THE INN

Chapter: 11 When Someone Goes On A Date?

Stiles became restless about 7.30 pm and lost his patience at 7.45 pm. He gazed at the dial of his watch after every minute. He paced in his room, not knowing what to do to spend the time. Stiles checked the time on his phone to make sure his watch was showing the right time. There were three unread messages popping on his lock screen.

'I don't have anything better to do, anyways.' He thought.

There were two texts from Oliver and the last one was from Riley.

Stiles was resistant to know what his sister and friend had to do with him this time. His thumb hovered an inch away from the screen. He rechecked the time again, his wrist watch showed 7.52 pm. Dodging calls and texts from everybody wouldn't make Stiles' restlessness any better. He knew he had to face the consequences one day or the other. Stiles tapped to view the messages.

Hey, man! I received your emails. Harrison is in Tennessee for a three day Editors' conference. You can relax now. At least for seventy two hours. Three days have seventy two hours, right? Or is it sixty four?

Stiles laughed at the thought of Oliver using his brain to count the number of hours in three days.

He continued reading, Call me if you need anything. Enjoy.

Stiles took a breath of relief after reading the first text from Oliver. A conversation with Oliver without drama was almost always impossible. Oliver was never good at keeping things professional. He had a habit of digging everything about his colleagues. Knowing a person for less than a day and Oliver would know A to Z about them. It would have been better if he used those skills in his professional life as well. That is what he was getting paid for.

Stiles' face tensed up as he saw the word, 'Emma' in the second text.

Emma left a message again. She said she wants to talk to you. Apparently, you have blocked her number. I haven't text her back. I can pass her a message if you'd like.

Stiles opened the last message from Riley.

EEEEEEakkkiaaaeeeeee

'What the hell, Riley! She butt texted with me again.'

Keeping the phone in his hands, Stiles left the inn to go to Berry's. The weather was surprisingly pleasant. The moon gleamed through the clouds. Stiles slowed down, hoping to make the ten- minute walk journey into at least twenty. Stiles' eyes widened as the neon light from the signboard of 'Berry's' outshined the golden LED light poles. Stiles noticed the lights flickering. They were getting dimmer. It was the first time, Stiles' saw the shop filled with customers. He scanned the place to find a place to sit. Stiles saw Rick ushering a couple to their table.

'Can I get a table for two?' Stiles asked Rick.

Rick removed his apron and threw it on the counter. 'Well, I'm off the clock. So, I don't care.'

'Okay, I thought...'

'Ha-ha,' Rick playfully punched Stiles on his shoulder. 'Skye told me you were coming. I have a special table for you.'

'Really?'

'Not exactly special, but it's better than the table near the bathroom. You can literally hear every sound. You know, every sound.'

Stiles followed Rick to one of the corner tables. There were two single timber futon sofa with blue cushions.

'See I have got you the best seat. Skye always sits here. She even lets me play the dragon game on her phone,' Rick grinned. 'I can beat the dinosaurs with my thumb, you know.'

'Congratulations. Hey, by any chance do you know Billy?'

'Who works with that cranky old fellow, Billy?' Rick scratched his chin.

'So, you do know him then.'

'Nah. Never see him around much. He doesn't come to school anymore. He spends the majority of his time with his cousin and his g**g. They are in college. He is mixing up the wrong crowd, you know.'

'What are we gossiping about today?' Skye stood behind Billy.

She was wearing a navy blue sweater with a pair of black ripped jeans. Her black combat boots made a squeaky noise when rubbed against the floor.

'What are we having today, Skye?' asked Rick.

'You know me, Ricky. The usual.' Skye seated beside Stiles and left her bag on the table.

Rick noted down something on his writing pad and went away.

'So, you know Ricky?' Stiles asked.

'I come here three times a day. The food here is nice, it is reasonably priced, and it's closer to my place.'

'Where are you staying?'

'My friend, Maureen, has a guest house right across the street. It's nice to have a place that feels like home. Well, almost like home.' Skye wiped her hands with the napkin.

'You are lucky. You would die of suffocation if you stayed at Silverton.'

Skye took a sip of water from her bottle. 'Oh, is it really that bad?'

'You have no idea.'

'You can always open the windows. Hope you know that.'

Stiles put his phone on the table. 'I wish I could do that.'

Skye darted a look at Stiles' face. 'I wanted to tell you something. I think it's important for you to know.'

'Okay. I'm listening.' Stiles said, flashing a smile across his face.

'You don't have to be so excited."

'You can't control that, can you?'

'Little stubborn fella,' Skye flexed her arms.

'Did you invite me here to insult me?'

'Yes,' after cooling down a bit she said. 'Actually, no. I wanted to talk about the locket.'

'What about it?'

'I found it in the back seat of my car, a week ago. I saw this little girl. She was just standing behind a tree. I think she was hiding from someone. Maybe from me, I don't know, and I think she might be the same girl that you claim you saw.'

'But, why would she do such a thing?' Stiles said, putting his head down on the table.

'No idea.'

Stiles kept his gaze fixed at Skye. He wondered what mind games she was playing with him. Two days ago, she was making fun of him, and today she claimed that she saw the girl, too.

'So, that's it?' he couldn't stop himself from questioning.

'What do you mean?'

'Nothing.'

Skye laughed. 'You thought it was a date, didn't you?'

'Noooooo.' Stiles yelled in his defence.

'Oh, you did. Yes, you did.' She laughed even more.

Stiles knew staying there even a second longer would only lead to more embarrassment. 'I should go now.'

'No, wait.' Skye put her hand on Stiles'

'What now? You got more ways to make fun of me?'

'Do you know Gloria Wellington?

'The owner of this shop? Yeah, why?' he looked at Skye, surprised.

'I think she can help us.'

'Help us how?'

'The woman who told me about, Amanda. 'Gloria and Amanda were childhood friends.'