Behind closed doors

exposed

As the weeks went by, their friendship slowly rebuilt itself, a mosaic of shared laughter, late-night photo shoots, and whispered confidences. They discovered a new freedom in their shared vulnerability, a comfort in the knowing glances, the silent understanding of a world that frequently felt like a hostile force.

One day, a crumpled note found its way into Ethan's locker. It read, 'I know what you did. I know what you are. You'll never get away with it. And neither will she.'

Ethan felt a cold dread slither down his spine. He thought it was just a cruel prank, but the handwriting was familiar, eerily echoing a schoolyard tormentor from their past, someone who had always been jealous of their close bond. Fear wormed itself into his heart.

Corey was the next to receive a cryptic message. A photograph of her and Ethan, arms linked, in a moment of shared joy, was pinned to her locker. On the back, a single word – 'exposed.'

The stalker was threatening to out them again, to expose their lives to the cruel whispers of their small town, to tear apart the fragile peace they had painstakingly rebuilt. They realized this wasn't just about exposing their sexuality; this was about destroying their lives, their friendship, and their dreams.

She walks over to his locker after first period confused and scared, "did you get the note too?" she says her voice quiet and secluded in fear of others listening.

"yeah.." he says hesitantly "i don't know who would do something like this though, i mean it's not like we've ever done anything bad to anyone...right?" he says.

"i don't know...." she mutters, walking towards the darkroom hesitantly to pick up their work.

They forget about the encrypted notes for a moment, having a good time seeing how well their last assignment looked after they were all developed.

"I think that's a masterpiece, Ethan," Corey said, her voice muffled by the darkroom's hushed atmosphere. "The way the light catches the water...you really captured the essence."

Ethan chuckled. "It's just a picture, Corey. But thanks." He glanced at her, then turned towards the shelf holding the developing trays. "You going for black and white again?"

"Yeah, feels like the right vibe," Corey shrugged, dipping a photo into the developer. Then, her voice hitched. "Ethan... did you... did you see that?"

Ethan followed her gaze, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. Across from them, on the wall opposite the enlarger, hung a small, unassuming, photo collage. An assortment of pictures, seemingly random at first glance. Yet, beneath the surface, something felt off.

"It wasn't there before," Ethan said, his voice strained. "And those... those aren't just any pictures." He squinted closer. The collage featured photos of them – Corey and Ethan – taken in seemingly mundane situations. Corey walking through the school hallways, Ethan outside his house, a blurry image of them both in the cafeteria, even a candid shot of Corey laughing at a joke Ethan had made in class.

But that wasn't the most disturbing element. Scrawled across the bottom of the collage, in a dark, unsettling scrawl, was a message: 'I'm watching you. You're beautiful when you're happy. Give me that, and this will stop."

"what the fuck..." corey says seeing the photos herself, a feeling of unease and fear settling in her mind as she looks over the pictures.

"i don't think this is a prank anymore ethan-"
she says, realizing they are in way over their heads now.