Enchanted

Chapter 24

Nicolette

"Where's Sabrina?" I ducked a group of sophomore girls who were walking in a horizontal line in the middle of the hallway gossiping and giggling and a few other students who were walking with their heads down looking at their phones or books with headphones plugged in their ears.

"I was about to ask you the same question," Cedric replied as he struggled through the students from the opposite direction.

It was lunch break. Cedric and I have decided to go to Sabrina's place and check on her. I sat on the bench alone, eyeing my watch every minute or so, pleading for time to move faster. I called Sabrina last night but it went to voicemail. I tried texting her but the messages did not go through as well. I checked them in the morning, at intervals of every lesson until it was delivered during Chemistry class. However, she left them unread which worried me.

"Nicolette!"

"What?" I turned my upper body to the back, squinting my eyes from the Sun that was shining 45 degrees at me.

"I thought we're going to Sabrina's!" Cedric jogged towards me.

"Yeah, and I need to take the bus there," I answered reluctantly. Do you expect me to walk or fly over there? I kept the next sentence to myself because it was not the time to pick an unnecessary fight.

"That would take you longer. I can give you a lift." He didn't wait for me to think because I would most probably decline his offer. "Come on."

It took around 15 minutes car ride to get to the upper side of the town where Sabrina lived. I looked out of the window once I got into the passenger seat and allowed the same South Lake scenery to blind me from overthinking or looking over at Cedric who was behind the wheel and wondered what was he feeling.

"I texted and called her both days but she didn't reply," Cedric spoke out of nowhere.

"Same," I said. I glanced at him who was focusing on the road and changed the topic. "I'm sorry for how I treated you, Cedric."

He turned his gaze to me. Whatever I said sounded unbelievable to him as well as to me so I quickly added, "I forgive you and to be honest, I'm really happy that you dated Sabrina. You make her days so much better than I do." Just like how much you impacted Madeleine.

"Thank you. I appreciate it a lot" He beamed.

The suburban area was quiet during the working hours and we were relieved her aunt was not home so we could knock directly on the door.

"Sabrina! Are you inside?" I called out after knocking a few times. "I'm here with Cedric!"

Cedric was looking around because he never came here before. He had the address so he used the GPS to navigate us here. I was not used to the direction either as I seldom visit Sabrina.

We waited for a while until we heard faint footsteps coming from inside. The door lock clicked and Sabrina's pale face appeared through the gap. "Guys, what are you doing here?" Her voice was raspy like she had just woken up and had not spoken a single word.

"Oh my goodness, Sab!" I pushed the door widely opened and reached out to hug her. Her body was warm and I could tell she was having a fever. "We're really worried about you, do you know that?" I whispered into her ear.

"I'm sick, sorry." Her fatigued eyes met mine as she pulled back with all her strength.

"I got you food from the cafeteria," Cedric said while taking off his shoes before stepping into the threshold. "Chicken sandwich and a chocolate muffin." He held the paper bag in his hands higher.

We walked to the dining table and Cedric took out the food and place them on the table. We ate the same thing as Sabrina so she doesn't feel too awkward. I brought a glass of water to her from the kitchen, "No soda for you today." and she frowned.

There were no medicines in the cabinet nor the fridge so Cedric drove out to buy them. "Does your aunt know you have a fever?" I asked as I watched her chew the sandwich unappetisingly. She didn't want to eat anything but her stubbornness faded when Cedric convinced her like a certified doctor. "I woke up with my entire body aching like I was going to die. My aunt went out early today but I didn't plan on telling her either." she joked. Then, it was my turn to frown.

"Anyway, it's good to see you and Cedric getting along." She smiled. "I hope you're doing this for yourself, not me."

Of course, it's for you. And for Madeleine. I thought.

Sabrina told me about her conversation with her aunt. I felt remorseful for making her life more difficult and never trying to apprehend the burden she dealt with. We were both quiet for a while until Sabrina asked me for a favour, "I need you to help me find the key to my aunt's office."

"Why?"

"I think there's solid evidence about the agreement between my aunt and my parents."

"Don't do this, Sab," I begged her but it sounded more like a warning.

"But I need it! That is the missing puzzle in my life and I won't be complete until I find it."

"You don't need it. You just want it."

Cedric's car halted outside and we heard the beep after he pressed the car key. I was determined to steer the conversation to a lighter topic but Sabrina brought it up again when Cedric walked to the dining hall.

"Uh, so how am I supposed to help you?" Cedric was puzzled as he glanced at me who was shaking my head. Sabrina started to explain how she will sneak into her aunt's office after Cedric knocks on her door making small talk like asking for directions around the town. All she needs to do is to find the key and search the room when her aunt is not around. "It's really simple."

"Sabrina, I know you're a person full of ideas but invading other people's privacy is really not your thing."

"Now you're just going to side Nicolette?" She scoffed.

"No, no, you're taking my words wrongly. What I meant-" Cedric was cut off.

"You guys don't understand the situation I'm in!" She slowed down and whimpered. "It's not about being parentless but it's about having parents somewhere in the world but not knowing why they left you."

"Sabrina, the piece of information will be presented to you sooner or later. You just have to be patient." I stood up and walked towards her.

She looked up at me with distress. "What if it never happens? Then I lose this game?"

"You won't lose, I promise." I bent down and whispered into her ear. "In fact, you won because you've found the missing piece."