•7• The Awaited Date

I woke up to the butterflies in my stomach and the buzz in my head. I had to go through the whole day, but I have a date with Sebastian. "Morning nana" I said cheerfully when I entered the kitchen.

"Morning" Nana replied absent minded. I could tell that something was wrong.

"What's wrong? You don't look like your beautiful happy self"

She sighed then sat down, "Lucia didn't show up yesterday so I opened the shop pretty late. I tried calling her cell but she doesn't answer and I don't know if I should be worried or just majorly upset"

I sat down on the kitchen table, "So you haven't heard from her at all?" she shook her head, "I remember you told me she lives with her mother, maybe call the house?"

"I am not sure if I should" she sighed, "I'll wait till the end of the day and see. If she didn't call back or text then I will call her house, just to be sure she's okay"

I nodded my head, "Sounds like a good plan" I took an apple and bit into it, "Nana, there's something I wanted to tell you?"

"Okay" She had this wary tone, like she was worried I would give her bad news.

"I kind of have a date today" I stated with a stutter. "He'll pick me up at seven I'll be back by nine maybe nine thirty" I rushed through my words nervously.

"Slow down young lady. Who's your date?"

"Sebastian, Sebastian Addington. He's with me in school"

"Sebastian Addington" she said the name and it seemed like it reminded her of something. It struck some kind of memory.

"You know him?"

She nodded her head, "He comes by the shop every once and a while, same with his sister. Nice people, but the Addington keep to themselves most of the time"

I nodded my head, "Yeah. He's like that too"

"Yet he asked you out on a date" She said with a chuckle. "Have fun sweetheart, just don't be late, it's a school night"

"I won't I promise"

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At the parking lot Alexis was waiting for me, "Morning" I greeted.

"Morning" she replied. We started walking to school then she said, "Something happened and I thought I should tell you" her voice sounded worried, so I stopped walking.

"What's wrong?"

"Lucia Andrews, she works for your grandmother, right?"

I nodded my head, "yeah. We were actually just talking about her. She hadn't shown up at the shop yesterday. Nana told me that she's not even answering her phone."

"I don't know if you knew tis or not but my mother is a close friend with the Andrews. Apparently, Lucia hasn't returned home since Monday evening"

"What? Are you serious?"

Alexis nodded her head, "I am. Her mom was with my mom on the phone this morning. She's actually worried that this is another Sally situation" she sighed, "I mean… could you actually blame her?"

Before I get to say anything, Jared showed up, "What's up you guys?" and right behind was Tine who looked pissed for some reason. We walked to school and out conversation drifted to lighter and more highschool-ish topics. It was the moment that I told Alexis that I have a date with Sebastian tonight, that everyone became very interested in the conversation.

"So, let me get this straight you have a date with Sebastian Addington?" Alexis exclaimed as we stood in the hallway waiting for the bell of the first period to ring.

"Wait, what?" Tina jumped right in front of us.

I shook my head, "Guys can we please calm down. There's no need for the whole school to know before the day start"

"How come you didn't tell me yesterday?" Alexis asked with a pout.

"Well we didn't get any chance to talk, hence I didn't tell you" I defended and stuck my tongue out at her.

"You guys are making a big deal out of it, so what if he asked her out?" Jared said in a bored tone.

"You're just jealous. I shook my head at them and walked away to my locker.

"Hey" I closed my locker to find Sebastian there with a big grin on his face.

"Hi" I held my books closer to my chest.

"You did Mr. Maguire's assignment?" he asked and we started walking to class

"Yeah. It took some time but I managed, argumentative essays are so not easy"

"I agree, they take a lot of research" We arrived at class and I could see Mr. Maguire approaching the class, so I rushed and slipped inside followed by Sebastian.

The classes until lunch were spent normally with nothing interesting happening. At lunch I sat with Jared and Alexis at a table in the far corner with just the three of us. "Do you really think Lucia might be…you know? Dead" I looked at him with a raised eyebrow, I didn't know that he knew of Lucia. I did not think he even knew her. He looked at Alexis, "Alexis filled me in"

I nodded my head in understanding then said, "We don't know that for sure. I mean it could be nothing" I shrugged my shoulder and took a big gulp of my bottle of water.

"I said the exact same thing about Sally and look what happened" Alexis said in a sorrowful tone. I did not believe that it was nothing, especially with what happened to Sally it was easy to think that something bad must have happened to Lucia, but I also tried to keep an optimistic way of thinking. I did not like to think of the possibility of finding another dead body in this small town

Alexis has been feeling guilty over Sally's death the most. She believes that she had contributed in them not searching for her earlier, that because she helped in spreading the rumor about her eloping with a boyfriend that it sealed her fate.

"Hey" Sebastian appeared out of nowhere behind me. "Mind if I join you?"

"That would definitely be a first?" Jared mumbled, which made both Alexis and I glare at him and I could see that she elbowed him from under the table.

Alexis wore her brilliant smile, "Of course. Yes. Come on"

He pulled the chair next to mine and sat down, "I thought we could go to biology together��

I smiled, biting my lips, "Sounds like a great plan"

"So, you think giant wolves killed Lucia Andrews just like what happened with sally?" Jared asked and I could not help but facepalm and mutter 'seriously?' under my breath.

Alexis looked as exasperated with his tactless question as I was, "I am not saying anything, all I am saying is that we have to put all possibilities on the table"

"Are you talking about Lucia Andrews?" Sebastian asked curiously

"Wait, you know her too?" I asked surprised and honestly frustrated. How come that everybody knew everybody in this town.

"This is Secret Valley; we all know each other" Alexis interjected.

"What's wrong with Lucia?" Sebastian sat straighter.

"She hasn't turned home since Monday evening" Jared said in a bored tone.

"And you guys think she met the same fate as Sally? Eaten by wolves?" Sebastian, and I might be wrong, looked slightly paler. It was like he was surprised yet worried of the notion, which would make perfect sense but I could not shake off the feeling that there was something else.

"I think we should try and do something about it" Alexis suggested excitedly.

I looked at her with a raised eyebrow, "I'm sorry? Do what exactly? Hunt the wolves of our own? Because believe me we don't stand a chance, I've got an injury to prove it"

"I am not saying that we go after the wolves, but we should ask around about Lucia I mean. It could be nothing like you said, and it could be something else entirely. We wouldn't know until we try and figure it out" Alexis passionately justified her point.

Ja5ed shook his head, "I think we should leave it to the police" that was the last thing said about the topic, because the bell rang and we all went to out classes.

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It was six fifty-five and I was not even done getting ready. "Did you finish all your homework?" nana asked from across the room as she watched me getting ready.

"Yes nana, don't worry" I said while I tried to put my short hair in an elegant bun but to no avail, so I just gave up and let it fall loose on my neck.

I heard the doorbell ring, and I felt my nerves getting the best of me. My hands were cold and sweaty and my heart was beating a million miles away. Nana went to open the door while I tired to breath in and out to calm down my nerves. I breathed again then exited my room and went downstairs where nana and Sebastian were talking. "Give Ava my regards, and tell her I've got so many new books that I am sure she will fall in love with" nana told him with a pat on the shoulder.

We left the house and went to his car, "You look beautiful" he said once he entered the car. I smiled and mumbled a quick thank you, but I felt nervous. I did not feel butterflies in my stomach ad I was not excited any more. I was purely nervous, maybe even worried. I do not know what aroused such feelings within myself, but throughout the drive to the restaurant I tried to calm these nerves. He did not say much; we barely talked during the drive, something I was grateful for. I hoped by the time we get to the restaurant my nerves would be eased out.

We arrived to a beautiful place, a small cozy restaurant on the edge of town. The warm light and the jazz music gave the place a welcoming warm aura. There were not many people, just two tables occupied by couples like ourselves, and another one with three girls, who left shortly after we sat.

"It is such a nice place Sebastian" I stuttered slightly, but managed to plaster a smile, which I hoped looked genuine enough. I had this feeling that something bad was going to happen, I do not know why, but it was a feeling I could not shake.

Sebastian smiled charmingly, "I'm glad you like it"

"So how did you know this place?" I asked him taking a sip of the glass of water that was placed in front of me.

"It was my sister, Ava. She brough me here one time and I think I fell in love with the place"

I nodded my head with a smile, "it seems you have a good relationship with your sister"

"We are very close, like best friends"

"How about your parents? You never talk about them"

He started to fidget slightly, "My mum passed away, and my dad is not around as much" he said hurriedly, but his tone hinted that he wished to not speak of the topic again. Maybe there are some raging family issues going on, but I thought I should not really pry. He was smart enough to change the subject, "So what about you?"

"What about me?" I asked with a grin.

"I heard you used to live in Washington with your mom, what made you come to this small town to live with your grandma?" He asked, but before I could reply the waiter showed up and took our orders.

"My mom has left all of her life for my sake, and I felt that she deserved to live for herself. She met someone, an amazing man, and he makes her happy" I explained with a nostalgic smile.

"So, you just decided to leave her?" he asked with a tilt of his head. Something about the way he said it made me feel uncomfortable; I felt like he was blaming me.

I gave an awkward chuckle, "I did not leave her for the lack of love between us, but I left her because I love. Sometimes it is better than we let go of the people we love, for them to fine better chances, better people, and even better love"

"So, you could leave someone you love for them to find better love?" he asked curiously.

I thought for a second, "Yes. It's because I love them so much that I want them to be loved better. At least that what I wanted my mom to have" I shrugged my shoulders and the food arrived. We started eating and lighter topics came along, we talked about cultures and art. It was all very interesting, until it was time to leave, by then there was only us and another table.

We walked around the parking lot until we found Sebastian's car, I stood by the passenger's door when I heard a snarl. I knew that voice very well. I felt my heart drop as I raised my eyes up to see three giant black wolves snarling our way with their red eyes narrowing while they stared at us.

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