Kay had always been the queen of high school. With her perfect looks, charming personality, and a crowd of friends hanging on her every word, she seemed untouchable. I, on the other hand, was more of an observer than a participant. Quiet, shy, and more comfortable in the background, I admired Kay from afar, always wishing I could be more like her. She, however, barely acknowledged my existence. We shared a few classes, but there was always a clear divide between us. She was the girl everyone wanted to be around, and I was just the girl who blended into the walls.

When we graduated, Kay was the first to leave town. She was off to college, probably destined for even greater things. I, on the other hand, stayed behind, married young, and settled in another state. I hadn’t thought about her much in the years that followed. Life moved on, and I built a new life with my husband, Mark. He was my rock, everything I needed, and we were happy. But even so, there were times when I couldn’t help but wonder what happened to the people from high school—Kay included.

One day, out of nowhere, Mark got a notification on his phone. It was a friend request on Facebook from someone he didn’t recognize. “You know her?” he asked, showing me the screen. It was Kay’s name that popped up, and my heart skipped a beat.

I couldn’t believe it. After all these years, there she was, reaching out. “Yeah, I know her,” I said, trying to sound casual, though my mind was racing. “She was from my school.”

Mark looked at me with raised eyebrows. “Should I accept it?”

Something in me hesitated, but I pushed the feeling down. “Sure, why not?” I said, though I wasn’t entirely sure why I felt that way. After all, what could possibly come of a Facebook friend request years later? It seemed harmless enough.

Mark accepted the request, and within moments, a message from Kay appeared on his inbox.

“Hey! Long time no talk! How have you been?” the message read. It was as if we were back in high school again, just exchanging pleasantries, like no time had passed. At first, I thought maybe she just wanted to catch up, but there was something in her tone that felt different.

I glanced over at Mark, watching him type back, and for the first time in a long time, I started to feel a little uneasy. He was being polite, as he always was, but there was something about the way she wrote that triggered something deep inside me—something I couldn’t quite explain. It wasn’t just a friendly catch-up. There was a layer of familiarity, like Kay was trying to reinsert herself into our lives.

As the days went on, Kay’s messages kept coming. She asked about our life, our marriage, and our plans for the future. At first, it seemed like a harmless reunion between old acquaintances. But the more she messaged, the more I started to notice the subtle undercurrents in her words. She started asking questions that felt oddly personal. “Are you happy with your life?” she asked one night. “I always wondered if you’d end up with someone like him,” she continued, referring to Mark.

I didn’t know how to feel. Was this just an innocent curiosity, or was she trying to undermine what we had? Every time Mark replied, Kay seemed to probe a little deeper, asking about things I knew she couldn’t possibly care about. And then, there was the time when she asked if she could call him sometime. “It’s been so long since we talked,” she said. “I’m sure you’d love to catch up.”

I wasn’t sure if I was imagining things, but it felt like she was trying to get closer to him. Mark seemed oblivious, enjoying the renewed connection with someone from his past, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that Kay had ulterior motives. She was the type of girl who always got what she wanted, and I was starting to feel like she wanted more than just a friendly conversation.

Finally, one evening, I could take it no longer. After another round of messages from Kay, I spoke up. “Mark, I don’t like this,” I said quietly, trying to remain calm.

“What do you mean?” he asked, looking at me with confusion. “She’s just being friendly.”

“I don’t know… it feels like she’s trying to get close to you again,” I said, my voice shaking slightly. “It’s not just small talk. She’s asking personal questions, and now she wants to talk to you on the phone. It’s too much.”

Mark paused, his fingers still hovering over the phone screen. “I didn’t think it was a big deal,” he admitted, looking at me with a hint of guilt. “But I see what you mean now. I didn’t realize it was bothering you.”

I didn’t want to sound paranoid, but I couldn’t shake the fear that Kay was up to something. I wasn’t the same insecure girl from high school anymore, but Kay’s ability to make me feel small was still alive and well. I had to set a boundary.

“Please,” I said, my voice firm. “I don’t want her in our lives anymore. I don’t care if she’s from your past. This feels wrong, and I don’t want to give her any more of our time.”

Mark looked at me, his expression softening. “I understand. I’ll stop talking to her. I don’t want to hurt you.”

I nodded, relieved but still uneasy. “Thank you,” I said, though deep down I wondered how long it would be before Kay tried again. She was persistent, and I knew it wasn’t the last we’d hear from her.

That night, Mark deleted the messages from Kay, and I hoped it would put an end to the situation. But a part of me knew better. Kay wasn’t the type to give up easily. And I wasn’t sure if this was the beginning of something more complicated than I was ready to face.