When I was still living in SF, I used to stop into Starbucks that was right down the street from my work every morning. I was used to seeing many of the same faces at that Starbucks, so it was odd to see anyone in there I didn’t recognize. In the summer one day, a new guy started coming in - late 30′s with black hair. I didn’t pay much attention to it until I noticed something he always came in RIGHT after me in the morning behind me in line. It didn’t matter what time of morning I came in - he was always behind me in line. I just figured that we had a similar “tea time” schedule on our morning commute, and didn’t think much of it.
One of my classmates from school was a barista there, and when I saw him at my work one day, he mentioned to me that the guy ONLY ever came into that Starbucks when I was there. (Which was incredibly odd, because my work schedule did NOT have regular hours and days off, and it often changed on a day-to-day basis.) When I heard that, I started to get worried. This guy - whomever he was - knew my schedule. Was he following me? I still don’t know, but I’d have to think he was.
One day in particular, on a day off, I stopped into the Starbucks and found a seat in a corner to have a Skype call with someone. Without my noticing, this guy came in, grabbed his coffee, and sat down at the table RIGHT next to me, essentially blocking off my way for a clean exit. Once I realized what had happened, I started to panic.
He started talking to me and leaning into my personal space, and be VERY creepy. I was sitting next to a wall, so the only way out was to GET CLOSER to the guy, and he was already trying to caress my arm. I asked him to stop and to leave me alone, but he refused.
I locked eyes with a group of tourists on the other side of the cafe. One of the women in the group tapped her VERY TALL AND MUSCULAR guy friend on the shoulder and gestured my way. The guy from the group must have seen the desperation and panic in my eyes, because picked up his coat and strode over to me and said “Hey, babe - sorry I’m late. Are you ready to leave?” He asked.
I immediately nodded and picked up my belongings. The guy took my hand and walked with me outside. Stalker guy followed us out, but when the rest of the group of tourists came out to wait with us for a car, he turned around and left.
They walked with me as a group down to my work building, where the girl who had seen me first called us two Lyfts - one for their group, and one for me to take anywhere I needed to go in the city.
The man hugged me and said he was glad that he was there to do something.
TL,DR: Massive beef-cake totally hot cinnamon roll tourist pretends to be my bf to scare away creepy stalker and his buddies pay for a ride to get me to a safe place.
Men who recognize that women are unsafe in dark alleys, college campuses, grocery stores, gas stations and retail stores and do something about it are the kind of quality men that this world needs more of.
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