Tell Me You Love Me

16| Nostalgia

Chapter 16: Nostalgia (River's POV)

It's been four days since the engagement and tomorrow, finally, she's getting out of there. Luckily, her father still has no idea that she's been packing everything up and that's because obviously, he never goes into her room. From what I know, her room is practically empty and all the important things have been packed up. 

Ms. Jenny helped her keep this a secret and brought her multiple suitcases instead of boxes because there is no way boxes can be hidden, I guess. That's how she explained it. Since she can shove the suitcases under her bed or push them into the closet. I just hope now that until tomorrow morning, her father has no reason to go up to her room. 

While she's been packing, I've been calling. Every. Single. Night. I call her around midnight while she's packing and I hate to admit it, but it's nice. It kind of reminds me of when we were still friends. We would talk on the phone like this at night all the time because I can't sleep early and neither can she. I haven't felt nostalgia in a long time. I almost forgot what it feels like but nostalgia is important. Or maybe it's important because it's with her. 

I glanced at the clock which read 12:25. It's way past midnight, I should be able to call her. I dialed her phone, waiting for her to answer, and normally, she picks up really quickly. But she wasn't answering. I hung up and tried again. And again. And again. I bit down on the inside of my cheek, trying to think of what to do. 

I shot out of bed, pulling a t-shirt on hastily and leaving my slides on before rushing downstairs. I'm making a lot of noise and my parents are definitely asleep, but I can't be bothered about being quiet right now. 

I grabbed the car keys, the first ones I saw, and jogged out, grabbing the roses from the vase on my way out. If nothing happened, I'll just pretend I was there to give her flowers, what the hell. Her dad can't really say anything to that. But if something did happen, I'm bringing her back with me. 

I unlocked the car and climbed in, tossing the flowers on the passenger seat. I started the car, quickly backing out of the parking spot, checking behind me while steering with one hand before shifting gears and heading to the main gates. 

"Sir, where are you going? You aren't supposed to be out at this hour without security," one of the guards. 

"Unlock the gates," I demanded. 

"But sir—" 

"I said unlock the gates!" 

He quickly pushed the metal black-barred gates open and I sped out, taking a right and driving faster than I ever have before. 

I brought my phone with me, just in case I needed to call for help and I kept glancing at it to see if she called back but there was nothing. "Come on," I sighed to myself, turning onto her street. I slowed down, turning the car off right in front of her house and grabbing the stupid flowers. I ran up, opening the white picket fence gate, and rang the doorbell frantically. Nobody is answering the door. 

"No! Oh my God, please!" I heard a muffled scream. 

I tried moving around to look through the windows but the curtains were all drawn up from the inside. I banged on the windows, the doors, I rang the doorbell a thousand times more. But no one is fucking answering. 

"Sir, please!" That sounds like Ms. Jenny. "Wait, just wait, please!" 

I managed to shake the windows enough for the curtain to open just an inch. I could see Ms. Jenny begging Mr. Willow for something, I don't know what. But the house was a mess. I looked at the staircase that Brielle was running up. It looked like her dad was trying to follow her but Ms. Jenny was begging him not to.