THE PRETTY LIE

 Christine snuggled into the warmth of her bed as she lazily scrolled through her social media feeds. The late afternoon sunlight streaming through her window cast a warm glow over her room, illuminating her face as she gazed at her phone. Suddenly, a strange message popped up: "Hey, baby girl." The words seemed to leap off the screen, making her heart skip a beat.

Staring at her phone, she knew exactly who it was - Peter, the guy who had been relentlessly pursuing her. But she was still curious about how he got her number.

"How did you get my number?" she asked, her fingers flying across the keyboard.

"I have my ways, baby girl," he replied, his message accompanied by a winking emoji.

Christine's eyes widened in annoyance. "That's not an answer," she typed, trying to keep her cool. Her room, once a peaceful sanctuary, now felt oppressive, as if Peter's presence loomed over her.

"I don't need to explain myself to you, baby girl," Peter responded, his tone dripping with arrogance. His words seemed to seep into her skin, making her feel uneasy and trapped.

Christine felt a shiver run down her spine. There was something unsettling about Peter's confidence, something that made her skin crawl. She tossed her phone aside, trying to shake off the feeling of unease.

But her phone buzzed again, Peter's next message flashing on the screen: "We'll see about that." The winking emoji that followed seemed to mock her, making her heart sink.

Christine's room, once a cozy retreat, now felt like a prison. She had a feeling that she was in for a wild ride with Peter, and she wasn't sure if she was ready.

Jessie burst into the room, her entrance a dramatic flourish of exhaustion. She flopped onto the bed, her curly brown hair bouncing with the movement. "Hey girl, what's up?" she asked, her voice husky from fatigue.

Christine sighed, shaking her head. "I'm frustrated with this one guy in my life," she replied, her eyes scanning the ceiling as if searching for answers.

Jessie's eyes sparkled with intrigue, her gaze locking onto Christine's. "And who should that be?" she asked, propping herself up on her elbows, her bright pink nails gleaming in the soft light.

"The cute but psycho guy," Christine said, rolling her eyes in exasperation.

Jessie's expression turned serious, her brow furrowing in concern. "What's wrong with him? I think he needs therapy," she said, her voice laced with empathy.

Christine sighed, rubbing her temples. "Only God knows how he got my number."

Jessie's eyes widened in surprise, her mouth dropping open. "What? He did that?" she asked, her voice incredulous.

Christine nodded, just as another message from Peter popped up on her phone. "Yeah, he did," she said, showing Jessie her phone. "He's totally insane."

Jessie's expression turned thoughtful, her eyes narrowing as she pondered the situation. "Or maybe he has fallen in love with you," she teased, a playful glint in her eye.

Christine's eyes widened in surprise, her face pale. "What? All bad boys fall in love with the right one," Jessie added, a hint of seriousness beneath her playful tone.

Christine stared at Jessie, unsure how to respond. Was it possible that Peter's behavior was motivated by something more than just obsession? The thought sent a shiver down her spine.

"Or maybe he's the Prince Joker like you said he was before" she replied finally still surprised about Jessie's comment 

"Yeah, I said that, but I haven't seen him obsessed with a girl when there are a lot of girls in the ocean," Jessie said, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"I hate this, he's so creeping me out," Christine said, shuddering at the thought of Peter's intense gaze.

 Christine asked, changing the subject. "How did your day go?"

"My day was exhausting," Jessie replied, flopping onto her back.

"Why?" Christine asked, her brow furrowing with concern.

"I had to deal with Professor Smith's drama again," Jessie said, rolling her eyes. "He's always finding fault in our work, and today was no exception."

Christine nodded sympathetically. "That guy is a nightmare. I'm surprised you didn't lose your cool."

Jessie chuckled. "I almost did, but I took a few deep breaths and reminded myself that I'm not going to let him get under my skin."

The two friends chatted for a while longer, discussing everything from school gossip to their favorite TV shows. But despite the lighthearted conversation, Christine couldn't shake off the feeling that Peter was still out there, watching her, waiting for his next move.

Christine spent the whole night tossing and turning, her mind consumed by Jessie's thought-provoking comment. Peter's chiseled face and piercing eyes kept drifting into her thoughts, and she hated it. She hated how he seemed to be haunting her, his presence lingering in her mind like a ghost.

As she lay in bed, Christine felt a growing sense of unease. She couldn't shake off the feeling that Peter was watching her, waiting for her to let her guard down. She tried to distract herself by thinking about school, her friends, and her favorite TV shows, but Peter's image kept popping back into her mind.

Christine threw off her covers and got out of bed, pacing back and forth across her room. She felt trapped, like she was stuck in a never-ending nightmare. And at the center of it all was Peter, his charming smile and captivating eyes hiding a darker truth.

As the night wore on, Christine's exhaustion began to catch up with her. She finally collapsed onto her bed, her eyes drifting shut as she succumbed to a fitful sleep. But even in her dreams, Peter's presence lingered, a constant reminder that she couldn't escape him that easily.

*-*

The next morning, Christine woke up feeling groggy and irritable. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and swung her legs over the side of the bed, feeling the soft carpet beneath her feet. As she stood up and began to get dressed, she noticed a text message on her phone from Peter.

"Hey baby girl, Ignoring my texts" the message read. "I'll see you in class today." Christine's heart sank as she read the message. She felt a surge of anxiety and frustration, and she knew that she had to confront Peter once and for all.

Christine marched into the lecture room, the sound of murmuring students and scraping chairs filling the air. Her eyes scanned the crowded space with a mix of determination and trepidation. As she spotted Peter sitting in the back row, a sly grin spreading across his face, she knew exactly what she was in for. Her heart sank, and her stomach twisted into knots. She felt like she was walking into a trap, with Peter waiting to pounce.

Christine took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. She wasn't going to let Peter get to her, not today. But before she could even process her thoughts, Peter walked up to her, his eyes locked onto hers.

"Hey baby–" he said, his voice low and smooth. Christine's anger flared up, and she quickly interrupted him.

The warm sunlight streaming through the windows highlighted the tension in Christine's face as she confronted Peter. "What the hell is wrong with you?" she asked, her voice boiling with rage and frustration. Peter looked surprised but maintained his normal calm demeanor.

"You think you can come to me, play with my head, and leave?" Christine continued, her voice getting louder. Peter's expression didn't change, but he replied softly.

"I think you should calm down," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. Christine's voice rose to a higher tone.

"I should calm down? So what, you haven't seen a lady with rage?" Peter stared at her, looking numb, and Christine felt a shiver run down her spine. She was taken aback by his expression, but she refused to back down.

Annoyed by his expression, Christine asked, "You should freaking answer me!" She shouted, realizing too late that her voice was too loud. The whole room fell silent, with everyone staring at her like she was a crazy lady.

Christine's face burned with embarrassment as she realized what she had done. She had let Peter get under her skin, and now she was the one who looked crazy. She took a deep breath, trying to calm down, but it was too late. The damage was done.

As the lecture began, Christine couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She knew that she had to confront Peter, but she wasn't sure if she was ready. She glanced over at Peter, who was sitting calmly in the back row, a smug expression on his face.

Christine's anger flared up again, and she knew that she had to do something. She couldn't just sit back and let Peter continue to manipulate her. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come.

It was time to take back control.