RUN!

8. White Mustang

   Song: White Mustang by Lana Del Rey

     
       5pm sharp? Lee and I get there 4:30, talk about punctuality. He stops us to get bagels because of his "drying ATP" but we still get to the park before Reyna, I guess. She may be lurking around watching us but we didn't exchange photos, only colours of our clothing.

"So, 4,5005 unread messages huh?" Lee ventures into the thought I'd been ignoring. He runs a hand through his dark sleek hair and adjusts his glasses.

"We've got to read those messages," he continues.

"I don't think so, if we do many people will think Avery's fine and start sharing false information. Or they'd think we're hackers."

"Well I hope Reyna's able to explain why the school recluse has so many people on her chat list. I thought she was quiet."

"Avery was quiet." For a moment I think I'm the one who said it but my lips have been sealed shut. Lee and I swivel our heads around to find the source of the voice.

"I'm assuming you're Adonis King," she leers at Lee, who's face turns red immediately.

"Do I look like someone who texts creepy messages? I'm Min-ho, he's Adonis King." I know he's being factual but the way he says it makes me feel like he's throwing me under the bridge.

Reyna Diaz turns her leering look to me, fixing her bright blue eyes at me. Her hair is a mess of long curls that can't seem to stay in one place and her matching shirt and sweatpants leave a lot to be imagined. Even in the oversized fit her hourglass shape is well accentuated. Beyond her striking beauty however, is distress. Judging from the dark circles forming under her eyes I don't think she's had good sleep in the last 3 days.

"Hi Reyna. Nice to meet you?" I try but she rolls her eyes.

"I've got two 12 year olds waiting for me back at home, make this quick."

I open my mouth to speak but Lee beats me to it.

"How about we reduce the tension first eh? Have a seat Reyna, bagels– do you want some bagels?"

Reyna rolls her eyes at Lee before shaking her head. "How do you two know Avery? She never mentioned you."

"Technically we don't know Avery, we just so happened to be bent on finding her," I clarify.

"Am I supposed to believe that you would bother yourself to find her laptop and diary just for the sake of goodness?"

"I'm trying to prove them wrong okay. The kids at school, our neighbors, they all think Avery ran away because she's depressed. Some think she went with a boy or something along that line. I don't think she'll willingly leave her mum alone. I think she's been kidnapped."

"I think so too but how are you going to prove that? And even if it is true that she's been kidnapped how on Earth are we going to find her?"

Lee dutifully raises Avery's diary.

"Perhaps it's far fetched but we believe this is an internal matter. Avery was disturbed because of someone and this could be the same person who's kidnapped her."

"How did you get her diary?" Reyna ignores me, narrowing her eyes at the book.

"She forgot it in her locker. And her mum gave us her laptop and her password," Lee replies.

"You wouldn't be able to understand most of Avery's chats." It's like a dare.

"Perhaps not," I concede.

"I'll help you as much as I can on two conditions."

"Whatever you say."

"The first condition is that we work together, meaning that I will be privy to anything and everything you both are privy to and I will not be used merely as an informant. The second is that you only read Avery's messages with me. She might not be here but this is still invasion of privacy."