Better Things

Chapter 13

A/N: Hey guys!  This chapter is slightly different than the one on FF.net because this one is more PG-13 than that one.  If you want to read that version, I'd prefer that you be 18.  That being said, thank you all for the reviews.  You guys rock.

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I stared at the note in horror, bile rising into my throat.  The only person who ever called me Isabella had been Mike, but it couldn't be him.  He was living in California now with relatives.  Dad had promised me he'd keep informed of Mike's whereabouts.  Pulling out my phone, I punched the button with Dad's name on it, praying that he'd pick up.

"Hey, kiddo!  This is a surprise.  Is everything okay?" he asked, and I sat down on the chair and let out a shaky sigh.

"I found a note in my notebook that says I'm watching you, Isabella.  That's not all, I've been having uneasy feelings all week," I told him, my hands shaking as much as my voice.

Immediately, Dad was on alert.  He told me to hold on while he called a friend of his in California.  I waited impatiently for him to get back to me.

"I just talked to Mike's parole officer," he told me a few minutes later.  "He had a meeting with Mike a few hours ago, so I don't think it's him."

That didn't make me feel any better.  As a matter of fact, it made me feel worse.  If it had been Mike making me feel this way, then at least I would have known who it was. 

"What about that Lauren girl?" Dad asked.  I'd called my parents and let them know that Edward and I were dating, and I'd even told them about Lauren.

"I don't think it's her.  She's more confrontational and in your face as are her friends."

"I don't want you going anywhere alone if you can help it.  You also need to let your friends know about this note, and it wouldn't hurt to let campus security know as well."

I told him I'd call Edward or one of the boys to come get me and walk me over to the security office.  Dad said there probably wasn't much they could do, but at least they'd have a record of it in case something else happened.  I seriously hoped nothing else happened. 

After hanging up with Dad, I gave Edward a call but got his voicemail.  Hanging up, I dialed Emmett's number.

"What's up, Little B?" he boomed as he answered the phone.

"Hey, Em, I can't get ahold of Edward.  Do you think you could come get me from the library?"

"Yeah, no prob.  Give me a few minutes."

I finished packing up my stuff and then went down to the first floor to check out.  Not long after I'd checked out, Emmett appeared and offered to carry my books for me.

"I've got it, thanks though," I told him.  "Do you mind if we stop by the campus security office?"

"What's going on?" he asked in a serious voice.

I explained the uneasy feelings I'd had, which he knew about from Edward, and then I showed him the letter.  I'd told him, Rose, and Jasper about Mike not long after I'd told Alice.  Emmett had been furious and had wanted to hunt Mike down and beat his ass. 

"Mike?" he asked, and I shook my head, explaining what my Dad had learned.  Emmett was convinced that Mike was behind it somehow, and I had to admit, I'd been thinking along the same lines.  He might have been in California, but his friends and family were still in Washington.

The walk to the security building was a long one, and I kept looking behind us to make sure no one was following us.  I was becoming paranoid, and I hated it.  Finally, we reached the building, and I asked to speak to a security officer.  A few minutes later, I was explaining about Mike and my uneasy feelings, and I handed over the letter.  The officer took down my information and pretty much told me what Dad had.  I left there feeling like it had been a waste of time, and that the officer hadn't taken my concerns seriously.