shopping spree with consequences

The rest of the school day passed by in a fog for Alex. He sat in his last class, pen in hand, without really listening or taking notes. The **** weighed on him like a stone pressing on his chest. Staring blankly at the chalk scratching across the board, he heard the muffled voices of classmates and the teacher, but none of it truly reached him. His head was filled with questions: How was he supposed to get his hands on a webcam without raising suspicion? And more importantly: Who was behind all of this?

When the school bell finally rang, he exhaled mechanically, packed his things, and slipped out of the classroom like a ghost. On his way to the bus, he nodded briefly to someone without even registering who it was. He just wanted to go home, though he knew that wouldn’t solve anything. Miriam would be there, and he might have to make up an excuse to go to the mall. This absurd game would go on until he found a way out.

Once on the bus, he dropped into one of the seats in the middle rows and stared out the window. He should have expected that Tessa would find him. She got on the bus shortly after he did, scanned the rows, and headed straight for him. He felt her gaze on him even before she spoke. He hoped in vain that she would just walk past and sit somewhere else. But Tessa wasn’t that easy to shake off.

“Hey,” she said, raising her eyebrows and planting herself on the seat next to him. “What’s up with you today? You’re totally out of it. First in the cafeteria, and then again in the last period—just staring off into space. Are you really okay?”

Alex **** himself to turn his head away from the window. He tried to smile, but it felt far too tense. “Yeah, sure. Everything’s fine.” His voice sounded too smooth, too rushed. He noticed it himself, but it was too late to backtrack now.

Tessa crossed her arms over her chest and looked him straight in the eye. “Yeah, right. You said you were just stuck on some Candy Crush level, and now you’re off in your own world again. What’s really going on?”

He avoided her direct gaze and pretended to watch a few younger students shouting loudly in the aisle. “I…” He hesitated, then **** himself to speak calmly. “I told you: I’m just thinking about what game to play next. You said Candy Crush isn’t a real game. So… I’ve been thinking about what you might recommend later.”

Everything inside him rebelled against this lie. But what else could he do? He couldn’t tell her that someone was blackmailing him, that it was about an embarrassing childhood photo, about a webcam, about a surveillance program. He already felt like a puppet dangling from invisible strings.

Tessa snorted, not really convinced. “Uh-huh. So you’re so deep in thought about grandiose gaming alternatives that you miss class and nearly fall out of your seat when I talk to you? Sounds logical.” Her voice had a sarcastic undertone, but beneath it Alex could hear something like concern.

He shrugged and **** a thin smile. “I’m just not good at multitasking. One thought, and I’m gone.”

She studied him for another moment, then sighed. “All right. If you say so.” She leaned back but didn’t entirely let him out of her sight. It was clear she didn’t believe him, but it seemed she’d decided not to push further—at least not now.

The bus jolted over a bump in the road. Alex looked back out the window, watching the houses glide by. He knew Tessa wasn’t stupid and that she saw right through his excuse. But at the moment, he didn’t care. He had to find a way out of this problem on his own. Until he had a plan, he couldn’t drag her into it.

With each kilometer the bus traveled, his stomach felt heavier. By tonight he had to get a webcam and install the program—or whatever else was demanded of him. The only question was how long he could endure this nightmare without breaking down.

When the bus finally stopped at his station, Alex felt the familiar tightness in his chest. He knew what awaited him: getting a webcam, installing a program, giving in once again to his blackmailer’s demands. With slightly trembling hands, he reached for his backpack, stood up, and was about to head to the door.

But before he could take a step, Tessa cleared her throat beside him. “Hey, wait a minute,” she said, her voice softer now. Her eyes were serious, not angry—more concerned. “I know you’re saying everything’s okay, but…” She paused, searching for the right words. “Maybe we should just hang out sometime. Not necessarily today if you don’t want to, but soon. Something to take your mind off things. If you’re not feeling comfortable yet in this new environment…”

Alex blinked, surprised. Tessa wasn’t new at the school—he knew she’d been here longer and fit in pretty well. But he’d also noticed that she went her own way, didn’t always go with the flow. Maybe that was why she understood how it felt to be on the outside.

He **** a small smile. “That’s… really nice of you. But you don’t have to hang out with me of all people. You’ve got your own friends, right?”

Tessa shrugged. “I do. But, you know, just because I’ve been here a while doesn’t mean I don’t know what it feels like not to fit in. I’ve had my phases, too. If you feel like it, we could game together sometime. Not today, I’m not pushing you. But if you’re up for it, just let me know. I can recommend a few good games to take your mind off… whatever’s bothering you.”

Alex glanced out the window, then back at her. Part of him felt guilty for lying to her. Another part was grateful for her offer. “Maybe tomorrow or the day after,” he said, trying to sound casual. “I’ve got some stuff to do today.”

“Sure, no problem.” Tessa pulled out a small piece of paper from her jacket pocket, scribbled something on it, and handed it to him. “My number. Just text me if you feel like it.”

He took the slip of paper, pocketing it as if it were something valuable, and managed a slightly more genuine smile. “Thanks, Tessa. Really. That means a lot.”

She nodded and briefly placed her hand on his arm. “No big deal. Sometimes it’s easier when you know someone understands how you feel.” Then she let him go. The bus had stopped, and he stepped off.

As he walked along the sidewalk, he felt both relieved and guilty. Tessa wanted to help because she could tell he was struggling—but he couldn’t involve her in the blackmailer’s scheme. Still, it was good to know there was someone who could at least partly understand what he was going through.

With these mixed feelings, he trudged toward the unpleasant evening task that awaited him.

Alex got off at the bus stop and wasted no time. Without any detour, he headed straight for the nearby shopping center. His pulse pounded in his ears as he passed through the glass revolving door and wandered between shop windows and shelves. He felt hot, even though the air conditioning gently cooled the air.

The electronics department was on the first floor. Alex took the escalator and saw the lined-up televisions, headphones, and gaming keyboards. It smelled of plastic and cardboard. He tried to convince himself that things weren’t all that bad. If he got the webcam, at least that hurdle would be cleared. Then he could follow the instructions and maybe stall the blackmailer somehow, buying time to find a way out.

But as he stood in front of the shelves of PC accessories, a chill ran down his spine. The webcam section was… empty? Only a few smartphone mounts, two dusty PC mice, and a single gaming controller hung crookedly in its packaging. There was no trace of a webcam.

Alex swallowed hard, his stomach tightening. Time was running out. The blackmailer had said: by this evening. And here he was, barely started on the very first instruction, and already the first problem had arisen. He ran a hand through his hair, looked around frantically. Maybe there was another stand somewhere, maybe he had overlooked something.

But no matter where he looked—no webcam. His heart began to beat faster, and the word “panic” formed in the back of his mind. He had to ask someone if they still had any in stock. Somewhere in the storeroom, maybe a new model, a reserve box, anything.

He peered around the corner, looking for an employee. There, at the end of the aisle, he saw someone in the company uniform. A glimmer of hope. But as he approached, he recognized a queue of other customers, all with complaints, questions, or returns, waiting ahead of him.

Alex gritted his teeth. He couldn’t just wait; he had to get that webcam as soon as possible! But he had ****. The panic grew inside him, pressing against his chest. He lined up behind the other customers, who whispered nervously among themselves, while a single, visibly stressed-out employee dealt with one customer after another.

The minutes dragged on. Alex shifted his weight nervously from one foot to the other. He didn’t know how much time he had until the blackmailer might write again. He could only hope that this setback wouldn’t spell disaster for his next steps.

Once more, he ran his hand through his hair and tried to breathe calmly. Not everything was lost yet. If he got the webcam quickly, he might just make it in time. He wouldn’t give up now, even though fear was gnawing at him.

When Alex finally reached the front of the line, his heart beat noticeably faster. He had expected a stressed, bored employee. But the person before him was something entirely different.

The employee, whose name tag bore the word “Jessica” in playful, flowing letters, was about 1.60 m tall and petite, but her ample bosom and tanned skin immediately caught the eye. Her blonde hair fell silkily over her shoulders, and she had applied her makeup with care—long lashes, subtly emphasized lips, a tasteful yet striking overall look. Her perfectly manicured acrylic nails sparkled in the light, and her outfit was a mix of seductive and confident. A skimpy crop top, an extremely short skirt, and high platform sandals that clicked with every step. A girly girl who also exuded something dominant, as if she knew exactly how to draw the attention of others.

“Can I help you, sweetie?” Jessica asked with a charming smile, her voice gentle yet a bit playful. Her blue eyes sized him up briefly, as if assessing what kind of customer he might be. Despite her sweet tone, there was a certain self-confidence in her manner that made it clear she was the one in charge here.

Alex cleared his throat and tried desperately to suppress his panic. “Yes, um… I really need a webcam. I didn’t see any left on the shelf. Do you maybe have one in the back?” His voice sounded tense, almost pleading.

Jessica tapped one of her artfully manicured nails against her chin as if thinking. Her gaze drifted to the shelves behind Alex, then back to him. “A webcam, huh… I think we just sold out. Pretty popular today.” She smiled a little too sweetly, a hint of mockery in her eyes, though not maliciously.

Alex’s pulse sped up further. He felt the impatience of the other customers behind him, but he didn’t care. He had to get that webcam, otherwise… His stomach twisted. “Please, could you check? It’s really important. I need it by tonight.”

Jessica paused for a moment, as if weighing whether she should help him. Then she shrugged elegantly. “All right, honey,” she said, the word sounding like a blend of affection and amusement. “I’ll take a look in the storeroom and see if we have anything left.” With that, she turned on her clicking heels and disappeared behind a door leading to the back room.

Alex exhaled cautiously. He had no idea what this unusual encounter meant, but right now only one thing mattered: Hopefully Jessica would have some luck finding what he needed. Every passing minute felt like a ticking time bomb in his phone.

After what felt like an eternity, Jessica returned, her high heels clicking evenly across the floor. In her perfectly manicured fingers, she held a box adorned with glittery stickers, pink hearts, and a sugary-sweet logo. Even at first glance, Alex could tell that this webcam didn’t just look a bit feminine—it practically screamed “girly girl.”

A pastel pink tone covered the entire package, cute cartoon kittens smiled at him from the front, and a sparkly logo at the top read: “PrincessCam Deluxe.” Alex swallowed while Jessica smiled as if she had just unearthed a treasure.

“Here you go, sweetie,” she said in a syrupy voice, “this is the last webcam we have. Must be fate, huh?” Her eyes sparkled with amusement, and Alex had the feeling she was fully aware of how unsuitable this product looked for him.

His hands trembled slightly as he took the box. He felt the stares of the other customers and didn’t dare tell Jessica that he would have preferred a more neutral model. He had no time to be picky, no time for another search. The blackmailer was waiting, and Alex knew every lost minute would worsen his situation.

“This is really… the only one?” he asked weakly, even though he knew the answer.

Jessica tilted her head, tapping one of her acrylic nails against the box, drawing her lips into a teasing smile. “Oh yes, honey, the very last one. And it’s… something special. But quality comes at a price, after all.”

With an unpleasant tingling in his stomach, Alex looked at the small price tag on the side of the box. The amount almost made him groan. It was far too expensive for such a small device, especially since he was sure it wouldn’t work much differently at home than any normal webcam. But he had ****. He pulled out his wallet and handed his credit card to Jessica with sweaty hands.

She swiped the card, and the register beeped contentedly. As she handed him the receipt, a mocking gleam flickered in her eyes, but she said nothing more. Alex muttered a tortured “Thanks” and turned away, clutching the tacky box tightly against his chest.

As Alex stowed the receipt, Jessica leaned forward slightly, allowing him to catch more of her sweet scent. “You know what, honey?” she said with a smile, her glossy lip gloss shimmering enticingly. “You’re kind of… sugary sweet. I like it when someone’s so **** they’ll even buy a princess webcam.” Her tone was teasing, yet self-assured, almost challenging.

Alex felt the blood rush to his cheeks. He had just run a true gauntlet, and now this. But before he could protest, Jessica pulled a small pink note and a glittery pen from the pocket of her shop uniform. With bold, artistically curved letters, she wrote down a number and handed him the slip of paper. He noticed the hearts over the “i”s.

“Here’s my number,” she explained, leaning forward again so that her sweet scent fogged his senses. Her long, decorated nails tapped playfully against his chest. “And now listen carefully, sweetie: You’ll text me right away, so I have your number too. No excuses. Understood?” Her gaze wasn’t unfriendly, but it was firm and unmistakable. Dominant, just as he had suspected. She didn’t do anything halfway – not even during a fleeting encounter like this.

Alex tried to say something, but all that came out was a short “Uh… okay.” With trembling fingers he took out his phone, quickly entered her number, and sent a brief “Hi” to the new contact. He could feel her watchful gaze on him, as if to check that he was obeying.

When the phone in his hand hummed, Jessica smiled contentedly. “Good boy, baby,” she said before straightening up, giving his shoulder a brief stroke, and then turning to serve the next waiting customer.

Alex stood there for a moment as if rooted to the spot. In one hand he held the gaudy princess webcam, in the other his phone. He felt simultaneously confused, overwhelmed, and... well, something else. But he didn’t have time to dwell on Jessica’s strange, charmingly dominant manner. The clock was ticking, and his real nightmare was still waiting: He had to install the webcam and follow the blackmailer’s instructions.

As he hurried out of the shopping center, his heart was beating a bit faster than before, though now for an entirely different kind of confusion than just a few minutes ago.

Alex closed the front door behind him, the pink box clamped firmly under his arm so that only a small strip of the garishly girly packaging peeked out. He had barely stepped into the hallway when Miriam emerged from the living room. She wore that slightly tense expression again on her perfectly made-up face, her arms folded across her chest as if appraising him.

“Well, you’re back already?” she asked with that falsely friendly undertone. Since yesterday her behavior hadn’t improved. She still seemed tense, as if trying to solve some puzzle.

Alex swallowed and tried to sound as casual as possible. “Uh, yeah, I just had to pop over to the mall for something… had to pick something up.” The words came out more awkwardly than he’d hoped. He just prayed Miriam wouldn’t notice anything suspicious. He pressed the box tighter, hoping she wouldn’t get too curious.

But Miriam didn’t let it go. Her gaze darted past him, trying to look over his shoulder. She noticed something pink but couldn’t quite make it out. “What’s that?” she asked curtly, tilting her head as if to peek under his arm.

Alex shrugged, pretending it was unimportant. “Uh, nothing special. Just… some tech thing. I need it for a project.” He could hear the nervousness in his own voice. The situation with the blackmailer and the silly, tacky webcam in his arms made him jittery. “I’m just gonna head up to my room, okay?”

Without waiting for her response, he scurried upstairs. He heard Miriam’s heels click on the floor, as if she were shifting slightly to get a better view. But he was already out of reach. Once in his room, he gently closed the door behind him and took a deep breath. Now he had to deal with installing the program, no matter how much he dreaded the thought.

Down in the hallway, Miriam lingered for a while, a slight furrow on her brow. First that positive reaction to his photo yesterday – which had baffled her – and now this pink box he seemed so panicked to hide? Something wasn’t right.

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she replayed the scene in her mind. Alex had been visibly nervous. And that pink… just now he had pretended it was nothing special, but she’d seen it: Something about it embarrassed him.

Miriam shook her head slightly. She would figure it out sooner or later. If he thought he could just scurry off to his room and keep secrets, he was mistaken. She didn’t yet know what his problem was, but she was determined to find out. And this time, she wouldn’t let it rest.