I thought I’d been alone. My heart rate shoots through the roof as I realize someone is standing very still on the other side of my shower stall.
“Wh—Who’s out there?” I hate that my voice sounds tremulous. My eyes widen. Someone is definitely right there. The glass is the pebbled kind that you can’t see through, but you can always tell when the shower is occupied.Damn this fancy school. Can’t they just have curtains on showers stalls like all the other schools?
I can only make out a blur in human form and it’s scaring the bejesus out of me because whoever is out there seems like they are waiting for me like some creeper, trying their best to see into my shower. I glance down to make sure the stall is locked. I blow out a relieved breath when I notice that whoever it is can’t possibly get in here. “Hello? Who’s there?” The problem becoming increasingly clear is that if they can’t get in… I can’t get out. I have nowhere to go. I’m trapped.
Another couple of strange squeals. My brow furrows in concentration as I try to figure out what the noise is. I reach forward and turn off the water to hear better. On one hand, if I open this door right now, I will come face-to-face with whoever my tormentor is. But on the other hand, I’m naked in here.Jesus.And almost completely defenseless.
I raise my voice. “I can see you out there, you perv. Leave me the hell alone.”
I hate to say it, but while my voice sounds fractionally steadier, the rest of my body starts to shake. After another couple of squeals, I have to remind myself to breathe, and when I finally do, my lungs go into overdrive. Am I about to have a panic attack? I cover my ears and sink down to a squatting position on the floor, my lower back pressed against the cold tiles of the shower wall.
Please go away. Please. Just. Go. Away.
Whoever is out there moves away from my shower, out of my field of vision, and I swear to God that’s almost scarier. What if they are just a few steps away when I open the shower door?
It feels like an eternity passes while I strain to listen for any movement. I wipe my hand across the glass and peer out, but everything is distorted because of the pattern. Still, I don’t see even the hint of anyone and haven’t heard a single sound in several minutes, so I flip the lock and poke my head out of the stall.
No one is here.I stand and turn to get my towel off the hook.
No one is here. And neither is mytowel.
My eyes dart to the counter.Someone took my sweaty clothes.
Then I see it, the source of the squealing noises.Holy. Shit.Whoever was out here had dragged their finger through the condensation on the mirror to leave me a note—or more like a warning.
You don’t belong here.
I freeze in place for a second, goose bumps rising on my bare flesh. The noise of laughter and talking from the main gym pushes me into action. I swipe my hand over the writing, too embarrassed to allow anyone else to see it.
I don’t see any way around this. I’m going to have to go fetch myself another towel from the shelf in the main locker room. I ease my naked form down the hall of shower stalls and tiptoe through the locker room to retrieve another towel, wet hair streaming water down over me. I leave puddles everywhere I step. When I get to the shelves where clean towels are stored, I do a double take. Completely empty.How is that even possible?
I’d left my bag on the bench in front of my locker, so I scramble over there, hoping to just toss my clothes on even though I’m wet. I’msogoing to be late for work.
A strangled noise startles me. I blink hard when I realize it’d come from me. My gym bag is empty with the exception of my running shoes and a T-shirt that is not even mine. I put an unsteady hand to my head. Poking around in my gym bag, then glancing into my locker, I quickly come to the conclusion that my backpack is mostly untouched, but in addition to my clothes, my fucking phone is missing. I blow out a breath and pull the T-shirt out, holding it up in front of me.
There’s an image of a runner with Rosehaven Academy Cross-Country written underneath the logo—a team T-shirt. All of my other shit is gone, but at least I havesomething.I turn it around and flip it bottom up so I can pull it on while I figure out what to do about my missing work clothes. I put my arms in and am about to lift it over my head when it registers that there is also a slogan on the back.What. The. Hell?I start to shake. It reads,Run like your worst nightmare is chasing you.
I swallow hard. I guess someone is working overtime to send me a message. Is this a special shirt just for me, or is this a clever team shirt? How much of a coincidence could this possibly be that I was chased through the woods yesterday and then this stupid T-shirt shows up today …?
I can’t think about it right now, though, because I need to be at the ice cream shop in ten minutes and have no phone to call ahead and let Terry know I’m running late. Hastily, I put the offending shirt on, grateful that it at least covers my ass. I check down the hallway where the female PE teachers keep their offices, but no one is there. My only choice is to peek out into the main gym area to see if anyone is still in the building. I push open the locker room door that leads out to the main gym, my body trembling as I look around.
“Whoa, Red. Nice dress.”
Pressing a hand over my heart, which has accelerated like I’m running even though I’m at a shocked standstill, I turn toward the deep voice.
Xander, Beau, and Micah sit on the bleachers. All three of them stare, lips parted, eyes drifting over me, taking in the sight of my naked legs. I can only hope that all other parts of me are sufficiently covered.Don’t think about the fact that you are completely bare under this T-shirt. Don’t think about it.It feels like my goodies are on full display.
I swallow past the knot in my throat. If these are the only people around who can help me, so be it. “Did you happen to see anyone come out of the locker room a few minutes ago?”
Micah points at me, stating the obvious. “Um, did you forget to put on pants?”
I snap. “I didn’tforgetanything. Someone stole my towel, my clothes, and my phone.” My chest rises and falls dramatically. “Now, did you see anyone or didn’t you? Because the only item of clothing in my bag was this damn team T-shirt, and I’m late for work.” Tears prick the back of my eyes, and as much as I don’t want to show them that I’m upset, my lip wobbles.
Beau’s hands go up and he shakes his head. “I just got done jerking it in the shower.” His lips tip into a sheepish smile. “Wasn’t me.”
“Nasty, man. You know we all use those showers.” Micah does his best to feign disgust, but his shoulders shake with laughter.
Xander’s been strangely quiet through their antics, but he hasn’t looked away from me once since I stepped foot out of the locker room. Silently, he reaches forward into his bag and pulls out a pair of athletic pants. He walks over to me, extending them in front of him. “Here. Put these on.”