Laine Transformation

Chapter Nine

I wake up early to a text from Darren asking about the details of last night's exhibit. I sugar coat the news that I've made a small amount of progress by telling him I have a couple of leads. I can feel the pressure he's sending over the messages.

I take a shower around 1:30 once I've given up staring at my computer with nothing more to go off of. I entertain the idea of researching Potter but it leaves a bad feeling in my gut.

I can't help but continue to think about Potter's promise. I barely know him and I have so much riding on trusting him. I look at my phone and see a message from him at 2:50.

"Running a little late. I was running errands earlier and traffic's' terrible. I'll be there in twenty minutes." Friday's traffic in the city is always unpredictable and it gives me twenty more minutes to obsess over perfecting my hair and makeup.

I put on a loose knitted tank top and a pair of blue jeans, cuffed at the bottom. As I finish putting on earrings and a couple finishing touches I hear my phone go off. It must be Potter calling. I pick the phone up without paying attention to the caller i.d.

"Hello?" I say with an upbeat tone. I'm so excited for my date I can't contain it.

"Hey, did you get my flowers?" The voice asks on the other end. I almost drop the phone when hearing it. I choke at the idea of responding to Killian.

"How did you find out where I live?" I bark at him and he laughs to me.

"What are you doing tonight? I want to come over or maybe we can get dinner." Before I can respond there's a knock at my door. I'm hoping it's Potter.

"Im busy and I don't want to talk to you. Don't come here anymore, I mean it." I yell right before hanging up the phone. I straighten my shirt and open the door where Potter is standing, holding a bouquet full of carnations.

"You got me flowers?" I say it like a question as he hands them to me. I let him inside while I get my purse and pull my boots on. I've always liked carnations.

"The photography on the wall is great, did you take these?" I catch him staring at all my framed miscellaneous photos. The majority of the photos have me in them.

" No, my friend Billie's the photographer. She's really talented." I explain "I think how she simplifies a lot of moving parts but focuses in on one is impressive."

"That and she's been lucky to find a beautiful muse to make it easy." He says while pointing to a picture she took of me. My hair's blowing in the wind and I'm sitting on a graffiti wall with vines all around me.

I follow him out my front door and lock it behind me. " So where to?" I ask.

"That is a surprise." He tells me. I groan as he puts his arm around me.

"I hate surprises." I complain. "I'm going to just trust a stranger to take me mysterious place and hope I don't get murdered. Sounds like a place." I tease him and nudge his arm.

We take the train a few stops north. Its doors open and there's music blasting from a speaker. It's a madhouse full of people squished in like sardines.

"Come on!" He insists. Potter grabs my hand and pulls me through the crowd of people getting off the train.

We turn down a street after exiting the station and weave through crowds of people, mostly families. I look up to the end of the street and in front of me is a festival with lit up carnival rides and food stands all over. I giggle at the surprise. It seems like high school.