The day drags on until lunchtime. “Girrrrlll guess what miss queen bitch did in chem today!” Kate says as she slams her food down on the lunch table. “I don’t know, make out with Theo?” I look at her not having a clue what she did. “ well yeah but she got on my nerves! First she sat her ass on my lab table just because I was in her seat, we just got new assigned seats and she didn’t care, then she completely ruined my experiment on “accident” like what the hell did I ever do to her?”

  I shake my head and roll my eyes. “Clearly she’s just jealous that you’re smarter than her and overall a good person. I doubt she has much going on in that head of hers unless she’s making tiktoks or trying to fuck the whole football team.” Kate busts out laughing almost choking on her food. “See this is why you’re my best friend, you really know how to make my day better. But don’t think I forgot about our little deal!” She pulls out a blueberry muffin from her bag. “You can have this after you spill the tea on whatever has your brain.”

  I reach for the muffin and Kate slaps my hand. “What did I just say? Spill the tea first!” I sigh and look at her. “It’s not really much of anything.” She looks at me like I’m lying and notices my flushed cheeks. “You better tell me or I’m gonna assume you really did sleep with Mr. Anderson.” I groan and press my head against the table. “Fine. But you better promise not to think I’m weird or crazy.” Kate looks at me and states “ but you already are.” I glare at her. “Alright alright alright. I pinky promise that I won’t think you’re weird or crazy.”

  I slowly lift my head off the table and look around making sure no one hears me. “I saw this guy..” I trail off blushing. “Ooooo a guy? On a scale of 1 to I’ll fuck him anywhere how hot is he? Do we know him? Is he in one of our classes?” She’s practically jumping in excitement. I never really put any interest into guys other than Theo so this is a welcome surprise to Kate.

  I laugh and cover my face with my hands. “Okay first of all, calm down, you’re drawing attention. Second… he’s not from school.”

  Kate’s eyebrows shoot up so fast they nearly leave her face. “Not from school?! Ivy! What the hell! Where did you see him? Is he like… older? Like college older or you’ll-end-up-on-Dateline older?”

  I groan. “I don’t know! I saw him yesterday at a red light. He was on a motorcycle — helmet, black shirt, tattoos, arms for days. I literally forgot how to breathe.”

  Kate stares at me like she just found out I’m secretly royalty. “You mean to tell me you saw a walking wet dream on wheels and you’ve been holding out on me this whole time?!” “It’s not like that!” People start to stare and I look at Kate and quiet down. “I didn’t really get to see who he was, he could be ugly under the helmet for all I know.” Not that I’d mind anyways, he’s a 10/10 without seeing his face.

  Kate smirks and puts her arm around my shoulder. “So you’re telling me that you, a single attractive woman, still wouldn’t bang him because you didn’t see his face? Girl I know you’re lying. I see that blush you got and if you don’t want to get in bed with him I wouldn’t mind.” She laughs as I push her away. “You’re disgusting,” I say, half-laughing, half-horrified.

  Kate wiggles her eyebrows. “You’re the one thirsting over mystery man. I’m just saying, if you don’t make a move, I will. Sharing is caring, babe.” I shove the rest of the muffin into my mouth just to avoid responding, and she cackles like she’s won something. “Besides I’m still into Theo. I was thinking about writing him a note and putting it in his locker. You know something cute and if he doesn’t respond then that’s that.”

  Kate nearly drops her water bottle. “Excuse me?! You’re going to write Theo a note? What is this, 2005? Should I fold it into a heart for you too?”

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  I give her a look. “I just want to get it out of my system. It’s senior year, Kate. I’ve liked him forever, and if I don’t do something, I’ll wonder what if for the rest of my life.”

  She groans dramatically. “Fine. But can we at least agree that you’re going to wait until after we figure out your sexy stalker situation? Because if you end up with Theo and then Mystery Man rolls up to your window Romeo-style, I will scream.” I snort. “I’m probably never going to see mystery man anyways.”

  Kate taps her chin like she’s weighing two imaginary men in her hands. “On one hand, hot football golden boy. On the other, tattooed biker ghost who may or may not whisper in your ear when no one’s around. Tough choice.” “Shut up,” I say, laughing as we walk toward our next class. But inside, I’m spinning.

  Because maybe I’ve dreamed about Theo for years, but this new guy? He’s not just hot — he’s a feeling. A chill. A thrill. A danger I can’t explain. And the more I try to forget him, the more it feels like he’s already inside my head.Or maybe something even deeper than that.

  The rest of the day passes in a blur. When the final bell rings and I practically bolt out of the classroom, exhaustion crawling up my spine. I swear my brain hasn’t stopped buzzing all day — and it’s not about Theo.

  It’s him.

  I don’t even know his name, but the thought of him is starting to feel less like a crush and more like… an itch under my skin. Something I can’t scratch. Something I don’t want to.

  Kate’s already waiting at my car, sunglasses on like she’s a spy from a bad teen drama. She throws me a grin as I approach. “Ready for our stakeout, Agent Ivy?”

  I raise an eyebrow. “You look like you’re about to interrogate someone with a flashlight in a dark room.” She shrugs. “Maybe I am. Depends on if your mystery man shows up.”

  We pile into my car, pulling into the far corner of the student lot where the woods border the fence. I feel the shift in the air immediately. The breeze is colder here. Still. Kate’s mid-rant about how Theo’s probably basic in bed when I notice it.

  The bike.

  Parked in almost the exact same spot as this morning — like it never left. But this time, it’s different.

  The helmet’s resting on the seat. And tucked under it… something white. A piece of paper, fluttering gently in the breeze.My chest tightens. Kate goes quiet when she sees my face. “What is it?” I don’t say anything. I just get out of the car.

  Each step toward that motorcycle feels like stepping into a dream — or a nightmare, I’m not sure which. I reach out, fingers brushing the note. It’s folded neatly, like it was meant just for me. I unfold the note, my fingers trembling just enough to make the paper shake.

  You’re not alone.

  That’s all it says. Black ink. No signature. Just… those words. Simple, but somehow they hit me like a scream in the dark.

  I hear the car door open behind me, Kate’s footsteps crunching across the pavement. “What does it say?” I hand it to her without looking. I’m too busy scanning the woods. The trees are quiet — too quiet — like they’re holding their breath.

  Kate reads it, her voice low. “Okay, what the actual hell.” “I know,” I whisper. She glances around. “This is straight-up horror movie shit. Do you think he watched you again today? Like, during class?”

  I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly freezing. “I felt it. Like eyes on me. Like something… in the walls.” Kate’s jaw tightens. “Okay, this is officially past the ‘cute mystery guy’ stage. We’re into stalker territory now.”

  But I shake my head. “No. It doesn’t feel like that. It’s not… creepy. It’s like… like he knows me. Like he’s warning me.” Kate just stares at me, wide-eyed. “Girl, you need therapy.”

  She hands me the note back and starts pulling me toward the car. “Come on, we’re getting out of here before your sexy ghost boyfriend pulls you into the forest and we end up on the 6 o’clock news.”

  We get in the car, and as I turn the key, I glance in the rearview mirror. For just a second, I swear I see him — standing at the edge of the trees. Dressed in black, still, like a statue. Watching me. And then I blink, and he’s gone.

  As I drive off, I keep my eyes locked on the road. Kate’s talking, but her voice is muffled, distant, like I’m underwater. I glance in the rearview mirror one last time. And that’s when I see him. Standing at the tree line — still, watching. Like he’s been there the whole time. My breath catches. I blink. He’s gone. But the note still sits on my lap, heavy as a secret.

  You’re not alone.

  Then why does it feel like I’ve never been more alone in my life?