Saving Lotte Sullivan | Collingwood/Carlton

6: You Can't Take These Two Anywhere

The sun shone down on the South Melbourne street after the rain had began to clear. It was an annoyingly humid day, not normal weather for the middle of winter. Everyone in the state was surprised by the sudden change. It had been freezing recently. In fact, so freezing that Ashlyn Addison had caught pneumonia from getting caught in the heavy rain on her way back from work. It was a horrible way to spend the next month. Repeat emergency room visits, scans, medications, and basically being bed ridden due to the pain. She was grateful her boyfriend had been so helpful during the time, but she was still yet to clear things up with her best friend after what had happened on May 24th, her birthday. The last time anyone had seen Lotte, was Nick when she boarded her tram and headed home to Reservoir.

'You okay?' Nick asked, as he glanced at his girlfriend. She nodded, finally happy to be out of the house, and breathing. She never thought she'd escape Thornbury.

'Yeah, but man, where are they? Lotte usually runs 5 minutes late, tops' Ashlyn said, anxiously checking her watch, full knowledge she was going to cop it later for what she'd planned today.

'Would she even know this area?' Nick asked, as his girlfriend sighed.

'Well she wouldn't let me see her anywhere near your area, and she surprisingly wants to avoid the north again. I thought she loved it, I just-'

'Isn't that her?' Nick asked, nodding over at the small girl who had just stepped off the tram.

'Yeah, it is. I'll be right back, you stay' Ashlyn ordered, as she stood up, straightened her dress and quickly walked over to her best friend.

'Well, I wasn't just going to leave' Nick said, well aware she now couldn't hear him.

'I was beginning to think you'd ditched!' Ashlyn exclaimed, hugging her best friend and accidentally scaring her. Lotte's hand firmly gripping something in her jacket pocket. Everyone now knew what.

'I think I boarded the wrong tram at some point, because I had to switch. Why the hell have you dragged me all the way out here?' Lotte asked, flustered as Ashlyn quickly pulled her across the road.

'Nick knows the owner of the restaurant, or something' she replied quickly, as she sped up her pace.

'Wait, Nick?' Lotte asked, heart racing. Oh no. Not the know it all.

'I found her!' Ashlyn exclaimed, as the girls arrived back at the table, Lotte quickly observing all her surroundings and escape routes. Okay, they were sitting outside. That wasn't too bad.

'Technically, I found her. I saw her at the tram stop first' Nick pointed out, taking a sip from his drink as Lotte glanced at him uncomfortably.

'Hey, no weapons at the lunch table. I'll take that' Ashlyn suddenly ordered, as she pulled Lotte's arm out of her pocket and quickly snatched the pepper spray.

'No, I need it!' Lotte argued, suddenly panicked.

'Have you still got the blade strapped to your-'

'Relax, I never use it anyway' Lotte said, reluctantly sitting opposite Nick and taking no notice of the empty seat beside her, which she placed her bag on.

'At least I got the pepper spray. That was strong enough to blind three guests!' Ashlyn exclaimed, as she threw it into her own bag and sat down next to Nick, grabbing his hand. Lotte looked at them together. It was just wrong. She still had no idea how on earth it had happened. They didn't match. Whatever power came with their hookup over a year ago, it was really something.

'Hey, don't kill me, but would you mind moving your bag?'

Lotte suddenly jumped as she spun around to see him. The older brother. The one she'd attacked at the party. Oh great, Ashlyn was setting her up for the apology tour again.