Chapter six

After just finding out that Matteo and I had almost met the day that he died. I sat troubled and in despair for the past hour, over thinking the alternative chain of events that could have taken place if a single choice of ours was different.

An involuntary embarrassing growl breaks the painful silence.

" just because I did it once, it doesn't mean that I'll be reminding you all the time" - Matteo informs

I placed both hands over my stomach and lowered my head in slight and temporary embarrassment.

" I'm not hungry" I childishly claim

" The beast within you is telling me a completely different story" - he softly chuckled

As I got to kitchen, I grabbed a slice of bread and arrogantly slammed it into the toaster. I did not mean to be so rough but our old toaster was a bit rusty and I didn't realize that Sabrina had gotten a new one.

" Darling, What do you have against bread? " he rhetorically asked

Before having the chance to respond with a snarky comment, my phone rang. It was Astrid's mum

" Hi Mrs Smith" I sweetly answer

After the little small talk, how are you and the family? How did you find your exam today? And the usual, are you enjoying the rainy weather we've been having lately. Mrs Smith surprised me with her next question

" I hope you and Astrid are having fun catching up after all this time. I tried calling her but it seems that her phones off. Is she staying over tonight, she didn't inform me if you girls were having a sleepover or should I send her dad to pick up? "

Astrid had left 3 hours ago and she would have reached home within 30 minutes, if not less. Where is she? Am I supposed to cover for her if she left to meet Blake? Although she didn't tell me that she was going to see him, besides she never switches off her phone when she's with him.

" Astrid left to go home 3 hours ago " I reply in deep worry

There was silence on the other end of the call, I could almost feel the worry and distress expressed in her voice.

" Did she say where she was going? " She shuttered

" Home Mrs Smith, she said she was going home"

" Thank you Natalie, maybe she ran into someone"

" I'll try and contact her, will let her know that you called"

I end the call awfully worried where she could be gone. Astrid never allows her phone battery die, whether she's home or anywhere else. Maybe she went to meet Blake and did not want to tell me about it, since they broke up 3 months ago and she might be embarrassed to be getting back with him.

" Oh no! " - my eyes widen and body shivers at the thought

" I hope she isn't making a trip into the woods again, alone and at night " - i think out loud

The weather is very gloomy and scary tonight, the rain was intense and I assume that it isn't safe at the woods during a thunderstorm.

The abrupt click of the toaster startles me causing me to jump in horror.

" Just the toaster darling" Matteo says reassuring me

" Right! Just the toaster" I whispered trying to believe that was the reason I was startled.

I try calling Astrid every five seconds, expecting that she had found a charger or switched on her phone. Anticipating that the next five seconds would be different from the last.

" Hellos, You've reached Astrid. Try leaving me a message and I'll get back to you if you're important to me" Matteo roared with laughter as he mimicked her voice mail message

I throw my phone onto my bed but it bounces right off and lands on the floor.

" I could really use a hug right now" - I groan

" Too bad you can feel me, I'm all about them hugs" - he subtly mocked

" And why would you want to hug me? "- I asked rolling my eyes, remembering that I'm not the type of girl he would usually talk too

" So I could feel you"-

I can imagine a massive smirk painted across his face

" You're the type of guy that would literally sleep with anything that moves" - I spit

" No dear, that's where you're wrong. This anything... It has to have a pair of hmm ... At least C cups " - he replies

" You're disgusting " - I continue to shout

" Since when did you label me as A TYPE OF GUY " - he near rhetorically questions

" I figured you out, that so surprising? You're not all that different from college boys " - I admit

" Ouch! Difference is, you've never met me. For a smart girl like you I thought you would know that actions speak louder than words. Yeah, I liked to party and I admit to never call a girl back after I jump out her window. But every guy meets one girl that changes him"

" Have you met her?"- I inquisitively ask

" I'm not your typical guy, So erase that stereotype that you put on me" - he abruptly and harshly replied

I decided to get to bed and hoped that I'd wake up to Astrid's call while she reassures me that she's fine at home and judgementally brings up the thousand voice mails I had left her.

6am: My phone dances across my headboard as it infinitely vibrates to the alarm sounds

Barely awake, I switch off my alarm and roll out of bed. Glancing at my work uniform hanging on my drawer, I rubbed my sleepy eyes and remembered Astrid. Grabbing my phone, I checked No Messages, No Missed Calls, Nothing. I rang Astrid again and it went to her voice mail. Something's definitely wrong, I clicked to call Astrid's mum but then decided against it. I'll get ready for work and see if she's there. Why am I worrying so much? It's Astrid, she's a maniac and the strongest red head I know.

Before I get to the café today , I have an online lecture for one of those general education subjects. It is not important, so they have it online instead of on campus but we don't have a choice to skip the class because we get marks for attendance.

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