• “Thank God school is finally out…”
    I thought as I walked down the hallway with a pounding headache. “Sadie!” I heard from behind me and turned around on my heels to see who called my name. It was my best friend Jadine, she jogged to catch up to me and her short black curls bounced as she did so. “How’s it going?” she asked cheerfully, hooking an arm playfully around my neck. Jadine and I pass as the scene kids in our school. Me, with my long black hair that almost goes down to my waist, dark cat-eye make-up, skinny jeans, Volcom hoodie, 00 gauges, and all black Converse. And Jadine, with her purple skinnies, band tee shirt, and torn up Vans.
    I laughed and pushed my bangs out of my eyes. “Ehh,” I said unenthusiastically, “headache.” I stopped in front of my locker to dump out my book bag.
    “Aw, sorry dear.” Jadine said and made a pouty face. “Want to come to my house later though?”
    “Sure thing.” I said and smiled. I shrugged on my gray peacoat and buttoned it up. I go to Jadine’s house almost every day. I feel like I live there more than my own house.
    “Okay sweet! I hope you don’t mind that Cade is coming over…” she said.
    “No worries,” I assured “he’s fine with me.” Cade is Jadine’s new boyfriend, she made me go “boy hunting” at the mall with her and that’s how they met.
    “Yayy!” she applauded me, “So do you need a ride home?”
    “Nah,” I said, “I think I’ll walk home today, hopefully fresh air will get rid of this stupid headache.”
    “Suit yourself! Well I better get going, girl.” She said and then noticed some preps walk by. “I mean, see you tonight sexy!”
    “Hell yeah baby!” I said and blew her a kiss. We pretend to be gay for each other to keep preppy guys from hitting on us. We laughed when the group of preps walking by took a double-take. “Okay well see you later.” I waved and laughed. Jadine turned and skipped down the hallway. I laughed again and made my way downstairs to go outside.
    I didn’t even realize it had been raining all day. The air had a cold bite to it, it was the middle of October and I could even see my breath forming abstract ghosts in front of my face. I pulled my hood up and walked out into the rain, grateful for fresh air. I walked down the road to get to the crosswalk, waving at people I knew in bus windows and cars, stopping twice to lend friends a cigarette. I know fifteen-year-olds shouldn’t smoke, but it’s been my bad habit since I was thirteen. I walked across the street in front my high school and headed toward my house, I live about a mile or so away from the school behind the cemetery. I tried to inhale as much fresh air as possible and felt my headache slowly fading.
    It wasn’t until I took the shortcut down a gravel road when I realized I was being followed. My heart rate sped up rapidly and turn looked over my shoulder to see who it could be. I didn’t know who this man was; he was walking about fifteen feet behind me, in a black hoodie and sunglasses. I walked as fast as I could. I wasn’t sure whether I should bolt or if he just happened to be walking the same way. I pulled out my cellphone and dialed 911; I gripped to phone in my hand, ready to call whenever necessary. I looked over my shoulder again, he was even closer. My calves starting to ache from speed walking and sharp gravel rocks dug into my worn out Converse. I didn’t have to look behind me to know that he was edging closer to me. I felt helpless and I felt like my heart was going to pop out of my chest. I couldn’t take it, so I threw down my book bag and took off in full sprint. Behind me, I heard my follower running close behind me. I remembered 911 dialed on my phone and forced my thumb to press “talk”. I was running so fast my tears were flying backwards out of the corners of my eyes. Icy rain drops stung when they hit my skin and I almost tripped when I ran through a puddle. My lungs burned but I was about to reach the intersection where the gravel road met a busy suburb road. My panicked eyes scanned the horizon in front of me to find help. Behind me I heard my pursuer call “Get back here!” I whimpered horrified and continued to sprint away from him.
    “Just leave me alone!” I shrieked, more tears escaping my eyes in fear. What’s going to happen to me if he catches me? How am I supposed to fight back? Most of my hope of getting away was leaving me as my legs started to feel like they would give out. I was thinking about my imminent doom when I ran smack into another stranger.
    “Whoa! Are you okay?” the guy asked, concerned, catching me in his embrace while I gasped for air and almost collapsed on the ground. I couldn’t form the words, so I pointed shakily back at the man who was chasing me. He was now standing still watching me, and I felt the urge to run again. “It’s okay,” the guy helping me assured and held me still. He let go of me and started walking towards my attacker, popping his knuckles. “What’s your problem!?” He called after him. I tried to protest but my lungs burned too much to talk. The man turned around and ran back down to gravel road. I whimpered and collapsed on the ground. I curled into a ball and sobbed, still terrified.
    The guy jogged back to me and crouched next to me. “Are you okay?” he asked thoughtfully, and helped me stand up.
    “I-I’m not sure…” I replied shakily, pulling my hood back up and rubbing my arms for warmth.
    “Oh,” he started, “Well I’m Riley.” He said, shrugging off his jacket and handed it to me.
    “T-Thanks,” I said shakily, hesitantly accepting his jacket. “I’m Sadie.”
    “Okay... Do you need me to call the police?” Riley said.
    I looked down at my phone and realized my 911 call never got signal. “Oh could you?” I said, still trying to catch my breath and still feeling shaky.
    “Okay,” Riley looked at me and nodded “I will.” He pulled out his cell phone, dialed, and held it to his ear. As he paced, telling the police what happened, I finally could pull my thoughts together to take in his appearance. He had black hair and light blue eyes, angular features and pale pink lips, and he was wearing a long sleeved thermal tee and skinny jeans, with an expensive-looking camera hanging around his neck. I watched his features express concern as he listened into the phone, his breath a cloud in front of his face. He snapped his phone shut and walked back over to me. “They’re on their way. They also said you can go home and they’ll ask you about it after they look for the guy.” He said.
    I sighed, relieved. I haven’t completely taken in all of the day’s events, but I didn’t really want to think about it. “Thank you so much, Riley. Who knows what would have happened if you weren’t there.” I told him, shuddering at the thought.
    “No worries.” Riley smiled. “So do you want me to walk you home?” He asked thoughtfully, toying with his camera. I almost objected, not wanting to waste anymore of his time, but the thought of walking home alone with that stalker guy still out there terrified me.
    “Yeah… I mean if you don’t mind…” I said and felt my face get hot.
    “No I totally understand.” Riley said reassuringly, placing his hand on my shoulder.
    “Oh my, thank you so, so much.” I said, exceedingly grateful that he was there. “I live about a half a mile that way.” I pointed to the cemetery down the street. The rain poured down around us, making the cemetery seem all the more eerie. I wondered if Riley thought I was strange.
    “Oh okay.” He said “I’m really sorry about all this by the way.”
    “It’s fine… I mean I’ll be okay… I think.” I stuttered and blushed. I was still shaken. Riley just nodded understandingly, and we made our way down the road to the cemetery.
    Riley looked up at the sky, “I wish it would stop raining.” He said. I looked up with him.
    “I think it’s nice.” I said. “I mean, it’s refreshing in a way.” Riley smiled and looked at me thoughtfully. I pointed at his camera, “Will that be okay in the rain?”
    He looked down as if he completely forgot he had it. “Oh. Yeah it should be fine.” He laughed softly, “Don’t you think that you have bigger things to worry about?”
    I laughed. “Yeah I’m just distracting myself.” Once we reached the cemetery, I pointed to show him where my house was. The long gravel road stretched through the center of the cemetery, my house was barely visible through the mist and rain.
    Riley laughed “You live in a grave yard?”

    “Behind a grave yard.” I corrected. I looked carefully at the road while I was walking, avoiding rocks and puddles, my feet were killing me.