“Anna?” someone questioned me while shaking my shoulder. I realized that I had zoned out yet again during class. No surprise, of course. I was not a science/math person. “Sorry,” I muttered and asked where we were in the lab. The four people at my lab table filled me in.

Class finally was over, and as I was leaving the room, a guy from my lab group came up to me and asked, “Hey, Anna. You going home or?” I shrugged and said, “Probably coffee first and then home.” “Can I join you?” he asked. I nodded, and we began our walk to Starbucks near the campus cafeteria.

As we waited in line, I didn’t know what to say. “So,” I began. “You know what you want yet?” “Oh yeah. The butterscotch Frappuccino is back, so I already know,” he smiled. I smiled back and replied “Oh yeah those are good. I want—“ I was cut off by him saying “iced coffee with an espresso shot and a pump of vanilla?” I stood there with my mouth open slightly, and my eyebrows furrowed together in confusion. I had never gotten coffee with him before? I couldn’t even remember his name? We were next, so I had no time to ask. When the barista asked for a name for his drink, I heard him say “David.”

As we were waiting to the side for our drinks, I asked nervously, “So how did you know my typical order?” He smiled and said “I just know.” I got a weird feeling in my stomach and nervously laughed. Our drinks were ready, and we sat at a table near the entrance. “I don’t remember us ever getting coffee before?” I insisted once we were seated. “No, we haven’t,” he replied and smiled. “Then.. How?” I asked, feeling my heart rise in my throat. “What else do you know?” I continued despite the room spinning around me. “Your birthday. Your favorite color. Your preferred coffee. It’s nothing weird to know. Why does it matter?” David retorted. “Well.. Because. I’m starting to think you might know more about me than you let on. More than those three things possibly,” I trailed off and hoped he would speak more.

He gave a broad smile that showed too many teeth. My skin crawled at the site, and the pit in my stomach sunk even lower. “Have you considered that I do indeed know everything about you, Anna?” he asked menacingly. Sweat formed on my palms as I surveyed my surroundings. “Everything?” I asked. He nodded. “I know last night you wanted to order pizza, bur your roommate talked you into Chinese food instead. I know you own 10 sweaters. I know you still sleep with your stuffed animal that most likely grandma gave you. I know you—“ “Stop!” I cut him off. “That’s enough.”

“I know you’re freaking out, because you don’t even know my name. Or at least it seems like you didn’t. I know I’m going to leave, and if you say anything to anyone, there’s nothing you can do about it,” he said with a smile and stood up. “See you tonight,” he grinned and walked out the exit door.