Chapter 5

Lena's brother, Daniel, was surprisingly way too excited about this.

"You want me to help you catch a guy who's been lurking around you?" he said, grinning like a villain. "Oh, hell yeah."

I regretted everything.

But it was too late. We were already outside Milo's Diner again, sitting at our usual spot. I stirred my milkshake absentmindedly while Daniel leaned back in his chair, pretending to be casual.

"Alright, so when does your creeper usually show up?" he asked.

"I don't know," I muttered. "He just… appears."

Lena snorted. "Wow, how very supernatural."

"Lena."

"Okay, okay," she said, sipping her drink. "So, what's the plan, boys?"

Daniel cracked his knuckles like he was about to get into a street fight. "Easy. The moment we spot him, I go full big brother mode and scare him off."

"That is literally the worst plan ever."

"Fine," Daniel sighed. "How about we follow him instead? Get some answers?"

That… was actually not a terrible idea.

So we waited.

And sure enough—he showed up.

Across the street. Hoodie up. Face partially hidden. Standing awkwardly near the lamppost like he was debating running away.

I froze.

"There he is," Lena whispered.

Daniel gave me a look. "Are you ready?"

I took a deep breath. No. No, I was not ready.

But I nodded anyway.

"Let's go."

---

We crossed the street, and with every step, my heart pounded harder.

The guy must have noticed, because his entire body stiffened.

And then—he turned to run.

"Oh, hell no." Daniel bolted forward.

The guy hesitated for a second too long—just enough for Daniel to grab his hoodie and yank it back.

And suddenly, I could see his face.

I stopped dead in my tracks.

The guy looked just as panicked as I felt. His eyes were wide, his breathing uneven.

And I knew him.

I didn't know how, or from where, but I knew him.

"…Oliver?" The name came out in a whisper.

His eyes widened even more. "You—You remember me?"

Remember him?

My brain scrambled through years of buried memories.

And then—it hit me.

A flash of childhood. A boy with messy hair and nervous energy. A boy who used to follow me around the playground, always too shy to talk.

The realization hit like a train.

"Oh my God," I breathed. "It's you."

Oliver swallowed hard, looking like he was about to pass out.

Daniel glanced between us. "…Okay, what the hell is happening?"

Lena whispered, "Plot twist."

I was too busy freaking out to respond.

Because my stalker wasn't just some random creep.

He was a boy from my past.

And I had no idea what that meant.