Deadly Double Love

Deadly Double Love 18

The next morning, at precisely 6:30, my alarm woke me. I rolled over to turn it off, just as I had every other day for a long while since I hadn’t been going to school. I smacked my hand against my alarm clock until it finally stopped. I snuggled back into my blankets and started to drift off again when I remembered that I had to see Scott. I shot out of bed and jumped in the shower. I then pulled on some warm clothes, brushed out my hair, and headed out into the cold winter air.

I wasn’t sure exactly where Scott’s house was; I only knew that it was on the way to school. So I started walking like I was going to school, hoping that I would recognize his house when I came across it. Finally, I came across the house I remembered Scott going into the day I’d last seen him. I checked my watch and was relieved to find that it was only 7:15. The bus came at around 7:20, so I still had a few minutes to talk to him before he left for school.

I started up the walk of his house but stopped a few feet from the door. Scott was walking out of his house backwards; facing the door so he could lock up before leaving. He twisted his key in the lock then turned around and saw me.

For a minute we both just stood there looking at each other, wanting to say so much but not knowing how to say it. Then he dropped everything he was holding and pulled me close to him in a warm, comforting hug. And suddenly, I couldn’t hold it together. I dissolved into a mess of tears against him, surely soaking the front of his shirt.

“What is it, Kitty? What’s wrong?” His voice was filled with concern.

“My mom,” I blubbered. “My mom.”

“What’s wrong with your mom? Is she okay?”

I shook my head no as tears cascaded down my face.

“What happened? What’s wrong with her?”

“She’s gone.” My voice was shaky. “She’s missing.”

“What do you mean? Did she leave?”

“That’s what everyone keeps saying, but I know that she didn’t! The police still can’t tell for sure, but my dad keeps insisting that she left by herself. But I know that she didn’t! She wouldn’t!”

“I know, I know,” he said soothingly.

“You have to help me with something,” I murmured, my voice growing serious.

“Anything,” he breathed.

“Help me find them,” I whisper.

“Find who?”

“Whoever took my mom.”

He hesitated, but only for a second, before he said, “Okay.”

I sighed in relief.

“Thank you,” I mumbled into his chest.

Then I heard the bus pull up behind me.

“Bye,” I said in a small voice as I pulled away from him.

He pulled me back to him.

“I’m not going anywhere, Kitty.”

“But what about school?” I asked.

“Nothing- not even school- is as important as you. And you need me right now.”

The bus driver honked the horn loudly, getting impatient.

“You coming or not?” the driver yelled.

“Nope,” Scott called.

I smiled up at him as the bus pulled away.

“Let’s do this,” he said, grinning at me.