Scarlett’s stomach sank.
“But lately,” he continued, “there have been… concerns.”
She laughed bitterly.
“Let me guess. I’m imagining things.”
Mr. Turner sighed.
“Stress can affect anyone. Especially students under pressure.”
“I’m not under pressure.”
“Being popular isn’t always easy.”
Scarlett stared at him.
“So you think I made everything up.”
He didn’t answer directly.
“I think,” he said gently, “you might benefit from taking a few days off.”
Her throat tightened.
“Are you suspending me?”
“No. Just suggesting rest.”
Scarlett grabbed her backpack.
“I’m fine.”
She walked out before he could reply.
—
The library was almost empty after school.
Scarlett sat at a corner table, staring blankly at her phone.
Across from her, Mia twisted her hands nervously.
“I’m trying to understand,” Mia said quietly.
Scarlett looked up.
“You think I did it too.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
Mia exhaled shakily.
“Scar… I was there. I didn’t see anyone near your tray.”
“That doesn’t mean no one did it.”
“I know.”
“But the video—”
“The video is fake!”
Silence fell between them.
Mia’s voice softened.
“I just… haven’t seen anything weird myself.”
Scarlett felt like someone had punched her in the chest.
“You’re the only one who believed me.”
“I still want to,” Mia said quickly.
Scarlett looked away.
The space between them suddenly felt enormous.
Across the room, a familiar blonde figure approached.
Sophia.
She carried two bottled drinks.
“I thought you might need this,” she said sweetly, setting one in front of Scarlett.
“Herbal calming tea.”
Scarlett stared at it suspiciously.
“I’m not drinking that.”
Sophia sighed.
“Scarlett, I’m worried about you.”
“Save it.”
Sophia’s eyes flickered.
For a split second, something colder surfaced beneath the concern.
Then it disappeared.
Just as another hand suddenly reached across the table.
And knocked the bottle off the surface.
The drink splashed across the floor.
Everyone turned.
Ethan Moore stood beside the table.
His dark eyes were sharp.
“Don’t drink that.”
Sophia’s expression hardened instantly.
“Ethan, what are you doing?”
He didn’t look at her.
His gaze stayed on Scarlett.
“You shouldn’t trust things people hand you.”
Scarlett blinked.
“What?”
Sophia scoffed.
“Oh please. It’s tea.”
Ethan finally turned toward her.
His voice was calm.
“Then you drink it.”
Sophia’s smile faltered.
“I… already had one.”
“Sure.”
The tension snapped tight between them.
Mia looked between the two, confused.
Scarlett’s pulse raced.
Ethan leaned closer to her.
Lowering his voice.
“Someone’s trying to push you over the edge.”
Her breath caught.
“You believe me?”
Ethan’s eyes darkened.
“I believe someone’s playing a very careful game.”
Before she could respond, he straightened and walked away.
Leaving the shattered bottle and stunned silence behind.
—
That night Scarlett lay in bed staring at the ceiling.
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
Her stomach twisted as she opened the message.
A single sentence appeared.
I see you.
Her breath stopped.
Another message followed.
I know everything.
Her fingers trembled.
Then a photo loaded.
Scarlett’s blood ran cold.
It was a picture of her sitting in class that afternoon.
Side profile.
Close.
Too close.
The angle was from less than three feet away.
But she had been sitting alone.
No one that close.
No one she noticed.
Her heart began pounding violently.
How—
Another message arrived.
No words this time.
Just three dots.
Typing.
Scarlett held her breath.
Then the final text appeared.
You look prettier when you’re scared.
Her phone slipped from her fingers.
The room suddenly felt too small.
Too quiet.
Too exposed.
Someone had been right next to her.
Watching.
Close enough to take that photo.
Close enough to touch her.
And she never even knew.
Outside her bedroom window, the wind rustled softly through the trees.
But Scarlett couldn’t shake the feeling that somewhere in the darkness—
Someone was still looking at her.