Restoring Hope

25. they got her❤️‍🩹

Power P.O.V

(Flashback to the day Kaliyah was kidnapped).

I finish up my paperwork for today and stand up to make my way to Kaliyah. I haven't seen her all day.

We've been spending a lot of time together and I'm planning on asking her out on another date.

I neatly put my papers in their assigned files and make my way towards my in-home library because I was told she was in there.

On the way to the library, I pass the kitchen where Jasmine is standing, trying to successfully throw m&m's in Hope's mouth as she sits on the countertop.

I look around the kitchen and let out a loud sigh, catching their attention, "I hope y'all plan on cleaning my kitchen up."

"She did it," Hope says while chewing on m&m's. I raise an eyebrow at the flour covering my kitchen, and also the flour on Jasmine and Hope clothes. "We were trying to make chocolate chip m&m's cookies until Hope had the bright idea to start throwing flour," Jasmine says.

Hope turns to her and starts pointing her finger at her as they start going back and forth. I roll my eyes and turn back to my task of getting to Kaliyah. I roll my eyes again when I hear the two following me, while also still bickering.

I turn around and shush them as we get closer to the library, knowing Kaliyah will get distracted from her reading if she hears people talking.

I think she has been on the same chapter for a couple of days now. I know this because the last few times we spent time together, she would lean against me to read, and every time the page number was the same, and so was the "Chapter 25" heading at the top of the page.

She'll zone out. She'll start reading and then I notice her eyes get distant as she stares blankly at the page, most likely just in her head thinking about things that I have yet to ask her about.

As we near the library we hear sniffling and the three of us pause at the entrance as we see Kaliyah and Justin hugging. My jealousy instantly kicks in as I cross my arms and clear my throat.

Is it even valid for me to be jealous? I mean I know I haven't asked her to be my girlfriend yet but I plan on it. Tonight, when I ask her to go on our 6th date with me.

My glare is set on Justin as Kaliyah speaks up, "Oh...hiiii," she says shyly and awkwardly.

I quickly take in her appearance and I unwillingly look up from her chest as I notice she isn't wearing a bra underneath her off-shoulder sweater.

"What's going on?" I ask, my eyes narrowed while flitting between her and Justin.

She quickly glances at Justin before looking back to me, "Nothing, what're y'all up to?" She asks while looking at Hope and Jasmine, undoubtedly seeing them covered in flour.

"Why were y'all hugging?" I ask, honestly getting a little impatient and agitated. "Because." She says. I give her a few seconds to see if she would finish her sentence but instead she dismisses it and starts saying something else.

"Anyways, I have to use the restroom, so if you guys will excuse me, I will be leaving now," she says while putting her little page holding paper thingy in her book and tucking the book under her arm and making her way towards the door.