The girl who saved my life (Red Queen fanfic)

Chapter 5

Kilorn

Where the hell has Mare gotten to this time? She knows I have to be back at the docks in half an hour. She's probably slept-in again, she's never been an early riser. Often she's out till past midnight, stealing from some unsuspecting drunkard on the their way home from the pub. I wish she would at least text to say she's going to be late, rather than leave me waiting around for her.

After fifteen more minutes of waiting I know she's not coming so I head back to the docks and finish my shift, deciding that I'll pop round to her house later to see if she's still there.

...

By the end of my shift I'm exhausted and reek of fish but I pay no mind to the smell, as Mare won't either, she's used to it after several years of me working at the docks. I climb the hundreds of stairs to her flat and knock on the door, expecting a disgruntled Mare answering the door and complaining that I woke her up, even though it's 2pm. Strangely though, nobody comes to the door. Where is she if she's not at home? She would have met me at the docks at the end of my shift if she was out.

I took my phone out of my pocket to see I had no recent calls or messages from Mare. Where could she be? I'm starting to get worried now, she would never leave me waiting for her at the docks if we arranged to meet. Something isn't right here. I decide to text Gisa to see if she knows where Mare is.

Within seconds I get a reply. I frown at the message on the screen. She hasn't seen her either. Okay let's not panic, she could just have lost track of time or something like that. You know how she gets caught up in her own world sometimes. Yeah that must be it.

I walk back to my flat after deciding that's where she'll end up going once she's realised that we were supposed to have lunch together. The best I can do is wait for her to turn up. I hope it's soon, I'm freaking out. I can't help it, but over the years I've developed feelings for Mare. I know she doesn't feel the same about me but I've always had this stupid fantasy that one day she'll reciprocate my feelings. Only I can be stupid enough to fall for my best friend who doesn't even see me as a possible boyfriend. The joys of being Friend-zoned. Sounds like a good name for my autobiography.

With that thought in mind I drift off to sleep, exhausted from my shift at the docks.

...

I wake up to someone furiously knocking on my door.

"Mare how many times have I told you that I can not afford to replace that door if you break it."

I open the door expected to see the bird's nest that Mare likes to call hair. However, instead I get the intimating sight of Mare's older brother Shade. He looks out of breath like he's just run a marathon.

"Shade, what are you doing here?" I ask puzzled as to why he's on my doorstep.

"Have you seen Mare? She didn't come home for dinner so I thought she'd be here."

"No I haven't seen her since yesterday. She was meant to meet me at the docks for lunch but she never showed." I frown feeling even more concerned than before.

"Well do you have any idea where she could be?" Shade sighed dejected that Mare wasn't with me.

"Your guess is as good as mine. You know how she likes to prowl the streets at night stealing from rich scum." I spit the last part out as I feel the familiar bitterness rising up at the thought of the wealthy parading around in their jewel encrusted clothes, while we on the outskirts struggle to make ends meet.

"I'd wait until morning to see if she turns up. If she's not home by then we'll go out looking for her." I didn't want to get worried over nothing. Mare can handle herself better than everyone I know, she'll be fine I'm sure. Maybe if I keep telling myself that I'd actually believe it.

I seemed to do a pretty good job convincing Shade though as he nodded in agreement and turned around heading to the Barrow's flat just down the corridor.