Scene: Monday — The Approach
Monday mornings hit different when you're on a mission. I walked into her class during passing period, hood up, hands in pockets, pretending I had a reason to be there. Hoodie Girl—her name still unknown—sat near the window, half-hidden under her hood, fingers drumming lightly on her thigh in that same private rhythm.
I watched her without watching her.
She always did this thing—if someone got too close, she'd shift closer to other people, like blending into a crowd made her safer. So I made my approach look natural. Passed behind a couple kids. Checked my phone. Pretended to be lost. Trailed just slow enough that she wouldn't feel stalked, just… followed by coincidence.
Then I let myself fall a few steps behind her as she left class.
Empty hallway ahead.
Natural funnel.
She walked straight into it.
But before I could even open my mouth, she turned around—smooth, sharp, like she'd known I was there the entire time. She slid out one earbud with this tiny tilt of her head, eyebrows knitting together.
"What's your problem?" she said, voice soft but edged. The kind of tone that warns, not asks.
I blinked. Okay, maybe she was more aware than I thought.
I pulled off my hoodie, just slightly raising my hands like I was proving I wasn't dangerous.
"Nothing. I just wanted to talk."
She didn't buy it, but she didn't walk away yet either.
"You see," I continued, pulling out my phone, "I don't know if it was you or someone else, but—"
I showed her the picture.
Two necklaces on a bench in the middle of the park. Abandoned. One silver, one dark metal. The photo looked important, like it meant something to someone.
She leaned in, just a little. Then frowned.
"No," she said quickly, shaking her head. "Not mine."
And before I could read anything from her face, she turned and walked off—fast. Almost too fast, like she didn't want the conversation to exist at all.
I shrugged to myself.
"Well," I muttered, "worth a try."
Mission contact attempt: unsuccessful.
I headed back toward the gym where Theo and Jalen were waiting, both pretending they hadn't been watching from down the hall.
"Well?" Jalen asked.
"I sold," I said flatly.
They both exhaled like they'd been holding their breath for five minutes.
Then Jalen narrowed his eyes.
"Where's my twenty dollars, Kiran?"
I stretched my arms over my head like nothing mattered.
"I'll give it to you on practice day."
Theo groaned.
"Bro's running this like an installment plan."
I just smirked.
"Business is business."
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