You Knew

She didn't think. She drove straight to J's house.

J opened the door.

"N? What-"

"Why didn't you tell me you lost the necklace? Did you give it to someone? Did someone take it? Did someone hurt you? Did someone text you? SAY something!"

"Calm down," J said. "What's going on?"N held up the necklace.

"You were wearing this last time I saw you."

J's face shifted.

"It must've broken off. I'm sorry. I didn't think it mattered."

"Did someone text you?""No." "Did someone talk to you?"

"No." N's voice cracked.

"I've been getting stalker messages. Letters. They're escalating."

J hesitated.

"Can I stay here for a few days?" N asked quietly.

J looked uncomfortable.

"My boyfriend moved in."

N blinked.

"So I'll stay on the couch."

"I don't think that's a good idea."

Something shattered silently inside her.

"Oh. Okay. Cool." N said

(In her head:Why is your man more important than me?)

J hugged her.

"I'm not leaving you."

N forced a smile.

But something felt off.

Two days passed. The stalker stopped texting. No letters. Nothing.

J started acting distant.

N lay under her covers, staring at nothing.

A thought slipped out.

"I miss Mullet Girl."

She sat up."..What?"

In what way?

She pictured her.Her fitted gym shirts,Her muscles and The way she stood behind her correcting her form.

Her face burned.

"I love a muscle mommy..."

She laughed.

Then paused."Oh my God."

Her stomach flipped.

She remembered the way Mullet Girl touched her arm while teaching her how to jab.

The way she felt her breath against her neck.

Heat pooled low in her stomach.

"No way."

She closed her eyes And imagined her again.

Her hands, Her voice and Her worried expression at the door.

Her body reacted instantly.

She flushed deeply.

"I can't text her now. I can't even look at her."