Beautiful Secrets

Take Out - Hunter

I start to head to the gym after calculus, but I turn back after realizing it was conditioning day for all the basketball players.

I could still here the speakers as I grabbed my gym bag to check my phone. An ass load of messages from  Cassie and Landen, appear on my screen.

As soon as I look up Cassie and Landen are in front of me looking out of breath.

"Have you seen Lia?" They say at the same time taking long breaths as they go.

I check my phone again. No text from her.

"She told me to tell you guys to meet her for Chinese at her house, she told me you would call it in because you know the best place." I recall looking at Landen.

They look at each other then back at me.

Did they think something happened to her?

"Do you guys need a ride?" I ask changing the subject.

"I can get one from Jake, you and Landen can pick up the food and I'll tell Andrea about meeting up."

Landen and I walk out into the fall air as he looks at his reflection in his phone to fix his hair.

We get to my car as I sit in the drivers seat. "Do you want me to call or you?"

I say as he looks up the Chinese food website.

"What should we get?" He asks me, we both take a second to think because it was obvious neither of us thought about it before. Landen calls the number and puts it on speaker looking at the menu from another screen. The person on the other end answers and Landen orders in one long strand of words.

The waiters response is cut off as I start the engine. Our town is pretty small so it wasn't too hard to find. As we walk in the air is filled with smells of oils and sauces, all around us were red and yellow lanterns and the waving cats that they always have. We go to the counter to meet a skinny short older woman, she doesn't say anything so we say our name, hand her the money and she gives us our food.

On our way to Lia's Landen changes the radio constantly and ends up stopping on a station we both like.

The door wasn't locked so we walked in to find to find Andrea and Cassie sitting on the couch, Andrea with coconut water and Cassie with a diet coke.

"What took you guys so long have you heard from Lia?" Andrea ask.

"No, is she not here?" Landen says.

Andrea and Cassie shakes their heads no and glance toward the food.

"Would it be bad if we ate without her?" Andrea asks yet we are already taking out the food handing out forks.

It's not long before Lia's brother comes in with his girlfriend. Looking at all of us his face changes.

"Where is Lia?" He asks

"Has she not talked to you?" Cassie says with hope in her voice.

"Why would I be asking you if she did?" This being the last thing he says before he walks to his room with Brook.