Help

Hunter

Help? Stupid autocorrect. I think she meant to say "halt" It's our codeword for when one of us is too tired and needs to sleep. Well I guess I'll see her tomorrow. The sun was beginning to set and I knew I wouldn't be able to get to sleep anytime soon. I decided to hang out with Claire that night. I called her as soon as I got out of the shower.

"Hey Claire"
"Well well, the prodigal sun returns." I could hear the smile in her voice as she was spoke.
"I missed you too dear. It's been far too long."
"So what's with the sudden call?"
"I just wanted to see if you were free tonight?"
"My my is this a date? Hunter you bad boy, I wonder what Serena would say." I could feel the sarcasm pouring out of her.
"Haha, we both know it's not a date Claire. I just miss you that's all" I think she knew something was wrong with me and I just needed some company.
"Sure thing, meet you at Brooklyn in half an hour?"
"Alright then Claire bear, see you then.

We continued talking for another minute or so before hanging up. Claire was cool. I get why Serena likes her too. She looks pretty beautiful. She's witty and funny but she also knows when to get serious. She's not just an airhead she's actually a pretty great friend, Come to think of it, I do have some pretty good friends, Deirdre is always there for me when I need her and can always make me smile, Hannah is my bundle of joy who can make my day instantly better and I guess most of my friends were like that, people I couldn't live without, people who actually enhance my life. Now my thoughts are going on a tangent. I need to hurry and get dressed. It's a twenty minute cycle to brooklyn.

I got dressed as quickly as I could. I threw on my favourite pair of red chinos, a white shirt and my creamy beige cardigan. I hopped on my bike and went whizzing past the streets of pretoria, ah I know I've only been gone for a week but I miss these streets. I took the long scenic route to see so easy of my friends places. I entered kingshighway and saw Loraine's house. I continued cruizing down the slight decline, there's Malfoy's house. I continued riding as fast as I could down lynwood road. I took a left into rope street and continued that pay, crossing Justice Muhammad street. Past groenkloef gym and finally I arrived at brooklyn just as Claire called me.

"Where are you?"
"Sorry, I took the long way here, but, I'm in the parking lot."
"I'll be waiting at Cuppucinos then. Should I order anything for you?"
"Sure, could you please order a white hot chocolate for me."
"Alright see you just now."

I took a slow jog go Cuppucinos and saw Claire sitting waiting for me. Wow. She was gorgeous, her hair framed her face so wonderfully, her lips were full and her eyes just drew everyone in. I honestly wonder how she's still single. Aside from Serena she's one of the most perfect girls I know. She still hadn't noticed me so I tiptoed till I was behind her and dropped my voice as low as it could go while covering her eyes. "Mwahaha," I began," I am called evil Ariana Grande." It's something I've been doing when I'm bored, creating random characters.
She played along and said," Oh no if only Hunter were here to save me" I let out a quiet laugh and smirked. I sat down opposite her after giving her a big hug.

I never grow tired of Claire. She's too funny. We sat there sipping hot chocolate and talking about complete rubbish until about nine. We decided we'd catch the 9:30 movie for minions. We were gonna watch some cheesy afrikaans movie but it wasn't out yet. We got our snacks and popcorn and made our way into the movie. During the movie Claire and I made fun of each other and laughed a lot and compared each other to the weirdest characters we saw. It was a really exciting movie to watch, sure it wasn't an action packed movie but it was great in its own cute way.

Soon after the movie finished Claire and I began walking towards her house, she stayed very close. We began talking about the movie and how much we enjoyed it. I started telling her about my trip to Nkwe, first all the happy and fun things and then finally I told her about Kyra. A single tear began forming. Claire enveloped me in a soothing hug.

"It's okay Hunter, it's not your fault."
"It is! She was there, right there, holding my hand."

Tears began streaming down my eyes. Claire looked at me and told me I should go speak to Rena. I began telling her that she was busy. "Busy with what?" She asked. " Well, I don't really, she sent me a message which said help, but I think she meant halt, it's our codeword for when one of us is too tired." Claire thought about this for a moment,I could see the cogs begin to turn in her mind and suddenly she asked me," what if she needed your help"

"Claire, you know as well as I do how strong and capable Rena is."
"Well I don't know how strong she is now, She's been a bit weird lately."
"Weird how? "
She's been paranoid."
"Paranoid how?"
"She's been acting like her mother. She thinks she's being followed, at first I thought she was just looking for attention but now I'm not so sure."

I could feel a pit growing in my stomach. Being followed? She thinks she's being followed. It makes sense now. "Help" the word kept replaying over and over in my mind. I didn't know what to do? What if she's in danger. I could feel my heart throbbing and suddenly adrenaline kicked in.
I ran. I ran as fast as my legs could cary me. I felt my lungs burn and my kegs cramp up but I didn't stop. I couldn't stop and as I ran my mind kept mulling over one word. "Help"