Forgotten Memories

Chapter 23: Guards

-Luke-

"Why did we come here again?"

I sigh. "We're trying to see if they can track Aria's phone."

"Who even opens a business just to track stuff?" Hope mutters.

"They don't just track stuff, but whatever. It's a possibility that they can help us find Aria, and quite possibly Rue."

We walk in and see a guy sitting in a chair behind the desk, reading a comic hidden in a book. He looks about the age of 16, but the fact that he's reading a comic makes me doubt that. Reminds me of me.

"Can you help me track a phone?" I say loudly.

The guy behind the desk just looks up and blinks at me. "Have I been living under a rock? Yes. Otherwise my store wouldn't be called Tech Town," the guy mutters.

Hope snickers beside me. "Clever name," she mutters. I laugh, and the guy turns back to us.

"So, you wanna track a phone?" I nod.

"Okay. What's Aria's number?"

As I tell him her number, I notice Hope staring at me. "What's wrong?" I ask.

"Nothing," she says, looking down at my feet. "It's just-"

"Found her! Last place where Aria's phone was active was Houston, Texas," he says proudly.

Hope's gaze drops to the floor. "That's nice."

I pull her aside. "What's wrong? Tell me." She sighs and gives in. "We're gonna find the love of your life. I'm gonna lose you. I know I sound selfish and such, but I don't want to lose you. Aria was right. I'm falling for you. Don't get me wrong, I do want to find her, and we will, I promise. I'm just dreading the moment you two reunite."

My heart breaks, and I swallow hard. "I'm falling for you too, Hope. It's true, I do love her, but I'm starting to think my love for her is a bit fraternal. I guess we just have to wait and see. Meanwhile, I think I have to prove it to you." Before she can react, I lean down and brush my lips against her cheek. I hear her gasp, and I smile. She embraces me and laughs. "I don't want to go to fast."

She nods. "Well, let's see exactly where in Houston Aria is--" she stops.

"What?" I ask. I turn around to the guy and see him smiling at the sight of us.

"How did you know we were looking for Aria? You said her name a moment ago," she inquires, making his eyes widen. I notice the guy click something on his keyboard. Worried, I take a step back. "What was that for?"

The guy smiles nervously. "Nothing," he assures me.

Suddenly, the back door bursts open and a security guard comes out of the back room. He walks up to Hope and grabs her arm. "Hey!" she cries out.

"Excuse me, you're gonna have to one with me," he says strictly, and tightens him grip on her arm.

"What the hell?" I yell in surprise. The guard's head snaps back to me and he grabs my arm. "Come voluntarily, or I will use force."

"I deserve the right to know why!" she cries. The guard sighs and turns to look at the guy behind the desk, who just shrugs. "We work for Mark," the guy says, as if that would explain everything.

Eyes wide, Hope slowly tries to take a step further from the guard and releases a shaky breath. Subtly, I point to the door and Hope realizes my plan.

Hope turns to the guard, steps on his foot so he releases her arm, and runs towards the door. "Hey!" the guard yells, but we're already halfway across the street.