Answer+the+call.

Hello?" you answer.

"Dude, where are you? It's 10 past one?" It's your friend Rae. Did you two have plans you forgot about?

"Rae, I can't talk right now, okay? I...I have a problem," you decide to tell your best friend."I found a note."

"Uhuh," Rae stifles a snicker. " What does it say?"

"Just to go to a certain place at one and...some other stuff."

Rae is laughing at you. "You //would // freak out about this."

"Look, I have to go, okay? I'll call you later...If I'm alive," you finish, frustrated.

"Wait! That note was from me and the guys! We're waiting for you at the Preston Building...It's your surprise birthday party!"

"Birthday..." you check your cell phone, even though you know what it's going to say: 1:12 pm, March 18th. Your Birthday. But you also see a text from your boss: //Congratulations young man. Go enjoy your big day, the conference can wait until next week. //

So it is 1:00 on your 21st birthday. Your uptight boss has excused you from work for the day so you can "enjoy." And you're in your pajamas thinking about what you'll change your name to once you join the Witness Protection Program. Yeah. You probably need a party right now.

*An Hour later*

"To Paul!" someone yells out."To Paul!" your friends echo. For the fourth time. But you don't mind. It's been an awesome day so far, except for that little mishap earlier. Rae throws a heck of a party. Today, the Preston Building is the place to be.

Over the music, you say to her, “This is great Rae. Thanks. I mean," you laugh, “even the note was cool. But don't you think it was a little extreme? 'Come alone. If you don't you'll be killed.' And how'd you manage to get into my fridge?"

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Rae blinks. "What?"

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">"Your note! It was so believable!"

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">"Paul," Rae begins. "We left our note on your front door. And if didn't say anything about coming alone or--or killing you."

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">"But if that note wasn't from you..." you look out the nearest window, down to the street below. A black van, a Honda, is waiting at the curb.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">"Then who did?"