Crossing the Line

Chapter Five

"Why does everything want to give us a heart attack?!" Asiyah exclaimed; her grey eyes scouring the park for the source of the call; her heart beating a million times per second. Everyone calmed down a little when a movement in front of them caught their eyes - Elena.

She was running across the road, approaching them with a glare on her face, as usual.

"Hey, Elena, what's up?" Nikolai asked her casually as she came to a stop before them. He was the only one unfazed by her annoyance - which their friendly waves and smiles only increased.

"Don't pull that innocent act with me," she scolded, her eyes burning into his. Even though she was only a centimetre or two shorter than him, she was still quite intimidating. "Why the fuck didn't you answer your phone? Dad must've called, I don't know, a thousand times, and now he's worried sick, and made me come get you."

"I didn't get any calls - is everything okay?"

"We're all fine. But since it's been three hours and you're not back, he thought something had happened to you-"

"Three hours? We're on time..."

She blinked at him, and let out a long sigh; all her steam seemed to have gone. "Can't you read time? It's five thirty, idiot."

"But Miki's alarm went off just ten minutes ago-"

"Just get inside," she deadpanned. They filed past her, grimaces cemented on their faces as an air of awkwardness settled around them. MIki, being the polite one, apologised as she walked past - she hated people being angry.

"Jesus, is it that time of the month or something?" Richard muttered, glancing back to the blonde girl. Asiyah had to resist saying something, balling her fists. He wouldn't respond well to a rant, and another argument was not what they needed.

"No, she's usually like that," Nikolai stated, opening the front door as they arrived back at his place. He checked the time on his phone while everyone walked past. "See? Three fifteen. What was she on about?"

"Mine says the same," Bonibell added, slipping her phone back into her pocket. "And who knows? Isn't she always on about something?"

The group went straight into the living room, putting their bags down on the carpet. Asiyah and Miki flopped down onto one of the plush lounges, enjoying sinking into the white fabric. This place to them was like a second home, they'd been here so many times. Richard lounged on the one farthest away from everyone, letting his feet rest on the coffee table. The other person who'd never been here before, Bonibell, stood beside Nikolai at the doorway, in a mix of awkwardness and manners. The girls made room for her between them, but she didn't move until Nikolai encouraged her to sit down.

"We're back!" he shouted, before walking through a door on the right side of the room, to the study. He turned the computer on, and plugged the camera into it. He reentered the living room at the same time his father did, the latter having a relieved look on his face. Bonibell and Richard were bracing themselves for a yelling match and wondered why the others were so calm.

They did not know Ilya Lipovsky at all though, for instead of yelling, he asked in a nearly breathless voice if they were all okay. Upon receiving positive answers all around, he turned to Nikolai, and, just as Elena had done, asked why he hadn't answered his calls.

"Oh, you actually did call me?" the boy asked, eyebrows raised. "I thought Elena had made that up... I didn't get any calls."

"'Cause there was no reception in there," Richard added. "We may as well have been out in the bush or something," he finished with a slight scowl.