WHO AM I

THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS

Lila's hands shook as she read the message again. "Time's running out, Lila. I hope you're ready for what's coming." The words felt like a threat, and she could hardly process the fear creeping into her chest.

"Hey, you good?" Noah asked, noticing her sudden stillness.

Lila quickly shoved her phone into her pocket, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just... thought I saw a spider. You know how I am with those."

Jasper raised an eyebrow. "Right, because spiders are the real threat here." He leaned in closer. "Seriously, what's going on?"

Lila hesitated, unsure of how to explain the ominous message without worrying them more. "Just... a weird text. Probably spam."

"Or a secret admirer," Jasper teased, wiggling his eyebrows comically.

"No thanks!" Lila replied, trying to keep the atmosphere light. "I think I'd rather deal with a real spider."

Cathy rolled her eyes, but she could see through Lila's facade. "If something's bothering you, you can talk to us."

Lila nodded, grateful for her friends' concern but not wanting to burden them with the unknown threat looming over her. She forced herself to focus on the rest of the day, even as anxiety gnawed at her thoughts.

Later That Afternoon

As the final bell rang, Lila walked out of school with Noah, Cathy, and Jasper. The trio was caught up in some heated debate about who would win in a fight: a bear or a giant squirrel.

"Seriously, guys, a bear would wipe the floor with a squirrel!" Noah argued, shaking his head.

"Not if the squirrel has, like, a tiny sword!" Jasper shot back, grinning.

Cathy laughed. "A tiny sword? You mean like a toothpick? Let's be real here."

Lila chuckled, feeling a brief escape from her worries. But as they neared the parking lot, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her. She turned her head, scanning the area.

"Lila, you okay?" Noah asked, catching her look.

"Yeah, just... thought I saw someone," she said, glancing back at the crowd of students pouring out of the school.

"Probably just your imaginary stalker," Jasper joked. "He's really dedicated if he's following you this much!"

"Ha ha, very funny," Lila replied, trying to smile.

Just then, she caught a glimpse of a familiar face in the crowd—Renzo. He was leaning against a car, a smirk on his face as he watched her. The knot in her stomach tightened, and she quickly looked away.

"Why is Renzo here?" Noah asked, noticing her reaction.

"Maybe he's here to announce his new line of menacingly handsome outfits," Jasper said, feigning seriousness.

Cathy rolled her eyes. "Can we focus on the real issue? That guy just gives me the creeps."

"Me too," Lila admitted, her heart racing. "I don't trust him."

Renzo pushed off the car and sauntered over, his cocky grin unwavering. "Lila, fancy seeing you here," he said, his tone dripping with feigned sweetness.

"Go away, Renzo," Noah snapped, stepping protectively in front of Lila.

Renzo raised an eyebrow. "Feisty. I like that. But I'm not here to fight, just to talk."

"About what?" Lila asked, crossing her arms defensively.

"About the message you received. I know who sent it," Renzo said, his expression shifting from playful to serious.

"What do you mean you know?" Lila pressed, heart pounding. "Who was it?"

He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Let's just say... it's someone from your past. Someone who's not done with you yet."

Before Lila could respond, a loud honk interrupted them. It was Phillip, pulling up in his flashy sports car, music blasting. "Hey! You guys coming or what? The party's about to start!"

"Party?" Jasper perked up. "Count me in!"

Lila hesitated, glancing back at Renzo. "I don't know..."

"Come on, it'll be fun!" Noah urged, gently nudging her. "We can deal with Renzo later."

With a reluctant nod, Lila turned away from Renzo, her heart still racing. The party could be a distraction—one she desperately needed.

At the Party

The atmosphere was electric, the beats from the DJ pulsing through the air. Lila stepped inside, her anxiety temporarily overshadowed by the thumping music and the sea of dancing bodies. But as the evening wore on, the weight of Renzo's words hung heavily in her mind.

"Let's dance!" Cathy shouted, pulling Lila toward the makeshift dance floor.

Lila laughed, her earlier fears fading into the background as she let loose. They danced wildly, with Jasper pretending to be a dance instructor, demonstrating overly dramatic moves that made everyone giggle.

"Alright, everybody! Now we're going to do the Robot!" Jasper announced, flailing his limbs awkwardly.

Lila burst into laughter, joining in on the ridiculous moves. "This is why we can't have nice things, Jasper!"

"Hey, it's an art form!" he shot back, making a grand gesture that nearly knocked over a drink.

Cathy rolled her eyes but couldn't help but smile. "If this is art, I want my money back!"

Just then, Noah appeared, grinning. "What did I miss? The latest dance craze?"

"Oh, just Jasper's bid for the next viral dance challenge," Lila said, laughing. "He's a lost cause!"

Noah chuckled, but Lila noticed the way his eyes darted around the room, a hint of concern lurking beneath his playful demeanor. She wanted to ask him about it, but the moment felt too light for serious conversations.

Later, During a Break

As they took a breather, Lila's phone buzzed again. She checked it, heart sinking as she read another message from the unknown number.

Unknown: "You can't run from your past, Lila. It's only just beginning."

"Lila?" Noah's voice pulled her back to reality. "You okay?"

"Yeah, just... another weird text," she said, trying to play it cool.

"Not the stalker again?" Jasper chimed in, eyebrow raised.

"Let's just enjoy the party," she said, forcing a smile.

But deep down, Lila felt the ground shifting beneath her. She could feel it in her bones; the night was just the calm before the storm.

As they danced, Lila kept an eye on Renzo across the room. He was mingling, laughing with a group, but every so often, his gaze would lock onto her. A chill ran down her spine. Whatever was coming, it was only a matter of time before she would have to confront it.