Return What Was Lost

Chapter 38

A little before six pm, Julian got a text from Cole that everyone was eating together in the dining hall. Julian went down and figured that Avery would be there too. He got his food and found Cole. As he approached the table he realized that it was only Cole, Brady, Chelsey, and Nikki. Avery was not there yet. He sat down across from Cole.

"Did you text Avery that we were all eating together?" Julian asked.

"No, I figured she was with you," he replied.

Julian checked his watch, it was only five forty-five, she probably wasn't back yet. He texted her anyway that they were in the cafeteria and to meet them all there.

"So, has anyone made any spring break plans yet?"

Julian looked over at Nikki with a raised eyebrow.

"Miss Sensible wants to have a crazy spring break?" he asked.

Nikki rolled her eyes. "I can have fun," she protested.

"Whatever we do, you need to stay away from the alcohol," Chelsey said to her. "You were. . .not the easiest to take care of last time."

Nikki looked over at her with a surprised look on her face. "You were there when I got drunk at Archer's party?"

"Who do you think got you to your room?" Chelsey said as if stating the obvious.

"Well, this is the perfect way to pay you back then," Nikki said. "Who wants to go to New York?"

Everyone looked over at Nikki.

"Why New York?" Brady asked.

"Because it could be fun," Nikki said. "Besides there's a bunch of people going. Archer told me a few guys from his school are going too."

"You want to go to New York and spend time with Archer?" Brady scoffed. "I'd rather watch Twilight."

A smile spread across Chelsey's face. "Fine by me, I promise you the movies are worth it!"

Nikki looked over at Cole and Julian when she realized she lost Chelsey and Brady who were now walking away as they argued about watching the movie or not tonight.

"Is Emmet going," Cole asked.

Nikki reluctantly nodded.

"Then I'm out," he said. "I think I'm gonna go home anyway."

Nikki sighed but turned to Julian hopefully.

"I don't know," he said finally. "Depends on Avery."

Nikki frowned. "Where is she anyway?"

Julian checked his watch, it was six now. Where was she? He was trying to be reasonable, maybe there was traffic, maybe she was here and was on her way in now.

Still, he was uneasy with the fact that she hadn't responded to his text.

They continued to talk amongst themselves but Julian began to feel sick, and with each passing minute, his heart began to beat faster and faster. At six fifteen, he felt that same sinking feeling all over again. It didn't take longer than five minutes to walk from the parking lot to the cafeteria, even at a snail's pace she would have been back by now. Even if she had stopped at her dorm, and then Julian's, it wouldn't have taken her this long to make her way here.

Julian texted her again. No response. Another minute went by. He texted her again. No response. Five minutes of this and he was beginning to panic.

Cole was the first to notice.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I don't. . .I think Avery," Julian struggled to form a coherent sentence.

His thoughts were going a mile a minute with all the possibilities of what happened to Avery.