Target

V

I sprawled out on my bed, sliding my hand against my phone which laid next to me. My heart sank. I forgot to charge it. It's dead. Sh*t.

I rolled my eyes, climbing out my bed to find something to wear. I've come to the decision to always wear my black hoodie in public for now on, as it was a *HUGE* mistake to wear something without a hood yesterday. I hopped into a grey pair of jeans and a pair of sneakers for a change, as I may need to run for once... who knows?! I slipped my coat overtop, sliding my notepad into it's pocket — just in case, of course. I snagged my backpack onto my shoulder, grabbing a granola bar on the way out of the house to snack on.

I've chosen to take the same route that I took yesterday to catch another glimpse of the house that Julie left that morning... this way, I have the chance to get to know what kind of environment she lives in.

I turned to the street that the house was on, Marigold Road. Just like yesterday. The many trees on the pavement shadowed the neighbourhood, turning it into a weirdly peculiar atmosphere. I walked up to the house she left that morning. Number 367. A small garden decorated the front of the house, with many small animal figurines scattered in between the vibrant collection of flowers. The wind chime that hung underneath the front window gleamed with the gentle wind's blow. I tried to take a quick peak through the window, but a sound by the front door stopped me. OH GOD.

I bolted away from the house, hiding behind a tree in front of it.

"See you in a bit, Jessica!" Julie hollered as she left the house, seemingly in a really good mood. A female figure stood in front of the doorway, but I couldn't quite seem to depict her features.

I sighed to myself in confusion. I had never heard Julie talk so loudly before like that, let alone to another person. And, to add, who the hell is Jessica?!

The unknown person shut the house's door. I watched as Julie readjusted her backpack over her shoulders, venturing onto the same route that she did yesterday. As expected. It was too risky to continue analyzing the house when someone else was clearly home, so I followed Julie. Again.

Just like yesterday morning, we ended up at the same coffee shop. I suppose that she wasn't lying about coming here every day. I ended up staying outside this time, since I didn't want to make it obvious that I was quite literally stalking her. Meanwhile, Julie went inside to do whatever it was that she did in there.

After a few minutes, I snook up to the café's window to look for her inside. She sat at the same table as yesterday with a notebook on the table. She joyously scribbled in the book. I waited next to the window for about 15 minutes until she left the shop, walking in the same direction as we both did yesterday; to our school. Gateway High School.

When we turned into a back lane, I realized that now would be a good time to interrogate her: we were all alone, and I was difficult to identify with my hood on. I shoved my hand into my pocket to find my special knife, but I soon realized that it wasn't there. I stopped walking to frantically look through my backpack, but it wasn't in there either. God, I am SUCH an idiot. I grabbed my bag, about to rush away when Julie suddenly stopped walking, turning around to face me with a huge smile on her face.

"Hm, I thought I heard someone familiar behind me... I didn't know that we took the same route to school!" she said with a kind smile.

F*ck. She recognized me. Again.

I smiled back at her, my smile being completely faked. (Unlike hers, unsurprisingly.)

"I know, right?! Crazy!" I replied, sliding my bag back onto my shoulder. (This isn't crazy to me at all, this is just me casually STALKING her.)

"Hm... I've never really seen you around here until yesterday... perhaps our schedules were different?"

Well, crap. It's not good that she says that, because now I need an excuse. ASAP.

"Yeah, I only moved here two weeks ago. I'm just trying to find my way around the neighborhood."

Good one, Aubrey.

She nodded at me with clear interest.

"Really? That's so cool! Maybe I should show you around!"

My eyes widened.

"I-i mean, if you want me to-"

I grinned at her.

"Yes, I would." I replied affirmingly.

Her cheeks started to flush. I took note of the fact that she seems to blush quite a lot... I wonder, what in the absolute hell does THAT mean?!

"Well then... shall we get to class now?" I asked, throwing my backpack over my shoulder urgently.

She combed her golden hair out from her face, smiling gently.

"Yup! Let's go!" she replied, joyously parading next to me on a whim.

I shrugged nonchalantly with a huge, DREADFULLY fake smile being plastered on my already-puzzled face. How unusual, who the hell is *THIS* enthusiastic about going to school?!

Even though our walk was a hefty twenty minutes long, it only ended up feeling like two; we spoke of complete nonsense the entire time, which occupied us quite well. To add, I can't help the fact that I find her to be pretty interesting, too... perhaps that just erases the potential boredom of walking in the scorching hot sun, I guess.

Once we made it to school, we had to part ways once again. It made me a bit more dissapointed then I'd like to admit. I started to walk away to get to my first period when Julie stopped me in my tracks.

"You noticed that I followed you online last night, right?" she asked, clearly in an anxious hurry.

I looked down at her in satisfaction.

"Yeah. I did."

Julie bit her tongue hesitantly.

"When you follow me back, text me. It should work when we follow eachother."

*OH. MY. GOD.*  Did she just ask for me to MESSAGE her?!

"S-sure thing!" I blurted, out on a whim.

My heart sank the moment that the bell rang. I looked behind me to see her grinning face waving at me through the crowd. I smiled to myself for a moment, but then straightening my expression back out once again. I sighed out at myself in disappointment. Damn, I keep forgetting that she's my target.

I brushed it off, rolling my eyes nonchalantly. Afterwards, I turned my head back forwards quickly, rushing myself off to my first class of the day:

Ms. Robinson's. Again.