Addison shivered uncontrollably, wrapping her free arm around her waist protectively and leaning against the wall. She felt Claudia come up behind her hesitantly.
"Are you alright?" Claudia asked.
"Is someone there with you?" the voice demanded, angrier, more high-pitched.
Addison's head jerked up.
"Get rid of them!" demanded the voice angrily. "You belong to me!"
This was new. Her stalker had never sounded so... threatening before. Addison didn't have a chance to respond, the caller hung up before she could do anything. She lowered the phone and stood in open mouthed astonishment.
"Please forgive me, I know this isn't polite.” Claudia carefully took Addison's arm, pulled her gently forward toward the couch in the living room and pressed her down. "I looked up how to do that on the internet."
Addison laughed suddenly and shook her head. "You looked up how to lead a blind person around on the internet?"
Claudia giggled and dropped down next to Addison, her leg brushing Addison’s. "Yes. I've never had a visually impaired friend before and I didn't want to make an idiot out of myself on the first date. Apparently it’s rude to grab you, I’m supposed to let you take my arm. But you looked upset.”
Addison leaned against the arm of the couch and shook her head. "You're a little weird."
"Yup," agreed Claudia. "Wait until you meet Anya. Now, I don’t mean to pry, but do you mind telling me what that was? It looked pretty intense and not in a good way."
Addison thought about telling Claudia to mind her own business. She hadn’t told anyone about her stalker except the city police and they had done nothing to help. Addison hadn't realized how much of a burden her stalker had become until recently. She'd stopped going out as much and was hesitant and more suspicious around people she knew. Maybe it would help to unload.
She was hesitant at first to tell Claudia much, used to keeping her problems private, but once she got started she found herself telling Claudia everything about her stalker situation over the past six months. She found a sympathetic and somewhat horrified listener in her new friend, which she would later come to understand better when Claudia revealed a little of her own terrible past.
“He chased you onto a busy road? Oh my god, I’m so sorry Addison, that's awful!” Claudia exclaimed with feeling. "Shame on the police for telling you they can't do anything. What do they want? For you to have a signed confession from the stalker written in your blood?"
Addison laughed and nodded her head. "Pretty much."
"No wonder so many women in vulnerable situations choose to just tough it out," Claudia muttered. Then, hesitating, she said, "I know you're seeing Daniel, have you thought about going to him for help?"
Addison stiffened a little. "I think 'seeing' is not the term I would apply to our association, and no, I don't particularly want to discuss stalker number two with stalker number one."
Claudia snorted with laughter, holding her side in amusement as she giggled over the image of Daniel creeping around corners. Addison was happy one of them was amused by her less than stellar boyfriend/stalker situation. Finally Claudia sobered and straightened on her seat.
Placing soft fingertips on Addison’s arm she said hesitantly, “Forgive me for speaking out of turn, and maybe you’ll give a little leeway to a woman who had the shit beat out of her a week ago and doesn't want to see something similar happen to a friend.” Claudia paused to let that sink in before continuing. “But you need to do something and you know it. You’re a smart, professional woman, you know this situation can escalate into something seriously dangerous.”
“Like Daniel?” Addison asked sarcastically.
Claudia hesitated, clearly picking her words carefully. “Daniel is difficult to explain…”
“Really?”
Claudia laughed, “Okay fine, he’s utterly terrifying. The first time I met him, my first thought was that I should never, ever run into him alone in a dark alley, despite how damn sexy he is.”
“So… he’s hot?” Addison asked, genuinely curious.
“How the fuck do I keep forgetting you can't see?”
Addison shrugged. “Takes getting used to I guess.”
Claudia laughed again. “Fuck, you’re hilarious Addie. I have to introduce you to my friend Anya, I think you two would be deadly together. All I’m going to say about Daniel is that in the time I’ve known him he’s never looked at a single other person, place or thing the way he looks at you. What little I’ve gotten out of Tyson is that Daniel wants you bad and he’s never wanted a woman this way before. In fact, Tyson was pretty sure Daniel was a machine before you came along. So my man is pretty happy about you.”
“Reeaaallly…” Addison said, trying not to sound too pleased. She wasn’t entirely sure what she wanted out of her relationship with Daniel. Or if she even wanted a relationship with a man like Daniel.
But it was hard to deny the leap her heart took at Claudia’s words.
Claudia bounced on the seat beside her and grabbed her arm again. Addison had to control the urge not to flinch. It was an old urge that sometimes took her by surprise, especially when someone grabbed her arm in just the wrong way.
