Messages

{Friend request for Jenny Briggs from Tyler Rogers.}

{Jenny accepts friend request.}

Tyler: Hi Jenny. I came across your profile, you know, through a friend of a friend of a friend, and I have to admit, I found you quite striking. Any chance we can chat and get to know each other?

Jenny: You are cute, but I don’t know. How old are you?

 Tyler: I’m fourteen. I go to Lakewood High. You?

Jenny: I’m thirteen. I’m still in Junior High. I go to Kennedy.

Tyler: Oh, okay, so you’ll probably go to Sherman next year. That’s a shame, we dominate them at football every year.

Jenny: Do you play?

Tyler: Yep. I’m the starting tight end for the freshmen team. I’m pretty tall for my age. I’m six-two.

Jenny: Wow that is tall! I’m only five-three.

Tyler: What are things that you enjoy doing for fun?

Jenny: I mainly like hanging out with my friends. We sneak out and go to high school parties together, go to concerts, hang out at the mall, that sort of stuff.

Tyler: Concerts, huh? What kind of music are you into?

Jenny: Kendrick Lemar, Eminem, J. Cole, Lil Wayne, stuff like that.

Tyler: That’s awesome! I’m a huge Eminem fan and Lil Wayne isn’t far behind. I saw Kendrick Lamar last year, when he was in town.

Jenny: Me too! Wasn’t that an amazing show! I can’t believe we were both there. I bet we saw each other and never even realized it.

Tyler: Do you like Drake? He’s coming to town in March. I’ve got tickets.

Jenny: I love Drake! Maybe if we get to know each other a little better we could go together.

Tyler: I would like that. So, what are your friends like?

Jenny: OMG! They’re nuts! My bestie, Lisa, gets me in trouble as much as she gets me out of trouble, I think. She’s the one who always talks me into doing things I shouldn’t, but she always covers for me too. Tina is the smart one. She makes sure we pass our tests and that our schemes are fool proof. Angie is the gossip and the life of the party. People are drawn to Angie, very trusting of her. Then there’s Ollie. He’s our sassy queen.

Tyler: I have a friend like Lisa. His name is Brandon. He’s like a brother to me. We met playing soccer when we were five and have been bros ever since. I consider everybody my friend, but he stands alone as numero uno.

Jenny: It’s good to have a friend like that. So, what do you do for fun?

Tyler: Party! When I play video games, I’m partying. When I’m playing sports, I’m partying. Even if I’m helping a buddy fix his car we’re drinking and jamming to some tunes.

Jenny: You can fix a car but can’t drive one?

Tyler: Learned from my dad. He’s a mechanic. What do your parents do?

Jenny: My dad left a long time ago. I barely remember him. Mom is a nurse. She works some crazy hours sometimes.

Tyler: Yeah, it’s just me and my dad. My parents were never married. My mom had a drug problem. I was taken from her when I was two. I hardly remember her.

Jenny: Can I ask you something?

Tyler: Sure.

Jenny: Did you feel like you had to grow up faster than the other kids because you only had one parent?

Tyler: Yes. I started taking care of myself at a young age.

Jenny: I remember walking home from school, scared something would happen to me. Then I’d get home, and the house would be dark and quiet. I was so scared someone was waiting inside for me, I would grab the broom and go through the house flipping on all the lights, checking things out before I could relax, lol.

Tyler: Lol, I can relate. I was too scared to go into my house for a week when I started staying by myself. I would just sit outside until my dad got home.

Jenny: Crazy how when your little your mind plays tricks on you. Now it’s no big deal. Mom leaves me here by myself overnight most of the time.

Tyler: Whoa. You don’t get worried someone might break in? Do you have a dog or something?

Jenny: No. It’s a peaceful neighborhood. The kind where you can leave your windows open at night.

Tyler: That’s cool. As long as you feel safe. My dad’s home. He has dinner with him, so I’m going to go eat. Can we chat later?

Jenny: Of course. I’ll be up for a few more hours.

Jenny and forty-two-year-old Darrel Sparks end their conversation. Darrel sits at his computer in the dark, the blue-lit screen casting an eerie glow over his face as he caresses the profile picture of the young teen he has been obsessed with ever since finding her page by following links through a friend’s page. He waits a little while and messages her again.

Tyler: Hey, Jenny, are you there?

Jenny: Sure am. What’s up?

Tyler: My dad rented some movies. Do you want to come over and watch?

Jenny: I don’t know. I mean, I have no way to get there. My mom is working.

Tyler: Okay. Hold on a second.

Tyler: My dad said we can pick you up and take you home.

Jenny: I don’t know. We just started to get to know one another.

Tyler: C’mon, it will be fun. Just as friends. It will give us a chance to get to know each other better. My dad will be right there all night.

Jenny: Well, okay. What time will you be here?

Tyler: Eight o’clock.

Jenny: Okay. My address is 1123 Willow Street. I’ll be waiting.

Darrel turns off his computer and grabs his keys. He eagerly drives across town, heart pounding, blood rushing through his veins as he visualizes how the night’s events might transpire. He pulls into Jenny’s driveway and sends her a message.

Tyler: We’re here. Come on out when you’re ready.

Jenny peeks out the window and sees the old truck in the driveway. She cannot see anyone inside the truck but thinks nothing of it since it is dark outside. She grabs her jacket and puts her phone in her jacket pocket, then leaves the house. She jogs up to the car gleefully and pops open the passenger door without even thinking about it. There in the passenger seat is Darrel. With a cobra-like strike, Darrel snatches Jenny and pulls her in across his lap. Jenny fights back, screaming no, hollering for help. She hits, kicks, scratches, and bites, doing what she can to get back out of the car. She manages to get out, but Darrel has her by the arm. Jenny wiggles out of her jacket and runs for the house.

Darrel springs from the car, not wanting her to get away. He catches up to her at the front door. Jenny tries to slam it shut, but Darrel stops it. Jenny pushes as hard as she can, her face turning red from exertion. Darrel puts all his weight on the door. Realizing she can no longer hold him back, Jenny lets go of the door with a yelp and runs for her room, narrowly escaping, locking the door behind her. Darrel slams his fist into her bedroom door in frustration and yells obscenities at her as he kicks away at the door. Jenny cowers on the far side of her bed with her laptop.

Jenny’s Post: Being attacked in my home at 1123 Willow Street! HELP!

Lisa Steven’s Reply: Calling 911 now, then on my way!

Oliver Cabrera’s Reply: Same!

Tim Laughlin’s Reply: Hold tight! I’ll be there in a minute!

Darrel bursts through the door and heads around the bed. Jenny tries to flee the room by going over the bed to get past him. Darrel grabs her and flips her on her back, punching her in the head, hard, twice, nearly knocking her unconscious. With brute force, Darrel rips her pants off and spreads her legs. Jenny gets a second wind and begins to kick and slap. Darrel tries to gain control of her but loses his patience and punches her again, this time knocking her out. Panting, he begins to undo his pants.

Darrel is knocked from the bed by a tackle from Jenny’s neighbor, Tim. The sixteen-year-old boy tussles with the bigger man on the floor until his much slower father shows up, and together they restrain Darrel. Moments later, the police, along with paramedics, show up at the scene. They’re followed by Jenny’s friends and her mom, who had seen the post just when she was going on break.

Jenny watches on from the safety of an ambulance as Darrel is escorted out of her home in handcuffs and placed in a police cruiser. Now that Darrel is no longer a threat, Jenny turns her attention to Tim, who is with his father talking to an officer over in the yard. Her and Tim used to be playmates but somewhat drifted apart because of the age difference in recent years. She’s thankful they remained friends on social media. As she looks at him now, she can’t help realizing that she never noticed how cute he is. She tells herself she’s going to have to message him later to thank him and try to reconnect.

{Friend request for Tim Laughlin from JB Awesomesauce}

Jenny: Hey Tim, it’s Jenny from across the street.

{Tim accepts friend request}

Tim: How are you doing, Jen?

Jenny: I’m still a little freaked out. I never got a chance to thank you for coming to my rescue. It was chaotic last night. That was so brave of you.

Tim: Well, I wasn’t about to stand by and let someone hurt you.

Jenny: Would you like to hang out again sometime? You know, for old times’ sake.

Tim: If it’s okay with your mom, why don’t we get pizza and see a movie. We’ll take in a horror movie and make fun of all the characters for their bad decisions like we used to.

Jenny: That would be great!

Tim: So, what’s with the new account?

Jenny: That guy found me online. He pretended to be someone my age. It has been so long since I have had a boyfriend, I guess I got caught up in someone being into me. But I’ve learned my lesson. Half the “friends” I had on my old page were people I didn’t know or hardly knew. This time I’m going to be more selective on who I talk to on here.

Tim: Wow! Good thinking. I’m so sorry that happened to you. I can’t imagine the terror you went through.

Jenny: It was horrible. I’m paranoid now and have to stay at a friend's house at night while mom is at work, until she can get a day schedule, which she is now pushing for.

Tim: Are you sure a horror movie is a good idea right now? Maybe a comedy would be better.

Jenny: The way we watch horror movies is comical. I’ll be alright. My guardian angel will be there.

Tim: Lol – you think to highly of me, but yes, you are always safe with me. Let me get ready and I’ll come pick you up. We’ll have a good time and get your mind off things.

Jenny: Sounds good. Thank you.

Jenny gets off the computer and texts her mom. She now believes in telling her mom where she is going to be at all times, never knowing what could happen.

Jenny: Hi mom. Going out for pizza and a movie with Tim from across the street.

Mom: Okay, sweetie. I’ve always liked that boy, now I love him. Is this a date?

Jenny: This is old friends catching up, but I don’t know. He is cute and makes me feel safe. It would be nice to have a boyfriend like that for a change, a real boyfriend.

Mom: You’re still young for big commitment. Just go have fun. I’m glad you chose someone we both know and trust.

Jenny: Me too, mom. Me too.