Just as I Begin to Fade

Forty Five. Refined

It was Friday afternoon when Lindsey got home from work and he came home to an empty home which was odd since Stevie never seemed to leave.

He glanced at his watch and he decided to call up Gwen at the garage, to see if she knew anything about her mother's whereabouts.

However, when he did call, he was told by Derek that she wasn't there---she didn't work Fridays unless she was bored and given their relationship status, she didn't feel the need to come in, especially since she had Bobby around unbeknownst to him.

After trying with Derek, he called Bobby's, but there was no answer there, so he decided to call Donna, but she didn't have an answer either. She mentioned the party at the college they would be going to later on, though she didn't know their current locations.

Lastly, Lindsey tried calling up her dad's house, but she didn't answer there either and that only made him slightly nervous because it gave him a bad feeling.

Pretty soon, his front door opened and in came Stevie with Sharon and Lori at her side.

"Oh, Lindsey, you're home!" Stevie flew forward, wrapping her arms around him and giving him a very firm kiss. "These are my girls, I hope you don't mind them over," she displayed them.

"Not at all, pleasure to meet you, ladies," he shook Lori's hand first.

"The pleasure is all mine," the redhead lingered in shock since her sister never ceased to impress her with her men of her choosing; their looks, occupations, their homes. "Wow," she mouthed to the blonde in response.

Lindsey was slightly ordinary, but the redhead could tell he was a good man---somebody to take care of her crazy sister in-law.

"Back off," she arched a brow and pointed at her in a joking matter. "Anyway, gals, this is Lindsey---the lovely man who invited me into his home. Lindsey, this is my sister in-law, Lori and my best friend, Sharon. Also known as my back up singers."

"It's really nice to meet you," he shook the raven haired woman's hand.

"It's great to put your name to a face finally," Sharon agreed.

He smiled, "It is, make yourselves at home, please," he gestured to the couch, then kind of bringing the blonde over to the opposite side of the room.

"Something wrong?" she wondered, settling her hand over his chest. "Should I not have brought them?"

"No, nothing like that," he ensured. "I was just going to tell you that I'm a little worried. I've tried getting ahold of Gwen, but nobody's answering, not at Bobby's, Derek's, Donna's... Nobody knows where she is and Bobby never answered."

"Well, she's probably with him, honey, don't worry about it," she patted the side of his face and spun around to join her friends.

"Wait, Stevie," he pulled her back.

"Lindsey, calm down. She's probably fine. If something was wrong, Bobby or anybody would have cotacted us. Just give it till morning..."

"Stevie, I have a bad feeling," he assured. "What if something is wrong?"

"Then we'll be contacted if something does happen. Look, don't stress out over this, she's out all the time anyway. I'm not worried."

"I think you should show a little more sympathy towards the situation. If something goes wrong, I'll feel really guilty for not having done anything."

She leered, "You're so good," she kissed his lips. "I'm not worried... That just means you can scold her for not listening to you."

"Well, I know where she is supposed to be and all that, she's just not answering now."