Chapter 28

The stalker rushes out of the theater behind the teens. Frustration and annoyance boil in their veins. 'Fucking seriously. I almost had them. If it weren't too fucking dark in there some of my pictures may have turned out okay. I knew I should have just waited for the end credits when the lights come on. I may have been able to get a shot of something. Instead, I got nothing. Fuck.'

The stalker stays a few paces behind the teens. Once the teens stop at a bus stop the stalker stands at the other side of the terminal to remain hidden. Witnessing and hearing everything they have so far today, they are sure they can expect some other chance to get their evidence. Any evidence at all. Anything that can be used to hurt that bitch Claudia.

Claudia and Foster climb onto the bus, almost leaving the stranger behind, however at the last moment the stranger hops onto the bus behind them and grabs a seat a few rows from the very back of the city bus. Deciding to take the time to calm down some of their anger, they stare out the window watching as the scenery passes by.

Groups of huddled-up families and friends waddle down the sidewalks, engaging in whatever interesting discourse about school, work, and life come into their minds and out of their mouths. The watcher just scoffs. 'How can people be so carefree? And how can people be so comfortable with looking like shit around people they know? Like I know it's winter and all, but sweatpants and a giant parka? Come one sweetie, you can do better than that,' the stalker mulls over these intrusive and insulting thoughts.

Before long the bus comes to a stop at the mall. Noticing Claudia and Foster get up, the stalker follows suit, staying just far enough back to not raise suspicion. Once inside the building, warm air hits the unknown girl's face. She takes off her hoodie to avoid looking weird to other passersby. Her long brunette hair is tied back, away from her face. She dons a high-waisted jean mini skirt and a cropped long-sleeve sweater. She has knee-highs, drawing an outsider's eyes directly towards her long, thin legs. She has on a pair of black mary-jane heels that match her cropped sweater. Catching herself in the reflection of a nearby shop window, she readjusts her top so that just enough cleavage is poking through. Once she is satisfied with her appearance, she catches back up to the pair of teens that are headed into the arcade.

Foster and Claudia spend hours blasting zombies and playing dance dance revolution, unaware of how boring their stalker finds it. She just sits back in a booth nearby, twirling her fork in her salad, too busy watching to actually eat anything. Foster gives Claudia a few hugs from behind and some neck kisses, but nothing too scandalous. In fact, their actions have been relatively PG so far.

The strange girl throws down her fork and sighs, realizing that she is not going to be able to get any more chances at juicy incriminating photos tonight. Her approach is not working. Then an idea pops into her head. She might not be able to get anything on them tonight, but she can at least plant some seeds of doubt that might make their relationship a bit more turbulent.

Standing up from her booth and tossing her uneaten food into the nearby trash, she brushes any wrinkles out of her skirt and decides to approach the teen couple.

"Foster? Is that you? I can't believe I ran into you guys here." Julia feigns joy and takes this opportunity to pull Foster in for a hug that lasts slightly too long. Claudia shifts uncomfortably, waiting for the awkward moment to end.

"Julia? What are you doing here? Is Jake here with you on a date or something?" Foster pushes her off of him, uncomfortable with having some other girl pressed against him so tightly when he is there with Claudia.

"Oh yeah, he is around here somewhere. He had to run to the restroom and is taking a while so I decided to stand and stretch my legs and that's when I ran into you and your friend here. Oh, what's your name again sweety? Clarissa?" Julia nods towards Claudia, still attempting to keep up the nice girl act.

"Claudia and I'm the girlfriend," Claudia smiles, trying to prevent her confidence from faltering in front of this obvious mean girl.

"Oh yeah, of course, Claudia! How can I forget after we had so much fun together getting ready for homecoming with Micah and the others just the other night." Julia turns and flashes a stunning smile at Foster and bats her long eyelashes at him. "So, girlfriend huh? I never expected you to have a girlfriend. I always pegged you for the fuck them and leave them type," Julia presses her breasts together with her arms, trying to lure any kind of reaction from Foster.

Foster rubs the back of his head, "Yeah well I've turned over a new leaf. Claudia brings out the best in me I guess you could say." Foster snakes his arm around Claudia's waist, pulling her against him and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.

Unsatisfied with this answer Julia decides to dig a little bit deeper. "So does she know? I mean the whole school talks about you. I'm sure you have girls pining after you every day. I can't imagine how tough that is on your relationship?"

"I don't really feel comfortable talking about this Julia. I like barely know you. It's also none of your business," Foster shuts her down, his lips pressing together to form a thin line.

Taken aback a bit by his attitude, she starts backtracking. "Oh my goodness. How rude of me. I'm so sorry. I was just trying to make small talk while I wait for Jake to come back. I guess the gossip in me never knows when to chill out." Julia fakes an apologetic smile, trying to keep the conversation going.

"I-It's totally okay Julia. We only recently made our relationship public and I absolutely understand how easy it is to fall into juicy gossip." Claudia smiles sincerely at the girl. She doesn't realize how hard Julia is trying to hurt her feelings. It's hard to see bitter intentions when you only know how to find the good in others.

"Aw, you picked a good one Foster. You better treat her right or else. I don't know what I'd do if this one ran off like that other one and . . . well you know how that ended. Anyways, it was nice seeing you guys! Hopefully Jake and I can meet up with you again for a double date sometime. I should probably go find that knucklehead. He has been gone for too long and I don't want to lose him." Julia waves, seeing the darkened expression in Foster's eyes just before she turns around and retreats. The day wasn't a total bust after all.

Julia calls up Jake to get a ride home from the mall after deciding to stop for the day. Jake, being the lovey-dovey-doting boyfriend that he is immediately agrees and hangs up to speed over there. He picks her up and instead of driving her right home, he takes her back to his parent's house hoping to spend some time with her. Reluctantly Julia agrees, not wanting to shut him down or turn him against her. She needed to keep this relationship going as long as possible in order to accomplish her goals.

Luckily when they make it back to Jake's place, she spots Micah sitting on the couch watching a movie and another plan starts to form in her mind. If she can't directly get evidence herself, maybe she can utilize Claudia's friend against her. Pleased with this idea she drags Jake over to the couch to spend some quality time getting to know his family as any good girlfriend does. So that's what she does. She spends the rest of her Saturday night scheming and slowly gaining Micah's trust.