RED: Welcome To Fayetteville | Complete ✔️

Chapter 57: The Arrival

Evelyn flinched and opened her hand. Natalie was standing so close to Evelyn that it landed on her feet. Natalie and Evelyn were about the same height, but with the determination and intimidation seeping from Natalie's eyes and into Evelyn's, Natalie seemed four feet taller.

Evelyn grabbed her side and gritted her teeth. "What's in the bag, Natalie?"

"My medicine. I just don't trust people anymore, okay?" Natalie snapped as she snatched her bag off the ground and onto her shoulder.

Natalie turned and walked to the front porch of the lake house. Evelyn stood at her car holding her wound where Natalie jabbed her fingers. She had a second thought...

Do I just turn around now? Do I just leave her here?

She pulled her phone from her pocket and texted Derrick.

Please get here soon. I miss you, and I don't know what has gotten into these people.

She didn't want to scare Derrick... but she wanted him here for her.

Natalie took a deep breath before opening the front door. She didn't knock. Evelyn did the same... took a deep breath, marched up the stairs, and walked through the open front door and shut it behind her.

"Hey, you two!" Adam said from the kitchen. He had a red and white apron on. He loved to cook for a pastime, but he was wearing this as a joke.

Natalie put on a fake smile and chirped. "Hey! How are you!? It looks like you're cooking us something great!"

"Oh, I am—" Adam and Natalie continued their conversation over the granite countertop. Natalie slid her shoes off and slung them into the shoe pile in the corner, but didn't set her bag down.

Kathrine and Zach sat at the other granite countertop holding hands. They sat on cushioned, wooden stools. They turned and started conversation with Evelyn.

"Hey, Eve!" Zach started.

"Hey," Evelyn wasn't trying to hold back as much as Natalie. She stood behind Natalie at an angle. Kathrine noticed the way Natalie and Evelyn were awkwardly not acknowledging each other, but she didn't say anything.

"Love the matching socks," Evelyn pointed to Zach and Kathrine's feet. Evelyn's phone buzzed in her pocket, but she didn't check it yet.

Adam's cooking was not only pretty, but it smelled delicious. His chicken was just right, and the smell was filling the entire kitchen.

"The food smells great, Adam." Kathrine let go of Zach's hand and leaned over the granite.

"Thank you! It's rotisserie."

"...and it smells good?" Kathrine asked.

"Well, I'm an expert... I know how to season my chicken."

Kathrine looked over at Zach talking to Evelyn and thought of the real reason they're even here. "Where's Derrick?" she asked.

Zach perked up and turned towards the group. "Yeah, where is he?"

Evelyn pulled her phone from her pocket and saw Derrick's response.

I'm really sorry... I just don't think I can make it.

Evelyn moved over to the tan loveseat and dropped down on her phone.

I may need you for a ride...

Yes, she drove and would explain that later... but she wanted him there, so she lied.

"Jasper would have loved to take your picture right now... I wish he was here..." Zach said.

It's true, Jasper would have taken so many pictures already... and the thing is, although it's just them standing around and having small talk, Jasper would have made this place look like a million bucks with his pictures. He was an expert. He was so talented, and he was missed...

Everyone got silent, but not in a bad way. They all just took a moment to think about how different it would be if Jasper was here. They miss him... but RED got him. Adam turned back to the chicken and had his back to the group.

Natalie tightened her grip on her bag and stepped down the hall into the bathroom. She locked the door behind her and slammed her bag on the sink counter. She grabbed the cold zipper and slid the blue bag open. She reached inside and felt the handle of her pistol. She slid it into the back of her jeans... just in case...

**Will RED pay a visit? Is RED already there? Will Natalie have to use her gun?

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