My best friend (22F) has a creepy neighbor who lives across the street from her and has been watching her through his glass storm door and blinds every time she is outside for the past 2 years. In fact, he watches everyone who comes and goes from the property, viewing it as a way to “monitor” the property for the landlord. I (26F) have watched her pets several times while she’s on vacation so I am hyper aware that he’s watching me every time I’m there (twice a day when she’s out of town). She has told me that he has come over to talk to her before and said creepy things, plus he’s an angry alcoholic, but I’ve never talked to him myself.
This evening, while watching her pets, I brought my sister (23F, who has watched the pets herself before) and our mutual friend (21F, who she said I could bring as well). We saw him staring at us through the window and were, naturally, freaked out. We like to joke around, especially to cope with stress, so we laughed about it and one of us (not me) pointed at him to point it out to the others.
He then texted my friend (22F and renter of the property) saying that it was “complete b.s.” and threatened to “cause a scene” and call the landlord of the property if he saw it happen again.
My sister and I both have generalized anxiety disorder and are now freaked out, seeing as I still have to watch the pets for 2 more days. I know it is probably my anxiety talking but it’s also valid to be afraid of being watched by a 60 y/o man all of the time and threats being made by a raging alcoholic. My friend who lives across the street from him has somehow seemed to have gotten on his good side but I don’t know if there is any way to redeem myself in his insecure eyes after this. I fear that he will stew on his hatred for me and do something disturbing because I don’t know what behavior to expect from him.
Im simply not good with confrontation due to my own trauma with men. I have gotten my 59 y/o mother to agree to go with me for at least one visit tomorrow but I am prepared to call the cops if need be and have pepper spray at the ready.
I know I’m overthinking but trying to do so to protect myself. I love her pets and seem to understand their complex medical needs better than others who have watched them before. With all of my anxiety considered, should I continue to agree to watch her pets in the future now that he seems to have a vendetta against me?