Dawn of a Kiss (On hold)

Chapter 10: Footsteps

I went down the hallway towards the direction I believed Naumi had gone. I turned a corner when I heard footsteps following me. I stopped walking and the footsteps stopped. Maybe I was hearing my own?

I started walking again and the footsteps started up again. I must be hearing my own footsteps. But if they were my own, then why did they sound so far away?

I started walking once more. This time the footsteps were louder and sounded closer. I spun around just in time to see a dark silhouette duck into the shadows.

“Who’s there?”

I was answered with silence.

I took a step forward and felt a breeze go by me.

“Hello?” My voice echoed in the hallway.

I was still answered with silence.

I took another step forward. Someone ran past behind me, making my hair blow around in the breeze they had created.

I spun in a complete circle, searching for the person who was practically hunting me.

“Who’s there?” I asked for the second time in a frustrated tone. This person was starting to aggravate me with their sneakiness.

I heard a laugh echo through the hallway.

“Hello? Who’s there?” I demanded. This person was quickly making me lose my patience.

Yet again, no answer.

I began walking back in the direction I came.

Someone darted right across my path and this time I could make the person out as being a male.

“Hello?” I called again. The person ran into the shadows.

I walked towards the direction the person disappeared.

“Who are you?” I asked. The person’s back was to me.

The person turned around and I looked into the blue eyes of a man who appeared to be no older than about twenty five. His physical looks were very handsome and his blonde hair reminded me of a male model.

“Hello.” The man smiled, revealing two rows of perfectly white teeth.

“Um. . . Hi.”

“How are you this fine day?” The man asked charmingly.

“Why were you following me?”

The man laughed and it reminded me of honey for some reason.

“I make it my priority to get to know my students.” He answered, smiling.

“Students? You’re a teacher?”

“Actually, I’m the principal. . . Principal Conner.”

My mouth dropped open. This guy was the school principal? He looked so young.

“Oh. Well, it’s nice to meet you, Principal Conner. I’m Valerie.” I told him once I regained my composure.

“I already knew that, Miss. Turpin.”

“Oh. Right. You’re the principal.” I laughed nervously.

“Yep. I am.”

“Um. . .” I didn’t know what to say to this man. A part of me wanted to talk to him, but a part of me wanted to get as far away from him as I could since he had been following me like a stalker guy. Yet again, maybe that was just how he was?

Fortunately, Naumi walked down the hallway at that moment and rescued me from the awkwardness.

“Valerie! There you are. I’ve been looking for you. The bell rang about five minutes ago.”

“Oh. I didn’t hear it.” I responded, pulling out my cell phone from my jacket pocket and checking the time. My cell phone was blue with a Japanese smiley face sticker on the side of it. Since I already had my phone out, I slid it open and checked my messages. The letter buttons were faded from me texting so much. I had only one new message. It was from an unknown number.

Watch your back and be careful who you trust. . .

I read and reread the message three times. Who had the message been from? What did it mean by watching my back and being careful who I trusted?

“What’s wrong?” Naumi asked, seeing the confused expression on my face.

I handed my phone to her, showing her the message.

“Who’s this from?”

“I don’t know. It’s from an unknown number.” I answered, taking my phone back. Feeling optimistic, I called the number.

“We are sorry, but the number you are calling is presently unavailable. Please hang up and dial another number.” A monotone voice said into the phone.

I slid my phone shut and put it back in my jacket pocket.

“That’s weird. . .” I whispered.

“What is?” Naumi looked just as confused as I felt.

“It said that number isn’t available.” I replied. How was that possible, though?

“What? That’s really odd.”

“I know.” Was all I said. I looked around the hallway to realize it was only Naumi and I now. “Where’d the principal go?”

“Hmm? I didn’t see him.”

Great! One weird thing after another. I thought to myself.