Brooklyn gets off the couch, and we both look in the same direction to try and figure out what's going on.
"Someone probably just crashed the party or got drunk or something. There's plenty of security here. They'll get it all sorted out," I tell him.
But then I think about Mom's stalker. About how worried James has been about the party. How he promised to keep her safe.
I panic.
Oh my God, I've got to find Mom.
"Brook-" I start to say, but I'm interrupted when one of the security guys practically picks me up off the ground and carries me away from Brooklyn.
The security guy yells at me. "We're getting you out of here now!"
"Why?" I pull back. I look for Brooklyn, but he's lost in the crowd behind me.
The security guy drags me to the other side of the dance floor, opposite the commotion, near where I made out with Cush.
I'm scared, but I don't want to leave. Where is Tommy? Where is Mom? And why do they have to get me out of my own party? What's happened to Mom?
Everyone is heading toward the commotion. The area he's dragging me to is almost completely empty.
"Stop it!" I yell. "I need to go check on my mom! Is she okay? Tell me what's going on!"
The security guy stops moving and wraps a strong arm tightly around my waist.
"The whore is fine. I told her I was moving on. Bet she never guessed it was with you." He lets out an evil chuckle.
Oh my god!
He's not security.
James was right! It's the guy!
The stalker!
"Let go of me!" I struggle to get away from him, but he's still dragging me like a rag doll toward the exit.
"I've got a van out back. We're going to do great things together."
How do I know that voice? Why does it sound familiar?
Wait. He's taking me to a van out back?
What. The. Fuck.
I scream bloody murder. "AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
But no one can hear me.
Except the stalker.
"Stop screaming. No one can hear you over the music," he says coldly.
I realize he's right. I don't stand a chance. No one can hear me.
Something I see out of the corner of my eye catches my attention.
It's the stalker's arm.
I see the end of a scrolly tattoo peeking out from under his sleeve.
I know that tattoo. How do I know that tattoo?
Oh my God.
Oh my God.
It's the Y on Vincent's Abby tattoo.
It's Vincent.
Vincent's tattoo.
Vincent's voice.
Vincent, who thinks I look just like my mom did when he fell in love with her. Vincent, who wants to make a movie with me. Mom's movie.
Vincent is the stalker?
Could that be right?
I wriggle myself around so that I'm facing him.
"Vincent! What are you doing? Stop it! Let go of me!"
I make my body go limp, so that it will be heaver, and I drag my feet behind me. But he's strong, and all that happens is that I lose one of my gorgeous shoes.
He says coldly, "Don't act so surprised. I told you the other day I was going to get you locked in. We're going to make a movie together and have all sorts of fun. I know you want it as much as I do."
I start to shake as I think about all the things he told me. All the things that felt flattering. I see them in a new light. And in that light, they are not pretty. I've never been so scared in my life.
The music is still playing loudly.
There's no one to save me. No one to help me.
Tears start streaming down my face.
What am I going to do?
The locket James gave me swings in front of my face, and I hear a quiet voice speak to me.
A voice that I haven't heard for so long.
My dad's voice.
It's both soothing and serious.
You can't let him get you out the door. Whatever you do, don't let him get you out the door.
Vincent grabs my wrist tighter and pulls me in closer to his body. Like he's shielding me from what's behind us.
The door keeps getting closer.
You don't have much time.
I have to get him to stop.
"Stop. Please, Vincent. Just tell me what you want, and I'll do it. I promise I'll make the movie with you. Just please don't do this. Please."
He doesn't stop.
And he doesn't reply.
He just keeps dragging me, closer and closer to the door.
When we're almost to the door, he says, "I want you, and I'm going to have you. All to myself."
We're right in front of the big black exit door.
He stops to push it open.
This is your last chance. Remember P.E.? The defensive move they taught you.
Use it.
Do it now.
A rush of adrenaline suddenly courses through my body. I pick my foot up then smash the heel of the shoe I'm still wearing into the top of Vincent's foot with as much force as I can muster.
It's a stupid defensive move we learned in Freshman P.E.
But it works.
Vincent's grip loosens.
Just enough.
I quickly pull away.
Run.
I break completely free of his arms, turn, and run as fast as I can. I run straight into James and another security guy.
"That's the stalker! He's trying to kidnap me!" I turn around and point at Vincent.
His glasses are still on, and he's racing toward me.
James hands me off.
Then he and Vincent come face to face.
Vincent holds his hands up in protest and starts to say something, but James punches him in the face, knocking his glasses off.
I watch Vincent and James trade punches.
James falls back for a minute, but then his training kicks in.
In a fury of fists and kicks, Vincent is down and out cold.
James flips him over and wraps his wrists together with zip ties.
I drop to my knees.
And throw up my birthday cake.
Vincent comes to and find his hands tied together with zip ties and unable to move.
He was so close.
So close.
He didn't really expect her to fight back. He didn't expect to fail.
But luckily when he's taken to the police station, his case is handled by a female officer, who responds to his subtle charm.
He has nothing to hide. His Porsche is parked in front of the club where he left it. He wore gloves and a hat when he drove the van, which he doubts they even know about yet.
The officer asks for his story.
He tells her the truth. That Keatyn personally invited him. That they are friends. That there was a commotion, he was worried about her safety, and was trying to keep her away from possible danger. That she misread the situation, which isn't surprising as she had been drinking. He's also sure to apologize for the misunderstanding. He even touches the officer's hand gently when he asks her to pass on the message to Keatyn's family.
But then the bitch asks about his Abby tattoo. He remains calm. Tells her about his high school girlfriend. Tells her it was young love and expresses sorrow and a broken heart when he tells her the tale of how she left him but couldn't take the tattoo with her.
The officer checks out his story and confirms that his name was on the guest list. The guy is good looking, rich, a business executive, and could get any woman he wanted-including her. No way he'd be trying to kidnap some girl. It didn't make sense.
So she lets him go.
As soon as Vincent leaves the police station, he allows himself to anger. Keeping it simmering below the surface was a true test of his abilities. Fury takes hold of him. He knows it's risky, but it's time to let the whore, Abby, know the truth.