The first thing Scarlett Reed noticed that morning was the feeling.
Not a sound.
Not a shadow.
A feeling.
Like someone’s eyes were drilling into the back of her neck.
The hallway of Westview High buzzed with the usual chaos—lockers slamming, sneakers squeaking on polished floors, laughter echoing under fluorescent lights. Students parted instinctively as Scarlett walked past. It wasn’t arrogance that made her stride confident; it was habit.
When you’d been the center of attention for three straight years, you learned how to move like the spotlight belonged to you.
Captain of the cheer squad.
Straight-A student.
Homecoming queen runner-up.
Scarlett Reed was the girl people whispered about—sometimes with admiration, sometimes with jealousy.
But today, something felt wrong.
The sensation crawled across her skin again.
Watching.
Scarlett’s fingers tightened around the strap of her backpack.
Don’t be dramatic, she told herself.
Still, the feeling wouldn’t leave.
It sat heavy between her shoulder blades like heat from a spotlight.
She turned.
Fast.
Students filled the hallway—clusters of friends, couples leaning against lockers, a few freshmen darting nervously through the crowd. Nothing unusual.
No one staring.
No one suspicious.
Just Westview High being Westview High.
Scarlett frowned.
Weird.
“Scar!” a voice called.
Mia Wilson appeared beside her, breathless as usual, dark curls bouncing around her shoulders.
“You walk like you’re on a runway,” Mia complained. “Do you know how hard it is to keep up with you?”
Scarlett forced a smile. “Maybe you’re just slow.”
“Rude.”
But Mia was grinning.
Scarlett relaxed a little. Mia had been her best friend since sophomore year—loyal, blunt, and incapable of fake politeness. If something was wrong, Mia would notice.
Right?
They reached Scarlett’s locker. She spun the dial automatically and pulled the metal door open.
Something dropped onto the floor.
A black hair tie.
Scarlett froze.
It wasn’t just any hair tie.
It was hers.
Or at least… the exact same brand she always used.
She stared at it, confusion tightening her chest.
“I thought you lost that yesterday,” Mia said casually, picking it up.
Scarlett’s pulse skipped.
“I did.”
Mia blinked. “Then maybe someone found it?”
Scarlett hesitated.
Maybe.
But there was one problem.
Her locker shelf was nearly six feet high—too tall for most students to reach without stretching.
And the hair tie had been placed neatly on the top shelf.
Not dropped.
Placed.
A cold ripple slid down Scarlett’s spine.
“Scar?” Mia waved the hair tie. “You okay?”
Scarlett forced a laugh.
“Yeah,” she said quickly. “I’m just… tired.”
Mia shrugged and tossed the hair tie back into the locker.
“Cheer practice tonight is going to kill us,” she groaned.
Scarlett nodded automatically.
But as they walked away, the feeling returned.
Watching.
Somewhere behind her.
And this time it felt closer.
—
By lunch, the whisper had started.
Not the creepy feeling.
The rumor.
“Did you hear?” someone muttered behind Scarlett in the cafeteria.
“She said someone’s stalking her.”
Scarlett stiffened.
Mia slammed her tray onto the table.
“People need hobbies,” Mia muttered.
Across the cafeteria, Sophia Davis smiled sweetly while talking to two freshmen from the cheer squad.
Sophia was beautiful in a polished, effortless way—perfect blonde waves, flawless makeup, the kind of smile that made teachers trust her instantly.
Vice captain of the cheer squad.
Scarlett’s biggest rival.
But publicly?
They were friends.
At least, that’s what everyone believed.
Sophia spotted Scarlett watching and lifted a hand in a gentle wave.
“Scarlett!” she called brightly. “Are you feeling better?”
The table went quiet.
Scarlett frowned.
“Better from what?”
Sophia’s expression turned sympathetic.
“Oh,” she said softly. “I just heard you were… stressed.”
A few nearby students leaned closer.
Listening.
Scarlett felt heat rise in her cheeks.
“I’m not stressed.”
Sophia nodded quickly, as if agreeing.
“Of course not,” she said.
But the look in her eyes said something very different.
Poor Scarlett.
She’s cracking.
Mia rolled her eyes so hard Scarlett thought they might stick.
“Nice acting,” Mia muttered under her breath.
Sophia just smiled wider.
—