The Flame

CHAPTER 26

"Hello Evan?" I asked, to the person on the other side of the receiver.

"Yeah say, Rose".

"Listen, I need a help".

"Shoot girl".

"I want you to help me shift my things from Brandon's house to Tiffany's now itself, I asked her already, whether it was okay if I came today itself and she agreed to it, so can you please shift all my things before I finish with my work, so that I could go directly at Tiffany's?" I asked him, I knew I was asking him too much but I had no other option. I couldn't go back there. I forgave him for what he said, but It hurt me deeply, and the scar will remain forever.

"Okay, I will get all your things out, with Scott's help" he agreed "I'll come to the diner once the work is done" he said and then hung up. I felt a huge relief spread over me, that I will not have to go there again.

It was already past midnight when I reached her apartment. The building she resided in had only two floors, and Tiffany's apartment was on the ground floor. There was a small swimming pool on the right side corner of the front yard, and a small beautiful garden with roses and jasmine flowerbeds. The fully bloomed jasmine flowers, this evening has made the surrounding air filled with sweet fragrance. I stopped for a minute there admiring the flowers, before entering the apartment. Tiffany was awake, waiting for me I. Scott was also present there, eating pizzas. I was happy to see them. I immediately embraced both of them into a hug; to show them how grateful I was for what they did for me.

"Thank you so much" I told them.

"I thought you were talking to him", Scott asked me arching an eyebrow.

"I am, but it will be very awkward to go back there again", I told them, to which Evan nodded and agreed.

"Yeah, I agree" announced Tiffany "It's better if you stay here now".

I was so tired, that I was eager to get back to my bed.

"Guys, you can stay here tonight, I'm sure Tiffany doesn't mind", I told them, looking at Tiffany for her assurance, she was more than happy by the thought of Scott staying there too.

I headed back to my room, while the guys made them selves comfortable on the couch. I opened the door, to find a human figure sitting on my bed silently, The sound of my arrival made the unexpected visitor whom I thought I would never see back again, to turn around and smile at me, but I could have sworn that this time her smile didn't reach her eyes, she wasn't her usual herself. She was tensed, and every now and then made- a quick sweep around the room, as if expecting someone else to appear all of sudden out of thin air.

"Olivia? Is everything fine, why are you looking so tense?", I asked her alarmed.

"You must come with me, right now" she said urgently, again I could see her eyes move all around the room while talking to me.

"But I can't come there, I have no place there, you know that", I replied back.

"It doesn't matter, you have to come back right now", she declared. I wanted to ask her what was wrong, but got the feeling that she didn't intend on informing me about it yet, so I let it go.

"Okay, but I can't just disappear like last time, my friends are back there, I need to inform them. I will have to make something up", I said. She agreed to me, convinced that my sudden disappearance would only raise more suspicion. So I made a quick plan, I decided on telling them that I got an emergency call from Katy, so I would have to leave for England right now. I was getting ready to leave my room to face them, when Olivia stopped me.

"Wait Rose" she said.

"Yes", I came to a halt.

"You would want to pack some clothes too, this time", she informed, Somehow I didn't find this as a good sign, she already have decided on me staying for a long time that she was telling me to pack a bag, but still I obeyed. I put all the clothes, from my wardrobe that was within the reach of my fingers, into a small bag pack.

"I'm going out now", I told her "I'll talk to them, once I have convinced them, I'll take my bag and leave from the front door, can you wait for me outside?" I asked her, she nodded agreeing to meet me out in the lawn, As planned I hurried out to the living room, switching on the lights and waking up Scott and Evan who were spread comfortably on the couch.

"Guys, wake up", I said urgently.

"What?" asked Scott, slightly opening an eye.

"I have to leave", I announced "I'm going to the airport, to meet Kat". Scott and Evan immediately sat upright stupefied.

"What the hell, are you sleepwalking?" barked Scott, so loud that Tiffany came out hurriedly, to the source of disturbance.

"NO, I'm quite clear; I'll have to leave now. Its an emergency, I'm going to meet Katy", I told them.

"Wait, what are you saying? Is Catherine fine?" Evan enquired.

"Yes, but I will have to go and meet her as soon as possible", I urged.

"You can go tomorrow morning, its too late now", added Tiffany.

"Now, guys you don't understand, I will have to leave right now", I pressed my words with so much force that it raised my friends eyebrows.

"We will see what we can do tomorrow morning Rose, now go back to sleep", ordered Evan.

"Excuse me? I'm not asking you, I'm informing you" I snapped at him getting irate, but immediately regretted in doing so, as he was doing it of concern only. He looked stunned by my change of attitude, but was still resolved in not allowing me. After few minutes of crying, finally he agreed, but on one condition of driving me till the airport. I accepted his offer, as I found it as the only small escape I could get right now.

Scott getting suspicious insisted on joining us, I was running out of plans to escape these two. I told them that I would be waiting by the car.

I hid his car keys when he didn't notice, so I was confident that he would take some time, finding them. I used that time to escape and meet up with Olivia who was standing hidden behind a tree.

With her magical hands she produced a portal, through which I entered Xenopia once again, a place I thought I would never see again.

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