By Jebraun Clifford
“I said, hold still.” Landon squints at his phone.
I freeze, palm outstretched. Goodness, he’s getting snappy. “Have you got it?” My thighs burn from crouching on the boardwalk.
“Almost.” His blonde hair falls into his eyes as he leans forward and taps the phone screen. “Yup. All good.”
I inspect the picture. Sure enough, a lime-green animated creature reminiscent of a turtle perches on my hand.
“Perfect!” I hop up and down. “Now how do you capture it?”
“This from the girl who didn’t want to go this morning.”
I zip up my blue hoodie against the sudden breeze blowing from the ocean. “When you said we were hunting, I thought, you know, hunting. With a gun or something. Who knew an app could be so much fun?”
We’ve walked at least five miles, jumped seven levels, incubated two eggs, and collected numerous fantasy critters. No wonder Landon’s temper flared. We’d better stop and eat soon.
He sticks his phone in his back pocket. “Amazing what technology comes up with these days, isn’t it?”
“Hey, Maeve!” a voice calls out.
I spin around. Dean, a friend from school, walks toward us from the pier. He’s carrying a fishing pole.
“Thought it was you.” Dean gives me a high five. Landon’s smile fades. “What are you doing?”
“Playing Creature Collect.”
Dean groans. “Not you too.”
Landon clears his throat.
“Oh.” I motion to him. “This is Landon. Landon, Dean.”
“I’ve seen you around Coast High.” Dean sticks out his hand, his freckled face beaming. “Nice to meet you.”
Landon shakes it briefly then looks at me. “Ready for lunch?”
“Sure.”
“Hey, didn’t mean to interrupt,” Dean says. His easy smile doesn’t erase Landon’s scowl. “See you Monday?”
I nod. “Sounds good.”
“’Bye.” Dean waves and ducks into a nearby juice bar.
I turn to Landon. “Where do you want to eat?”
He takes my elbow. “Who’s Dean? Where are you going with him Monday?”
“History.” I shrug. “We have class together.”
Landon releases me and nods toward a café. “Right. So. Let’s go here.”
“The Greasy Spoon?” I follow him inside.
“They’ve got good sandwiches.” We step up to the counter. “Two hams on whole wheat, cola, and a diet cola,” he tells the clerk.
“I like pastrami,” I murmur.
Landon rolls his eyes. “Make that one pastrami, one ham.”
“No pickles, please.” And I hate diet cola. Sure not going to mention it though. Landon is hangry.
“You heard the lady. No pickles.”
Before I can get my wallet, Landon pays for our food. When our sandwiches are ready, he picks up the tray, then guides me to a small table outside. We sit across from each other. The waves crash against the beach.
“I’m surprised you agreed to go out with me again.” He pulls the wrapper off his straw.
Uh, oh. “This isn’t a date. We’re just friends, okay?” I take a bite of my sandwich. Maybe I should reimburse him for lunch so he doesn’t get the wrong idea.
He smirks. “That’s funny. It feels like a date.”
I take a deep breath and fiddle with a strand of my hair. It’s fire-red, like my Celtic origins. If only I had the personality to match. “You said Emma, Alex, and Isaac were coming.”
“So they couldn’t make it. Big deal.” He aims his phone to my left. “Hey! A dragon. They’re really rare. Want a picture with it?”
“That’s okay. Look. I like you. As a friend. But I told you, I don’t want a serious relationship.”
“Who said anything about serious?” He sips his cola.
I cock my head. Landon’s cute in a preppy sort of way, with his skinny jeans and button-down shirt. But I went out with him once, and he was a little too possessive afterward. Texting me constantly. Stopping by my locker all the time. The only reason I agreed to hang out today was because I thought the others were going to be here, too.
“We’re only friends.” How many times do I have to repeat myself?
“But I want to go out with you.”
“And I’m saying no.”
“Why?”
I put down my sandwich. I need to get out of here. “Forget this. See you at school.”
Before I can leave, Landon reaches across the table and grabs my wrist. “Forget what?”
“Hey! Let me go.”
“You’re staying.” His grip tightens.
“You’re hurting me.” Gritting my teeth, I glance around. No one’s paying attention to us.
His eyes narrow. “I don’t like girls who play hard to get.”
My pulse speeds up. This was stupid. I shouldn’t have gone anywhere with him.
“That’s not what I’m doing.” I reach my free hand toward my back pocket.
He thrusts his face close to mine, his breath hot against my cheek. “Sure feels like it.”
Now my heart pounds against my chest. How could I have given him another chance? He’s not cute now. Only a predator in a good-looking package.
“Let. Me. Go.” My fingertips touch my phone. Finally. I wiggle it out and press the home button twice.
Landon freezes, every muscle rigid. All that can move is his mouth. “Hey,” he squeaks. “What are you doing?”
“Activating an app called Prey.” I quickly point my phone at him until the app flashes green. “It protects girls like me from guys like you.”
“How long will this last?”
“You won’t be able to move for fifteen minutes.” I jump up from my seat and toss two five dollar bills on the table. “That’s for lunch.”
His eyes bulge. “You can’t leave me here!”
“Watch me.”
“Wait until I’m free.”
“I wouldn’t try anything.” I snap his picture and tap out a code. “The app has your details now. If you come within ten feet of me again, it’ll automatically freeze you for an hour unless I release you.”
“But who—why—how?”
I smile sweetly as I walk away. “Amazing what technology comes up with these days, isn’t it?”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nice, I like the idea of a freeze app.
Wouldn’t it be handy?
Very witty ending and twist.
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it.
Haha – I know what they were playing at the beginning. I love the idea of an app like that!
I can think of a few times when I would’ve been able to use something like it!
Nice! Very satisfying ending! 😁
I was quite pleased with how it turned out myself. :-)
Sounds like a useful app. Does it only work on sexual predators, or can it freeze other people too?
In my mind, it only worked if the person was in danger.
Gotta say – that was not what I expected! Interesting twist
Nice! I like that it surprised you!
That was a great story! And a very useful app. Really liked how the beginning paralleled the end in a surprising way. :)
I appreciate the feedback! The Havok editors were particularly helpful in drawing out more of the parallels when I first submitted the story. :-)