Torn Between Rivals

4.

the soft glow of early morning light filtered through the curtains, gently pulling me from the depths of sleep. I stirred, rubbing my eyes and squinting at the clock on my nightstand. 7:00 a.m. I groaned, reluctantly pushing myself up from the cozy embrace of my blankets.

as I reached for my phone, I noticed the screen lit up with a notification. curiosity piqued, I picked it up, and my heart sank when I saw it was a message from an unknown number. with a mix of trepidation and intrigue, I opened it, half-expecting a spam message or some random notification. instead, I found a message that made my stomach flip:

hey, just wanted to check in and see how you're doing. hope today goes well!

my brow furrowed as I stared at the screen, my mind racing. who was this? it felt oddly personal, yet the sender remained a mystery. I couldn't shake the sensation that the message was from someone I knew. but who? I quickly scanned through my contacts, but none of the names matched the number.

I hesitated, my heart pounding as I considered my response. should I ignore it? reply? the uncertainty gnawed at me, but I found myself typing back: thanks. I'm just getting ready for school. I guess we'll see how it goes.

I hit send and set my phone down, feeling a mix of curiosity and anxiety. just as I was about to head downstairs, my phone buzzed again. I grabbed it, my pulse quickening, hoping for some clarity.

you'll do great. just remember, it's all about how you play the game. see you in science!

my heart raced at the mention of science. a pang of recognition hit me, but I couldn't quite place it. the wording was familiar, almost teasing, and it sent a thrill of confusion through me. was this really a random message, or did it mean something more?

I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the whirlwind of thoughts. as I moved through my morning routine-shower, brush my hair, get dressed-I couldn't help but replay the messages in my mind. who was reaching out to me, and what did they want?

when I finally headed downstairs, the weight of the day ahead felt a little lighter, despite the uncertainty. maybe I'd figure out who it was, and maybe today would bring unexpected surprises.

I was getting ready for school when I heard the unmistakable sound of my younger brother, ben, barreling down the stairs, his cries piercing the morning calm. My heart raced as I rushed out of my room to meet him. "What's wrong, baby?" I asked, concern flooding my voice.

"Where's mama?" he wailed, his little face streaked with tears.

"She's at work. What's wrong?" I replied, kneeling to his level, trying to soothe him.

"There's a monster in my room!" he sobbed, his cries growing louder, echoing in the hallway.

"What the hell is going on? It's not even 8:00 a.m. yet!" oakley mumbled from the top of the stairs, clearly annoyed.

"I don't know! Apparently, there's a monster in ben's room," I said, repeating the word 'monster' with exaggerated disbelief. Oakley chuckled softly, but I could see the concern in his eyes.

"I'll go check," I said, determination rising within me as I walked up the stairs.

As I approached ben's room, I could hear the floorboards creak beneath my feet. My heart raced as I grabbed my mom's empty vase from the hallway. If there was someone in there, I was ready to defend my brother.

I pushed the door open cautiously, vase at the ready, ready to strike at whoever was lurking inside. "Relax, babygirl, it's only me," I heard a familiar voice say, and my heart dropped.

"What the hell are you doing in my house?" I shouted, instantly on edge.

"I just wanted to speak to you. Come into your room," devon said casually, as if he hadn't just startled the life out of me.