Lost In Time

Chapter 17 — Doubts and Disguised Smiles

Juliet's POV

It had been exactly one week since Preston and I had gone on our date, man. Every morning, he would cruise up on his groovy bicycle to pick me up for school, dig? The rhythmic sound of his tires rolling on the pavement blended harmoniously with our laughter and the symphony of our voices. We were all about that good vibes, man, just riding side by side, talking about everything and nothing. Our classmates would check us out with curious eyes, man, digging our style as we rolled in each morning. And our cool buddies couldn’t resist giving us a hard time about our blossoming connection, man.

But despite the joy that filled our rides, I started feeling this gnarly sense of unease creeping in, you know? It was like a shadow hanging over our daily journey, man. And now, on this final Friday before the weekend, when freedom was calling and the school weight was lifting, I couldn’t shake this bad feeling in my gut.

As I approached my locker, the metal cool against my fingers, I hesitated for a moment before spinning the combination lock, man. With a click, the door swung open, and there it was—the familiar presence that had been haunting me all week. A note, placed there like it came out of nowhere, greeted my anxious gaze. Every day, I found one of these, but I chose not to spill the beans to Preston and our crew, man. I didn’t want to bring them down with unnecessary worries, you know? The first note seemed innocent enough, just some admiration, and I didn’t see a reason to fret.

As I unfolded the paper, feeling its rough texture against my trembling hands, the words on it took a different turn, man. It gave me the chills, like a cold wave down my spine. The author’s words didn’t express admiration anymore; they were dripping with possessiveness and this creepy desire to be alone with me. Goosebumps popped up on my skin, and I couldn’t shake off this sense of danger, man.

Caught up in this web of escalating dread, I wrestled with the decision to keep the notes to myself. Should I spill it to Preston, open up about the darkness that had taken over my world? Doubt lingered, mixed with the taste of fear in my mouth. But I sought refuge in the presence of my close ones, man. I needed their warmth and support in the face of this encroaching darkness.

So, with Preston and our buddy by my side, I stashed away the latest note, keeping its sinister secrets locked up tight in my mind, man. I tried to put on a brave face for the day ahead, burying my fears beneath a veneer of normalcy. I prayed that this torment would fade away soon. But deep down, I knew that with each passing day, the stakes were rising, and the twisted admirer’s grip on me was getting tighter.

But that feeling of unease, man, it just kept creeping up on me with each passing day. Those once innocent notes turned sinister, making me jumpy and questioning the intentions of the mysterious admirer. The messages were getting possessive, almost obsessive. The words taunted me, filling my mind with a sense of impending danger.

Despite growing concern, I decided to keep the notes to myself, not wanting to burden Preston and our friends with my troubles. I thought they wouldn’t understand the weight I carried on my shoulders, man. I believed I could handle it alone, hoping those unsettling messages would eventually fade away.

But as the final school bell rang on that fateful Friday, man, signaling the start of the weekend, a chilling realization washed over me. The absence of new notes during the day felt like an eerie calm before the storm, you know? I could sense that something was about to go down, something way more sinister than I could have ever expected.

With shaky hands, I made my way to my locker one last time, scared of what I might find. I turned the lock and swung open the door, man, and a rush of cold air filled the narrow hallway. My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at the note, innocently resting inside.

Summoning my courage, I unfolded the paper and started reading. This time, the words cut through my soul, sending shivers down my spine. The tone had changed drastically, morphing into a threat, promising dire consequences if I didn’t go along with the author’s twisted desires.

Fear gripped my throat. Who could be behind all this torment? Was it someone I knew? Someone close to me? The thought hit me like a wave of betrayal, breaking my trust into pieces.

As the sweet voices of my friends, especially Preston’s, reached my ears, a surge of anticipation ran through me. Swiftly, I crumpled the note, stashing it away in my locker and slamming it shut, man, eager to erase any trace of its existence. I turned to face my friends, a genuine smile spreading across my face.

“Hey,” I greeted them warmly, my smile growing wider as Preston leaned in to give me a gentle peck on the cheek. He pulled back slightly, his voice barely above a whisper as he offered a soft “hi” and returned my smile. The affection in his eyes momentarily distracted me from the lingering presence of the note, but that feeling of unease still hung around, man, deep in the back of my mind.

“Juliet, where have you been? We were just talking about our plans for the weekend,” Jessica asked, her tone filled with curiosity.

“We’re going to the drive-in to catch ‘The Great Escape,’ man,” Jessica continued, her eyes filled with excitement. “Preston, can you pick me up? My brother can’t make it.”

“Actually, I was planning on picking up Juliet so we could watch the movie together, you know, as a date. Sorry,” Preston chimed in, his voice filled with warmth and affection. But in that moment, man, my gaze caught a flicker in Jessica’s eyes, a subtle expression she quickly masked with a smile. Doubt started to creep in, amplified by the unsettling presence of the note that continued to gnaw at my nerves.

After wrapping up our discussion about meeting up the next day, Preston escorted me to my room. Just before bidding me farewell and heading home, he leaned in close and whispered, his voice barely audible, “Meet me tonight in the garden, off of Old Mill Road.” His lips brushed against mine as I nodded in response, a smile playing at the corners of my lips. With that, he turned swiftly and ran off, leaving me with a mix of anticipation and curiosity.