Complications

Chapter 23 - The Old Hedge

"So this entire thing has emerged from Keegan?" Ishmael asked, sipping his coffee quickly as he looked at me, as if he was taken aback by my stupidity. "No offence, but how thick can you get?"

"Oi!" I said defensively, nudging him. "He put up a convincing argument."

Ishmael rolled his eyes and laughed.

"Besides, some things he said were true anyway." I stated.

"What do you mean?" Ishmael asked, confused.

"Well, Mitchell does act fairly shady." I replied. "We've been dating for what? Over two months? And I've realised I really don't know that much about his personal life."

"It is his personal life." Ishmael replied shortly.

"I know but like still, wouldn't a bit of insight be good?" I asked rhetorically. "I care about him, I just wanna know if he's okay." 

"Yeah I guess." Ishmael replied, once again in short form.

"What's with the vague responses?" I blurted out, realising how obsessively crazy I sounded upon saying the words aloud and seeing Ishmael raise his eyebrow quickly.

"Just." He replied.

Okay yeah, fuck the obsessively crazy tone.

I wasn't letting this go that easily.

"Do you know what's going on with Mitchell aswell?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

Ishmael shuffled back in his seat, not responding.

"I said," I raised the serious tone in my voice. "Do you know what's going on with Mitchell?"

"Even if I did," Ishmael began. "It isn't my secret to tell."

I opened my mouth to retort, before Ishmael stood up and left the required money for the bill in the centre of the table, turning away.

"What are you just gonna leave me here hanging aswell!?" I shouted, drawing a few eyes to glance at me.

He carried on walking towards the door, before stopping, as if in realisation, and turning back to face me.

"You remember the old hedge you used to hang by at the far end of the park?" He asked, not making eye contact with me.

"By the dried up lake?" I responded.

He nodded subtly,

"Go there at 11."

"11pm. In this winter. In the fucking freezing cold!?" I shrieked.

"You said you care about Mitchell," He began, as I nodded in reply. "Go there at eleven then."

And so I was left once more.

But at least this time, I knew where I had to go next.

********

The gang and I eventually reunited at Rosalie's place, where I had to give a full detailed account of my whereabouts when I escaped.

"Eleven!? Hell no." Selina stated, shaking her head. "You seen the robberies going on in this area?"

"And all the dodgy drunkards walking about." Monika added. "Need I remind you that there's a pub like right opposite the park?"

"You'd be seriously stupid to consider going there alone." Selina said.

"Who said she was gonna be alone?" Rosalie asked. "I wanna see this."

"I don't!" I heard Angel whisper. "Wrestling's on at 11:30! And I'd much rather watch Roman Reigns than spend some time in a park with freaking every local creepy uncle Tony trynna get with a group of 16 year old girls."