Adam was fast asleep on the couch when Joshua walked into the living room. He was able to hear his light snores from where he was standing. A quick thought about all the things he might have been through for the past three years crossed his mind, and he sympathized for a moment before entering the kitchen. He lit the burner underneath the kettle, and went for a cup in one of the cupboards. He prepared coffee.
Before he was able to sit around the island, he heard a knock on the door. Adam slightly fidgeted as a result of the sound. The person knocked on the door once more and Adam was now fully awake. He quickly sat up on the couch.
"Josh--" He said, looking behind him. He had a worried expression on his face.
Joshua entered the living room.
"Are you expecting someone?" Adam whispered.
Joshua shook his head. He then walked towards the door and Adam quickly grabbed his arm.
"What?" Joshua asked quietly.
Adam simply shook his head with a 'don't open it' expression on his face.
"Joshua, come on! It's Sydney."
"It's my girlfriend." Joshua whispered.
Adam calmly exhaled, but was still a bit agitated. "No one can know that I'm here."
"I'll be right there!" He responded to her before facing Adam. He then nudged his head towards his bedroom; gesturing him to hide in there.
Adam rushed into his bedroom, and Joshua waited until he was inside before he approached the door and unlocked it. When he opened the door, he saw Sydney with furrowed eyebrows.
"Hey."
"Hey." He replied.
"Are you OK?" She asked in curiosity.
"Yeah. Sorry about that." He stepped aside and allowed her to enter. He then closed the door and approached her.
"You slept on the couch last night?"
"Ah--yeah, I was watching TV and I fell asleep there."
She slowly nodded.
"So--what's up?"
"You missed class yesterday."
"Yeah--" He trailed off, trying to come up with an excuse. "I came home after Anatomy and fell asleep. I forgot to set an alarm and I woke up pretty late so I didn't bother to attend. I was gonna call you but---I forgot that too."
Sydney lightly scoffed.
"I was really tired OK? I'm sorry."
She exhaled. "OK. Yeah. I was just worried."
"Well, I'm fine. See?"
"Yeah, I can see that now."
They stood there for a while in silence.
"So--is that it?"
"Wow, OK. Clearly you don't want me to be here."
"No I just---I have a lot of work to do, and I wouldn't want you to stay here and---be bored."
She sighed before nodding.. "OK." She then walked towards the door. "I'll see you at school then."
"Yeah I'll be there." He kissed her before she left. He then exhaled, and watched as Adam slowly came out of his room.
"That--was close."
"Yeah. Look, Joshua--I can't stay here."
Joshua shook his head. "What? Why not?"
YOU ARE READING
Redwood Diary: Book One
Mystery / ThrillerA high school student receives an anonymous email from someone claiming to know the whereabouts of her older brother; a brother she was told was dead. Her journey in finding out the truth unraveled other secrets about her life, along with her friend...
