Chapter VIII: The Stalkers

Tess went out the door on her comfy pyjamas and her raincoat on top. She thought she will only be grabbing a coffee from that little coffee shop at the corner of her street. She was never bothered if people would be looking at her in certain ways. She couldn’t even see them most of the times. If Mia was next to her, she would tell her “did you see how that guy looked at you”, “Did you see how that girl checked your outfit?”. She wasn’t dressing for anyone else but herself, so if they want to stare, they can go ahead. If they want to judge, they are more than welcomed, it's not like that would affect her in any way. They are just strangers with opinions.

But today, as she was walking down the street, the 10 meters from her house to the coffee shop, she had the impression someone was following her, not just random looks on the street, but chasing after her. She turned around but couldn’t see anyone. The feeling stayed with her so she was getting worried. She never felt something like this, so she rushed to the coffee shop. She went in and decided to stay there for her coffee, better to be safe than sorry. She sat down on a chair, in a corner from where she could see the door. Was she being paranoid? Maybe, maybe not, but she said she will wait and see.

Maybe it was just too early in the morning, or maybe it was the lack of sleep from last night and her brain was playing tricks on her. The waitress came at her table, took her order and then not long after, her coffee was in front of her. That will help her clear her mind.

But then she noticed someone going around the coffee shop entrance, like they couldn’t decide to go in or not. The person had a hat on, sunglasses and a beige long coat, reaching their ankles, something like inspector Clouseau. Was she imagining this stuff?

Then the person decided to come in and went straight for her table.

Took the hat and glasses off.

- What the hell are you doing, Tony? Are you stalking me?, said Tess to the fake inspector.

- What the hell are you doing, Tess? Here in your PJs! Are you out of your mind? Or are you just miserable for breaking up with me and can’t even get dressed. Are you depressed or something?, said Tony high pitched.

- You are mad, Tony, you have serious issues. Why are you dressed like that? And why are you here? Were you following me?, she asked.

- And if I was, what?! I can’t come and chat with you anymore if I saw you on the street?, said Tony.

- Did you see me on the street or did you follow me on the street? There’s a difference!

- I was outside your house, ready to come and chat with you about, you know, that thing you told me over the phone yesterday.

- Our break-up!

- Yeah, that. Which I want you to take it back. I don’t agree with it!, said Tony.

- You can agree or not, that’s not my business, it’s yours. But we are not together anymore, and that’s a fact. Why are you dressed like that if you just wanted to talk to me? Is that the actual Inspector Clouseau’s costume?

- What do you care so much about my clothes? I never thought you’re so shallow. You’re all about the looks. And why was Francis guy coming to your door first thing in the morning?

- Tony, I think you have a problem. For how long were you staying in front of my house? That is not normal.

- I thought it’s romantic, said Tony.

- No, it is not. Neither is chasing me on the street. That’s stalking. If you want to talk to me, you call, you knock on my door. You don’t follow me on the street like a lunatic, dressed for Halloween!

- Hey, you don’t need to insult me now. No need for that.

- Tony, I really need you to think about what you did and realize it was silly and not romantic, not funny, not normal, okay?, said Tess seriously concerned. He seemed a bit off with the whole breaking up thing. But dressing like that and following her on the street, that’s beyond ok.

- If I want to follow you on the street, I can. It is my right as your ex!

- God, Tony, can you even hear yourself right now?

But before Tess could say anything, she saw a tall dark-haired guy coming closer to her table, leaning towards her and planting a kiss on her check.

- Sorry to interrupt, said Con. Thanks for waiting for me.

Tess was looking at the tall stranger who she dance battled the other night. She couldn’t understand how, or why he was there. She saw him winking at her, and she went along with it.

- Who is this and why does he dare to interrupt us?!, said angrily Tony.

- I am Con, he said, offering his had to Tony. He went on before Tess could, because she just realized she had no idea what his name was.

- And why are you here?, said Tony.

- Sorry, I can ask the same thing. I am meeting Tess here. I was a bit late, so she had to wait for me for a couple of minutes. Sorry about that, Tess.

Tess was looking at him, then at Tony. She was speechless. She couldn’t say much, as she didn’t know how this guy knew her name. She felt like going home, as the situation was too much for her. Tony was stalking her all morning, and now this guy shows up out of nowhere and calls her by her name. Two stalkers in one morning?! That’s too much even for someone like Beyoncé. But before she could make a move, Tony looked at her and said:

- Our conversation is not over yet!, and stormed out the door.

A wide-eyed Tess was in shock. She looked at the guy, who sat down at her table. She leaned her hand towards him:

- Tess.

- Con, said the guy. Nice to properly meeting you.

- Sorry, but why are you here? I was just stalked by my ex, I would say you need to wait your turn. There’s no room for two stalkers in my life.

- Oh no, it’s actually a coincidence. I was in the coffee shop already when you came in, all frighten and looking at the door. Nice PJ’s, by the way.

- Thanks, they are the most comfortable ones.

- I can see that.

- So you were in the shop, before me. So you witness the whole thing.

- I sure did.

- Do you live nearby? Or how come you were here in the first place?, asked Tess. And why do you know my name? I don’t think we introduced ourselves.

- No we did not. But the fake Clouseau talked loud enough that I think the neighbour next door knows your name as well. And your ex-boyfriend’s issues.

- Oh, right. Ok. I’ll give you that, said Tess.

- And to answer your question, no I don’t live nearby. I came with a friend who had to do something at one of the houses in the neighbourhood.

- Something? Are you part of a burglary gang?

- NO!, My friend Francis had to clarify some things with a lady.

- Francis?! Like in François?

- Yeah…do you know François?

- Oh, wait, Con…are you Conrad?

- Yes I am! Who are you?! Now I am freaking out! Nobody knows my full name or calls me like that., played along Con who knew exactly who Tess was.

- Oh, Francis talks a lot about his childhood friend. But I never met you before. Francis is my friend as well. I am sure he mentioned me a couple of times.

- Yeah, maybe, he’s very protective with his girl friends. He thinks I am gonna hit on them.

- And are you?

- Well, sometimes maybe. Not on all! Especially not those with a stalker!

- Haha, ok, I like your honesty.

- So what’s the deal with the freak?! He lost one of your dance battles and can’t handle that?

- Haha, not really. I broke up with him yesterday. On my birthday, I might add. I just woke up and realized I didn’t love him. And I am sure I wasn’t gonna. So I said to end things sooner, rather than later. I think he is still processing that.

- You think? I think he doesn’t accept that. You are quite honest yourself. I was expecting a ”non of your business” kind of an answer.

- Well, at this point I think it’s everybody in this coffee shop’s business. In fact….

Said Tess while rising from her chair and cleared her throat: Hi everyone, sorry for the scene you had to attend this lovely morning. It seems I am not the best at break-ups, but I am going strong for stalkers. Who knows, maybe tomorrow you will be in the chance to watch Episode 2 of Tess the Mess. Stay tuned!

Everyone was laughing, when she sat down and looked at Con. He was looking at her smiling:

- You are something else, Tess, you know that?!

- I do know, thank you for noticing it.

- So are you afraid of Tony? Do you think he can harm you? Should we call the police?

- I don’t know yet honestly. He seems pretty harmless. I think he is just overreacting. But I will be more careful from now on. This was really odd. And he was planted in front of my house for God knows how long this morning. Honestly, this is not normal!

- For sure it is not. I think you need to address this to the authorities. And I don’t think you should be alone at home for a while. Just in case.

- Just in case, said Tess looking at the guy in front of her. He seems pretty decent, honest and genuinely concerned. Ok, so how come I didn’t see you around before?

- Well, I was living abroad for a couple of years. Actually for the last 15 years. My family decided to move there when I was younger. But now I have decided to move back. I missed this place.

- Oh, so you are here to stay, said Tess, why was she so delighted to find out that?!

- Yes I am. I am currently living with Francis, trying to find my own place. Driving his car, trying to buy my own. You know, like a respectable teenager.

- Except you are not a teenager.

- Haha, good call. Are you going to lecture me about plans, and future and how to be a responsible adult?

- No, not at all. I am still trying to figure myself out.

- Are you? What are you looking for?

- Love. Not outside, and not in a new boyfriend. God, I need a break from that. I am terrible at choosing my partners. I am just trying to figure out what love feels. And how do you know you love someone. And how do you know you love yourself, said Tess. Then looked at Con and started laughing. Too deep from a girl still in her pjs early in the morning in a coffee shop, I know.

- I might add after having a fight with her ex-boyfriend, current stalker.

- Yeah, we can’t forget about those things.

- Oh, believe me, it will be a while when I will be able to forget the whole scene. Do you think fake Clouseau had anything under the coat?

- Oh, no you don’t! Don’t go that way! That’s sick! Why would you even wonder?

- I don’t know. That’s how my brain works and sometimes I just say things out loud!

- Well, I do that, but I don’t think about those stuff.

- Yeah, but was worth your laugh. And by the way, I don’t think it’s ever too deep or too early in the morning to talk about love.

- Or too awkward?, asked Tess smiling.

- Or too awkward. Love is supposed to be awkward, especially for those judging from the outside.

Tess smiled back at him sipping from her coffee.

- So you were sitting there, minding your own coffee when you saw a lady in distress and thought to help, said Tess.

- Yeah, and realized the lady in cause was actually the one that dethroned me the other night on the dance floor.

- Oh, you were never the king of that dancefloor.

- What do you mean? Aren’t my dance moves royal worthy?

- If the royals didn’t take any dance lessons, they are.

- Am I that bad at dancing?

- I don’t think you can be good or bad at dancing, as long as you allow yourself to feel the music, which you did, till you bumped into me and took my dance space. That’s where the issue lays.

- Oh, I see, I see. Well, then, I apologise.

- Well, thanks for stepping in with Tony there.

- Yes, well the guy seemed odd and then I told to myself: It’s time to be a hero!, said Con.

- Are you quoting PJ Masks? The cartoon?, asked Tess.

- If so, how do you know? I mean, you are in PJs, but is your obsession for this clothing item so strong you even watch cartoons about it?

- No. Actually, I watch cartoons because they relax me.

- Oh, ok, didn’t expect you to admit to that so freely. I used to watch them with my niece, to answer your future question.

- Oh, you’re a mind reader as well. Beside being a dancer, of course.

- Of course. I wish! Life would be so much easier that way.

- Or so much harder. Knowing what everyone really thinks about you.

- Yeah, that as well. But that way maybe I could be more of a help in your love search.

- Maybe, Tess ended up agreeing, smiling at him again. This guy was something.