Later on that month, Nick and I were walking in the mall, looking for a birthday gift for Liz. We were incognito. Nick had his blonde hair spiked with gel and a black cap on. He was wearing glasses and a pair of baggy black jeans with a regular plain blue T-shirt. I had a pair of glasses on too, and had placed my long hair back into a ponytail and was wearing a pair of regular flares and a baby-blue three-quarter shirt. I had no make-up on and for the most part no one recognized us.
I was looking around in Contempo Casuals for a outfit I thought Liz would like, when I saw in a mirror, the girl that had been in the bushes that day spying on us. She was glancing at Nick and me and thought she could not be seen. I slowly turned towards Nick and said to him, as calm as I possibly could, "Nick, can we please leave?"
"I thought you wanted to find something for Liz. We're heading over to AJ's tomorrow afternoon, for her surprise party. We've got to find something."
"Nick, can we just please leave this store?" I said.
"All right. Where do you want to go?"
"I don't know. Let's try Express," I suggested, which was on the other side of the mall.
"All right," he said looking at me strangely as we left the store. I started to walk at a really fast pace. "Denia, why are you walking so fast?"
"I'm just in a hurry, that's all," I replied. I quickly glanced back to see her following us.
"You know what, Nick? I just remembered that I think I promised to get her something from the Internet that she really liked. We can just go home."
"Denia, there's no way you're going to have her gift in time for tomorrow if you buy it online."
"Well, then I'll give her some money tomorrow and tell her the gift I got her is on the way," I said as I rushed out to the parking lot.
"Denia, what is up with you?"
"Nothing, sweetie. Just get in and drive," I said as he fumbled with the keys. We quickly got in the car and sped off.
"Now that we're finally away from the mall, tell me what the hell is up with you? You've never acted like this before."
"Nick, it's nothing."
"No, Denia. It's something and something pretty big to get you all bugged. What is it?"
"Nick…I saw her," I said hesitantly.
"Saw who?" he asked confused.
"I saw the girl that was hiding in the bushes that day. Nick, she was staring at us in Contempo and followed us after we left the place."
"Denia, are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm absolutely positive."
"How'd you see her?"
"I was glancing in one of the mirrors to check my hair when I saw her in the mirror."
"Why didn't you tell me, Denia? I could have done something about it."
"Nick, we went through the whole day incognito. I didn't want us to make a big scene or anything."
"Denia, she is obviously scaring you. You should have told me so I could protect you."
"I think she's a stalker, Nick."
"Well, if you're right, that means we'll be seeing her again."
"Oh, Nick. I can't believe this," I said as I reached for his hand and held it tightly.
"Denia, it's going to be all right. You'll be back on tour next week and you'll have plenty of security around you."
"Yeah, that's true," I said as I looked at him. "I love you, Nick."
"I love you too, Denia and I will do anything to make sure you're safe. If you ever see her again, let me know."
"Okay," I said. We drove the rest of the way home trying to talk about other things, to get the girl off my mind.
