Chapter 3: 𝓒𝓪𝓷 𝓦𝓮 𝓐𝓽 𝓛𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓽 𝓑𝓮 𝓕𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓼?

Unknown:
Sent 6:00am

See This time I waited.

(xxx) xxx-xxxx:
Sent 6:02am

Congratulations. But I'm still tired because I couldn't get back to sleep. All thanks to you.

Gracie spent the rest of the night tossing and turning, conjuring up scenarios in her head about telling off her co-worker, the mystery guy finding her and killing her in her sleep and wondering what the following day would be like if she hadn't gone back to sleep. This was her answer. Being awake at six and already being cranky.

Unknown:
Sent 6:02am

Whoopsie? My bad

(xxx) xxx-xxxx:
Sent 6:03am

No shit. Now I have to drag myself all day at work.

Unknown:
Sent 6:03am

Where do you work

(xxx) xxx-xxxx:
Sent 6:04am

Why do you want to know? So you can stalk me?

Unknown:
Sent 6:04am

No Not at all Just curious I swear

(xxx) xxx-xxxx:
Sent 6:05am

Fine. If you go to my work to shoot me, at least it'd be better than my PARENTS killing me for telling you. American Eagle Outfitters.

Unknown:
Sent 6:05am

For the love of God I'M NOT GONNA KILL YOU!!!

(xxx) xxx-xxxx:
Sent 6:06am

Of course you would say that.

And the all caps and exclamation points aren't helping your case.

Unknown:
Sent 6:06am

Shit I take that back

(xxx) xxx-xxxx:
Sent 6:07am

Too late.

What's done is done.

I already think you're a short-tempered serial killer.

Unknown:
Sent 6:07am

I really fucked this up didn't I?

Gracie remembered those words her cruel co-worker said to her about not having any friends and the emotional pain it brought on her heart. She started tearing up just thinking about it.

Even if this psycho ended up being a serial killer, she could die knowing she, at least, tried to make a new friend. But then again, that would give her bully something else to bitch about her. That Gracie was dumb enough to be lured into the woods where she'd be stabbed twenty times by a killer.

(xxx) xxx-xxxx:
Sent 6:09am

That's alright. I suppose I can be friends with you. My life is boring as hell. It could spice it up.

By the way, you've GOT to add commas and periods to your texts.

Unknown:
Sent 6:09am

Excuse me

(xxx) xxx-xxxx
Sent 6:11am

If you insist on getting to know me, you should know that one of my biggest pet peeves is bad grammar. Use punctuation, for the love of God! You did that this morning too, but it being 3am, I was too damn tired to care.

Unknown:
Sent 6:11am

Alright. Geez.

I just don't see why it's a big deal.

(xxx) xxx-xxxx
Sent 6:12am

Just shut up and do it.

Unknown:
Sent 6:12am

Yes, ma'am.

(xxx) xxx-xxxx
Sent 6:12am

Better.

Unknown:
Sent 6:13am

Do you wanna play 20 questions?

Gracie rolled her head back. She was in the middle of a good Jatie Vlogs video. She didn't want to pause it just to play some 'get to know you' game with a stranger.

(xxx) xxx-xxxx
Sent 6:13am

I'm sorry, but I'm in the middle of binging YouTube. Take a rain check?

Unknown:
Sent 6:14am

Binging dumb YT videos is more entertaining than playing a simple game with me?

(xxx) xxx-xxxx
Sent 6:14am

...yep, pretty much.

Unknown:
Sent 6:15am

Okay. Give me a minute to recover from that hurtful insult.

Can we at least be friends?

(xxx) xxx-xxxx:
Sent 6:16am

I've been wondering.
How did you even get my phone number in the first place?

Unknown:
Sent 6:16am

Oh. This chick I met at a bar gave me her number. I guess I just put it in wrong.

Gracie sighed. She knew how it felt to be lonely. She didn't have many friends. All she did was go to work five days a week and watch TV in bed on the weekends.

She could use a friend. However, her parents always told her to be safe on the internet. She couldn't just jump right into a new friendship with a stranger.

(xxx) xxx-xxxx:
Sent 6:17am

Let's say, for argument's sake, I decided to be your friend. I'm gonna need proof that you're not a sexual predator.

Unknown:
Sent 6:17am

*image attached*

Gracie dropped her phone onto the floor. She couldn't believe how good looking he was with his dark, disheveled hair and a tendril falling down across his forehead.

His blue eyes contrasted against his tanned skin, his parents blessed him with high cheekbones and his jawline looked sharp enough to cut her finger if she tried to touch it. He could've easily gotten that picture from Google though. She still had to be safe.

(xxx) xxx-xxxx:
Sent 6:18am

How do I know you didn't get that from Google?

Unknown:
Sent 6:18am

What? You don't think a hottie like me could be texting someone like you?

(xxx) xxx-xxxx:
Sent 6:19am

Whatever. I'll pretend to believe you. I gotta go. I have to watch TV for a couple of hours before getting ready for work.

Unknown:
Sent 6:19am

Cory. Cory Walker.

(xxx) xxx-xxxx:
Sent 6:19am

Who's that?

Unknown:
Sent 6:20am

That's my name in case you wanted to save my number into your contacts ;)
And yours?

(xxx) xxx-xxxx:
Sent 6:20am

Gracie. That's all you're getting for now.

Unknown:
Sent 6:21am

I can work with that.