Fear was your worst enemy. It controlled you when you let it, and right now, I was trying too hard to keep that control.

"Did you give the house keys to someone?" I texted Ash, while I had locked myself in the bathroom, downstairs. 

She replied within a minute. "No, why would I? What's going on?" 

"I swear if you guys are playing another one of those pranks to scare me, let me tell you it's not funny!" I wrote. 

But it couldn't be a prank. This was too scary, too real. Neil was at Sam's house for dinner. Ash was with Ryan and Avi would never do a thing like this. He hated pulling pranks like these, one of the reasons why he was always the one on the receiving end of it. 

My phone buzzed in my hand and I checked Ash's text. "What is going on? I really have no idea what you are talking about." 

I sighed and placed my phone on the counter. This was real. Someone had broken into my house and I was hiding in a bathroom like a freaking coward, while they were probably robbing my house. 

Why the hell did I think hiding in the bathroom was a good idea, anyway? What am I going to defend myself with? Soap and toilet paper?

I sighed, forcing myself to think clearly. I didn't exactly see anyone, so maybe it was nothing? Maybe I was just being paranoid? Well, only one way to find out.

I quietly unlocked the door and tiptoed out, with my heart beating so wildly I was afraid it would give me away. It felt like the entire house was holding its breath, daring me to come out of hiding and look around. 

But after I had looked around, I found nothing suspicious. Everything looked just like I had left it and I was starting to think that I was probably imagining it all. Am I losing my marbles?

Suddenly, a low sound of someone whistling cut through the silence and I froze, the hair on my neck standing up.

What the actual fuck!? 

Aren't thieves supposed to be quiet and sneaky? What kind of a thief would noisily break into someone's house and then freaking whistle!?
The kind that is not afraid of being caught. 

A tense chill spread over my body, wrapping its cold spindly fingers around my spine and gripping hard.

I took a deep breath and tried to calm down. I looked around and the only thing I could see was a broom placed behind a door in the corner. Well, that will have to do. 

I picked it up and slowly followed the sound coming from the living room. The entire room was mostly dark, except for the dim light coming from the kitchen, casting shadows across the walls. There was a strong smell of cigarettes in the air like someone had just been smoking here and it made my eyes sting.

What if the thief had a firearm? How would I compete with that? All I had was a...broom. 

Note to self:- Buy a mace and keep it on you, at all times. 

I looked around the empty living room, feeling helpless and stupid. I should call the cops. This is not something I could handle. I checked my pocket and silently cursed when I remembered that I had left it in the bathroom. 

Before I could decide what to do, a loud shattering noise broke the silence and I instinctively ducked for cover as pieces of glass rained down on me. A sudden sharp pain shot through my arm as some of the pieces sliced through my arm. 

After a few seconds, I hesitantly looked up and saw that someone had thrown something through the window in the living room, facing the driveway. I got up and slowly walked over to the window. 

When I looked at the driveway, in the darkness I could see a dark-colored Camaro parked in front of my house. I didn't recognize the car. The glasses were tinted, so I couldn't see if someone was sitting in the car. But they could probably see me. 

I backed away from the window, my hands tightening around the broom I was still holding. This is so fucked up. 

Suddenly the car's headlights came to life, almost blinding me with it, before slowly backing away from the driveway and speeding off into the distance. 

I ran over to the front door and found it open. I quickly locked it again. I felt numb as my knees hit the floor, my entire body shivering. 

What the hell just happened? 

***

Fifteen minutes later, I had checked and locked up every window and door around my house, but it did nothing to make me feel better. A sudden knock on the front door nearly made me jump out of my skin. 

Subconsciously, I knew the intruder wouldn't be back again. And even if they were, they definitely wouldn't knock. Still, I held the freaking broom in my hand while I walked towards the door. 

"V, open up!" I heard Neil's familiar voice and I nearly cried in relief. 

I flung the door open and I saw Avi and Neil standing on my doorstep with a worried expression. Avi was the first one to speak. "What happened? Ash called us. She was freaking out and asked us to check on you–" Something about my expression made him stop and he grew more anxious. "V?" 

"What's going on?" Neil took a step towards me and I lost it. I wordlessly threw myself into his arms. He stumbled back in surprise before he wrapped his arms around me and held me tight. 

"I'm getting really worried, V. Please talk to us, what happened?" he whispered, but I said nothing and buried my face in his chest. Avi sighed and walked into the house.

"What the hell happened here?" I heard his alarmed voice, after a minute and I let go of Neil, before walking inside. 

"Somebody...broke in and threw something through the window, " I answered, sitting down on the couch.

"Broke in?" Neil looked at me, wide-eyed before his eyes fell on my arm. "Shit, your hand, it's bleeding!" 

I looked down and saw the blood seeping down my arm. But I hardly felt any pain, with all the adrenaline coursing through my system. I felt so numb to it all.

"I'll get the first aid kit, it's still in the downstairs bathroom, right?" He asked and I nodded. 

"Ash and Ryan are on their way, " Avi said, looking up from his phone. "Should we call the cops?" 

"I don't know...I didn't see anyone. I couldn't even have a good look at the license plate. What are we going to tell the cops?" 

"That someone broke into your house?" He sighed, looking at the broken window. "Tell me everything, first. What happened?" 

He sat down beside me and Neil came back with the first aid kit, and started cleaning the few cuts on my arm, bandaging the deep ones, while I told them everything that happened. 

"So...basically, someone broke into your house. Whistled and smoked in your living room, threw something through your window, and went away, " Avi summarised and I nodded. It all sounded so absurd. 

"Did they take something?" Neil asked. 

"I don't think so." I shook my head. We didn't really have a lot of valuables, but whatever little we did have was still safe in my parent's room.

"They were just fucking with you, it wasn't a thief." Avi shook his head. "Maybe they were trying to hurt you or scare you off." 

The first name that popped up in my head was Max. But how did he know I was alone at my house? Nobody except Tyler, Julian and my friends knew that my parents were out of town. 

"And all you could find to defend yourself with is...a broom? Are you kidding me?" Neil exclaimed loudly, pointing at the broom lying on the floor. "What were you going to do? Sweep that creep to death?"

"Shut up!" I rolled my eyes. "I didn't think it through, and it was the only thing I found at that moment." 

I heard a car pull over on the driveway and in a minute Ash was inside the house with Ryan in tow, rushing over to me and throwing her arms around me in a tight hug. "Are you okay?" 

"I'm fine. I'm sorry you had to cut your date short because of me. You really didn't have to come." 

"Shut up, I was so worried. Who texts something like that and just stops replying!?" 

"I'm sorry. I was just...I didn't know what to do." 

We sat down on the couch again, as Avi filled in Ash and Ryan with everything that had happened.

"Did Tyler talk to you? Is he here?" Ryan asked, looking around and I frowned, in confusion. 

"No, I haven't told him anything yet." I looked at him. "Why?" 

"I sent him a text on our way back here, informing him about everything, and knowing him I figured he'd already be here with you," he answered.  

"Oh, um well he isn't, " I mumbled and checked my phone, but there was no call or text from him. 

"Maybe he is coming over. You should call him and tell him you are okay, " Ash suggested and I nodded.

I dialed his number and it rang a few times before Tyler answered it. 

"Veronica, " I heard a female voice speak, from the other end. "Hi." 

"Who's this?" I frowned.  

"Oh sorry, it's Courtney, " she chuckled. "Tyler's not here, so I answered the call." 

I got up and walked out of the room. "Where is he?" 

"He's in the shower, " she answered nonchalantly. 

What the hell!?

"Okay, and what are you doing there, answering his phone?" My tone might have come off a little harsh, but at this point, I didn't really care. 

"I was just over his place, we were hanging out...is everything okay?" she cautiously asked.

"I...yeah. Yeah, everything is fine, " I bit out before ending the call, without another word.

I didn't know what to think. I was so damn exhausted, emotionally, and physically. I needed him here and it sucked to know that he was hanging out with Courtney, instead of being here with me. 

Maybe he hadn't seen Ryan's text. Maybe he didn't know. I told myself. But that didn't help the irrational sting of jealousy in my chest. 

I walked back to the living room and Ash looked up at me. "Hey, you okay?" 

"Yeah...just tired, I think I'll just go to bed." 

"Are you sure, you're okay?" Avi eyed me and I nodded. 

"We'll talk about everything and sort it out in the morning, I just need some sleep right now. Thanks for coming over guys." I smiled. 

"Neil and I are staying over, is that okay?" Avi asked.

"I don't want you both staying here alone after what happened." Neil frowned. 

"Thank you, I'd really like that." I nodded. Having them here would make me feel a lot better. "Ash can sleep with me in my bedroom and you guys can share the guest room." 

I left my friends in the living room while they were talking about tonight's events, and went up to my room. I quickly brushed my teeth and got into bed. But sleep seemed like a distant dream. My mind was all over the place. But it was mostly focused on Tyler and Courtney. I couldn't get them out of my mind. 

I really didn't want to be that jealous, insecure girlfriend, who was constantly fretting and worrying about her boyfriend's whereabouts. 

I'm not insecure, I know what I bring to the table and I know my worth. But I'm scared of losing him and maybe I'm a little scared about the fact that I'll not be enough? Courtney and Tyler have been friends for so long and they had a similar lifestyle. She probably didn't have a bad past or any kind of emotional baggage like I did. She was perfect. How do I compete with that? 

I couldn't believe that somebody had broken into my house today, while I was alone and this was what I was worried about. I shook my head with a frown.

"Ughhhh, " I groaned into my pillow. Fuck this shit. This is exactly why I didn't want to be in a relationship. This is what I've been running away from. 

I don't know for how long I was awake, overthinking about every damn problem that didn't even exist in the first place. The hamster in my head was running full speed on her wheel, and I was getting frustrated by the minute.

It kinda gets tricky when you know you are an overthinker. You become unsure about every conclusion or solution you come up with. I mean, am I right about this? Or am I just overthinking? Is it true or has my overthinking fooled me?

I think I hit another level; I was now overthinking about overthinking. 

At some point in my internal struggle, Ash had come into my room and had fallen asleep beside me, as soon as she had shut her eyes. I envied her. This shit is taking me hours.

I slid out of my bed and tiptoed to the door, opening it slowly so I wouldn't make any noise. Everyone was probably asleep and the entire house was silent as I crept downstairs in search of a midnight snack.

Once in the living room, my heart nearly fell out of my ass when I spotted someone sleeping on the couch. I placed a hand on my chest and slowly walked over to the couch and my eyes widened in shock. Tyler.

He was fast asleep as I knelt beside him. Even with the limited light coming from the window, I could clearly make out his serene face. The couch was too small for a guy like him, and the position he was sleeping in looked uncomfortable as hell.

"Tyler?" I whispered.

He didn't stir. I cupped his cheek and called out his name again and his eyes flickered open, adjusting themselves to the dim light.

"Veronica?" he asked, his voice groggy.

"What are you doing here?"

He slowly got up and took my hand in his. "Are you okay? Are you hurt? I'm so sorry I wasn't here sooner."

"I'm fine."

"I saw Ryan's text really late, and I was so fucking worried. You weren't even taking my calls, so I came over to check on you, but your friends told me you were already asleep. So I stayed. I...I didn't want to go back without talking to you, " he rambled on.

I could only stare at him. He is here. He came here for me and stayed. And jeez, he was sleeping on the couch. 

"What is it?" he asked, ever intuitive as he stroked his thumb over the line creasing my forehead. 

"Nothing, I'm just surprised you're here, " I murmured. 

"Of course I'm here." He cupped my cheeks. "Why would you doubt that?"

I hesitated and then shook my head, feeling guilty to voice my concerns. He kissed my forehead and whispered, "I'll always be here."

"I'm holding you to that." I nuzzled against his face.

He tugged me up and onto his lap. I clung to him like a child as he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer to him and just like that all my worries faded away and I was home again. 

A/n - Thoughts?
Thank you so much for reading.❤