Worries

"Nora stop smiling like an idiot. Who are you talking to?" Tina shouted. She was finally back now, back to the normal Tina. "Nora!" She shouted again.

"What? It's no one. Just an article I found funny." Nora replied.

"You've been reading an article for the last hour?" She moved closer to her and snatched away the phone from her, "Hey give it back!" Nora got up.

"Oh no. I really want to see who's making our Nora smile like that."

She looked down at the phone, it was indeed an article, she sighed, "This, I actually thought it was a guy. You disappoint me Nora. Come on, grow up."

"I told you." Nora shrugged and took away her phone, "Now go do something. You have an exam tomorrow."

Tina huffed and went back to her desk. Nora looked down at her phone and thanked her luck, fortunately she shut down her chats at the right time. "Hey Tina I'm going to Slurpies. You want anything?"

"Nah. Don't think so. Take your time, I want to be alone and concentrate."

"Okay." Nora grabbed her stuff and rushed out.

Her phone rang almost immediately, "Hi." Nora grinned.

"You sound lively today." Luke said.

"Yeah. I don't know why but I feel good today."

"Well that's really good. How's Tina doing?"

"Oh she's fine. She's preparing for her exam tomorrow. Anyway you're coming back next week, right?"

"Yes." He replied.

"Well I'm going to Slurpies now. So talk to you later. Bye." She hung up.

From the last week talking to him was a regular thing. She could talk about almost anything with him. And today after talking to him she just couldn't wait for him to return.

Going down to Slurpies, she ordered her regular. She grabbed her drink and walked out, bumping into Sophia and George, "Nora." Sophia said elated, "It's been so long since I last saw you."

"Sure it is. How are you guys?" She asked.

"We're good. But you are the one who needs to be congratulated. You got an internship, congratulations. We are proud of you." George said.

"Thanks, but how do you know that?"

"Luke. I talked to him yesterday. He's gone for a family gathering down in Norwana."

"I see." She nodded, "how was your graduation ceremony today?"

"Oh it was really good, sad that he missed it, we missed him too." George shrugged. "But he'll be back next week, we'll corner him then."

"Sure you would. It was nice seeing you but I got to go now." Nora smiled.

"See you round."

***

"Norwana?! He's in Norwana. Wow it's a beautiful place. You know?" Tina muttered, "I really want to go there with Nick." She said dreamily.

"Okay fine." Nora said checking her phone again.

"What are you looking for in it?" Tina said grinning.

"Nothing. You're just talking about you and Nick. It doesn't interest me." She shrugged.

"You–" before she could say anything her phone screen displayed Nick's name, "A minute." Tina ran out of the room.

Nora sighed looked at her phone again, it's been five days since she talked to him. He didn't reply to her messages, didn't answer her calls. Every time she was directed to the voice mail, where she asked him to call her back but it was of no use. She dropped yet another message and threw her phone on the bed.

Tina returned, "He'll have to take care of himself." She said in her phone. "Yeah. I saw the news we're expecting a storm too in the coming days. Yes I will take care of myself." Tina giggled. "Yeah, bye. Love you." She hung up.

"Who has to take care of himself?" Nora asked.

"Oh, Luke. Watch the news, Norwana just had a landslide and more are expected in the coming days. It's because of the storm, it came out of nowhere." Tina shrugged.

Nora froze, her mind started racing with a million thoughts but she didn't want to imagine the worst situation. She shook her head and drew away all of the stupid thoughts and texted him again, hoping for a reply.

The next morning everything was in chaos, the situation in Norwana worsened and reported two more accidents. Nora couldn't take her eyes off the article,

"Nora? Nora?" Tina shook her by the shoulder, "What's the matter with you?"

"He is not replying to my messages, he's not answering my calls and then these news. What is going on?"

"Who is not answering your calls?"

"Luke!" She said frustrated, "It's been six days days I haven't heard from him Tina. What if something happened to him." She asked with fear.

"Whoa. What is going on? You're talking to Luke? When did that happen? And why are you so worried about him?"

"It's not the time. Tina I want to know he is safe. Please."

"Okay." She said eyeing Nora, she was on her phone more than usual, she stepped out every time 'somebody' called her and also from the last six days she was somewhat irritated and was constantly checking her phone, the pieces fell together. "Do you feel something for him?"

"Huh?" Nora looked at her, "What are you saying? That's not important right now."

"Yes it is. Have you seen yourself?"

"No it is not important right now." She shouted again.

"Okay, calm down. I'll look into it." Tina said looking down at Nora who looked like a nervous wreck, she was fidgeting with her shirt and was twisting it in her hands. "First stop this. Close the windows, you heard the news right?"

She nodded and shut down the windows, the sky was a shade of dark grey, it was completely still.

With the time passing the storm took on, the windows rattled due to the strong winds. The sky was illuminated by the constant lightning and the thunder echoed. Soon it started pouring heavily. Nora was on her bed, her headphones on with blaring music. It was five in the evening but it seemed like midnight with the black clouds. Tina was in her bed scrolling down her feed, she asked everyone about the whereabouts of Luke but none of them was quite sure. It took her forever to calm down Nora, but in the end she sure was successful.

Her phone rang, "Tina, are you alright? You aren't scared are you?" Nick asked.

"No I am not. I am completely fine. How are you doing?"

"I am good, I'll come to see you once this freaking storm stops. Wait for me."

"Sure." Tina giggled.

"Oh and Tina Luke got into small accident. It wasn't serious, he just has some scratches. He's at his place right now, George and I went to see him. He's completely okay so don't worry. Okay?"

"What? You were supposed to tell me this before! Nick, you... Okay so he's totally fine?"

"Yes we met him. He asked us not to tell anyone but I did to you."

"Yeah thanks." Tina rolled her eyes, "Okay I'll call you later." She hung up.

"Nora!" She shouted. Nora turned to her and took off her headphones, "What?"

"Luke–"

"What? Is he okay? Did you talk to him?" She was on her feet.

"No I didn't but he's fine, he's at his place right now."

"He is? I need to go see him." Nora was already slipping into her shoes.

"Are you insane? Look out, it's crazy. You want to step out in that weather." Tina said, "Moreover he needs to rest, he got into a small accident–"

Before she could complete herself Nora was already out of the room running down the stairs, two steps at a time. Tina ran after her, "Stop right there Nora." But she was already way ahead.

Nora made it to the main entrance which had a few guards, they moved aside for a minute which was enough for her to sneak out. "Nora." She heard Tina shout behind her. She turned to look at her and then continued running.

Tina reached the gates but was stopped, "You cannot go." One of them said. "Return to the room." The other added. She took one last look at Nora's small figure disappearing down the street and turned back, "You don't feel anything? Huh." She smirked.