Chapter 6 – The Message Behind Her Smile
928 Words
Jason barely moved the next morning. He lay on his bed with his phone in hand, staring at the message again.
Ash says hi.
The photo was still open. Talia, standing inside the store, holding a snack, smiling at the cashier like the world was fine. But someone was watching her. From the outside. From the dark.
Jason tried to breathe but his chest felt tight. His room was quiet. Too quiet. His stepdad had left early for work. His mom had knocked once before leaving. She didn’t come in. She never did anymore.
His phone buzzed again. It was Sean.
Yo. You good?
Jason didn’t reply. He didn’t feel like talking to anyone. Not even Sean.
He dressed slowly and walked to school with his hood up. He kept his head down the whole time. The sidewalks blurred under his feet. The air felt heavy, like the city was holding its breath.
At school, the stares had quieted. The hallway whispers weren’t as loud. A new fight had happened the day before and people had already moved on to something else.
But Jason hadn’t moved on.
He spotted Talia by the lockers near the art wing. She was talking to one of the art girls. Smiling.
It was a soft smile. Almost shy.
Jason watched her for a moment.
He wondered if that smile was real. Or if she was just good at pretending.
He walked over slowly. She saw him. Her smile faded.
“We need to talk,” he said.
The girl beside her walked away.
Talia looked up at him. “What now?”
Jason pulled out his phone and showed her the photo.
She stared at it for a long time.
“That’s me,” she whispered.
Jason nodded. “It was taken from outside. Someone is following you.”
Talia stepped back. “When was this?”
“Last night,” Jason said. “And they said... Ash says hi.”
Talia’s face turned pale.
“You know who that is?” he asked.
She didn’t speak.
“Talia.”
“I think I do,” she finally said.
Jason leaned in. “Who?”
She hesitated. “Someone from my last school. He wasn’t... close to me. But he followed me online. Commented on everything. I blocked him. Then messages started coming from burner accounts.”
Jason’s heart sank. “You think he found you?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “I changed my name online. I don’t even use socials anymore.”
Jason ran his hand through his hair. “Why didn’t you tell me this?”
“I didn’t want to scare you,” she said.
Jason looked at her. “I was already scared. But not of him. Of you.”
She looked like she wanted to cry. But didn’t.
Jason lowered his voice. “I need the truth from now on. Everything. No more secrets.”
Talia nodded. “Okay.”
They stood there in silence. Somewhere behind them, the bell rang.
Across the school, Jade stood by her locker again. She opened it slowly. No letter today. Her heart sank a little.
She reached into the back and pulled out the one she had written.
It was still there.
She hadn’t taken it out. But now she did.
She unfolded it and looked at the two sentences again.
Who are you? Why do you know me so well?
She stared at them for a long time. Then added something.
I want to meet you.
She folded it neatly and placed it back in the locker. She didn’t tell anyone. Not even her closest friends. This secret felt too personal. Too real.
As she closed her locker, someone walked past her. A boy. Head down. Hoodie on.
He didn’t speak.
But Jade noticed the faint smell of something familiar.
Cologne. Not strong. Just enough to stay in the air.
She turned around. But he was already gone.
Later that day, Sean found Jason on the court. Practice had ended but Jason was still shooting. Alone.
Sean dribbled a ball over and passed it to him. “You’re off today.”
Jason caught the pass. Didn’t shoot.
Sean stepped closer. “Talk to me.”
Jason shook his head. “I’m fine.”
“Liar.”
Jason finally looked at him. “Do you think I’m being stupid?”
Sean raised an eyebrow. “For what?”
“For trusting her.”
Sean hesitated. “You care about her?”
Jason nodded once.
“Then trust your gut,” Sean said. “You always trusted it on the court. Trust it now.”
Jason stared at him. “Even when it doesn’t make sense?”
Sean smiled. “Especially then.”
Jason sighed. “Thanks, man.”
They bumped fists. A quiet moment. One that felt good.
But something still didn’t sit right in Jason’s stomach.
That night, he stayed up again. Scrolling. Rewatching. Reading every message. Every image. Looking for a pattern.
At 1:17 AM, a new message came in.
You’re too late.
Attached was a voice note.
Jason hesitated. Then pressed play.
It was Talia. Breathing fast. Crying.
And then came her voice.
I thought I could run. But I can't. He's here.
Jason sat up straight. His hand shaking.
The voice note ended.
He tried calling her.
No answer.
He called again.
No answer.
He ran to the window, threw on a jacket, and grabbed his keys.
He didn’t know where he was going.
He just knew he had to find her.
- Writer
