The Unexpected

Chapter 15

(Sorry it's so short)

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Chapter 15

I sighed, pulling my legs over the arm of the couch. After watching Aaden drive off I went inside, sat down, and turned on the news.

I moved into a different position as boredom ate away at my will to get up. My legs draped over the top of the couch and my head hung off the seat. The news anchors were hanging upside down behind their desk, making it hard to read the words 'Boy Found Drowned In River Near Home'. Videos of crying family members flashed by along with a picture of the six-year-old. Not wanting to hear any more, I reached for the remote.

Just then another heading popped up, catching my eye and leaving my finger to hover over the 'off' button. I turned the volume up and righted myself in the seat.

"-found last Wednesday after disappearing for nearly four weeks.. Seventeen-year-old Bethany Taylor was reportedly seen at a local fast food restaurant only hours away from her hometown of Jacksonville, Georgia, the week before she appeared back at the door of her home."

The anchorwoman picked up the story. "As you would think, Bethany's parents are thrilled to have their daughter back. However, the cause of her disappearance remains a mystery. Officer McCoy was the leading investigator in Taylor's case." A video of McCoy played, where the officer gave evidence that pointed out that Bethany most likely ran away for the entire three-and-a-half-weeks. Why, he explained, was still being discussed.

A picture of Bethany popped up and I gaped at it. With her red-ish hair and gray-blue eyes, she could have been mistaken for my twin.

McCoy continued. "Here's what we know: After a fight with her boyfriend, Bethany Taylor disappeared for eighteen days. Since the boyfriend was the last to see Taylor, he was immediately taken into questioning but was deemed innocent with an concrete alibi. Taylor showed up at the front door to her house yesterday, unharmed and with no sign of having been held against her will. She won't tell anyone why she left, or to where, but assures her friend's and parents it was her choice to leave."

The reporter's voice came from behind the camera. "Thank you, officer. Up next is Robert Goulding with sports."

I switched off the television with two question bouncing around in my head. Was that the same Bethany that was being discussed in the storage room? and, most importantly: Was Aaden the boyfriend?

I decided to find out. I pulled my phone out of my pocket to call Aaden, thinking that it wouldn't kill anyone if I asked him a few questions. On the fourth try I gave up. He wasn't going to answer. I got up to fix something to eat, seeing as Rose wasn't getting home anytime soon.

What does she do in her spare time? I wondered as I looked through the fridge. I pushed the milk out of the way to find a container of leftover spaghetti. Bingo!

After re-heating the food I smiled down at the plate of steaming noodles. Spaghetti was my all-time favorite food, ever since I was little. While other kids were begging for those little dinosaur-shaped chicken nugget things, I was constantly craving spaghetti sauce. I know, weird. But that's how I was, and still am.

My phone chose that moment to beep. I perked up despite the fact it interrupted my dinner, hopeful it was Aaden, but my heart sank when I checked the message.

xAlec525x: S, you there?

I debated whether or not to reply; I mean, the last time I spoke to Alec it didn't go so well. My phone dinged again.

xAlec525x: What was up with the random riddle messages the other day?

I scrunched my eyebrows together, confused and angry, and typed out a response.

SL9: You mean the threatening riddle and repeated death wishes? I'm deleting your address.

xAlec525x: Wait, the what?! I didn't send any death threats, but you sent what looks like a one sided conversation about some Romeo and Juliet riddle.

I didn't reply.

xAlec525x: I swear, S, there's nothing else there.

I huffed, my finger hovering over the delete button.

SL9: Then how do you explain last night?

It took a second for him to respond.

xAlec525x: Wait, someone hacked my account! That's the only explanation; the hacker deleted the messages sent.

SL9: Idk... how can I trust you?

I bit my lip, not knowing what to think. I didn't even know Alec, how could I have trusted him in the first place? Apparently my judgment was seriously lacking, back then and even now.

xAlec525x: I promise you I didn't have anything to do with the threats, but I can't give you any reason to trust me.

SweetLover9: And that's supposed to make me feel better?

The doorbell rang.

xAlec525x: Wait, I said me, that being the keyword. However, I know someone you do know.

I hesitated at the door, looking between it and my phone.

xAlec525x: I hope you'll trust him, Ricki.

I opened it and was greeted by the last person I expected to see. He held up his phone, showing the exact same conversation I just had on his screen.

"Hey," Zach said.

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Cliffhanger! Mwa-ha...ha... *trails off when you all pull out guns*

Ah! *dives behind table* Please don't kill me! I- I'll hurry up with a new chapter, okay? In the mean time, do what the picture to the side says >>>> *sneaks away*