"I really need to start exercising," Dani whispered to herself as she finally walked up the steps that led into her apartment building, trying to catch her breath. Her throat burned and she was sweating. Running from Detective Jax Michaels definitely took a strain on her. She took a deep breath as she prepared to climb the stairs to the fourth floor which housed her apartment.

When she had first moved into the semi-dilapidated building, her landlord had warned her, "There are no elevators or fancy cabinets but if you want a roof over your head for cheap, you aren't going to find a better place. There's a greenhouse on the roof if you like plants but it's dangerous up there since we don't have a rail to stop someone from falling. As for your neighbors, make friends with them but don't trust them. I don't discriminate against my tenants so if they look suspicious they probably are."

That was five years ago and Dani still lived in the same apartment with cheap cabinets and lousy neighbors. She couldn't afford anything else. She made a call to Dolores and told her she'd head back to the diner after she calmed down. She was about to put her phone away when her body was slammed against the wall.

"Oh no! Dani, I'm so sorry. I didn't see you there," an apologetic voice said as two hands pulled her forward.

Dani groaned as she tried to catch her breath. "Everyone keeps touching me today."

"What did you say?"

Dani looked up into the green eyes of her neighbor, Billy Gearson. His mop of dusty brown hair would have covered his eyes if it weren't for his signature red glasses.

"It's okay, Billy. It was an accident."

"I'm sorry. I'm late for class and I didn't want Derek to get after me," Billy explained.

Derek was Billy's roommate. They never admitted it, but Dani thought they were actually dating. She didn't care for Derek. He was a narcissist as well as a bully and by the way he always nervously said Derek's name, Billy seemed frightened of him.

"Derek's not at work?"

"He took a couple of days off." Billy quickly looked towards their door. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine."

"You still haven't left, Billy-boy?" a deep voice called out.

Billy practically squeaked, "Derek?"

"I told you to hurry and move your ass or you'd be late to class." Derek came forward, his muscles barely contained in the small black shirt he was wearing. "Do I need to carry you to class?"

Billy gave a nervous glance in Dani's direction. "Stop it, Derek," he whispered.

Derek shoved Billy against the wall, causing him to drop his book bag. "What did you say?" His face was centimeters from Billy's.

Dani wasn't sure if being pushed around was their type of foreplay but she felt uncomfortable and cleared her throat. "Well you two look busy, so I'll be on my way. Are you okay, Billy?"

Billy gave a lopsided smile and nodded before Dani felt comfortable enough to leave. If Derek was really hurting him, he would have said something.

"Are you going to do something if he's not?" Derek asked.

"Derek," Billy whispered, shaking his head.

"Be quiet," Derek hissed. "She's always being nosy. Never minding her own business." Derek turned to Dani. "Are you interested in Billy? Are you feeling lonely and think he's going to ask you out?"

"Please, stop it," Billy begged.

Dani rolled her eyes. "What does it matter to you how I feel? Are you jealous or something? Why are you always bullying him? Billy didn't do anything for you to push him up against the wall."

"Billy sure does have a way of getting women to stand up for him." Derek laughed. "It's impressive."

Derek stepped back and Billy straightened his shirt.

"I think I better go," Dani said.

"Where are you going, Dani?" Derek asked, grabbing her wrist.

Dani immediately tried pulling out of his grasp.

"Let her go, Derek," Billy sighed.

Derek smirked and held up her phone which she had dropped when she ran into Billy.

"I'm just trying to be a good neighbor. You forgot this."

Dani grabbed her phone. "Thanks."

"I'm not sure why you even have a phone. It's not like anyone calls you." Derek laughed as he let go of Dani's wrist.

Dani's hand tightened around her phone. She was about to tell Derek to mind his own business when Billy piped up, "I call her."

Dani gave him a grateful smile and said, "Believe it or not Derek, I do have friends."

Derek frowned. He was still staring at Dani when he asked, "Billy, shouldn't you be getting to class?"

"Right. Sorry again, Dani. I'll see you later at the diner." Billy waved before leaving.

"He didn't even say goodbye to me," Derek muttered. Derek turned back to Dani who was unlocking her door. "Hey Dani..."

She grimaced and looked in his direction. "What now?"

Her anger amused him and he grinned. "Don't get so close to Billy, alright?"

"Why not?"

"I don't like it."

Before Dani could question him about his statement, he walked back into the apartment he shared with Billy, slamming the door behind him.

"Douchebag," Dani called after him, raising her fist in the air.

Once she was in her apartment, she looked at the local newspaper that she had left on her table. She frowned when she read the headline.

The Maestro's Symphony of Death Continues.

"What a monster," Dani whispered as she read the article that warned of the murderer who was obsessed with classical music. She wondered what would drive anyone to become a murderer and then thought of her sleepless nights. She removed her gloves, wondering why she bothered to wear them. So many people had touched her.

Dani massaged her temples to calm herself. She had first started having nightmares when she was a child. It took a while for her to realize that whoever touched her, ended up transferring their nightmares to her. It was a secret she couldn't share with anyone. Her parents had known but that made no difference. Her mother left Dani and her father a year after she found out and her father passed away several years after that.

She tossed the newspaper onto her kitchen counter and headed towards her bedroom. It was time to face her next nightmare.

The glowing lights of the Meteorite Motel flickered in the darkness. She saw him approaching and raised her hand to get his attention.

"What took you so long, Paul?"

His arms wrapped around her before she felt his lips against her neck, "You know it takes time for me to get away, Bubbles."

"Stop calling me that. You know I don't like it."

"Then you shouldn't have gotten a tattoo of it on your ass," he laughed.

"I was drunk," she reminded him.

"Whatever you say Bubbles...I mean, Carol."

"We really shouldn't be doing this." She giggled after they had entered the motel room.

"Do you want to stop?" he asked.

She pulled his face close to hers and smiled. "What do you think?"

They were a tangle of lips and tongues when a banging noise disturbed them.

A woman's voice penetrated through the cheap door that kept them hidden, "I know you're in there! I'm going to kill you two! Do you hear me? Kill you!"

The door suddenly slammed open.

Dani's eyes sprung open and she cursed thinking of the woman that had come into the diner a week prior. Dreams about affairs always left a bitter taste in her mouth. They were a reminder that Dolores was right. Love was dangerous.

~~~~ A/N thank you so much for reading! Do check out my new story, Darling Minds, which will be part of a new story series. (I'm finally over my writing burnout) Also, come find me on social media and say hi. I love hearing from you all. I'm slowly reposting my archived stories while I post new work here on Wattpad. ❤