I stopped dead, spinning in a full circle.
This time, I caught it clear as day. A blonde ponytail vanishing behind the student center.
I opened my mouth to say something, but before I could, another voice hissed—clear, urgent, and definitely not meant for me. “Crap. She heard us.”
My eyebrows shot up.Us?
Oh, fantastic. I hadn’t just acquired one creeper. I had multiple. Like Pokémon, but worse.
I wasn’t exactly in a position to judge anyone for lurking, but still…being the one on theotherside of it felt wrong. Especially when the only person I’d ever want watching me was Matty.
The wind shifted, carrying what sounded like a hushed argument from behind the building. A sharpshh. Then the unmistakable slap of a hand hitting a forehead.
I groaned under my breath. “This would be a really inconvenient time to be murdered.”
The whispers started again, fast and panicked, like middle schoolers caught playing ding-dong ditch.
“She’s looking this way?—”
“I told you to stay lower?—”
“Well, you’re the one who?—”
Another frantic shush.
I stood there, bag slipping off one shoulder, staring at the corner where the voices had tangled themselves up.
Whoever these mystery women were, they weren’t exactly criminal masterminds.
All I could hope was that if I pretended hard enough not to care, maybe they’d get bored and slide back into whatever hole they’d crawled out of.
I tugged my bag higher on my shoulder, took a deep breath, and started walking again.
Behind me, someone hissed, “Go, go, go!” followed by the sound of running feet.
Yeah. Totally normal.
I stopped in my tracks, spun on my heel, and shouted, louder than I meant to, “Why exactly are you following me?”
The whispers went quiet for half a beat, and then…chaos.
More frantic whispering. “Shh!”
Another voice groaning, “Told you she’d catch us!”
I folded my arms, trying to look annoyed instead of anxious, my foot tapping against the concrete in quick, uneven bursts I couldn’t quite control.
Finally, three heads peeked out from behind the corner of the building.
Not the shady creeps I’d imagined. Not at all.
And I knew exactly who they were…even if I wasn’t supposed to.
Casey, Parker’s girl, stood in the middle, her glossy raven hair catching the light, tall and striking in that quietly intimidating way she had. Beside her was Riley, Jace’s girl, all golden hair and long legs, the kind of pretty that made people stop mid-sentence. The third one, equally as gorgeous, had a bright blonde ponytail and an expression halfway between excitement and panic. Natalie. Their best friend.
They exchanged quick looks, like deciding who was about to be sacrificed.
Natalie sighed dramatically and stepped out, marching toward me with her hands raised in mock surrender.
