Code and Conduct

1-800-MISSING

Finally, it was Wednesday and we were going to Disney as soon as they opened. When I was younger, my dad and I would go every year, at least twice a year. My mom always stayed home because she thought it was extremely childish to go to amusement parks based on a mouse. However, I absolutely loved Disney World. My favorite part was always Animal Kingdom and Epcot. Nikolai finally revealed to me that he had never been to Disney, so today was going to be fun. I was ecstatic to show him all of my favorite places and rides. Emmeline and I were in the bathroom getting ready for the day. "Don't wear too much makeup, you'll sweat it off. Florida is like a boiling pot, always hot and humid. Oh and put your hair up, you don't want to have a heat stroke." I was rambling to Emmeline. "Guys! Get in the living room, now." Demitri burst through the door to the bathroom and urged us downstairs. When we got downstairs, we found a distressed Nikolai and the television turned to the news. Not only was it on the news, it had a huge picture of all four of us that I had taken at school a couple of weeks ago. "Emmeline Brookes, Demitri Barron, Alethia Cantin, and Nikolai Davidson have all gone missing. They have been gone for about five days now. None of the teens are answering their phones and all of them have been inactive on social media networks since they have gone missing. These teens are from Manhattan, New York and they are very missed. If you sight these children anywhere, please call 1-800-MISSING." the reporter on the news station recited. "Shit shit shit shit shit shit!" I screamed when I saw the news. Nikolai came behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. "Calm down, baby girl." he whispered. I was so pissed. My parents never paid much attention to me anymore but all of a sudden they finally cared? No. I wasn't going back. They could see me in a year or two, maybe that would do them good.. I couldn't help myself as tears pricked my eyes. I knew it was weakness showing through but I couldn't stop the tears from flowing down my face and ugly sobs from coming from my mouth. I turned around and buried my face into Nik's chest. He rubbed my back and my hair, attempting to calm me. "Sh sh sh sh." he whispered. All the while, Demitri and Emmeline were staring at us as if they didn't know whether to leave the room or not. "I-I'm sorry g-guys. I just c-can't deal right n-now. I'm overw-whelmed." I sobbed out at last. They both gave an understanding but confused look and exited the room towards their bedroom. I continued to cry until Nikolai pulled my chin up so I had to look him in the eye. "Listen, princess. We're gonna be okay. They won't find us. Let's just say my parents thought someone actually bought this house from them. When in reality, it was a dummy I paid quite well to 'buy' it so I could have it for myself. They never knew. Okay?" Nikolai explained. I breathed in a ragged breath, trying to calm myself. "O-okay." I breathed out. "Alethia?" he said, his eyebrows knitting together and his blue eyes looking longingly at mine. "Yes?" I responded. "I... I love you, Alethia." I took a sharp breath. I wasn't sure I had heard what I thought I did. "W-what?" I asked. "I love you." he repeated. "I love you too, Nikolai." I answered and he quickly kissed me. "My beautiful, beautiful girl. I never officially asked you this.. will you be my girlfriend?" he asked. I giggled. "Of course, my love." I answered.

   Two weeks went by rather quick with no more sign of us on the news, as we watched vigilantly each day. Demitri and Emmeline seemed to become even more attached at the hip the longer we stayed cooped up in the house. We postponed our Disney World trip until we had at least a months worth of us not being on the news even once. During the day, we'd get in the pool in the back yard or we'd play tennis in the other side of the yard. It wasn't too awful staying at the house but Emmeline hadn't said much about her and Demitri and I was becoming immensely curious.

    "Emmy, come with me to play some tennis?" I asked her after breakfast one morning. "Ooh, doubles?" Nikolai asked, taking a large chunk of a blueberry muffin. "Hey! Asshole, that's my muffin!" I said, snatching it from his grip. I halfway smushed it in the process. "And anyway, no. I want to have girl time." I said, exiting the room with Emmeline in tow. We went up to mine an Nikolai's room and got dressed. "So, what do you want to talk to me about? I know you wouldn't normally give up a chance to be attached to Nikolai's hip. What's up?" she asked me while we were putting our hair up at the double vanity in the bathroom. "He told me he loves me." I said, looking at her to see her reaction. Her jaw dropped and she turned to me. "Nikolai Davidson said he loves you?!" she said, way too loud. "Shut up." I hissed at her. "Yes." I added. "O. M. G." she said, looking stunned. "Please stop being the most basic bitch possible." I sighed and she rolled her eyes. "That's not even what I wanted to talk to
you about." I said, slightly irritated. "What's going on with you and Demitri ?" I questioned. "Oh.. we hooked up... a couple times." She answered sheepishly as she grabbed her visor. "You know I understand the whole falling for a gang member thing but as your second in command, I have to warn you.. you two can not let this interfere in the affairs of the Elitists. Nik and I don't and you two don't. Got it?" I said seriously. "Got it." she said, exiting the room.

A/N: This chapter was somewhat crappy but I needed a filler type chapter. Sorry :(