Dear Readers,

     This is a story I have been working on for a little bit to pass the time. I wasn't going to tell anyone about it yet, but I would like to know what some of you think. Please be honest or it'll be no help at all. Thanks. I present the first part of The Stalker.

    I poked my head slowly around the corner and gazed down one of the many filthy hallways of Marzack Middle School. My eyes combed down the row of lockers, stopping at number 122. It was the locker of my soul, the reason I was breathing. I, of course, didn't know the combination. But that was my mission for today. If I could get inside that locker, I'd be closer than ever before to HIM.

    But to my despair, he was no where to be found. It was impossible circumstances-I always knew where to find my target- but it was true. He should have been there, at his locker, smiling his brilliant smile I could only wish was being cast at me. His first period class had ended almost two full minutes ago; why hadn't the gloomy faces of the first to endure Algebra that day come pouring out yet?

    I was beginning to panic. If I didn't hurry, I would be late for second period, but I didn't care about that. What was concerning was that HE would be late soon, too. I wondered briefly if something had happened to him, but quickly shied away from the thought. He could handle himself; if there was ever a violent situation,he and his very large muscles would get the job done, leaving the threat in a stupor on the floor. A cheer would erupt, and a crowd would form. In the center would be him in all his glory, joined quickly by me as I would burst through the wall of people to reach him. He would see me, and we would lock eyes. He would reach out to me and...

    I snapped back to reality as the second period bell rang. I stared around; everyone else had left the hall, now vacant with the exeption of me. It was quiet enough to hear the distant scraping of chairs coming from the Algebra 1 class, and only then did I notice the crowd of students waiting to enter the room. A second crowd burst through the door, and the hall was a vigorous stampede of students once again.

    I began my process of picking through the students, my goal small but important. Suddenly, my eyes found thier target, and my heart burst. 

    He stood just a few feet from me, talking at lightning speed to some boy who didn't matter. The rest of my fellow students were worthless next to him. I tried not to let his beautiful features distract me, but couldn't resist. My eyes picked apart his face, staring first at his two pools of liquid blue that refused to even glance back to my plain, brown ones. His jaw was set in a manner that was intimidating to the enemy, but somehow also relaxed towards everyone else. Though his lips were moving too fast to really observe, I could still see a flash of that light shade of pink I loved so much.

    His conversation was coming to an end now, and he was moving in the direction of his locker. We were both excruciatingly late now, and though, unlike me, his teacher had given him a late pass, I knew he would waste no more time getting to class. I would miss my chance if I didn't catch up to him.

    I flipped my hair out from behind my ear, my face now hidden by my short, brown locks. I started forward, closing the distance between me and my goal as discreetly and as quickly as possible. In less time than I had expected, I was directly behind him, closer than I had ever come before. I felt like I was in an Indiana Jones movie; I wanted to reach for the prize, but I knew if I did that, it would set off a booby trap, and the entire mission would be blown.  

    I watched with growing impatience and anxiety as he reached slowly for his lock, still distracted by the person trying to make conversation with him. I was ready, physically; my notebook and pen were in my hands, posed to write the combination that would unlock so much. But my mind simply would not, could not wrap around how close I was to him. This was the perfect chance to make my presence known to him for the first time. He would actually know I exist! The idea was tempting, more so than anything I had encountered.

    But oh! If I had his locker combination, so much would be discovered. I would be able to see how he stacked his books, so I could stack mine the same way. If he had a mirror, ( and why wouldn't he, when he was so gorgeous?) I would buy one too. If I got lucky and he had posters or pictures hanging by magnets, I could learn so much more about him. He wouldn't know it, but we'd be closer than ever before.

    But what if he did know it? What if he fell head over heels in love with me the minute he saw me? What if it was truly meant to be, and I missed my chance, and never got married, and grew old sad and alone? What if my entire life depended on this moment?

    I looked up, my determined hand dropping the pen and reaching towards him. But he had vanished! I spun around, looking for my target in each direction. But even after a thorough search of my surroundings, he, and everyone else in the hallway, was gone.

    Disappointmen crashed down on me, harder than even the biggest wave towering in the ocean. I had missed my chance for collecting vital information. I had been so close, only to have my desires stall me for too long. It was a stupid mistake, and it had cost me. Who knew when I would get that kind of oppurtunity again? 

    I trudged slowly back down the hallways. The late bell had rung many minutes ago. If I went back, I was sure to get detention. Maybe I could get away with skipping. My second period class was language arts; I wouldn't be missing much. I had never done it before, but how hard could it be? I could claim an appointment of some kind, hang out in the bathroom, and still be able to go to third period.

    But I knew I didn't have the nerve. If I got caught, the punishment would be severe. The least they would do would be to give me an entire week of detention. If someone had seen me in the hallway just then and squealed, I'd be done for. With this in mind, I miserably headed into my second period class, ready to face the angry wrath of my teacher and my own brooding thoughts. 

     So that's all I have right now. Please please please tell me what you think!!! I don't care if its bad or good, just be honest. Suggestions are welcome too. Thanks for reading!!!

-Ashley De Peri