Page 23 of Pretty Little Fears

Emmett: Little obsession, you look delicious. I can’t wait to get you alone and take a bite out of you.

Mynose crinkles asIlook down at the message.He’srelentless.Mythoughts surroundingEmmettfrom last night trickle back in and continue their spiraling.

Whenhe first began watching me and sending constant messages,Iwas confused and slightly creeped out, but not scared.Idon’t know what it was but oddly enough his presence feels… safe?

Iknow he won’t hurt me.Isigh at how crazyImust sound and look back at the text, unsure of how to react or respond.

Instead,Ipocket my phone and continue walking.Whatdoes it say about me now thatI’mstarting to look forward to these texts and letters?They’remessing with my head more thanIthought, but a part of me does like havingEmmett’sattention.

Onmy walk between classes, a text fromAspencomes in, notifying me about aHalloweenparty coming up next weekend.Iwould need a costume and it’s a little late notice to buy anything, soIhopeI’mable to find something good.

Justbefore the door to my economics class,Ipass by the missing student bulletin board and my eyes roam over all the lost students.Istop and take a few steps towards the board, studying the posters closely, noticing the dates of the disappearances line up with the entirety of the current semester.

Icount every face.Twenty-three students are missing within a matter of three months.Theyposted flyers around campus promoting safety and the buddy system, butIhadn’t heard of any investigations that were going on.Ichew on the skin of my thumb whileIwonder what protocols are being followed to ensure the well-being and security ofBlackwood’sstudent body.

Myeyes continue to glaze over every face, their smiles frozen in time.I’mdrawn to a familiar smile and my jaw drops open.Ayoung woman stares back at me, with pearly whites, bright blue eyes, and dark brown, curly hair.Irecognize her instantly asNatalie, one of my classmates.

Myheart drops.Weweren’t close but we were friendly and now it makes sense whyIhaven’t seen her in class this week.Goosebumpsform on my arms and neck asIwonder where they are.Mygreatest fears run through my head, being kidnapped, raped, and tortured.Thereare plenty of sick people who play with the lives of others just for fun or because of some disgusting desires.

Thosepoor souls.Questionsecho inside my head.Arethey suffering?Willthey ever make it home?Butmy biggest question,and most terrifying, who’s next?

Withone last lingering glance at the board,Iturn and shuffle inside the room.Findingmy seat and setting my stuff down,I’mbrought out of my thoughts when someone comes and sits in the seat to the left of me.Stillshaken up,Igive them a side eye and see it's the golden boy from the house party.Now, my guard is up and everyone is a potential kidnapper.

“Hi,I'mBraxton.”Hebeams, leaning over closer to me. “You’reBlair, right?I'vehoped to run into you since that party a few weeks back.”

Slightlyconfused about how he knows my name,Iblink a couple of times in confusion.

“Yeahthat's me, how did you…”Itrail off.Danger, my mind warns me.

“Yourcoffee cup.”Hesmirks and points.Islowly nod my head.

Iforgot not everyone is some crazy, obsessed stalker who sneaks into my room and waits in the shadows to give me mind-blowing pleasure.

Shakingout my thoughts of stalkers and kidnappers,IgiveBraxtona friendly smile. “Yeah, that's me.Niceto meet you.”

Thereare continuous vibrations in my pocket that are no doubt caused byEmmett.Ignoringthem,IgiveBraxtonmy attention as he speaks.

“So…Iwas wondering if you would be open to tutoring me?Inoticed you get into the lectures andIhaven't been doing too hot on the past few tests.I'llget kicked off the football team ifIdon't get my grades up.”Heflashes a boyishly charming smile.

Maybehe is just a regular student.Reliefruns down my spine at the realization thatI’mprobably just overthinking everything that's going on.

“Yeah,Ican help you study.Wecan meet up somewhere on campus or you can come to my place?”Igive him a sugary sweet smile, also hopingEmmettgets the hint to back off.Hecan take his possessiveness and shove it up his ass.

Fuckhim,Idon’t belong to anyone.

“Takemy number and we can set something up,”Braxtonsays while nodding and displaying his perfect, white teeth.

Aswe continue to make light conversation while we wait forProfessorMonroe,Ifeel another surge of incoming texts.Turningback to face the front of the room,Ipull my phone out under the desk to see what demands my attention.It'snot a shock to me whenIsee the multiple texts fromEmmett.

Emmett: You can ignore me but you’ll talk to that fuck?

Emmett: Stop talking to him.

Emmett: Does he know You’re. Mine.

Emmett: I. Don’t. Share.

Emmett: Little obsession… You’re playing a dangerous game.

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