Who is this? How did I stand you up when I am clueless to who as who you are. Your number must’ve miraculously dropped out of my call log. Please refresh my memory.

It was autumn, red and orange carpeted the city streets of London below; the rain tapped the glass of Hallie’s apartment. Hallie was cuddled on the orange, sitcom, sofa with her adorable cat, Donut. Scrolling through her friends’ Instagram stories she received a notification.

Unknown number: how dare you!

Hallie saw opportunity

Hallie: what?

Unknown number: for standing me up you big bitch

Hallie: right… was that today?

Unknown number: fuck you

Hallie: ok.

Unknown number: do you even care?

Hallie: no not really.

Unknown number: well you seemed to, you were like ‘oooh Delilah come on let’s go out.’ and I was like ‘Let’s give it a try.’ But clearly you didn’t care.

Hallie: sounds about right.

Delilah: ?

Hallie: …

Delilah: you know what I can’t stand for this

Hallie: good for you.

Delilah: I’m telling all my friends you know

Hallie: aww man. That sucks.

Delilah: for you, yeah.

Hallie: shit, I meant for you- cause they have to listen to you complain about you getting stood up again.

Delilah: 🖕

Hallie: so I’m right?

Delilah: fuck you

Delilah proceeded to block Hallie before promptly unlocking her

Delilah: I just received a text from you, but your blocked.

Hallie: I dunno could be a wrong number…

Delilah: you think so?

Hallie: yeah, you know- pranksters.

Delilah: maybe… how can you know

Hallie: I just know. My brother was a victim of being pranked online.

Delilah: you have a brother?

Hallie: yeah… did I not tell you?

Delilah: huh, no.

Hallie: I’ve been thinking, maybe that’s why you got stood up by me, we got the date wrong

Delilah: yeah, why don’t we meet up again- Friday.

Hallie: pumpkin spice?

Delilah: you got it!

Hallie: cya Friday

Hallie then never texted Delilah again, as for Delilah…

Delilah: hello?

Delilah: where are you?

Delilah: not again, I swear to god.

Delilah: fuck you!

Bing

The noise comes from my back pocket as I walk through the mall.

I check my phone to find a message that says,

Trevor: Seriously? Again? I’ve been waiting for you for over and hour! What’s gotten into you. I just want an explanation, ok?

I giggle at the thought of the person sending this message. Wrong number? Likely.

You: Sorry, I think you have the wrong number. But might I say, if they stood you up more that once, maybe you shouldn’t wait for the next time.

This is not something I would usually do. Talking to strangers is way out of my comfort zone, but since it’s online, why would I mind?

Trevor: It’s been five times she’s done that to me haha. Sorry for bothering you this is the number she gave me.

You: yikes! That’s a bad case of rejection.

I cringe at my message after sending it. Was it weird? Maybe I took it to far there.

Trevor: Yeah, I guess. Well I’m of to watch the newest minions by myself. Wow I never thought I would say that to a total stranger. Sorry again for the wrong number situation.

You: Omg! I’m literately walking right now to watch it.

Trevor: that’s a funny coincidence. Well bye, gtg.

You: bye

That was probably the weirdest situation I’ve been in. I take my seat in the movie theater and the adds are still on. A bing comes from my phone and the old couple behind me shushes me.

I check my phone and see Trevor texted me.

Trevor: the adds are the worst part :)

You: tell me about it

When I hit send someone in front of me gets a message. I curiously hover over the boy in front of me shoulder and see my message pop up on his screen.

“Trevor?” I ask.

He turn around and I check the profile picture. Yes that’s him.

“I’m sorry who are you?”

I smile and say, “wrong number girl”.

Something clicks in his head because he starts grinning.

“Wrong number girl while I live and breath. Your not a middle aged man trolling me then.”

“Thank you…” I say.

We both laugh and he pats the seat next to him and says, “want to watch minions with me?”.

“Sure”.

My phone buzzes in my pocket.

‘Why the hell would you do that?!’ A text from an unknown number read. I frown. I must text them back and tell them that they’ve got the wrong number.

I start to type when another bubble pops up and the text reads, ‘Don’t even try deny it.’

I furrow my brow, suddenly curious. I tuck my long, very oily hair behind my ear and respond.

‘I’m sorry… I…’

‘Don’t. You stood me up, Natalie. I thought you genuinely liked me, and I thought the feelings were mutual. But now… now, I’m an enraged man.’

I snort, can’t help laughing aloud. So a girl stood him up and he’s getting this upset about it? Time I show him.

‘Well, can’t say I found you that attractive, to be honest. You’re making it look like you’re trying, and that’s not what a girl wants. You should burn that shirt, your zipper was down, and, oh, never wear those shoes again. They make you look fat.’ I reply, curious to see what he will say.

The text bubble reappears, then disappears. Then it reappears again. ‘So… what’s your name?’ I laugh, a good, lighthearted laugh, the kind only Michael could pull out of me when he was still here.

‘Lilli.’ I reply. This might not be so bad after all.

‘You think this is a joke?‘

I blinked the screen of my phone and glanced at the sender’s details. Unknown Number

I deleted the text, threw my phone on the coffee table, and stretched my legs out on the sofa. It had been a long day.

I rummaged around for the remote control. Now where did I put it?

Beep.

Another text.

I groaned as I bent over to grab my phone that was just a little too far away from me.

‘My patience is wearing thin. I do not take kindly to waiting.’

Same unknown number. From someone who clearly didn’t know how to text - brevity clearly wasn’t their one of their strengths.

I sighed and tapped a quick reply. ‘Sorry mate, wrong number.’

I threw the phone back on the coffee table and returned to rummaging around for the remote control. Ah! There it was!

Beep.

Seriously?

‘No, Jacob, I most certainly do not have the wrong number. And you are now 27 minutes late and counting.’

I frowned. They knew my name?

‘Who are you?’

Seconds passed.

Beep. ‘I suggest you get yourself down to Forkensten Alley, right this minute.’

I snorted. Yeh, go to alley to meet a stranger. Great idea. ‘Seriously mate, I think you have the wrong person.’

Beep. ‘1. Stop calling me mate.’

Beep. ‘2. You are Jacob Craft, of Flat 4, 21 Hiddlecrumb Drive.’

Beep. ‘3. Your favorite colour is mint green, you can’t stand yogurt, and you have a hankering for blood every full moon.’

The phone slipped through my fingers and clattered onto the coffee table as I shot up and stared at screen. How?

Beep. The screen flashed up another message again.

‘I suggest you put your coat and shoes back on, leave your apartment, turn right, and take another right into Forkensten Alley.”

I didn’t move, my whole body frozen in place.

Beep. ‘NOW.’

I cursed and ran my fingers through my hair. How did they know? Who were they?

I slowed my breathing as I tried to slow my racing heart.

‘Get the facts first.’ I thought to myself. ‘I don’t know who this is, how much they know, nor what they want.’

And with that, I went back to my hallway to put my shoes and coat on. And to see if the person waiting in Forkensten Alley would be someone else I’d have to kill.

Unknown number: “You still haven’t shown up, what the hell”

Me: “I think you have the wrong number”

Unknown number: “Don’t play dumb”

Me: “Who are you”

Unknown number: “I’m the one who gave you the scar”

My mouth dropped and I reached up to feel the large scar on my face.

Me: “Why are you messaging me?”

Unknown number: “Last I checked you ran out, and you left at a dangerous time”

Me: “How did you find me?!”

Unknown number: “I’ve known where you’ve been ever since you bailed. I know you’re new phone number, I know you’re fake name, I know where you say you went to school, and I know where you live. You can’t hide from me, I have people watching you. Always”

Me: “Loik I dont want any tribal what do you want?”

Me: “*Look”

Me: “*Trouble”

Unknown number: “If you didn’t want trouble, you should have stayed.”

Me: “What do you want?”

Unknown number: “Your going to have to come back”

Me: “I can’t. I have a new life, I have a job. I don’t need this any more”

Unknown number: “You don’t have a choice”

Me: “You can’t make me”

Unknown number: “Can’t I?”

Me: “What are you going to do to me?”

Unknown number: “If you come, nothing. If you refuse, I think you know what I’ll do”

Me: “Fine.”

Unknown number: “We’re not in the same place,”

Me: “Where are you then?”

Unknown number: “you’ll see.”

…

A bag was put over my head, and everything went blank

You have a lot of nerve for standing me up. I can't believe you would do something like this to me. Yes. I like sitting in the Bullwinkles parking lot for an hour.

Ummm...I'm sorry....but I think you have the wrong number.

Shit.

Sorry you got stood up though...lol.

Lol...thanks. It's not your fault, he's the one who stood me up.

I mean, do you mind if I ask what you guys were going to do?

A little bit.

Well, I understand, haha. The only reason I ask is because you said Bullwinkles, and I actually live across the street from one.

Wait really? lol

Yeah haha

• snaps photo from bedroom window, hits send.

Whoa! That's the one I was at! So that means you probably saw me sitting in the parking lot.

I mean, I don't peer out my window. That's just weird, but I guess so haha.

This is so crazy haha

It is. Ummm. I'm Patrick btw.

...

Katie. Nice to meet you Patrick :-).

I was sitting at home wrapped in my pizza fleece blanket. ( A present from my youngest neice. It could've been worse. Unicorns maybe!) I was trying to sort out the accounts for the drama club I was part of.

Suddenly my phone beeped. It was a text.

<Thursday 19:00>

Dave. Where the hell were you? It’s Lizzy We were supposed to be meeting up tonight. Pizza remember. I don't appreciate being stood up.

I looked at this and stared.

Who the hell is this? I don't recognise your number? READ Delivered.

<Thursday. 19:07>

Dave. Don’t give me that. I know this is you. You gave me your number after our first date. This is it.

I was totally confused.

When did this date take place? READ Delivered

<Thursday. 19:15>

Wtf? You can’t even remember Monday night. We had a lovely meal. You paid for it.

I thought for a moment.

That couldn’t have been me. I was getting over food poisoning. READ Delivered

A few moments later a response came back.

<Thursday 19:35>

Well if it wasn’t you DAVE, who the hell did I go out with?

This got me thinking.

I’m about to ask you something very strange. What do I look like? Please think very carefully READ Delivered.

Nothing happened. Maybe I’d put her off. Then I saw the three floating dots accompanied buy the strange noise as she was replying.

I had a strange feeling I knew exactly what was happening. If I was right someone would be getting thrown head first in to a freezing cold bath.

“You better know how to grovel. You little sod!”

<Thursday 19.55>

You’re six, foot four. Blonde hair. You have bright blue eyes and a scar on your left cheek. You wore jeans ripped at the knees, not my thing really but what the hey. You had a gremlins t-shirt on under a black leather jacket.

Then it hit me. My brother had been trying to set me up with blind dates ever since I dumped my ex for cheating. He said he was meeting someone and that she was really nice. He also said I’d like her.

This was where I was so glad weren’t face to face. My cheeks felt like furnaces.

OMG. I know exactly what’s happened Lizzie. My brother’s being trying to help me hook up. Things haven’t gone too well with my relationships soo….

I breathed in hard as I continued …..

he’s become my unofficial matchmaker!
READ Delivered

<Thursday 20:15>

So you’re telling me I went out with your brother so he could set me up with you?

That’s the long and the short of it. Look if you’d call me I can explain all this.. READ Delivered

Everything went quiet. Then the phone rang. It was Lizzy. We chatted for and hour. To cut a long story short, we’re meeting up for a meal on Sunday.

As for my brother … he’s still getting a freezing cold bath. But I promise I’ll thank him afterwards.

It was a cold November night. I was relaxing at home alone, watching movies on Netflix when I heard my phone vibrate. I snapped up, hopeful that it was either one of my friends or maybe even my crush texting me. I glanced at the screen.

It was an unknown number.

Disappointed, I opened the message. It read:

"Where the f*ck are you? I have been waiting here for an hour now."

I was startled by the aggressive tone, and use of the cuss word. I decided to respond:

"Sorry, you have the wrong number."

There was a pause, then the bouncing ellipsis showed up. The response:

"Can't fool me, b*tch im coming to your house. Ain't nobody gonna stand me up again!"

I felt my stomach plummet. Whoever this person was texting might be in real danger because of this crazy person. I responded again:

"I'm serious, this is a wrong number. I never invited anyone to a date, not today, not even in the past year! Please be sensible, maybe the person you're looking for had a serious reason why they couldn't make it."

It was wordy, but I was hopeful that this person would read it.

I guess I was wrong. The response:

"Don't f*ck with me! Your gonna pay for this!"

It was clear that there was nothing else I could do. Could I call the cops over a text that could just be a prank for all I knew? I decided to just shut off the tv and head to bed.

The texts kept coming as I did my nightly routine, threatening so many things. I couldn't reason with this person. I decided to charge my phone in the guest room, opposite from my bedroom so I didn't have to hear it every five minutes.

I pulled up the covers and placed my sleep mask over my eyes. I said a quick prayer for whoever the texts were meant for, and fell asleep.

I woke up to the sound of a door slamming shut downstairs. I ripped my sleep mask off and stared at my bedroom door, frightened stiff. I could hear rummaging coming from the first floor, along with rapid scuffling of footsteps. I wanted to scream, but I knew I shouldn't.

I looked around my room for somewhere to hide, but I knew it would all be too obvious. I quietly opened the door and ran to the upstairs bathroom, shutting and locking the door. I sat in the dark, listening.

A grunting voice was coming from the room by the stairs. It was a male voice, raspy and deep. His footsteps hurried up the stairs and seemed to disappear into my bedroom. I jumped as I heard him yell:

"Wake up, btch! Can't fcking hide from me!"

I was shaking, trying so hard not to make a sound. It wouldn't be long before he tried the bathroom door. I needed something to defend myself, but what?

I tried to remember what was in my bathroom. Soap, towels, toilet paper, hair dryer, nothing seemed to help me at this point. I decided to grab my shower brush. It wasn't much, but it could help.

He yelled in anger, then stormed into the hallway. He was practically growling. He pounded on the walls, screaming for me to show myself. To my surprise, I heard him run down the stairs.

I took the opportunity to grab my phone from the guest room and dial 911. As I did this, I hopped into the linen closet.

"911 what's your emergency?"

I sputtered my address and told them about the crazy man.

"Stay on the line, miss, police are on their way."

I heard the footsteps return to the second floor. I covered my mouth, trying to hold my breath. I prayed he couldn't hear the 911 operator asking questions.

All I could hear was my heartbeat throbbing in my head.

He entered the guest room, knocking over the floor lamp by the entrance. He walked over to the window, and the footsteps stopped for a minute. I could feel the cold sweat running down my forehead, my eyes welling with tears. My mind blasted through all the terrible scenarios of what might go down.

Suddenly, I heard the police siren. Thank God!

He must've seen the lights, because I heard him gasp and storm into the hallway and down the stairs.

I sighed with relief, catching my breath.

I was texting my best friend. Then a text Fromm an unknown number came through.

Wow I see how this is! You are not even going to come. Why didn’t you have the courage to tell me you wouldn’t come over?

I stared at my phone puzzled. This text is definitely not for me. Who in the world is this person?

I reply, Hello. I don’t think I am the person you were hoping to send this text message too.

Silence. Then two minutes later,

Don’t play games with me. You know exactly who is texting you.

I thought to myself I really don’t. Who is this person? They sound upset.

You are such a Promise breaker.

I finally said to myself maybe I should figure out a way to end this.

I text back, I swear I am not who you think I am. I can even call you so that way you can hear my voice. And realize I’m not the person you think I am.

Finally I hear my phone ring. I answer. Hello?

OK I took you up on the offer. Who are you? If you are not who I think you are.

I Felt a little nervous. This guy did not sound happy. Sounded like he was trying to control his anger.

Well, Annabeth. May I ask who are you?

There was a minute of silence. Then I hear the voice on the other end.

I am Jackson. I’m so sorry. I want to apologize to you. You really were telling me the truth. You are not Piper.

I laughed nervously into the phone. No I’m sorry. I am not piper. That is not my name.

This was the phone number I thought piper gave me. But I guess not. I really do feel embarrassed. I am so sorry.

Assign relief. It’s all right. I am just glad we sorted all of this out. But I feel bad for you. She never should have done that.

Well Anabeth you seem very nice. I would like to get to know you better.

Umm? Don’t you have a girlfriend? Piper?

Well yes. But don’t worry I will get that whole situation figured out.

Well Jackson in that case of course I would love to get to know you. I guess this accidental call ended up being a good thing after all.

And with that we Agreed to talk with one another the following day.

And I explain to my friend situation. How it turned out be a good thing at the end. But it wasn’t so much at the beginning. She giggled in the light.

That is so exciting Anna. You never know. He might be the one!

Oh Charlotte shut up! I doubt that. We are not even friends yet. Don’t jump to conclusions. But anyway I will talk to you tomorrow. I will tell you how things go.

Charlotte responded, OK anna. I will be waiting. I am so excited!