Though I couldn’t see Zoe, Abby and Maya,
I could hear their voices.
I followed the noise, edging closer to a narrow alleyway.
Abby
You scared the shit out of us, you bitch.
Abby
What the hell were you doing hiding in an alley?
Zoe
And why didn’t you yank Ki back with us?
Abby
That was really shitty to let her keep walking by like that, Maya.
Maya
Shh. Shut up and watch. We’re hiding.
Abby
Who are you talking about?
Maya
The creep who’s been following you guys.
Maya
I’ve been watching him watch you.
Kiara
Who are you talking about?!
Maya
That guy. Across the street and two buildings down.
Zoe
The cute guy with black hair?
Maya
He’s not cute, he’s creepy.
Abby
He’s definitely both.
Zoe
He could be your twin brother, Maya.
Abby
Pale skin, jet black hair, permanent scowl – but still cute.
Maya
Shut up. That doesn’t matter.
Maya
He’s definitely been stalking us.
Abby
But weren’t we just stalking two little old ladies?
Abby
How is that any less creepy?
Zoe
It’s not. They weren’t regular little old ladies.
Maya
That’s why we’re hiding.
Maya
I guarantee Kiara knows that creep.
Maya
Thank God we lost her after I pulled you two in here.
Abby
I think he did too. He looks lost.
Zoe
What do you think he wants?
Maya
I told you, he’s gotta be Kiara’s friend.
Abby
Pretty sure we’re her only friends.
Abby
Shit, he’s coming this way.
Maya
Get back before he sees us.
Abby
Damn it, he’s definitely coming this way.
Maya
Abby, not that way! Look out for that gate!
Maya stopped short and swung around, confronting the boy.
Maya
Hey creep, back off before I kick your ass.
Creepy Boy
I will, if you give me what I want.
Maya
Ew. What do you want?
Creepy Boy
The backpack. And your phones.
Zoe
Just throw him your backpack, Abby.
Zoe
Shut up, Maya, before someone gets hurt.
Abby
Just take it and go, jerkoff.
Abby threw the bag on the ground but he didn’t leave.
After rifling through Abby’s backpack and finding nothing…
The boy calmly scrolled through their phones.
Abby
You have our shit. Now go. Seriously.
Maya
I’m warning you, leave before I scream.
Creepy Boy
There’s a hell of a lot of noise out there...
Creepy Boy
So no one will even hear you...
The boy didn’t turn when he heard me come up behind him.
Kiara
Didn’t you hear me?
Kiara
I said ‘Give her the bag.’
The boy simply smiled and handed Abby her backpack without a word.
Then, he turned and flashed me the most beautiful smile I’d ever seen.
As he reached out and touched my cheek, I should have been terrified.
But I wasn’t… and at the time, I had no clue why.
Creepy Boy
I’ll be in touch soon, Kiara.
Maya
You lying piece of shit.
Maya
Do you seriously have the nerve to play dumb right now?
Maya
You said you didn’t know who was following us.
Kiara
I didn’t—I mean, I don’t!
Maya
He sure as shit knew you.
Kiara
Maya, I swear, I have no idea who that was.
Abby
He called you by name, Ki.
Maya
Thank you, Abby. Finally, someone is taking my side.
Abby
I’m not taking sides. I’m just asking... how did he know your name?
Kiara
I really have no clue.
Zoe
In case you don’t remember, Ki just saved our lives.
Zoe
You could be a little appreciative.
Maya
Whatever. Everyone is so touchy today.
Maya
And she didn’t save shit.
Maya
We’d never be involved in all this drama in the first place if it weren’t for her.
Maya
She’s the one who’s in on something with that creep and the old hags.
Kiara
What, exactly, do you think I’m hoping to accomplish here?
Maya
You’re an attention whore—always hogging the spotlight and showing off how clever you are.
Maya
You think you’re better than the rest of us, don’t you?
Maya
No wonder they had to ship your ass all over the country to find someone to take you in.
Zoe
Oh my gosh! You took that way too far, Maya.
Kiara
No, Zo, she’s right.
Abby
That’s not true, Ki.
Kiara
No, I’m not just saying that so you feel sorry for me.
Kiara
Once people get to know me, they don’t want to be around me.
Kiara
Bad shit happens around me.
Kiara
I bring the creeps out of the woodwork.
Kiara
I don’t know why, but it always happens. And then I get sent away again.
Zoe
If today was anyone’s fault, it’s Maya’s.
Maya
How is any of this my fault?
Zoe
I told you to stop it, Maya.
Kiara
Can we just drop it?
Kiara
We’ve all had enough drama for one day.
Zoe
Not alone you aren’t.
Abby
Yeah, we’ll all go together.
Maya
Fine. But we have to go by my aunt’s shop first.
Maya
I can’t come all the way here and not say hello.
Two minutes later, we walked into the Fernandez Boticario.
And me and Maya stopped in our tracks.
Maya
You gotta be shitting me.
Maya
There, on the shelf behind the counter.
Maya
You recognize it. Don’t you, Kiara?
Zoe
It’s a book. So what?
Maya
It’s not just any book, is it?
Kiara
The old crones almost stabbed Maya because of that book.
