Protecting Zoey

Chapter 11: Zoey's Concern

Zoey was awoken early the next morning by the sounds of the birds happily chirping outside the window. The sounds of the birds usually woke her with a smile, but it was different this morning. She felt cold and she couldn't quite understand why. She looked beside her and saw Olivia curled up in a ball on one of the couch cushions and Mason nowhere to be seen.

She pushed herself off the couch and groggily made her way into the kitchen and dining room. Mason wasn't in either of the rooms and she felt her heart beat a little harder. She made her way upstairs and checked her bedroom, she wasn't sure if he would have moved up there in the night, but she had to check. She opened the door to see the bed still made and the window open as they left it the night before.

Zoey's stomach dropped, her concern building for Mason as she made her way back into the living room and sat beside Olivia. Zoey put her hand on Olivia's shoulder and shook slightly.

"Liv, wake up." She said softly but with a slight shake in her voice.

"Ugh." Olivia half mumbled and groaned as she buried her face further into the couch. "Go bother Mason, let me sleep some more it's still early."

"He's not here," Zoey replied as Olivia slowly lifted her head and sleepily looked around the living room.

"Where did he go?" Olivia asked with a yawn as she looked at Zoey with confusion before looking at the window. "What time is it? The sun is barely up."

"Just after 6:30," Zoey responded as she pulled out her phone.

"Your parents must have sent him home when they got back last night," Olivia said sure of herself. "I bet he went home to get some sleep; he was pretty tired when we got back."

"I figured he would have at least said goodbye," Zoey stated solemnly as she hung her head, she had gotten used to their hugs when they parted and felt strange not getting one last night.

"He probably didn't want to wake us up Zoe," Olivia said softly with a smile. "He seems to be pretty considerate like that right? I mean, it's not like we aren't going to see him again. He'll probably stop by sometime today, right?"

"I know but I just wanted to thank him for everything he's done," Zoey replied as she continued to look at the floor.

"What has he done?" Elizabeth's cold voice rang out through the living room. Zoey hadn't realized her mother had walked into the room and was glaring at the two of them.

"And what the hell are you wearing Zoey?" Elizabeth glared at Zoey's clothes, she never changed from the previous night and fell asleep on the couch.

Zoey's face had turned bright red, and her mouth dropped open. She'd never lied to her mother before and wasn't sure how to even begin as Olivia started to speak for her.

"He watched stupid movies and ate junk food with us," Olivia stated plainly. "We got dressed up to go out but he wouldn't let us so that was the compromise, he was a good sport about it."

"Good, you didn't need to be going out with all the deadbeats in this city, especially with whoever sent those letters still roaming free," Elizabeth said looking between the two of them. "Speaking of deadbeats what are you still doing here Olivia?"

"Oh, must have forgotten the time," Olivia replied with a smirk giving Zoey a hug and whispering. "Don't let the wicked witch get you down Zoe, call me if you need me."

"What did you say?" Elizabeth's voice rose slightly with each word as she glared at the two of them.

"Told her to have a good day, you as well Elizabeth," Olivia replied happily as she jumped up and made her way out of the living room.