Chapter 5: Watched

Throughout the day, Brenna watched the faces of her students. Nobody seemed to be unusually attentive to her. Nobody commented on her actions or asked anything about last night. Every student acted normal, and nothing strange or unusual stood out to her. Layford had assured them that he'd listen for anyone bragging about pulling the stunt, but he really didn't feel that any of the students would do such a thing to her. She was very disappointed when the lunch bell rang, and she still had no answers. Remembering her promise, she picked up her cell phone and dialed Eaton's number before going to the lunchroom. He answered immediately.

"Brenna, everything okay?" Concerned filled his voice.

"Yes, everything's fine. I promised Slaton I'd call you. We were talking and I theorized that it was a high school prank." She was walking around the room picking up bits of paper and trash left behind by the students.

"We thought the same thing. But a prank is nothing to sneeze at, Brenna. It's still a crime and shouldn't be overlooked. Anything happen at school to make you suspicious of anyone?" he inquired.

"Nothing. None of the kids are acting different." She screwed her mouth to one side in frustration.

"Keep me posted no matter how little or insignificant you think it might be. I'll meet you at your place after school and we'll check it over again. I also talked to your landlord and he's installing a new lock today."

"Great. I appreciate it, Eaton." Brenna took a deep breath at the news.

"Anytime. Then afterward, maybe we could grab a bite to eat?" His voice sounded hopeful.

"I can't. I promised Tahnee I'd come out to their place tonight. I thought you were working, so I planned this earlier in the week."

"I was working, but I switched with Johnny so he could have last night off." The disappointment in his voice was so evident.

"You could come out with me. I'm sure Tahnee and Grey wouldn't mind."

"Are you sure Slaton wouldn't mind?"

"What are you talking about?" Brenna furrowed her brow and stopped organizing her desk.

"Come off it, Brenna. Don't tell me you haven't noticed the way he looks at you."

"Slaton's a good friend, just like the rest of his family. What's your problem?" She slammed a book down in frustration.

"I have a problem with some guy moving in on my girl."

Brenna's eyes got wide in surprise. "I didn't realize we were that serious, Eaton." She was completely unsure where that came from.

"Brenna, I don't like discussing this over the phone. I would rather do it in person."

"Then you'll have to wait for another time. I made a promise to Tahnee, and I intend to keep it."

Brenna hung up slightly angry. She didn't like being ordered about or put in a position like this. She liked Eaton, but had never considered their relationship serious. Now he was acting like the jealous lover. She was surprised at the anger she felt rising inside. Instead of being flattered, she was irritated. Having Eaton look at her like that was actually grating. What had changed? A few weeks ago she enjoyed his company. Shaking her head, she thought about everything that had happened. Too much. She just wanted her boring normal life back.

When she hung up, the rash that had begun to develop last night drew her attention. She had noticed how dark red and irritated some areas were. Rubbing it again, she made a mental note to stop by the pharmacy and pick up some cream to put on it.

As she replaced her phone in her bag, it rang. The caller ID showed it as an unknown caller.

"Hello?"

Silence

"Hello?"

Silence.

Brenna hung up. She stared at the phone and tried to shrug off the uneasy feeling. With everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours, her nerves were on edge. She quickly put it away and practically ran to the lunchroom to grab a bite to eat before her next class.

Walking out of school, Brenna saw Slaton leaning against the truck with his arms crossed. She had to admit that he looked good in his faded jeans and skintight white T-shirt. The brightness of the shirt against his dark skin made the effect even more dazzling. His muscles seemed to want to burst out of the fabric. Raising her eyes from the tempting sight to meet his, she realized that he knew exactly the kind of effect he had on her. His confident smile irritated her as she glared at him. That smile grew bigger as he opened the door for her and watched her get in. She refused to look at him anymore. He began whistling again, thinking of how much fun the evening was beginning to look.

When they pulled up to her apartment, Eaton's patrol car was already parked there. Investigating the ground near the front door and under Brenna's window hoping to find some clue that would point him to whom had broken in, he was out looking around the front of the building. Hearing Slaton's truck pull up, he turned around and frowned when he saw Slaton opening the door for Brenna.

"I've looked. There's nothing. He couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was. He also couldn't help but notice how Slaton put his hand on her back as they walked forward.

Brenna nodded. "I did get a weird phone call today."

Both men turned to look at her quickly. Each of them gave her a look of surprise.

"Whoever it was didn't say a word. The caller ID said the number was unknown and whoever it was didn't so much as make one sound. It could have been a wrong number, or even a bad connection." Brenna shrugged.

Eaton pursed his lips. "I don't want to assume anything right now. I'll make a note of this. If you get any more calls like that, let me know. Don't assume it's all okay."

I'm beginning to think that we're overreacting. If it's just a teenage prank, I'm wasting everyone's time." She shook her head.

"And if it's not a prank?" Eaton's eyebrows raised as he asked a question they all had thought.

Brenna didn't have an answer. She just shrugged her shoulders and opened the door to her apartment. Both men looked the place over before letting her inside. Wishing they would just let her sit on the couch while they looked around, she stood in the hallway. Instead she found herself gazing at the section above her door and noticing the cobwebs that were accumulating.

They waited for her in the living room while she changed from her work clothes into jeans and a blouse for the cookout at Tahnee's. Neither one said a word as they commenced a silent battle. Slaton stood against the window staring at Eaton. Eaton sat in the recliner staring back. The air between them was thick with testosterone. Brenna almost laughed at the hilarious sight when she walked out into the living room ready to go. It was classic. She thought she had walked into a bad movie.

Slaton was the first to take his eyes off his opponent. Flickering them at Brenna when he heard her footsteps stop, he lost his breath and forgot Eaton was there. She was wearing black jeans that molded her figure and emphasized her shapely legs. The material clung to her in all the right places. But it was the dark blue blouse that highlighted her eyes and light colored hair that drew his attention the hardest. As his eyes met hers, he blinked.

"Wow! You look great."

Eaton glared at Slaton's reaction before he turned to look for himself and then found himself as stunned by her appearance as his rival was. He knew Brenna was good-looking, but what he saw before him took his breath away.

Brenna watched as the two stood looking at her with mouths gaping open. "Okay, I'll be waiting in the car when you two decide to stop catching flies." Grabbing the purse that she had thrown on the couch earlier, she walked out leaving them to follow like two awkward teenagers The scene was rather funny and would have caused her to laugh under any other circumstance, but they were taking all this a bit too far for her.

Outside, she stopped halfway down the sidewalk. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Alone in the night, she held her breath. She didn't move a muscle. Something was not right. It felt as though something was pressing against her so hard that she couldn't breathe. Her eyes darted all around, and saw no one about. Nothing seemed out of place, yet the very air around her was charged with electricity that hummed with oppressive intensity. Brenna found her chest constricting as fear overtook her.

The sound of the men coming down the stairs was the only noise she heard. The opening of the door that signaled their arrival broke the hold the night had on her. She released the breath she was holding and clutched at her chest. She turned around suddenly and just stared at them with a horrified expression. Slaton and Eaton stopped cold as they saw the look on her face. Each man, suddenly aware of everything around them, flanked her in just moments. Both looked around while holding on to her arms.

"What happened?" Slaton whispered.

"I don't know. Something didn't feel right when I got out here. I don't know how to explain it. I felt a presence but there was nothing obvious to me standing out, then I couldn't breathe, and I felt surrounded." The silence of the night greeted them. Only in the distance could the sound of cars and music from bars be heard.

Not another word was said. Each man took an elbow and guided her to Slaton's truck. An unspoken truce was declared between them as they got her safely in and buckled up. With her safety on the line, they buried the hatchet and focused on her.

"Call me when you bring her home. I'll make sure a patrol car is stationed outside." Eaton spoke to Slaton, but his eyes were moving around checking to see if anything was out of place. One hand was on his gun and the other on his intercom.

Slaton nodded in response. Both of them, intent on her safety, put their jealousy aside. Eaton waited in his car until they took off and followed a short distance behind to the edge of town. Slaton threw up his hand to signal all was well as they left Eaton behind.

Brenna shrugged. "I feel rather foolish. My imagination is getting the best of me."

"I wouldn't say that. This is far from imagination. You're not the only one getting the sense that something is wrong. I feel it, too." He glanced over at her.

She looked over at him. "Thank you for trying to make me feel better."

"Brenna, I'm not trying to make you feel better. I'm being honest. I usually can sense things like this, and there was someone in your place and outside. I just don't know who or where."

"Now that doesn't make me feel better. I want it to be my imagination. I miss my boring life."

Both laughed. "Life should never be boring."

Brenna shook her head in disagreement. "Boring can be comfortable."

Slaton shot a glance over at her. "Do you really want to be comfortable?"

"Yes." She nodded. "Comfortable makes me feel safe."

"You can be safe and have some adventure."

"I really can't speak from experience. Overall my life has been boring, and I'm okay with that."

Slaton's mouth turned up at one corner. "You might find yourself not having a choice."

"I always have a choice," she verbally challenged him.

"We'll see."

Brenna rolled her eyes at him and looked at the passing scenery. The further they got from town, the deeper the darkness became. It seemed to shield all that lurked in the depths of the forest from those in the passing cars. An involuntary shudder ran through her body as she thought of what might be in those shadows. What was out there that they could not see?