying to help his friend. I hadn't injected myself into his life to ruin it for fun, I was trying to help!

"I'm involved because your friend just barged into MY home. You can speak to him." I practically threw my phone into Calum's hands as he stood and headed into a different part of the room, hoping we didn't hear the argument going on between the two of them. Whatever was going on, singly or to do with the group, they really needed to sort it out without dragging me into it.