Too Close
623 Words
Ava didn't sleep.
Again.
The photograph remained open on her phone screen long after midnight.
Someone had taken it without her knowledge.
Someone had been watching her.
The thought made her skin crawl.
She zoomed in on the image.
There she was, leaving class.
Lucas walking beside her.
The picture was clear enough to see their faces.
Clear enough to know the photographer hadn't been far away.
A chill ran down her spine.
Whoever was sending these messages wasn't guessing.
They were watching.
Watching her.
Watching Lucas.
And somehow, that frightened her more than anything else.
The storm outside raged through the night.
Rain slammed against the windows.
Thunder shook the dorm building.
Yet none of it was loud enough to drown out the questions racing through her mind.
Why Lucas?
Why her?
And what secret was everyone trying so hard to keep hidden?
---
The next morning, Ava looked exhausted.
Dark circles shadowed her eyes.
Even Jasmine noticed.
"You look terrible."
"Thanks."
"It wasn't an insult."
"It sounded like one."
Jasmine frowned.
"Seriously, what's wrong?"
For a moment Ava considered telling her everything.
The messages.
The photograph.
The figure outside her dorm.
But something stopped her.
The fewer people involved, the better.
At least for now.
"Just tired."
Jasmine didn't look convinced.
But thankfully, she dropped the subject.
---
The campus café was packed.
Students crowded every table.
The smell of coffee filled the air.
Normally, Ava loved places like this.
Today she felt as if someone was watching her.
Every laugh made her turn around.
Every movement caught her attention.
Paranoia was becoming exhausting.
She stood in line waiting for coffee when someone spoke behind her.
"You look awful."
Ava didn't need to turn around.
She recognized the voice immediately.
Lucas.
She faced him.
"Good morning to you too."
His lips twitched.
"You didn't sleep."
"You stalking me now?"
Something flickered across his expression.
A shadow.
Gone almost instantly.
"If I were stalking you, I'd be much better at it."
Ava froze.
The joke wasn't funny.
Not after last night.
Lucas immediately noticed.
His smile faded.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
"Ava."
The concern in his voice surprised her.
And annoyed her.
Because she wanted answers from him.
Not concern.
"You keep saying that," she said quietly.
"Saying what?"
"That I should stay away."
Lucas's jaw tightened.
"I never said that."
"You implied it."
His silence confirmed everything.
Ava crossed her arms.
"Tell me what's going on."
"No."
The answer came too quickly.
Too firmly.
Her frustration exploded.
"Then stop acting like you're protecting me."
Lucas looked away.
For the first time since meeting him, he seemed uncomfortable.
Almost guilty.
That only made Ava more curious.
What could possibly make someone like Lucas Knight nervous?
---
Later that afternoon, Ava headed toward the library.
The sky was overcast.
Gray clouds stretched across the horizon.
Most students hurried between buildings.
Nobody paid attention to her.
At least, that's what she thought.
Until she heard footsteps.
Behind her.
Slow.
Steady.
Following.
Ava glanced over her shoulder.
Nothing.
Just students crossing the walkway.
She continued walking.
The footsteps continued too.
Her pulse quickened.
Maybe she was imagining things.
Maybe she was becoming paranoid.
She turned another corner.
The footsteps followed.
Faster now.
Closer.
Ava's heart pounded.
She spun around.
Nobody.
The walkway was empty.
Completely empty.
A strange unease settled over her.
Then her phone buzzed.
Unknown Number.
Her stomach dropped.
Slowly, she opened the message.
A photograph appeared.
A new photograph.
Taken only seconds ago.
Ava froze.
The picture showed her standing exactly where she was now.
Looking over her shoulder.
Someone had just taken the photo.
Someone nearby.
A second message appeared.
You're not listening.
Her breathing stopped.
A third message arrived.
Stay away
- Writer
