BEEEEP! BEEEEP! BEEEEP!109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrqm53n1uZ
I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock beeping, signaling that it was time to get up and get ready for school. I groaned and rolled out of bed. Walking over to my phone that was charging on the other side of the room, I saw that I had a text from my best friend Carrie. Carrie and I have been best friends since kindergarten. I stole one of her toys and we immediately became best friends. All the text said was that she was going to be late for school. Typical Carrie.
I got dressed and then went down to have breakfast before I had to walk to school. My mom was already in the kitchen making her first cup of coffee for today.
“Good morning sweetie.” My mom said when she saw me. I smiled. I’m not really a morning person. I ate breakfast and then I headed out the door for school.
When I got to school I waited outside for a few minutes for Carrie, which proved to be a bad idea because it was freezing outside. I saw Carrie approaching five minutes later. Thank god it is not snowing yet. It snows pretty early into the fall season in England. If it was snowing, I would have gone inside without her.
“Hey good morning. Your parents are going out of town tonight right?” Carrie asked me as we walked into school and away from the freezing cold temperature of the morning. It was fall in Bradford, England. The trees were losing their leaves and a colorful array of dead leaves were flying around and falling to the ground. I didn’t even get to say good morning back. Ever since I told her my parents were leaving that is all that has been on her mind. Carrie is the type of girl who loves to party. Oh, and she loves food. But mostly partying. So ever since I told her, that’s all she has been asking me about.
“Yeah and?” I responded as we walked down the main hallway.
“And, what are you going to do? You should throw a party.” Carrie suggested. I knew it!
I rolled my eyes. “Carrie, you know that I am not a party person, and with the recent events, I think I should just lay low,” I answered while we walked side by side in the hallway.
“Oh yeah, what’s going on with that?” Carrie asked while I opened my locker.
“I thought I saw him outside my window last night while I was changing. But when I looked out, there was no one there.” I said, shivering from the memory. 109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0dXuTyy3A
For the past month, I have been feeling that someone is watching me, like to a stalker level. Where I live in Bradford, it is kind of sketchy. I wouldn’t say it’s the worst neighborhood, but I would not say it’s the best either. There are some shady people around here, but there has never been a stalker problem on the news. It’s honestly, probably in my head. I have been watching all these crazy crime shows and now I think someone is after me. But, one night a couple of weeks ago, I was walking home from the library late at night, and it’s about a fifteen-minute walk home. As I was walking, I heard someone stepping on leaves behind me, when I turned around, there was nobody there. Now, I’m usually in my head a lot and very paranoid, but as soon as I turned around, I could have sworn I saw someone duck behind a tree. But, nevertheless, I turned back around and continued walking home. Every few minutes I heard heavy breathing, more loud steps, and felt a presence behind me. Eventually, I ran as fast as she could home, and when I got there, I looked behind me, and thankfully I lost whoever that was. It was one of the scariest nights ever.
“Yeah, I guess that’s a good idea. But wouldn’t you want people around if he shows up?” Carrie reminded me. 109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8nuE0TN6b
I closed my locker after I got everything I needed for my classes before lunch and sighed. “Your right, but I don’t want to draw attention to me. If he thinks I’m leaving he won’t come to my house.”
“You should call the cops,” Carrie suggested as we started walking towards our first-period class which was English.
“I will when he makes a move. So far he has just been watching me.”
“Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Carrie and I walked into the classroom and saw Mr. Payne, our English teacher sitting at his desk going through papers.
“Good morning ladies.” He said when he looked up.
“Good morning.” We both said in unison.
Carrie and I took their assigned seats and waited for class to start.
“Good morning everyone. For today, we will continue reading our book. Please take that out, along with the note packet. Also, take out your phone or laptop because we will be reading an article that goes along with the book.” Mr. Payne told the class.
Everyone followed his directions and the only sound that could be heard was the shuffling of books and papers.
I opened my light purple backpack and took out the book, the note packet, a pen, and my phone.
I put my phone face down on the desk and opened my book up to chapter three.
Mr. Payne started reading to the class in his powerful, strong voice, It echoed around the classroom as everyone followed along. Somewhere during the middle of the chapter, I heard my phone vibrate on my desk. I made sure Mr. Payne was not looking and I picked up my phone.
I saw I had a text message from an unknown number.
“Hello,” was all it said.
I figured it was just a wrong number. I ignored it and continued reading the book.
“Now can anyone tell me how the main character uses this metaphor to describe his normal life?” Mr. Payne asked when he finished reading the chapter.
A few people raised their hands. Mr. Payne picked on one of them and she answered the question.
“Now, I would like everyone to open up the article and read the first section. Take notes as you read.”
I opened up the article on my phone. As I was reading, my phone vibrated in my hand again.
“I can’t wait to see you tonight.”
It was from the same number. This time I didn’t think it was from a wrong number. This person knows exactly what they were doing.
I got so creeped out, that I raised my hand and asked Mr. Payne if I could use the bathroom. He nodded his head. Carrie saw me get up and I looked at her and mouthed “two minutes,” telling her that I wanted her to ask to use the bathroom in two minutes. She nodded and I left the classroom.
I walked down the hallway as normally as I could to the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror in the pink-walled room.
Soon enough Carrie came in. “What’s wrong?” She asked.
I looked at myself in the mirror. I was paler than normal.
“I- I got two texts from a random number. The first one said “Hello.” Then I got another text. It said, “I can’t wait to see you tonight.” I’m so fucking scared!! What if it’s the stalker? How did he get my number? What if he shows up tonight? Fuck, what am I going to do?” I rambled.
I put my hands in my hair and threw my phone down on the ledge above the sink. “Okay. That is creepy but it doesn’t mean that it’s your stalker. It could be the wrong number okay.” Carrie tried to calm me down.
“Yeah, you’re right. You’re right. Just the wrong number. It’s just the wrong number. I’ll just ignore it.” I was still freaking out. I repeated this mantra in my head until I calmed down.
Carrie and I talked a little more in the bathroom and then we went back to class.
Soon, English was over. Everyone filed out of the classroom and into the halls that were overflowing with students.
Carrie and I had the next three classes together. After that, I was on my own until lunch.
Lunch finally came around and I have gotten no more texts from the random number. Relief flooded through me and I was finally able to relax. I ate my lunch in peace with Carrie.
My day went on like normal. I had all nine of my classes, saw my crush, talked gossip, and did all my work or as much as I wanted to do. 109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wkHCFW7Qv
When it was time to go home, I was excited to be left alone for the first time in a while.
I went to my locker, said bye to Carrie, and I walked out of the school and prepared for my walk home. The air has a crisp chill to it.
Ten minutes into my walk home, I felt someone behind me. Automatically, I turned around, and again, no one was there. I just kept walking like normal. The streets were pretty crowded with people who are walking around the town, either on their lunch break, or they are tourists wandering around the little town. I wove my way in and out of the crowd, trying to lose whoever was behind me.
I successfully made it home and locked the door as fast as I could. I rested my back against the white wooden door and let my breathing get back to normal. Another close encounter. When will this ever stop?
“Hi, Ashley. How was school?” My mom asked as she walked into the kitchen.
“Good,” I said slightly out of breath.
“Anything interesting happen?”109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UxXWBevnV
If she only knew.
“No,” I answered.
I picked up my bag that I dropped on the floor and walked into the kitchen and put my lunch box and water bottle on the counter.
I went back to the front door, take my shoes off, took my coat off, and went to my room.
In my room, I went over to my window and looked out. My room was on the second floor. As I looked down, it wasn’t that far of a fall or a climb. Hopefully, the stalker can’t come up through the window. But I can never be too certain.
After I was finished changing, my mom came into my room.
“As you know,” she started. “We are going out of town tonight for the weekend. I just want to go over some rules.”
I sat on my bed and rolled my eyes.
“No boys over. You can have Carrie over and that’s it’s. If you leave the house you have to let me know. There are leftovers in the fridge and money on the counter for pizza if you want. Any questions?”
I shook my head no and then she left the room.
I did some school work until it was time for my parents to leave. I met my mom and dad in the living room and we said our goodbyes but not before going over the rules for the second time.
“Have fun sweetie and call me if you need anything.”
I said bye to her and my dad and finally I was left alone.
I plopped down on the couch in the living room and turned the tv on. I watched mindless cartoons and ate junk food. Around 6:00 I started getting hungry.
Moving from my warm and comfortable spot on the couch, I reluctantly got up and went into the kitchen. I looked in the fridge for leftovers and found some pasta that we had two nights ago.
I took the container out and put it in the microwave for a few minutes. While my dinner was cooking, I got a glass of water, a plate, and a fork.
Two minutes later the microwave dinged signaling my food was ready. I took it out and dumped the pasta on the plate in front of me. I threw the container in the sink saying to myself that I will clean it later.
I took the plate and a glass of water and sat at the kitchen table. I ate for about twenty minutes. Then when I was done, I cleaned up my mess and ran the dishwasher.
After everything was cleaned and I was full, I went back to watching tv. When the clock struck 11:00, I decided that I wanted to go to bed.
I have not heard or saw anyone tonight which is good. Actually it’s great. Maybe he stopped chasing after me. One can only hope.
Anyway, I turned the tv off and got ready for bed. When I was all ready, I jumped into my cozy bed. I went on my phone for a little bit, then tried to sleep.
I’m not sure if it was just my imagination or not, but right when I started falling asleep, I heard the front door open.
It’s just my imagination. I thought to myself.
I turned over so I was now laying on my left side and tried to fall asleep again.
Every time I closed my eyes I heard footsteps. They got closer and closer and louder and louder until they stopped.
I don’t know where they stopped and there was no way I was going to look. I sunk lower in my bed and pulled my light pink blanket over my head.
I felt my eyes getting heavier with sleep. Finally, after what felt like forever, I went to sleep.
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