What if he pushes me away again. But he knows about that man in the black hoodie, he even saved my life not once but thrice I should tell him about the notes and ask for his help to trace that man.

I was determined to tell him.

"Shaun, we need to talk." I turned to him as soon as the teacher left the cla.s.s.

"Okay, I'll meet you at the music room after cla.s.s," he responded without looking at me.

I nodded.

The cla.s.s ended, I went straight to the music room and waited for Shaun. He intentionally came a few minutes later as if he was trying to hide our meet up.

"What do you want to talk about Claire?"

"Is that a question? Isn't it obvious what I would want to talk about to you?"

"So it wasn't your first time seeing that man?"

"I have seen him before twice. Once when I tried to catch him leaving the note on the spot and the other time was the day before yesterday when he left a message for me."

I said thoughtfully looking at the wall.

"What-ttt! You tried to catch him! Like this? By yourself?"

"Yeah, what's so unbelievable in that?" I raised my brows.

"That's dangerous Claire, he could have done anything to you, he even tried to kill you yesterday. And what notes are you talking about?"

I took out all the notes I had received and handed it over to him.

"They first started coming at the end of last month, it was the day after you transferred. They stopped coming for a while but then I got this note." I handed him the last note I got telling me to stay away from him.

"Why didn't you tell me about this before."

"Seriously! You have been rejecting me all this time. How could I? Well, I even suspected you to be behind this. You see how the writing on the notes matches yours. Was he trying to frame you?"

"It could be possible. But he asked you to stay away from me."

"It is because he can't hurt me when I'm with you."

"No, it means he'll keep hurting you if you stay close to me."

"But why is that so?"

"I need to find him and ask him all this."

"Do you want to do this together?"

"No! You stay away from all this." he snapped.

"What do you mean, I'm the one being attacked. I know you don't want to get close to me, but let's just do this if not as friends then as allies." I said shrugging my shoulders.

"I can do this alone, you won't be any help to me."

"How could you say that? I know more about that man in the black hoodie than you." I smirked.

"What do you know, tell me right now Claire." He pleaded.

"After we ally." I extended my hand for a handshake.

"Are you really going to be like this?"

"Yeah, if you don't want to, then I can search for him alone." I moved my hand back.

"Alright, alright. Let's do this together." He grabbed my hand. "But we're allies just to find him nothing more."

"I know. You have my number, right? Let me know of our next meet up. I'll see you later then." I said, walking past him, mischievously.

"Everyone, there's a national one-act play contest coming up." Ivan looked up at the cla.s.s. "There'll be a contest within the school first and the winning team will get a chance to partic.i.p.ate in the national contest as representatives from Willow Creek High School. I was asked to inform you. You can read the details about it posted on the notice board and whoever wants to take a part should speak to your drama teacher." he said with a poker face and left the room.

*****

"Claire, have you checked the notice board."

"Nope," I said automatically.

"Look," she took out her phone and showed me the notice. "The winners of the compet.i.tion will get a scholars.h.i.+p to study in the best drama academy. You know how badly I want to go to that college. Let's go to Miss Mary and sign up for the contest."

"Why would l?" I furrowed my brows.

"What do you mean? Though I'm good at acting and directions, I need a pretty face like yours to win the contest. Can't you help me just this once, my lovely friend Claire?" she entreated me with her puppy eyes.

"Don't look at me with those eyes."

"I won't if you agree to take part in the contest with me." she teasingly brought her face close to me and started blinking.

"Okay, I'll go with you, I'll partic.i.p.ate. Stop now!" I gave up.

"Great, now we need to gather all good-looking actors from the school, plot a play and win the contest."

"Did someone say good-looking?" Ed walked up to us. "What are you girls talking about?"

"We got our male lead, Claire!" Emily exclaimed. "So Ed, would you act opposite Claire in the play for the contest?"

"Anything for her!" he beamed with pleasure.

"Okay then, now that we have the leads, I need to set a romantic plot for the play and a.s.semble the other casts. I have a lot to do. I'll see you guys later." she strode towards the hallway.

"Claire, can you spare me some time tonight? I want to take you on a dinner date."

"Sure."

"I'll wait for you..."

As Ed spoke, the door of the locker behind us slammed with a bang. We both looked back.

"Claire, can I have word with you? It's important." Shaun came glaring at us.

"Right away?" I asked.

"Yes!"

"Ed, I have to go. I'll see you tonight."

"I'll wait for you in the schoolyard." he waved at me as I followed Shaun.

"You can't go tonight!" He turned to me as we reached the hallway.

"Why can't I?"

"You know the situation, the surroundings are menacing for you to go out like this."

"I have Ed with me. He can protect me. Don't worry." I moved to walk away.

"Don't go!" he s.n.a.t.c.hed my wrist.

"Leave, it's hurting me."

"I said don't go with him!" he groaned.

"I will!" I shook off his hand and ran out.