Never Talk to Strangers: Never, #1

By Alice Night

When you're younger, your parents usually tell you one rule over and over.  Never talk to strangers.  They tell you not to get in someone's car who asks you to help look for an animal they lost, or take candy from them, or talk to people you don't know on the Internet, also, right?   Yeah, that is where Summer Key messed up.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alice Night
• Release date: Jul 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201387853

Book preview

1

THE INTERNET

H ey, ready? Emily walked into my bedroom, with her backpack over her shoulder. She spent the night since it was a two-hour late start today.

Throwing my backpack on, I nodded, Yeah, let’s go.

My brother, Tyler, and his boyfriend, Sam, had already left for school so Em and I were walking.

The cold December air blew in our faces as we opened the front door.

You can’t call Tyler and ask him to come back to get us? Em chuckled.

Please, I chuckled, shivering, Like he even has service.

We set out to school on foot, thankful the sidewalks weren’t icy yet. December in Washington rarely got above forty degrees, except on the very rare occasions where it was in the fifties – but unfortunately, this wasn’t one of those times. Cars drove past us, with the cold wind burning our noses, silently wishing we just stayed home today.

Emily had her head down scrolling on her phone, laughing, and reading off random things, then she gasped, Amber Murphy said she’d come pick us up!

Amber Murphy was the most popular girl in school – and the most gorgeous. The two of them were good friends, so it didn’t surprise me when she said Amber would pick her up, at least.

At the end of my street, past the elementary school, a silver car stopped next to us. The window rolled down to reveal Amber in the driver’s seat, her long black hair tucked perfectly behind her ear to show off her highlighter against her flawless mocha skin. A guy, I’m assuming her boyfriend, was in the passenger seat.

Hey, guys, she smiled, Hop in.

Em opened the back door and we slid inside the warm car. It even had seat warmers in the back!

Thank you so much, Amber, I told her.

It’s no problem, Summer she smiled, reassuringly.

For a moment I was shocked she knew my name, but then I thought that Emily must have told her. Amber turned up some music for the five-minute drive to school. By the time my body temperature returned to normal, it was time to go back outside, again.

Thank you again, Em told her, shutting the door.

Yeah, there was no way my brother would’ve been able to come get us.

Amber shrugged her shoulders as if it were nothing. You’re welcome, no need to thank me.

Amber and her boyfriend linked arms, walking towards the building.

Sometimes, I wish I were popular, Em admired.

Are you kidding me? I laughed, "You’re friends with Amber Murphy! You’re basically popular, too!"

Emily laughed, Okay, you’re right, sorry.

On the outside doors, colored flyers were announcing this year’s Winter Formal – and I slightly groaned to myself because I knew –

So, do you have a date yet? That was going to happen.

No, I told her, wanting to change the subject.

I can find you a date if you want! She told me, a little too happily. Please?

But I shook my head. No, I’m good.

Danny, Emily’s boyfriend, my other best friend walked over, putting an arm over her shoulders. Good morning, babe, he told her, giving her a kiss.

Emily and Danny have been dating off and on for about a year, now. When he moved here a few years ago, Emily had a huge crush on him – though she refused to talk to him. She just needed a little push, so I invited him to sit with us at lunch one day and slipped him Em’s number before he went off to class.

Good morning, babe, she kissed him back. So, we need to find Summer a date for –

No, I dragged the word. No, I don’t need a date.

Are you sure? Danny asked.

I nodded, smiling. Yes, I’m sure.

Then you’ll find one? Em asked, hopeful.

Passing Tyler talking to his boyfriend and their friends, I noticed Nick Wilson do a double-take when he saw me. He flashed me a beautiful smile and I felt my face grow warm as I smiled back. Tyler and Nick have been best friends since kindergarten. I was the first-person Tyler told when he came out, then we told our parents by introducing Sam as Tyler’s boyfriend. They were not only happy for him but happy that he came home to introduce Sam the same way he’d come home to introduce a girlfriend.

Summer! Emily gasped, What about Cory?

Em, I can find my own date, I reassured her – if I even wanted to go.

The first few classes seemed to go by really slow. Maybe because I was tired, or maybe because I was dreading lunch when Em would ask me, once again, if I had a date yet.

Though surprisingly, she hadn’t asked when we dropped off our stuff into our fourth-period class.

Do you want to come over on Friday? Emily asked as we made our way down the hall. My mom won’t be home, she has work.

Yeah, I’ll bring more popcorn.

What should we watch? She asked as we met up with Danny.

When? Danny asked.

Sorry, babe. Summer and I are having a girl’s night Friday, Em told him.

But your mom won’t be home, he joked.

Guys, I held up a hand to stop them. Right here.

Em and I laughed as we went into the cafeteria with Danny for lunch.

After taking our seats, Emily took out her phone to probably play a game she and Danny had been playing together. I couldn’t remember what it was because I didn’t have an interest in it. Slowly, the cafeteria became packed with students, making it hard to hear them, so I kind of tuned them out.

I hate her! Emily sneered, looking down at her lap. I hate her so much. I can't believe she has the nerve to say that!

Who are you talking about? I asked, curiously.

She looked up at me with anger in her hazel eyes. She tucked a loose piece of dark brown hair behind her ear. "Amber Gras," she spit the name.

Oh, God, I sighed heavily. Amber Gras was one of Em’s ex-friends. They were pretty close last year until she started hanging around Brooke – Em’s other ex-friend. Brooke had gotten close to Emily just to get to Danny. When Emily confronted Brooke about it, she flipped out, causing a huge scene. She started spreading rumors about Emily that were not only untrue but absolutely horrible. What did she do now?

Look! She handed me her phone so I could read the messages.

LiaBoo: She's so gross.

BreeA: She really is though.

BreeA: OhmyGod, ew! Did you see her today?!

LiaBoo: Yeah! She's trying to dress like me, what the heck?

LiaBoo: Ha! Her sweater was so ugly yesterday!

BreeA: She's such a loser.

Who's BreeA? I asked, giving Emily her phone back.

Brooke, she rolled her eyes.

Don't let it get to you, baby, Danny said, kissing her cheek. She smiled at him and kissed him on the lips.

Get a room, I joked, looking back down at my lunch.

Emily laughed, Sorry, Summer.

You know I’m kidding. I laughed and asked, So, what's that thing you were on, anyway?

This, she answered, showing me her phone. Download it on your phone.

Pulling out my phone and opening my app store, I typed in the first few letters and it popped up. There was a picture of a little thought bubble with the letter ‘C’ in it. Is it this? I showed it to her, and she nodded. I started to download it when I heard a voice behind me.

I know that's not a phone, Summer. Quickly shoving the phone in my pocket, I turned to see Mr. M. walking past us.

Sorry, Mr. M, I mumbled.

So, did you find someone yet? Emily asked eagerly once he was gone.

For what? I asked, taking another bite of my food.

"Winter Formal! We were just talking about it this morning!"

Oh! Yeah, that, I shook my head, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. I’m not going.

Um, why?

I shrugged.

Summer, come on, please!?

Let me think about it, okay?

You had all morning to think about it. Em looked disappointed.

Danny spoke up, But if she doesn’t want to have a fun night, you can’t force her to.

I blinked at him. Wow, scoffing jokingly, I