Wonderland

❄B44❄ I Don't Deserve It

Chapter Forty-Four

Brayden's POV

I Don't Deserve It

December 8

I was a few seconds from falling asleep when I was jolted awake by someone knocking relentlessly on my door. I groggily checked the time on my phone and was dismayed to find that it was only two in the morning.

"Must be one of your friends," I huffed, snuggling deeper into my blankets.

"Must be James," Kane said, unhappily. I heard him get out of his bed and unlock the door.

Then, "Is Brayden here?"

I suppressed a groan of annoyance when I recognized the voice. It was not James--or any of Kane's other friends for that matter.

"Brayden...?" Kane said, pretending to sound confused.

"I know he's in there," Isabelle growled. I heard her push him aside and storm into the room. I let down a nervous gulp, fearing what she was going to do to me.

Yanking aside my covers, she slapped me upside the head.

"Hey! Fuck!" I sat up and rubbed my head, wincing in pain. That girl could throw a hit. "What was that for?"

"Where's Heather?" she demanded, cutting right to the chase.

"Heather?" I looked at her, alert. "What's wrong, Isabelle?" My heart rate immediately shot up, fear spreading through my body.

"She's not returned a single one of my texts, and when I called her, her phone was turned off. I don't know where she went, but it's two in the morning and she's not here. You have to help me find her, Brayden." Isabelle sounded hysterical. "She never told me she would be going out, and I didn't bother to ask her because I thought she was at Ian's Domain."

"Like I would know where she is," I said, getting out of bed. "She hasn't talked to me in over a week."

"But you've known her for so long! You must know her better than I do. Where do you think she would be? It's raining cats and dogs out there! Why would she be out in a weather like this?"

"I don't know," I said, truthfully.

"We need to hurry."

"Do you want an extra hand?" Kane offered.

"The more the better," Isabelle said. "But we have to hurry."

"I know," I snapped. "I heard you the first time."

Within ten minutes, the three of us were piled into a rental car, driving across the neighborhood for Heather. Isabelle assumed she'd be somewhere close by, but after more than an hour of scouring the residential streets and shops for her, I started to wonder if she'd even be somewhere close to campus. Knowing Heather, if she wanted to get away and be by herself for a while, she'd be somewhere further away. Knowing how much she loves the outdoors, I started to wonder that maybe she might be at a park.

"Guys, change of plans," I said, making a sharp right and heading towards the freeway.

"What?" Isabelle said, glaring at me. "We've not even searched the neighborhood entirely!"

"You think she'd want to hang around a neighborhood at two in the morning? No, I'm quite certain she's at a park," I explained.

"Slow down!" she squeaked, when I abruptly changed lanes on the freeway.

I ignored her and went full speed. I was growing increasingly worried. Who knows what Heather might be up to at a time like this? What if she injured herself? What if she attempts suicide?