Zac walked down the hall to Katie's locker. She had called him right before he went to bed that night on Taylor's line. She had ordered him to go straight to her locker when Taylor dropped him off. He spotted her at her locker, and walked up to her. She gasped and jumped when he tapped her on the shoulder.
"Hey." He said, noticing the panicked look on her face. "What's wrong?" He asked.
"Oh my god, you scared me." She said, turning around.
"Sorry. What's wrong?" He asked again.
Katie looked around the nearly empty hallway and leaned in a bit. "I got another call." She whispered.
"YOu did?"
"Yes. Last night, right before I called you."
"So that's why you were upset on the phone."
"Yeah." She said.
"Did they say anything?"
SHe shook her head. "Nope."
"Oh."
"They never do. I always hang up."
"Can you hear anything in the backround?" He asked.
"No. Sometimes breathing, but that's it."
"It's probabaly a guy."
"Yeah." She agreed. "Who else would do such a thing?"
Zac shrugged. "There are some weird people out there."
Katie nodded in agreement. "I just wish I knew who was doing it."
"I do too." he said. "You didn't get them for awhile there."
"No, they stopped for like, a month."
"That's what I thought."
Katie leaned against her locker and sighed. "I thought this was over with."
"I did too." Zac said.
"It's just...so strange, you know?"
Zac nodded. "Yeah."
"I mean, it could be anyone." She said.
"Yup." Zac said, looking around them. He watched as she bit her lower lip. "Zac, I'm really scared."
Zac sighed. "I don't know what to tell you."
"I mean, it could be just some weirdo, but what if it's some rapist or something? I could be walking home and he could just jump out and get me or-"
"Katie, stop." Zac interrupted, holding up his hands. "You're just making yourself worry even more.
Katie frowned. "I know." She said.
"Look, just...don't go anywhere alone, and don't pick up the phone. And don't stay out late, and don't go anywhere by yourself." Zac said.
"Okay." Katie nodded. She leaned against her closed locker. "I just...I wonder who it could be, you know?"
Zac nodded. "Yeah."
"I want to know."
Zac looked around, and his eyes fell on Jeremy, who was walking towards them. "Whoever it is, it's got to be a real sicko."
Katie nodded, and within a few moments, Jeremy was at his locker.
"Hi Katie." He said.
"Hi." Katie said, obvioulsy worried. Zac gave Jeremy a quick up and down glance with one eyebrow raised, and then boys both looked at Katie.
She turned to Zac, looking ready to cry. The more she dwelled on it, the more she wanted to hide for the rest of the year.
"Hey." Zac said softly, putting his hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. Just remember what I said."
Katie nodded and wiped her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Jeremy asked, looking at her.
"Nothing." She said, trying her best to hide her face.
"Katie, you can tell me."
"I said nothing."
"I won't tell." Jeremy persisted.
"Jeremy, just leave me alone-"
"Look, leave her alone. She doesn't want to talk about it." Zac snapped.
Katie looked at Zac, surprised that he had snapped at Jeremy like that. He gave her a sympathetic look and shrugged. He watched Jeremy learily.
"Come on, let's get to class." She said, nudging Zac with her elbow. Zac gave Jeremy one last look before following Katie down the hall. Jeremy watched her leave with him by her side.