Noreen sat silently in the dark room as she listened to the conversation going on outside.

"Mr. Littrell, it's rumored that you and your girlfriend are engadged... is this true?"

Charlotte looked at Brian, who had his arm wrapped tightly around her waist, as if she might slip away.

He smiled, "Yes, it's true. Charlotte and I got engadged last week in Germany."

Noreen seemed disturbed by this news and stormed out of the dark room.

AJ, who was with his girlfriend Melissa, accompanying Brian and Charlotte, noticed a short red head run out of a building next to them.

Charlotte pulled her gaze away from Brian just in time to catch an evil look from a girl standing amist the crowd. She brushed it off, but couldn't help the cold feeling that had filled her.

Charlotte was distracted when a green eyed girl ran up to them with a camera. "Oh my god! You're actually engadged!?!" she snapped a few pictures. "I don't mean to be rude or anything... but wow, you're the luckiest girl on earth!"

She snapped a few more pictures. Charlotte didn't seem to mind the attention though. "Thank you," she said politely.

More people crowded around and continued snapping pictures. Melissa began feeling a little uncomfortable.

As people continued to crowd around they made a dash for the car. Out of the corner of her eye Charlotte noticed the same red head standing at the corner glaring at her. Then the girl swiftly walked to her car and drove off.

~*~Chapter One~*~

Charlotte climbed out of the car infront of her house. She didn't look very well, so Brian offered to walk her to the door.

"No thank you," she excused herself, "I'm just a bit tired."

None the less, Brian insisted the driver remain there until he saw Charlotte was safely inside.

Charlotte walked into the kitchen. She had a terrible head ache and couldn't get the picture of that girl out of her head. She looked familiar, but she couldn't remember where she had seen her before.

Reaching in the cabinet for the bottle of asprin she noticed a note stuck to the refridgerator. She couldn't remember putting it there, so she walked over and read it:

"Cut off the relationship or I cut off your head."

A chill ran down Charlotte's back. She quickly threw the note into the garbage and tried to think about something else.

Turning the television on she flipped channels until she saw "Friends" was on. It was a rerun - the episode where Rachell breaks up with Ross (the 1st time), she decided to watch it anyway, it was her favorite episode.

When she couldn't concentrate on the show Charlotte flipped the television off and went upstairs to bed.

Still thinking about the note on the refridgerator, Charlotte fell into an uneasy sleep.
--
She awoke the next morning, forgetting about the note. Unfortunitely there was a crude reminder - somehow the note had made its way back onto the refridgerator.

'Someone was in here, while I was sleeping,' the thought scared her.
--
Brian decided to call Charlotte, just to see how she was.

"Hey Charlotter, it's Brian."

"Oh... hi."

"So I was wondering, what are you doing tonight?" he asked.

"I dunno..."

"Maybe we could go out to the fair or -"

"I can't," Charlotte interrupted him.

"Why not?" Brian didn't know why she was being so distant. She usually loved going places.

Charlotte sighed, "I just... Well, ok, but not to the fair. Let's do something together later, by ourselves."

"Sure, whatever you want. I'll see you later then, k?"

"Love you," Charlotte said quietly.

"Love you too," Brian hung up the phone, confused by Charlotte's behavior.
--
Noreen sat silently in the pantry as she listened to Charlotte talking to Brian. "Damn that bitch!" she whispered, "I told her to stay away from him!"

~*~Chapter Two~*~

"Hey Bri, you home?" Brian was distracted when he heard his best friend Krysti calling to him.

"Kristi, what're you doing here?" he asked surprised.

"You gave me a house key... we were gonna go shopping for Charlotte's birthday present, remember?"

Brian and Krysti shopped around for a while until they found something Charlotte would love.

After buying the gift they decided to have lunch at the food court.

"Hey," Brian pointed to a girl sitting a few tables away from them, "Check that out - that's the girl I was telling you about yesterday."

"The one who's got the hots for you?" Krysti teased.

"Hey," Brian said defensively. "Why don't we say hi?"

"Sure, whatever," Krysti stood up with him.

"Hi," Brian said.

Marianne looked up from her lunch. "Oh my god! - I mean, hi Brian."

"Hey, didn't we meet yesterday?" Brian asked.

'He remembered me!' Marianne thought. "Yeah, we did... is this your friend? Krysti... right?"

Brian was amazed how much about him this girl knew, "That's right... and you?"

"My name's Marianne, but you can call me Mary." 'Actually... you can call me whatever you want!' she added silently, then giggled.

"What's so funny?" Krysti asked.

"Oh... nothing."

"We've gotta go, but it was nice meeting you, Marianne," Brian said.

"Bye!" Marianne waved as they walked off. Then she grabbed her camera, "Wait a minute! Can I get a picture of you two?"

"Sure," Krysti said, yanking Brian around and smiling.

~*~Chapter Three~*~

Krysti and Brian drove silently back to his house. When they hit a red light four blocks away Brian finally spoke up. "Krysti, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, no problem," she said, pulling her attention away from the song on the radio.

"Well, it's just... when I was on the phone with Charlotte this morning she was acting really weird."

Krysti looked concerned, "How so?"

"Well, she seemed very distant... ya know? I was wondering if you could talk to her."

"No problem, Rok, she's probably just not feelin' too well. You know I'm not the only one that gets moody sometimes."
--
Charlotte returned home from grocery shopping. The door was unlocked, and since she was a bright girl, and was positive she had locked it, she turned around and quickly walked back towards her car.

She saw a flash of metal, then felt something cold and sharp against her neck, "Don't even think of screaming."

~*~Chapter Four~*~

Noreen dragged Charlotte inside and closed the door behind them. Krysti had just driven up in time to see a flash of red hair and the door slam closed.
--
Marianne was driving down the street when she screetched to a stop. Was that Krysti? She took a closer look. It was Krysti... what was she doing at Brian's girlfriend's house? Maybe Brian was there! The idea excited her and she quickly climbed out, grabbing her camera on the way.
--
Krysti knocked on the door and when no one answered she tried the knob. It was unlocked so she made her way in, "Hello?" she called into the darkness, "I know there's someone here."

She flipped on the lights and was frightened by the sight. "Aah!" her scream was muffled by a pillow.
--
Marianne heard the scream from inside and started to freak out. What if something terrible had happened? And what if Brian was in there?

She began to worry and wondered if she should try calling the cops or if she should try calling Brian. (she had gotten his cell number from a friend)
--
"Now you listen here, missy," a voice hissed into Krysti's ear. "You get out of here now, or it'll be your throat I slit."

Krysti swallowed hard. When she was released she walked straight out of the house without looking back. She could hear Charlotte crying but continued on her way. 'I'll be back... with help,' she promised silently.

Once outside Krysti saw the green eyed girl from the mall. "Marianne?" she called across the street.
--
Marianne was pulled out of her thoughts when she heard someone screaming her name. "Marianne? Do you have a phone on you?" it was Krysti.

"Huh? Yes, why? Is Brian in trouble? I heard a scream and - what's wrong?"

"Brian's not in trouble... but Charlotte is!"

"Charlotte? His fiance? Oh, no! That's terrible! Yes - I have my cell phone; I was just preparing to call Brian and tell him something was wrong."

"How'd you get his number?" Krysti asked suspiciously, "It's not listed."

Marianne started to explain but then cut herself off, "Look, it's not important."

Krysti took the phone from Marianne and dialed Brian's number.

"Brian? Charlotte's in trouble."

~*~Chapter Five~*~

Brian pounded on Charlotte's door as Marianne and Krysti waited by Marianne's car.

"Charlotte?" he screamed.
--
Marianne grew restless. She had to do something. Krysti advised against it, but Marianne disapeared before she could stop her.
--
Charlotte was trying to stay calm. She could hear Brian pounding on the door, but refrained from answering.

"Tell him you don't want to talk to him," Noreen instructed, the knife still pressed against Charlotte's throat.

"Charlotte!?!" Brian called again.

"Brian?"

"Yes?" he answered.

"Brian, please... go away. I don't wanna see you," Charlotte said.

"But Char -"

"Now, Brian, I'm fine."

"Krysti told me that you were in trouble."

"I'm not," Charlotte was becoming exasperated. He was gonna get her killed, "Krysti lied, ok? She didn't wanna be the one to tell you that we're over... so she made up a lie to get you to come here."

"What are you talking about?"

Charlotte choked back tears, "Leave, please."

"Fine."

"Good girl," Noreen said, removing the knife.

Charlotte spun around, but Noreen was gone.
--
Marianne landed with a thud on the other side of the fence. She crept towards the back door silently when a red head with firey green eyes ran right into her.

"You!" Marianne exclaimed, "I recognise you! You were there yesterday when..." she trailed off, noticing the knife in the girl's hand.

"Get out of my way," Noreen instructed Marianne, "Now."

"Ok, you don't have to tell me twice," she said, holding up her hands and backing up.

Noreen climbed over the back fence into another person's yard and vanished from her vision. "Some super hero I make," Marianne muttered to herself, finding her way back out front.
--
"What happened?" Krysti asked as Brian headed towards his car.

"You already know what happened, now don't you?" Brian snapped.

"What're you talking about?" Krysti didn't understand and was getting frustrated with his attitude. "Look Brian, I don't know what you're talking about!"

"Don't lie to me anymore, Krysti. You know exactly what I'm talking about."

Brian drove off, leaving Krysti standing alone in the middle of the street.

~*~Chapter Six~*~

Marianne walked up to Krysti, pulling leaves out of her hair.

"I'm having an aweful day," Marianne mumbled.

"Ha! My best friend is furious with me and I don't even know why!"

"Yeah, well I fell in a pile of thorns and leaves, then I was held up with a knife."

"Ok, you win," Krysti said with a sigh.

"So why is Brian mad at you?" Marianne asked confused, "Didn't you like, help him by tellin' him his girl was in trouble?"

Krysti shrugged, "Your guess is as good as mine."

"Let's go find out," Marianne grabbed Krysti's hand and pulled her towards Charlotte's door, "Betcha Charlotte had something to do with it."

When they reached the door they knocked. Charlotte sniffed in response, "Who is it?"

"It's me," Krysti said.

"Could you come back later? I'm not feeling too good," Charlotte said.

Krysti burst in, "You're not feeling good? My best friend hates me now and I don't even know why! - But I'm pretty sure it has something to do with you... mind explaining?"

"Gosh Krysti, I'm so sorry!" Charlotte burst into tears.

Krysti's expression softened, "What happened?"

"There was this person and she... I'm pretty sure it was a she... she had a knife and she said she would - if I didn't..."

"Didn't what?" Krysti probed.

"Break up with him?" Marianne offered. She had been in the kitchen, but returned to the living room now with a piece of paper in her hand. She handed it to Krysti, who read it.

"Why didn't you say something?" Krysti asked, "You should've called the police!"

"I know, but... I don't know why I didn't. I'm sorry, but I had to get rid of Brian, or else she might've killed us both!"

Krysti sighed, "I think you need to talk to him."
--
Noreen returned home and put the knife back in the safe with her gun. She hoped Charlotte had gotten the clue... she didn't want to have to ruin her pretty little face, then again...
--
Brian drove home, confused and furious. Why had Krysti lied to him? Why had Charlotte broken up with him? Why did it seem like that girl, Marianne, was following him everywhere?

He sighed and climbed out. "I'll have to call Charlotte," he thought to himself, but didn't get the chance as he heard the phone ring.

"Hello?" There was no answer. "Hello?" he repeated.

"Brian?" came an unsure voice.

"Charlotte? What's wrong? Why did you break up with me?"

"Brian, look, I'm sorry, but I... I can't tell you why. I just wanted to let you know that I lied when I said Krysti had lied to you."

"Are you alright?" he asked concerned.

"Yes, I'm fine... now. I just need to be alone. Good-bye," she hung up the phone.
--
After Marianne and Krysti left Charlotte's house she decided to try and sleep. She lay in bed with her eyes wide open when she heard a noise coming from the downstairs bathroom.

She ran out of her room and downstairs to find the bathroom empty, but the light was on and there was a message scrawled across the mirror:

"You're lucky your friends showed up. Next time you won't be so lucky."