Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Amelia's p.o.v;

A week later,

At the college,

Hannah said as I was making my way into the college to my class "Hey, your splint is off at last. How's your hand doing now?"

"I had it removed yesterday, sure it's fine. My hands are now healthy, but the doctor advised against lifting anything heavy, so I have to be cautious. Other than that, everything's fine."

"I'm glad to hear that your hand is recovering, though. Do you still remember the club we visited that day? Shall we go to the club to celebrate it?"

"I'm sorry. I can't do that. For a few days, the doctor instructed me to abstain from drinking."

"I'm not asking you to get wasted; just come hang out with me."

"After we went there, all you did was dance on the dance floor while I was left on my own like a lost puppy,"

"Then, I won't leave this puppy alone, promise," she chuckled.

"When we arrive, let's check."

"Does that imply you'll accompany me?"

"I'm going to deny it if you question me again,"

"Okay, good. Let's head to the classroom then."

After tiring lecture classes, In the cafeteria,

"Why are you doing that? Trying to take the spoon out of my right hand," Hannan asked.

"I tried using my right hand to eat, but I was unsuccessful. It's not listening to me because I haven't used it in a long time. I gave up the idea of using my right hand to eat and switched to using my left hand instead."

"You appear to have adjusted to it."

"To my surprise, I can actually write with my left hand too. Who knows, maybe I was ambidextrous."

We talked gibberish to one another while eating.

At the music club,

"What did you bring me here? I'm not a part of the music club anymore." I said to Hannah who pulled me to the music club.

"Senior Jacob requested me to bring you here."

"Why?"

"Ask him by yourself," she said.

Jacob, a senior, could be seen coming my way.

"Now that you're not wearing a splint, how is your hand," he enquired?

"Things are improving. Hannah said that You wanted to see me. '' What is it, Senior?"

"Yes. I need your assistance."

"What's that?"

"For a forthcoming function, I need you to sing a song at an event."

"Me? Why are you asking me to do this? There's so many here to pick out. You're free to choose a member of our club, right?"

"Do you recall the competition when you came in second?"

"Yeah."

"Was one for the judges to choose you as the winner, Ms. Harris. She got in touch with me and requested a performance from you."

I concurred.

"How come you did that? Before consenting to something like that, you ought to have asked my permission, right? Even though you're my senior, you have to ask me beforehand."

"Why do you complain? Don't you enjoy singing for us?"

"Actually, she's writing a song on her own," Hannah interjected.

Hannah caught my attention, and senior Jacob, "You're doing music? That surprises me. What does it concern?"

"Love."

"universal subject I wish the song the best of luck with its production."

"I'm grateful,"

"You may now depart. Don't forget to show up for club practice tomorrow."

"I had not yet given my consent."

"I need to look after first-year pupils today, so please leave and come tomorrow."

When Hannah pushed me away, she added, "I'll be waiting outside the entrance. I'll arrive soon. Don't scurry off."

I gave a nod to her.

I arrived at the college entrance and awaited Hannah's arrival.

I heard someone shouting my name while I was still waiting for her.

When I looked up, Brian was there.

"You finally removed that splint. Congrats."

I answered with a smile, "I greatly appreciate it. how are you by the way?"

"Good. I relocated to a dorm. I haven't seen my father in months."

"How are you feeling?"

"Happy. This is the happiest I've ever been in my life."

"I'm happy to hear that."

"Why are you in this place? you appear to be waiting for someone? Is it your partner?"

"I'm waiting for my friend, Hannah," I said as my smile went from my face.

"Is something wrong?", he said as he fixed his gaze on me.

"I like this guy, but he likes someone else". I said with a phoney smile on my face.

He gave me a head pat and remarked, "Aww! Poor girl."

"It's okay. It's been weeks since I overcame it, and I'm now content and single."

"Does that mean I can ask you out on a date?"

I laughed and said, "I'll be glad if you ask me out but I know that I'm not your type. And, you wouldn't dare to ask me since you know I won't agree."

He cackled and remarked, "I appreciate how straightforward you make everything. I'll see you later, gorgeous girl."

I noticed Hannah coming to my side after he had left.

"Was I late?" she questioned.

"No, let's leave."

I questioned her while we're on the way to the club, "You brought your violin with you, why? Will you keep it with you in the club?"

"It's not mine. It belongs to Lance. He got out early. When we run into him in the club, I'll deliver it to him. By the way, you have been my friend for a long time but you still didn't know how my violin looks."

"Give that to me, please. I'll carry it."

"I'm grateful. Carry it as your punishment for not remembering." She gave the violin to me.

All the way to the club, I carried the violin.

The nightclub,

People were dancing and chatting loudly, with drinks in their hands and on tables. Although it was incredibly noisy, I thought the location was pleasant. Low-key lighting and loud but not oppressively so music were present. Although there weren't many people there, you had to navigate a few individuals to get to the front area. Loud and crowded, but not in the way it was on a slow night, when people were chatting and laughing or dancing while keeping their eyes riveted to the stage. The bass and drums made it deafening, and the music made your body vibrate like electricity. Sweat, drink, and the scent of girls' perfume filled the air to the brim.

I noticed a table that was open when I was searching for one. I sat down with Hannah at the far right of the room and began looking at my phone.

Hannah asked, "Who's it?"

"My brother. I'll get this one while you order the drinks."

I got up and left to find a quiet area to make a phone call. I took the call to speak to him as I moved to the corner, away from the rest of the crowd.

"Hello?"

"Where are you?"

"Along with Hannah, Why?"

"Andrew has gone missing."

"What?"

"Yeah, Anna called me and talked to me worriedly, Andrew didn't go to the house after he came out of the college."

"How does a large man like Andrew disappear just like that? He's either hanging out with his girlfriend or going to a friend's place I guess."

"We approached the friends of Cathy and Andrew. He left his phone in his home before leaving for college. Nowhere could we locate him."

"Why are you phoning me by the way? Do you think I look more like a police officer or a kindergarten teacher who should look after a lost kid?"

"Because you are the person who knows the most about him. You are aware of his activities and whereabouts."

I cut the call off. Is my brother crazy to speak in such a manner?

I didn't answer the call and returned to Hannah. I noticed that our buddies had already arrived.

"What exactly did your brother say? Was the call crucial?"

"No."

I sat down next to Hannah.

Lance asked me, "When did you start frequenting nightclubs?"

"Recently" I sat down and stated.

"Sip together."

Except for me, Hannah poured drinks for everyone else.

"You failed to pour a glass for Amelia" Lance inquired.

"She's not drinking tonight," Hannah said to him.

"Put the glass in front of me, please, and pour it for me as well." I said to Hannah.

"Are you certain of that?"

"Yes."

As I took a sip, I thought back to what my brother had said to me. After checking the time, I got up from the table and said, "Hannah, I'll leave right away. I have somewhere to go."

"Okay. Was there a problem?"

"Nothing."

Lance, "Why are you departing so soon? I believed we could imbibe together."

"Next time", I added with a smile.

As soon as I left the club, I called my brother.

"Has he returned home?"

"No, he hasn't arrived yet. His parents made the decision to report him to the police."

"Request them not to do it yet. I will search for him."

"Okay."

"Who last saw him?"

"Anna,"

"Okay, I'll give you a call later."

I cut the call off. I'm not sure why I'm acting in this way. I must be pretty stupid to pursue him in this manner.

I hailed a cab.

"It is you again". The driver said when I tried to get in.

"What?"

"Don't you remember me? You asked me to chase the car and we pursued a guy into the restaurant."

"Oh, I just remembered. I need your assistance again."

"I'm ready. Tell me."

"Take me to all the neighbouring lakes, tonight we need to find a missing guy."

He enquired, "Do you work in a detective firm?" Asked while driving the car.

"Why are you asking in that manner?"

"The previous time, you were pursuing a girl. You're now looking for a missing man."

"I'm just a student who has a typical life," I remarked.

"However, your typical existence seems interesting."

At a lake, he made a stop. I got out of the cab and strolled over to the lake to take a look around. There wasn't any.

I asked, "Another lake," as I got back into the cab.

We looked through lake after lake until finding one close to our campus. A lake was close to the University. How did I miss it?

I exited the cab and started walking toward the lake. I turned to glance around and noticed Andrew seated by the lake. I let out a sigh of relief after seeing him.

I left him and dialled Ash's number, telling him, "I found him. He is near my university at the lake. Inform his parents that he is at his friend's house or something and ask them not to register a complaint." then cut off the call.

I strolled over to Andrew after putting my phone back in my pocket.

"Do you enjoy watching the lake at night?" I questioned as I sat next to him. "I never thought it would give out this beauty by the night, it looks good in the moon's reflection in the water of the lake."

"How did you know I was here?"

"That implies that you set out to get lost, correct?"

He didn't say anything.

I picked a stone and threw it over the water and asked him, "What happened? Do you wish to speak?"

"What is it that you wish to know? However, we are not close like you said."

"You still remember what I said, huh?" I gave him a shoulder bump and said. "Did you forget that I entered your room once again to apologise to you?"

"You did not."

"I believed I did. I apologise for speaking in that manner. Are you going to pardon your pal for looking for you practically everywhere in Nashville's lakes?"

He unexpectedly hugged me, which caught me off guard. Don't get any hopes. He is currently my pal.

I again tapped on his back and enquired, "What happened?"

He released me from his grip and went to the lake and said, "I broke up!" the man declared as he kicked the water.

What?! What just happened? Has he really just broken up? Should I be joyful or sad right now? I'm not sure what to do right now. Why do I feel sad now that I know he dumped his girlfriend?

"Who was it?"

"She did," he murmured as he sat next to me.

"Why?"

"I can't tell you the reason,"

Okay, I mistakenly believed that he considered me a friend, but he still views me as a stranger.

"Can it be repaired?"

"I'm not sure. I didn't end our relationship, she did. When I first saw Cathy, I was in middle school, but I was afraid to tell her I felt something for her because I thought she might reject me. When I started to worry that someone may take her away from me, I waited until then to tell her. I found out that she has liked me since middle school as I did after she accepted. Do you understand what it's like to be liked by someone you like? It had a divine quality. We didn't fight after we got together like other couples do, although we did occasionally quarrel. I was unaware that a disagreement like that would result in our separation."

He tells me the entire incident, but he omits the explanation. How would you come up with a solution if you didn't tell me the cause? Idiot!

I said, "Now let's get home. Here, it's turning chilly."

To leave with me, he got up.

"Do you know how diligently she searched for you on every lake?" the cabbie inquired as he was operating the vehicle after we had entered it?

Andrew apologies to me, "Sorry to cause you any inconvenience."

"It's alright"

"Are you dating her?"

"No!" I said He asked us that right away before saying, "We're pals." and gave Andrew a smile.

We arrived at home. I got off to go to my house, and Andrew got off to go to his.

Ash hugged me and said, "I appreciate you very much."

"I couldn't drink tonight because of you, you have to buy me to compensate for this." I muttered as I pulled away from the embrace. "Get me a beer". and entered the home.

When I entered the house, mom and dad weren't there inside. Where are they?

Ash, "They travelled to Mississippi on business. Did they not tell you?"

"No," I replied, shaking my head. "They may have forgotten."

"That's strange. Have you ever fought with them?"

"No."

Ash stopped me as I was making my way upstairs and said, "You look different. What took place?"

"Why do you need to be aware of every detail of my life when you don't even identify your girlfriend to me? Quit interfering with my life. Let me live;,it's my life to live.

"What did you fight them for?"

"Why do you need to know it so urgently?"

"I don't want people to despise you as well, thus…"

"What!? Ash, our parents have never disliked you. Never did they. They never will, either. Regarding the altercation, I did engage in one with them, but you are not required to be aware of it. I can handle it on my own. I'm not a kid anymore." I then left for my room.

I stumbled onto the bed in my room and reasoned that our parents weren't home. I believe that now is the ideal time to learn the truth. But how am I going to manage it with Ash around? I should think of a strategy to lure him away from the house for a while.

I opened my window when Andrew tapped on it.

"Why are you here? You just came home after getting lost."

"All the way across the street to my home, I could hear you two fighting. What did you two argue about?"

"Why must I inform you? When I inquired about you and Cathy, did you tell me?"

"Are you angry with me for not telling you?"

"How can I be? Even so, you are nowhere near me. Why should I be interested in you and your romantic life?"

"You sound upset, though, don't you?"

"I'm not. Why aren't you with your family now that you've disappeared in such a dramatic way?"

"I'm not a child, and I didn't disappear. I went to the lake because I just needed some alone time. How did you find out I will be at Lake, by the way? Please respond."

"It wasn't a major issue. I am aware that you visit the lake when you are sad."

"What exactly did you say?"

"I discovered it through your buddies. You'll head to the lake when you're sad, according to Harry and Peter, they claimed."

"I had no idea they were aware of this."

"They should be questioned, not me. Now get out of my room. I must get some sleep. Today was a demanding day for me."

I lay down on the bed to get some sleep after he went. I should use more careful language, otherwise, I'll get caught by myself with my mouth.

The next morning,

After I wake up, I put on some shorts and a shirt and head downstairs. The rest of the house is empty, but I can see a light coming from the kitchen.

"Hey," I call out, not really expecting anyone to hear me over the sound of the fridge.

"You're early." Ace answered me from the kitchen.

I walked over to him and saw him frying hotdogs in a pan.

"What are you doing?"

"Breakfast."

I took a sniff and said, "It smells delicious. Will it be edible?"

"Go and get ready for college." He said while ruffling my hair.

After I got ready for college, I came downstairs for breakfast prepared by Ace.

While I was eating my breakfast, Ace sat beside me and asked, "Are you alright?"

"I'm not sick, brother."

"You know what I meant."

"Don't treat me like I'm heartbroken. I'm okay. The thing I had on Andrew was just a crush. Not more than that. And, not anymore. I'm doing okay now. Believe me."

"Then what's the matter with the parents? I know they won't go anywhere without informing you. I know how close you were with them. What happened this time? What made them go just like that? What did you fight with them for?"

I finished my breakfast and stood up from the table and said, "It's time already. Got to go. See ya later, brother."

"You can't run away from me forever, Amelia."