A Teaspoon Of Stardust

15) The Last Egg Roll

The feeling in my gut wasn't a scared one, or a nervous one, or one where you think you're gonna puke, or a combination of all three (like when you're crush talks to you), but one that told me this was wrong.

First off, it looked nothing like the clock tower in my dream. It was far too tall and far too modern. Second, you couldn't even go inside the clock tower which is the exact reason I came. And lastly, the surroundings were completely different. There was a snack stand and a souvenir shop. Why all this for some stupid clock?

The minute I walked up to it, I knew I was at the wrong one. If not for the whispers encircling me saying "No! No!" and "Not enough time!", it was when I reached my hand out and touched the wall. Nothing. My fingers lingered against the cool stone wall and yearned to feel something, anything that would tell me this was it.

But nothing came, so I left.

As I walked back down the hill, I tried to cover up my sadness and disappointment. "Stop it, Scarlett! There are four!" I shouted while kicking a stone ahead of me and stuffing my hands in my pockets. Nobody else was here so I didn't mind talking to myself. "You can't expect it to be the first one!"

I crossed my arms over my chest after slamming the car door. As I turned the key in the ignition, the radio started blaring.

This is not the time nor place, Keith Urban.

I shut it off with one quick click and started back on my way home. Or back to the fruit shop.

With the orange truck rumbling down the highway and fourteen minutes till I was home, my mind bounced from one problem to another. First, I began to think about which of the clock towers it could be. Then my mind went to my nightmares, and then of course the macabre woman who came along with them.

Suddenly and strangely, I ended up thinking about Luke. Why has he stayed? What happened that day after the diner? What is it I feel around him? By that last question I don't mean to sound like a boy crazy teenager constantly thinking about love, I mean why do I feel dizzy and hear things? Why do I feel like something is going on that I don't know about? Is it because I'm usually tired when this happens? Why him?

Almost by complete autopilot, I was back at the fruit store called "Keep Your Eyes PEELed" handing the keys back to Marie. She asked about the gas and I answered her. I'd stopped by a small one not too long before I got here and filled it up with what little money I had left.

"See you tomorrow morning at 8!" She smiled while packing some blueberries into a carton.

I gave her a confused look. "But... tomorrow is Saturday?" Saying it more as a question.

Realization spread across her face and she nodded. "Sorry hon, I forgot. Have a good weekend!"

I told her the same and walked out the bright yellow door and let the bell chime behind me.

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I finally made it to the front porch of our house and I couldn't wait to go inside amd change into pajamas, even if it was only the afternoon.

I jiggled the handle and unlocked the door, stepping inside the air conditioning and taking a deep breath. I was tired and sweaty from the long walk home in the heat.

"WHERE WERE YOU?!" Luke ran out with his bottom lip tucked under his top teeth in a painful way. I jumped back, a bit startled.

"W-what?" I stuttered still shocked at his outburst.

"I WAKE UP AND YOU'RE NOT HERE, I TRY AND CALL YOU BUT I DON'T HAVE YOUR NUMBER, I WAITED FOR YOU FOR HOURS AND YOU DIDN'T SHOW UP! I WAS SCARED OUT OF MY MIND!" Luke's face was a shade of dark red, and to be honest, it didn't suit him very well.

"Would you calm down? Why does everybody suddenly think I'm a child and they can tell me what to do? Huh? Newsflash! WE'RE ALL THE SAME AGE." I fired at him. He squinted his eyes and then rubbed his face with his hands, pacing in the living room.

"I- I thought you ran away, because of me. I thought you were hurt, or worse. I thought maybe you went after Dylan and never made it back." He rambled. "I thought she had you."

I raised my eyebrows at the last part. "She? Who's she?" I ask him.

Luke's eyes widened and he inhaled sharply. "D-did I just s-say that out loud?"

I nod and ask again.

"Forget it."

"What? No!" I followed him as he went up the steps. "Luke I wanna know!"

He started to shake a tiny bit and he sat down on his thick, navy blue comforter."I SAID FORGET IT SCARLETT!"

"Fine," I sighed. But this wasn't the end. I flopped onto his bed and laid next to him, staring up at his blue eyes. He huffed and faced away from me.

"Why won't you tell me?" I pleaded.

Luke turned around in one movement and narrowed his eyes at me. "I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE IT ALONE! SHE'S NO ONE! WHAT DON'T YOU GET ABOUT THAT?" He said loudly through gritted teeth.

I pressed my lips together and walked out of his room. I was not in the mood for this today.

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"Thank you." I mumbled to the delivery man and handed him the bill, then shut the door.

I carried the cardboard box full of Chinese food out to the kitchen and set them on the table. I texted Luke that dinner was ready. Yes I took his phone earlier and got his number out.

Lukey: ok one minute

He replied with way too many emojis. I took out a take out box of lo mein and used a fork instead of chop sticks since I am horrible at using them.

I heard him coming downstairs because he always hits his head on the way down. I mean, he's a giraffe for heavens sake.

"I got three egg rolls." I announced as he walked in. One for me, one for Luke...

Luke lifted the container of fried rice and poured some straight into his mouth, watching me out of the corner of his eye to see my reaction.

"Eww!" I giggled and flicked a greasy onion from my lo mein at him. He gasped, grabbing his heart like it was a bullet that struck him, not an onion.

"I'VE BEEN SHOT!" Luke sighed dramatically and I rolled my eyes at him. He stuck his tongue out at me and I returned the favor. I was glad we were back to normal because I hated being mad at him. I liked this side of us much better.

The food was pretty good and I was pleased I'd finally eaten. "So, you wanna open your fortune cookie?" He asked, already opening his.

I nodded, only half paying attention to him. I couldn't stop staring at the egg roll. One for me, one for Luke, one for Dylan. Dylan.

I stood up harshly and grabbed the darn thing off the table and chucked it into the trash. Before walking out, I gave Luke a nod as if I didn't just do something that made me seem crazy.

Containing myself till I at least reached the porch, I sat down on the swing and my lip trembled. But I wasn't gonna cry. I hugged my legs to my chest and burrowed my head between my knees. I breathed out deeply and shakily, trying to think of anything but Dylan. The swing sunk down a bit as someone I expected to be Luke sat down next to me, swinging an arm around my shoulder and pulling me close.

"Scarlett, he's fine." Luke urged. "We'll find him."

But as horrible as it sounds, Dylan's disappearance wasn't the first thing on my list today.

Luke's safety was.

A/N

I worked pretty hard on this one, hope you enjoy!

kelly_with_a_y came up with the fruit store name, she's very punny!