𝑀𝒶𝑔𝓃𝑜𝓁𝒾𝒶🌸

Chptr.1

**Zara**

"One two three four, I declare a thumb war" I mutter to myself as I sit at the bus stop, my two thumbs going at each other.

I think lefty's gonna win this round, honestly.

"Go! Go!" I cheer on quietly, when righty suddenly pins left.

Awwww shit. Righty came in clutch.

"Did you know that the brain named itself?" I say to the old lady sitting next to me. She looks up at me hesitantly, and I smile. "Did you also know that serial killers typically have unusual or unnatural relationships with their mothers?" I also tell her, watching as she scoots away from me. "Oh! Don't worry. My mom's dead." I grin. The bus pulls up, and she's immediately up and on the bus while I take my time picking up my bag.

She must not like serial killer facts.

Note to self #302: Old ladies don't like serial killer facts.

I step on the bus, scanning my card and heading the very back. I sit down, putting in my earbuds and scrolling through my endless number of playlists. I finally decide on one called 'shhh" which is ironically a mixture of hard rock, alternative, rap, and other very loud, opposite of "shh" music.

~~~~

I get off the bus when it reaches my stop, waving at the bus driver and putting my earbuds back in.

Go home.

Get a milkshake?

Go home?

Get a slushee?

Go home?

Get Coffee?

Go Home?

I'll get a milkshake hehehe

I walk down the sidewalk opposite of my apartment, heading towards the busy streets of Baltimore. I hum along to my music, tapping my fingers against the air as I press the crosswalk button.

I turn my head watching the cars pass, noticing a black hooded guy standing a few feet back from me.

I wonder if he wants to be my friend.

Dad always tells me not to talk to strangers. But how am I supposed to make friends if I don't talk to strangers?

The cross walk turns, and I skip across the street, still humming to my music as I head down the sidewalk towards my favorite milkshake place.

They sell Cap'n'Crunh milkshakes. That itself is a good enough reason for it to be my favorite restaurant.

As I turn a corner, I notice the guy still behind me, making me furrow my eyebrows.

He's probably getting a Milkshake, too.

I stop, glancing behind me and seeing him stop too.

Oh, no.

I go forward some more, glancing behind me through the crowd of people and seeing him still following.

Okay.

Think, Zara.

What do you do in this situation?

Run home?

No.

Run to the milkshake place?

Yes.

But don't run, be subtle.

Yeah, subtle.

Don't be suspcious, don't be suspicous. Don't be suspcious, don't be suspc-

get on track.