It was a quiet morning before school, the hallways still half-empty as students milled around. You stood leaning against your locker, the worn pages of Jaws in your hands. The story was gripping, but your mind wasn’t fully on it. You were waiting for the friend group to arrive, and most importantly, Sidney. You looked up occasionally, scanning the familiar faces, but it was the sudden laughter down the hallway that caught your attention.

A group of students, dressed in Ghostface costumes, sprinted down the hall, making exaggerated, eerie movements and loud, mocking “ghostly” noises. The prank was clearly aimed at scaring people, but you knew it was especially meant to unsettle Sidney. You sighed, shaking your head, already knowing how it would go.

As expected, you saw Sidney a few moments later, walking toward you. Her eyes were darting nervously as she picked up her pace. When she spotted the Ghostface figures, her entire body tensed, panic rising in her chest. Her face paled, and before she could react, she turned and ran toward the nearest bathroom, her steps quick and frantic.

Then, everything happened in an instant.

Sidney collided with you. Her body pressed against yours as she stumbled, her breath sharp, her hands clutching at your shirt. You instinctively caught her, holding her steady as her eyes filled with terror.

“Hey, hey… it’s okay,” you said softly, your voice barely above a whisper as you cupped her face with your hands, trying to reassure her. “They’re just idiots. You’re okay.”

Sidney’s chest heaved, her breath shaky as she looked up at you. Tears were brimming in her eyes, the weight of the past few weeks catching up with her. “I can’t… I can’t do this again,” she whispered, her voice breaking.

You pulled her into you, wrapping your arms around her tightly, your heart aching at how fragile she seemed. “You’re not alone, Sidney. I’ve got you. Always.”