Black Rose

Chapter 3 : Missing You

*Please check out Ailee's character card, up here^^^*

Author's pov

"Kyle, who were you talking to for so long?" She said as she took a fork full of the blueberry cheesecake.

Kyle hesitated for a moment before settling onto the chair besides her. He forced a smile, but Aiden immediately caught the odd behaviour as he had joined them in the kitchen too.

"Just my mom," Kyle said casually. "She was asking about when I'm coming home and all that."

Aiden raised a brow. "Oh, really? Since when do you talk to your mom for half an hour?"

"Why can't he?" Ileana cut in defence of her best friend.

Aiden rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on. You've known Kyle longer than I have, but somehow, I know him better. He's lying."

"No, I'm not, and also, that wasn't half an hour." Kyle said frantically to stop them from making more silly assumptions. "Who do you believe, Ileana? Me, your best friend? Or this weirdo."

Ileana squinted her eyes at Kyle. "You sound a bit too defensive." She shook her head at him.

"Of course not!" Kyle said, shaking his head too vigorously for Aiden's liking.

"Liar," Ileana teased before her expression shifted to surprise. "Wait—do you have a girlfriend?"

"What? No!" Kyle exclaimed, throwing his hands up. "I'd tell you if I did, why would I even hide it?"

"Yeah, rright,you wwould; I know you would." Aiden said sarcastically.

"You two are unbelievable." Kyle says in defeat.

"Can you lovebirds tone it down?" Lucas mumbled groggily from the doorway. "Some of us are trying to get our beauty sleep."

The three of them turned to stare at him like he'd sprouted another head before bursting into giggles.

"Go back to your beauty sleep; we will keep quiet." Ileana patted his head and gave him a side plate with a slice of cheesecake.

"Is this cheesecake?" Lucas asks with a confused yet sleepy face.

"Mhh hmm." Ileana agreed, and he muttered a thanks before rushing back to his room.

Kyle and Aiden just continued to make fun of Lucas and his beauty sleep.

Just then, Ileana's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and stood up. "I have to go. My mom needs me home."

"What?" Kyle frowned. "You've only been here for like an hour. Stay for dinner—I'll cook."

"I wish I could, but it's urgent," Ileana says, avoiding his pleading gaze as she grabs her bag.

Aiden tilts his head, sscrutinisingher. "Didn't you just say you were helping your mom earlier? Why would she need you back so soon?"

Her hands become ffidgety,and she twirls around with the strap of her bag. "I... don't know. Maybe she forgot to mention something earlier."

Aiden's sharp eyes caught on her discomfort, but he let it slide, though not without a pointed look. "Alright, see ya." he said simply.

"Bye, guys," Ileana said quickly, waving before rushing out.

As the door clicked shut, Aiden turned to Kyle. "She's lying."

Kyle sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know. She's been acting weird lately—always saying she has something to do or somewhere to be. And I know it's not always about her mom."