The Stalker's Game

Chapter Thirty-Five: Concern and Relief

Lucas's POV:

As Mia and I made our way to lunch, we both stopped in our tracks when we saw Sarah sitting alone at our usual table. It wasn't like Lena to be late or absent, and a sinking feeling hit me. I exchanged a worried glance with Mia before walking over to join Sarah.

"Where's Lena?" I asked, hoping for an answer that would put my mind at ease.

Sarah shook her head, her expression mirroring my concern. "I don't know. She didn't show up this morning."

We all sat there in silence, each of us lost in our thoughts. I couldn't help but wonder if Ethan had done something to her. That guy always gave me a bad vibe, and seeing him sit with Lena yesterday only fueled my suspicion. What if something had happened?

The silence at our table was deafening, and the usual light-hearted chatter felt miles away. None of us felt much like talking. The tension hung over us like a cloud as lunch dragged on, each minute feeling longer than the last. I kept scanning the cafeteria, half-expecting Ethan to make some smug appearance, but he was nowhere to be seen.

When lunch finally ended, I headed to my last class, but I couldn't stop thinking about Lena. My mind raced with possibilities, wondering if she was okay. The whole day felt off, and I just wanted some kind of answer.

As the end of class finally came, I made my way to the gym for practice. My thoughts were still clouded, but when I saw Sarah rushing out of the gym in a hurry, it caught my attention. I asked the coach where she went, hoping it wasn't anything serious.

"She went to drop off Lena's homework," the coach said casually.

I let out a sigh of relief, feeling the weight lift off my chest. Lena was okay. Mia came over, and I told her the news. We both felt a little more at ease knowing that it wasn't something serious.

Mia's POV:

Heading to lunch with Lucas, I felt a knot form in my stomach. Something didn't feel right. When we saw Sarah sitting alone, it only made me more anxious. We hurried over, and when Lucas asked where Lena was, my heart sank at Sarah's response.

"I don't know," she said quietly.

I hated the silence that followed. It wasn't like Lena to just disappear without saying anything. The thought of Ethan doing something to her crossed my mind, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. He'd done things before, and I wouldn't put it past him to hurt her.

We sat there, barely speaking, each of us wrapped up in our own worries. The entire lunch felt like a blur, and the absence of Lena weighed heavily on us. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, and I kept looking over my shoulder, half-expecting Ethan to show up and act like nothing was happening.

When lunch ended, I went to my last class, but my mind wasn't there. I kept thinking about Lena. Was she hurt? Had something happened between her and Ethan?

It wasn't until practice that I finally got some relief. Lucas told me that Lena was fine and that Sarah had just gone to drop off her homework. The knot in my stomach loosened, but I still couldn't shake the unease. Something felt off, and I couldn't ignore that feeling. I just hoped whatever was going on with Lena wasn't something worse.

Ethan's POV:

Morning classes dragged on, but my mind was already set on lunch. I couldn't wait to see Lena again, to talk to her, to continue making her comfortable around me. But when I arrived at the cafeteria and didn't see her, a knot of worry formed in my chest. I scanned the room, expecting her to walk in at any moment, but all I saw were her friends sitting without her.

She wasn't there.

My heart started pounding. Where was she? What if something had happened to her? What if she had left Ashwood without saying anything? The thought of her being out of my reach sent a wave of panic through me. I didn't want to be dramatic, but I couldn't shake the anxiety that settled in.

I couldn't focus on lunch after that. I walked out, my mind racing. Where could she be? The idea that Lucas, Mia, or Sarah might know more than I did infuriated me. How dare they be closer to Lena than I was? The lunch bell rang, and I headed to my last class, still thinking about her, about where she might be.

As I made my way through the halls, I noticed Sarah receiving a stack of papers from someone. I didn't know what they were, but the sight of it only added to my frustration. I had no idea what was going on, and it was driving me crazy.

During class, I couldn't focus on anything other than Lena. I needed to know if she was okay. As soon as class ended, I rushed to my locker, then headed toward the gym, hoping I could find some kind of answer. That's when I saw Sarah rushing out, and I decided to follow her from a distance.

When I reached Lena's house, I spotted her from across the street. Relief washed over me like a wave. She was still here. She hadn't left me. A smile crept onto my face. She was okay, and that was all that mattered.

Now that I knew she was fine, I could refocus on my plan. Soon, Lena would be mine—no matter what it took...