An Exchange

Chapter Sixty-One - Stalker

Penny

I recovered quickly and was back to school on Monday as normal. It was graduation that week, and I wanted to pretend the whole incident hadn't happened. It was easier said than done. Giles wasn't talking to me again, and rumours flew around the school about the other two girls and the guys who got arrested. The rumours also said there had been another girl, but no one knew who. I kept quiet, wanting to keep it that way. If it wasn't for Giles and Ryan, I hated to think what could have happened to me.

I sat with Zoe in our last Seminary class while we played a noisy scripture chase game. Everyone laughed and yelled across the room as it grew more and more lively. Suddenly Zoe yelped and ducked behind me.

I stared back at her. "What is it?"

"Look out the door."

I looked through the window in the door. Chris stood in the lobby area.

"Is he insane?" I gasped.

"I told you, he won't leave me alone! How did he find out I was here?"

"I don't know." I glanced around, trying to think of something quickly. The class was due to end at any moment and we would have to walk right passed him to leave. I looked at her hands. She wore a CTR ring and another ring with a small, fake diamond. I grabbed her hand and pulled it off, switching it onto her left ring finger.

"Text Seth. Tell him to come straight here and pretend he's an RM and you're engaged. Chris has never seen Seth, right?"

Her eyes widened. "I don't think so."

"Good. We will beat him at his own game."

"But Seth's class is clear across the other side of the school. It will take him a while to get here."

We would need a distraction so Seth could get there. I remembered how much he enjoyed criticizing Giles on our date. I glanced up at Giles. "We need Giles. He'll keep him distracted."

Giles saw us looking at him and turned away.

"I'll ask Giles," Zoe muttered.

I stepped back so he would come over to her. She whispered to him what was going on and he glanced out the window at Chris. He scowled.

"What a creeper." He then looked at me. "Penny, no matter what, stay with Zoe."

As he turned away, I smiled, elated that he had actually spoken to me. Zoe elbowed me as a grin slowly grew across her face.

The end of class came, and Giles sprang into action. He was in the middle of the crowd as they exited the room, while Zoe and I hung back in the classroom and struck up a conversation with our teacher. We watched as Giles offered Chris his hand. The teacher packed up his things and said goodbye to us, so we hurried over to the door to listen.

"You didn't know she's already engaged?" Giles asked.

"No, she can't be. We're getting married in July."

"Well, she doesn't know about it then because this guy is pretty serious. He's picking her up here soon. They've known each other for years, and when he came back from his mission they just hit it off instantly. They'll even be going to the same college in the fall."

"Zoe doesn't need to go to college; she needs to start a family. I'll give her that."

"But she wants to go to college-"

"She's being naive."

Zoe gasped and whispered, "What a jerk!"

"Don't talk about Zoe like that." Giles said defensively. "She's like a sister to me, and I won't let you-"