Is This Safe?

Chapter 6

~Present~
"They left me."

After sliding the key to room 209 into my pants pocket, I walked down the long hallway to the elevator. Where were the others? Surely they hadn't left without me. Pressing the button to the elevator, I crossed my arms as I paced back and forth. Why was I so anxious all of a sudden? Maybe it was just because I had "stolen" the key to a room. Or maybe it was the fact that there was no one around. Or maybe it was because the elevator was super slow to rise.

Or maybe it was just me.

Pacing back and forth past the elevator, I expected the doors to open anytime, but it never did. Maybe it was broken? Titling my head around the corner to see if anyone was around, the elevator door dinged while opening.

"Well, it's about time."
I mutter to myself. As you can tell, I'm not a very patient person. Pressing the button to the first floor, I lean my back on the railing. I wonder what my friends were thinking? Surely they wouldn't leave without me. I wonder if I annoy them when I abruptly stop to investigate something? Surely they must! Reaching behind, my fingers graze the room key again.

It's still there.

Sighing with relief, I try to control myself with bursting energy. Why was the room key on the floor? Maybe someone had dropped it while entering. Surely they must know how to be more careful! Someone could have taken it, enter their room and perhaps steal their belongings! Or in extreme measures--kill them.

"Well."
I cross my arms just as the doors opened. "They can't now because--I have it."

Spotting my friends instantly, I notice their backpacks are facing me while huddled over together.

The cookie cart. I should have known.

"Hey guys, sorry for the wait."
I come up behind them ever so hesitantly.
"Are those go good?"
My fingers point to the delicious fresh chocolate chip cookies that looked like they had just been taken out of the oven.

"Where have you been?"
Chelsea completely overlooked my question.

"Sorry."
I managed to squeak out. Think fast, think fast! I was going to say I had forgotten my wallet, but I don't have a key to the room so that wouldn't be very logical
I did catch myself though.
"I was just staring at some peeling paint on one of the walls."
I manage to finish without too much trouble.
Chelsea seemed satisfied with my answer when Ann turns to me,

"These are so good!"
She says in between a mouthful. Melted chocolate stained her fingertips as she wiped her hands on a napkin before depositing it in the trash can beside the cart.
"You should try one."

"Thanks."
I say before watching Maggie finish off her cookie.
"But I'm not really hungry. Will they be out later?"

"Yeah, they should be."
Ann answered me.

"Yeah, well, we have shopping to do so let's go."
Chelsea seemed to have ants in her pants when she headed out the hotel door without us.

Sighing, I fix my backpack into a more comfortable approach,
"Come on, we can't leave her too."

"Taxi!!"

***

"Oooh! How does this look?"
Chelsea tried on a sparkly silver headband as she stared at herself in the mirror.
"Or this one?"
She tried on a black sparkly one.

"No, silver suits you better."
Maggie told her while inspecting both colors.

"Did we have to go to a girly store?"
I groan as I walk back and forth the small store in the mall.