HARMLESS

Shantel had always displayed a strong affinity for her mobile device. It was a gift from her father, presented to her on her fourteenth birthday. Without fail, Shantel would be seen with her phone in hand, regardless of her location. Her mother, Mitchell, had observed this behavior on numerous occasions

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Mitchell was never in support of getting of her daughter owning a phone yet but Shantel was able to convince her dad that she needed the phone to learn from the Internet and it would help her greatly in her academics. All these were indeed true benefits of the Internet but Shantel was never a beneficiary. The only thing Shantel was always busy with was social media. She was on all platforms.

Shantel's high school friend, Dawn, even noticed that Shantel was always in a different world. She even got punished by the teacher for using her mobile during class. After School, Dawn decided to find out what it was that made Shantel's consciousness stick to her phone.She walked up to her and Shantel didn't even notice her presence because she was glued to the screen smiling and giggling. Dawn tapped her on the shoulder to get her attention
"Hey Shantel, what's making you laugh?"

"It's nothing, just some funny stuff I saw," she said and returned her gaze to the screen.

"Let me see it too," Dawn tried taking a peek at the screen. Shantel immediately turned the screen off "It was nothing," she said

Now Dawn only got more suspicious of her, "Oh okay." Dawn waited for her to go back to her phone and as Shantel immediately did, she snatched the phone and ran away with it making sure the screen was still on so she could see what Shantel was up to. Shantel chased after Dawn like whatever was on the phone her life depended on it. Dawn stopped running as she read the chat. Shantel was having with a total stranger on the Internet.

"Wait a minute, so you now have a boyfriend," Dawn asked but it came out as a statement. as she turned and the speeding Shantel bumped into her.Shantel grabbed back the Phone.

"Well yes, I met him on Instagram."

"Instagram!?? How do you date someone you don't even know?"

"We're planning to meet up pretty soon. After all, I know so much about him already and I have seen him in pictures."

"Can you hear yourself? You know he can be a scam right or even dangerous. It's the internet, Shantel, haven't heard of how bad guys do really nasty things to unsuspecting people?? Come on, girl!" Dawn said as she looked at her friend, worry smeared across her face.

Shantel let out a deep, throaty laugh which pissed her friend.
"Now tell me what's funny? What I said wasn't aimed at humour. I'm only looking out for your safety," she said with a scowl.

"Oops, I'm sorry. It was j-just funny. Relax, girl. I know this guy is harmless, plus, i am a big girl and can handle myself."

"I have said my bit, big girl. But please, you have to be careful," Dawn said.

"I am always careful, but just promise me you won't tell my mum about it,"

Shantel made Dawn promise her. Dawn knew that she wasn't going to keep that promise more than a day as she was really worried about her friend but still promised her anyway.
"I promise."

"That is why you are my best friend," Shantel said as they both held hands and walked home. Dawn later told Shantel's mom everything she found out. And Shantel's mom came up with a plan to make her daughter learn a thing or two.Mitchell created a fake profile of a handsome boy and sent Shantel a friend request and which she accepted.

Mitchell was so disappointed when she saw how naive her daughter was as she chatted and convinced her to visit the person on the fake account after making her promises.

So, Shantel told Dawn that she wanted to see the guy she met and told her that she was going to lie to her mom saying that she was going over to Dawn's to study.

Dawn expressed her disapproval but that would not stop her friend. Shantel told her mom that she was going over to Dawn's place and her mom agreed without any questions knowing what was about to happen. Shantel took off and used the address sent by her mystery man to find her destination. Unknowing to her, her mother had left immediately after her.When Shantel reached the house at the address she knocked on the door but when it was answered, it was an old woman who told her she didn't know who she was talking about. Shantel was confused and sad and decided to start going back.

As she reached an alley she was grabbed by a masked person. She was so frightened and shouted for help. When she realized that no one was around to come to her rescue, she tried to fight back but was overpowered. She was pinned to the ground.The person slowly took off the mask and Shantel was shocked to the marrows.

"Mom," she said as tears started to roll down her eyes. They drove back home in silence. Mitchell took Shantel's phone away and when the news reached her dad he decided she would not get a phone until she was eighteen years old. Dawn later told Shantel that she was the one who told her mom of her escapade and their relationship became very distant. But regardless Dawn was happy nothing happened to her friend.

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SOKA🖤