text: Hey there, you are my number neighbor! You don’t have to reply. Just hope you have a good day (Me) **Lol thanks. Hi.** **(418-555-1927)** **What is a number neighbor?** **(418-555-1927)** Lol sorry. It’s a Twitter thing. I didn’t think you’d answer to be honest. (Me) **Gotcha. I don’t use Twitter much.** **Too political.** **(418-555-1927)** I get that. Well there is trend going around on it where You text or call the phone number that is one up or down From your number and see what happens. (Me) **Oh I get it. Your number is 1928 so me** **And whoever owns 1929 are your number neighbors** **(418-555-1927)** Right. Anyway sorry about bugging you With such a silly thing. (Me) **It’s cool. I’m Jared btw.** **(418-555-1927)** I’m Victoria. Nice to meet you lol. (Me) **You too. I do have to go back to work now though.** **Have a good day number neighbor.** **(418-555-1927)** 2 days later **Hey number neighbor. I got back on Twitter just** **To see what you were talking about. I thought you had** **made it up to be honest.** **(418-555-1927)** Oh hey! Lol really? (Me) **Yeah. Did you see where someone** **Adopted their number neighbor’s dog?** **(418-555-1927)** OMG yes! So sweet. (Me) **Some of those threads were crazy.** **Most people’s neighbors were just** **their family though.** **(418-555-1927)** Yeah. That makes sense I guess. I saw a DJ get hired out of it though! Super cool. (Me) **I didn’t see that one.** **Are we in the same area?** **(418-555-1927)** Maybe? Unless you bought your number And moved. You aren’t military or something right? (Me) **Nah. I’m a college student.** **(418-555-1927)** Oh cool, me too. (Me) **That’s good. I suddenly had a freak out** **worrying you were a high school kid.** **(418-555-1927)** Lol or an old lady. (Me) **That I could deal with. Underage and** **I was going to block you immediately.** **(418-555-1927)** Haha no. I’m 22. Nice to know you aren’t creepy. Keep the neighborhood clean. (Me) Hey I gotta ghost. Talk later? (Me) **Sure. Take it easy.** **(418-555-1927)** Several Weeks Later Victoria closed her laptop and slipped it into her waiting backpack. Jenna, her closest college friend and study buddy, looked up from her notes or rather her phone which was sitting on top of her notes. “Are you heading out for your date?” Jenna asked quietly. “It’s not a date,” Victoria said. “How long have you two been texting?” Jenna said. “Like three weeks,” Victoria said with a shrug, as she packed up her notes. “What’s his middle name?” Jenna asked. “Reed,” Victoria answered. “Yeah, it’s a date,” Jenna said raising her eyebrows knowingly. “I have to head out either way,” Victoria said. “Where are you meeting him?” “At a coffee place that’s only an hour away.” “Is it that same place you met that other guy Matt or Blake or whatever?” “Taylor... but yeah.” “Uh-huh. Make sure he buys your coffee if you are going all that way. And text me that you are safe. I don’t want him to kidnap you.” “I don’t think you have to worry about that. I will text though, promise.” “Yeah well, don’t let this one stand you up. I can’t believe how many dates you go on that you never hear from again.” “It’s a tragedy,” Victoria replied as she hiked the backpack strap over her shoulder. “Well if you ever want to switch teams I am here for you,” Jenna said, blowing Victoria a kiss. “Kelly would kill us both,” Victoria said with a wave as she left her friend to get ready. Are we still on for tonight? (Me) **Yeah, of course. You thinking** **of ducking out on me?** **(Jared)** Lol no. Just wanted to make sure before I get in the car. (Me) **Hopefully I’m worth the gas lol.** **(Jared)** You had better be. I’ll text when I leave. (Me) **Awesome. See you soon.** **(Jared)** Later That Evening “Did you have fun?” Jared asked as they stood in the doorway of the closing café. Behind them the lights had already dimed in the store front. “I really did. Sorry I kept you so late. I know you have a longer drive back than I do,” Victoria said apologetically. “It’s not a big deal,” Jared assured her with a smile. He was taller than Victoria thought he was going to be. She normally went for shorter guys but the dark hair and eyes were definitely her type. “Would you actually mind walking me to my car though?” Victoria asked. “Of course not. Where did you park?” Jared asked looking around the deserted parking lot. “In the next lot over. This one was really full when I showed up. You don’t mind right?” “That’s no problem still,” Jared said as they started walking to her car. “Oh! Come sit with me for a second so I can play that song I was telling you about. I can’t believe how crap the service is here,” Victoria said as the car interior lit up in response to her remote unlock. “Sure,” Jared said slipping into the passenger seat. Victoria began to dig around in her center console for the CD in question when her arm shifted and bumped his. She looked up to apologize but instead met his lips in a deep kiss. Her body immediately stiffened in surprise, causing him to start to pull away before she slipped her hand into the hair behind his head, bringing his lips back to her and deepening the kiss. Victoria shifted in her seat but just as she was beginning to relax into the embrace a hand came up to circle her throat. She tried to lean back immediately to escape the grip but that proved to be a bad, predictable move as Jared shifted his body weight forward, using his larger size to push her towards the seat. Before she could be pinned, Victoria leaned forward and punched him as hard as she could manage in the nuts. Jared let go immediately, using his hands to instead cover his groin as he sputtered in pain. This was her cue to bail from the car and make a break for it. Instead a deep, rolling laugh escaped her sore throat. Victoria leaned over in her seat, grasping her sides trying to catch her breath as tears started to run down her face. “Are you mocking me?” Jared finally managed through gritted teeth. “You tried to kill me,” Victoria answered between gasping breaths. “No I was just-“Jared started before Victoria shook her head to cut off his protest. She leaned forward in her seat to pull a baggie containing a syringe and needle out from under the seat along with a small handgun. “I was going to inject you with this tranquilizer in your leg when you were busy taking off your shirt or something before I drove you out and shot you.” “Oh my god....” Jared said his face going slack as he stared at the needle. He looked around the car for cameras before pulling a large blade from his jacket pocket. “I was going to choke you enough to knock you out before tying you up and slitting your throat. I already have a tarp set up.” Jared and Victoria blinked at each other for a few seconds before they both burst out into another fit of laughter again. “What are the chances of this?” Victoria asked setting the gun down into her lap. “I mean it has to be a fluke right?” Jared said. “Or fate.” “So what do we do now?” Jared asked, wiping the tears away from his face and setting the knife down beside him. “I thought that part would be obvious,” Victoria answered, leaning over to grab her backpack from the backseat. She pulled her phone out from the front zipper pocket, typing something on the screen before showing it to him. “You are amazing,” Jared said looking down at the screen, the light casting a sickening light on his wide grin. “Oh look, they already replied,” she said as the phone chimed in her hand. Hi number neighbor! No need to reply, just spreading some smiles. I hope you have a great night. (Me) **Oh cool. I have been wanting to** **text my number neighbor. I was afraid it would be** **a shut off number or something though.** **(418-555-1929)** Nope! I’m here. My name is Victoria. (Me) **I’m Tom.