INTO

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“What just happened?”

Miranda exchanged glances with Adam watching Tina and Gwen both run off in unknown directions.

“I guess they both went after something or I don’t know, someone?” Adam was obviously very confused. “Wait, aren’t we supposed to go after them or something? It’s not really safe for them to roam about, you know?”

“No, I’ll pass,” Miranda shook her head. “You could be worried if it was just Tina but Gwen went with her so don’t worry, they’ll take care of themselves and find their way back.”

“You sound so sure.”

“Cause I am,” Miranda’s hand flew to her waist. “Have you forgotten who Gwen is? She’s one hella crazy b***h. Whatever is going on right now is what’s making her seem like she’s calm but trust me, she’s far from that.”

“You seem to know a lot about her,” Adam gave Miranda a quick glance. “Why do you hate her so much then?”

“Hate is an exaggeration.”

“Then what?”

“Strong dislike,” Miranda flashed her cousin a smile. “I strongly dislike her.”

“Why?”

“I’m not about to waste my time by talking to you about the never ending reasons I hate a girl you’re in love with.”

“Ha!” Adam exclaimed. “You just admitted to hating her.”

“And you didn’t freaking deny being in love with her?” Miranda’s eyes widened. “Don’t tell me you still like her?”

He was silent for a while. “Am I supposed to have stopped? So easily? My feelings aren’t something I have that much control over.”

“I know but still,” Miranda groaned. “I just don’t get it. What the hell exactly do you like about her?”

“A ton,” he chuckled. “You also don’t have to get it. I don’t understand why you hate her either.”

“I have my reasons,” she said then finally looked away. “And trust me, they are way stronger than whatever those mere reasons you’re in love with her are.”

“You know what,” Adam said with a sigh. “Let’s stop talking about this. Let’s just get something to eat.”

“Yeah let’s do that.”

---

Gwen had managed to find a place for her and Tina to sit as she watched and helped her calm down. She had also managed to get water around and on taking her second filled bottle, Tina was finally full and regained her strength to talk.

“What you said earlier,” Gwen spoke up after giving Tina enough time to rest. “Did you really mean it?”

“Yes,” Tina turned to face Gwen. “I definitely saw him. It was my dad and I think he saw me too cause if not why was he running?”

“Tina,” she exhaled. “I’m sorry to say this to you but I think you were just hallucinating. You just had to be seeing things.”

“What?”

“We’re not in a different town, Tina,” Gwen raised her voice. “Or a different state or country. We’re in a freaking different world that more than 90% of humans do not know even exist so just how did your dad get here? It was probably just someone that looked so much like him.”

“Gwen-”

“And maybe just because it has been a couple of days with you being so far away from home you’re beginning to miss your dad so you’re seeing him when he’s not even there,” Gwen cut her off to continue. “I understand you missing your dad but-”

“Gwen!” Tina literally yelled at Gwen, cutting her off and taking her by extreme surprise. “Did you just…yell at me?”

She immediately lowered her gaze, biting her lip as she did. “I’m sorry for yelling at you but I need you to understand.”

Gwen remained silent and Tina took it as a cue to continue. “I’m not just ‘missing’ my dad cause it has been a few days or hallucinating. If that was the case, I should have been seeing him around me for over ten years now.”

“What?”

Tina let out a deep sigh. “You heard me, Gwen. I haven’t seen my dad in over ten years now. The last time I laid my eyes on him was when I was seven and ever since then he disappeared.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I had no idea.”

“And ten years later after wondering where he suddenly disappeared to, I see him in a crazy new world and you say I’m hallucinating?” she voiced out. “Am I really hallucinating?”

“I had no idea.”

“Though it has been so long his face never left my mind,” Tina’s voice lowered and Gwen could almost hear it begin to c***k. “He looked just as he looked back then, almost like the ten years for which he was gone didn’t exist.”

“Look, I know you’re probably going to hate me for what I’m about to say again,” Gwen exhaled. “But are you really sure it was him? Your dad being here is going to make things a lot more complicated. I’m not saying this to make you feel bad but I’m just saying it so you know the gravity of what we’re dealing with here.”

“I’m certain I saw him,” Tina nodded. “I’m smart, Gwen and I’m sure that wasn’t just in my imagination. I saw him and he saw me too. That’s why he ran.”

“Okay, I’ll believe you.”

Tina thanked Gwen then groaned. “I just don’t understand how and why he’s here. God, my head hurts so much from thinking about it.”

“I’m just as confused,” Gwen replied her. “It’s crazy.”

They both rested their backs on the wall behind them and fell into silence for a while, not until Gwen broke it.

“You must miss him so much. Your dad, I mean.”

“Oh, I do,” Tina replied him. “But time passed and I kinda got used to it.”

“Is it just you and your mum then?”

“Nope,” she shook her head. “My mum died when I was little so it was just me and my dad ever since I was a child. Then he disappeared and I had to move in with my aunt.”

“Oh, must have been so hard.”

“Not really,” Tina forced a smile. “My aunt’s a real sweetheart. She took me in and tries her best to be so good to me though I know how busy she is.”

“Oh,” Gwen sat up to look at Tina directly in the eye. “Your aunt must be so worried about you.”

“I don’t think so,” Tina shook her head. “Like I said, she’s always really busy. Before all of these she was on a business trip so I doubt her even knowing I’m gone. Don’t get it wrong though, she does love me. She’s just a really busy person.”

“Oh,” Gwen looked away, hating how much she related to Tina’s words.

“How about you?” Tina asked. “You must miss your parents a lot, right?”

Gwen remained silent, hesitating on talking to her.

“No,” she finally said. “I don’t miss them.”

“What?”

“My parents are just like your aunt,” Gwen said with a light laughter. “Extreme workaholics. They’re never around, always flying around the globe for some business or whatever so no. I don’t miss them. This just feels like another year of them being on vacation. Ah, like you said, I guess they do love me too. They just love their jobs a bit more.”

“I’m sorry about that.”

“Thinking about it now,” Gwen continued, feeling tears sting her eye. “The only person I miss is Imogen, my best friend. That weirdo. She’s probably freaking out and wailing all over her i********: cause her best friend is missing.”

“Oh, I know Imogen,” Tina said. “I don’t follow her on i********: but I do know her.”

“Of course you do,” Gwen raised her eyebrows. “She’s my best friend.”

“Yeah.”

“We should probably head back to Bernard’s,” Gwen rose to her feet. “We didn’t really tell them we were heading somewhere considering the fact that I literally just ran after you.”

“Thanks for that, by the way,” Tina joined her on her feet and smiled. “I wasn’t expecting you or anyone to come after me.”

“As long as we’re here, we need to walk together, remember?” Gwen shook her head. “Anything happening to you would be affecting us all in the long run.”

“Yes, of course.”

“Good. So I hope you put that in mind before you make such impulsive decisions again.”

“Okay, Gwen,” the smile hadn’t left her face. “I understand you. And one more thing, do you know the way we got here? All I remember is running soo.”

Gwen shook her head at her. “I can’t believe you. Anyways, just follow my lead.”

She did that and they began walking back in the direction of Bernard’s shop. The walk was mostly silent with both of them having a lot on their mind until Tina broke the silence.

“Um, Gwen,” she spoke up, watching her from behind. “Since we both have a lot in common now, don’t you think we should actually become…maybe, friends?”

“What?” Gwen turned to face her, arching an eyebrow. “Are you looking down on me right now? Or no, are you trying to pity me right now?”

“No, it’s not like that,” Tina’s voice was back to its normal barely audible state. “I just thought-”

“We do not have a lot in common,” Gwen’s voice was cold. “Just cause I’m not close with my parents just like you doesn’t make us similar. It seems like you’ve forgotten but there’s a huge line between me and you so you’d better stay where you are and try not to cross it, okay?”