Shadowed Strength: Shadowed Series Book One by Wendi Wilson Page B

else
parked nearby.
    After a few quiet
moments, he spoke. “Melanie, it’s just some sick freak playing a joke on you.
It’s probably Sissy or one of her clone friends.”
    She shook her head
vigorously. “No, Jeremy. It’s him. I know it is.”
    “How do you know?”
    She pulled the
note out of the center console where he’d shoved it and pointed at the words.
    “Right here. See
this? ‘Little Girl.’ That’s what he called me. He also said that he loved my
pudginess. That it made him…hard. And that it was like I was his perfect match.
Right here. ‘Your Perfect Match.’ It’s him.”
    She started to
hyperventilate and put her head between her knees. “How did he get that note
into my locker? I mean, I know he could slip it in through the slats, but how
did he know which one was mine? How did he get into the school without a badge
to begin with? Oh, God, Jeremy. It’s someone from school! It has to be.”
    *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
    Lying in her bed
later that evening, Melanie reread the note at least a hundred times. She was
supposed to be studying. That’s what she told her mom she was doing locked up
in her room for two hours. But she couldn’t concentrate on schoolwork. She read
the note again.
    Jeremy had tried
to convince her to take the note to the police, but she refused. She didn’t
want to look stupid or delusional to the cops again. They already thought she
was crazy, going on and on about some mystery dog.
    Plus, she didn’t
have any proof that the note was not a prank from a fellow student. That’s what
the police would say. It was just a prank and she should stop being so
paranoid.
    But there was no
doubt in Melanie’s mind that this was not a prank. This was not some
genius plan cooked up in the devious mind of Sissy Woods. It was him. He said
he was coming for her and he would. She needed some way to protect herself.
    If only she could find
her dog and keep him by her side! She had not seen him since Monday night and
again early Tuesday morning. She wasn’t even sure if he was still watching over
her.
    Melanie was
reading the note for the hundred and third time when her phone chimed an incoming
text. She picked it up and smiled as she read the name on the screen. She
tapped it and read Jeremy’s text.
    “Hey, gorgeous.
How r u? Just checking in.”
    Her fingertips
flew over the touchscreen as she responded. “Good. Studying. You?”
    “Liar. I know u
r just staring at that note. Want me 2 come see u?”
    “I’d love it.
But Mom would be mad. School night and all.”
    “Ok. Please try
2 be calm. Won’t let anything happen 2 u, k?”
    She melted a
little. “Ok, thank u. What are u doing tonight?”
    “Moving.”
    “???”
    “My parents are
going out of town for a few weeks, so I am going to stay w/ Chris. Cool,
right?”
    Melanie’s heart
skipped a beat. Jeremy staying with Chris? With no parental supervision? Cool,
right? Oh, God, she thought.
    “Mel? U still
there?”
    “Yeah, sorry.
That is cool.”
    “He’s having a
party Saturday night…”
    “I know. Tara
told me a couple of days ago.”
    “R u going?”
    “I told Tara
no, but…”
    “But?”
    “Well,” Her fingers paused. How was she supposed to ask him if he wanted her to
come to the party? She still had a hard time accepting the fact that he liked
her, much less the fact that he wanted to be seen with her in public. Her phone
dinged again while she contemplated.
    “Please come.
I’ll be so sad and lonely without u. Please?”
    That made her smile
so big her cheeks hurt a little. She responded, “Ok. Ok. I’ll be there, but
u owe me 1.”
    “Anything.
Anytime. All u have to do is ask. Go study. I’ll see you 2morrow morning.”
    “Bye.”
    “Good night.
Sweet dreams.”

Chapter 11
    Melanie didn’t
tell her mom about the party. She left the house Saturday night with Tara as
usual, but not without a stern lecture about staying together and absolutely
not walking anywhere. Her mom thought they were going