Captured: Luke's Perspective

Chapter 1: Luke

After two weeks of solving the Treasured case, Cole and I began writing our own adventures on our unused notebooks. We hoped that one day someone will find them. For now, we have solved two cases, including the cold case mystery of Tony Blair.

Now that we were the Dynamic Duo, Cole and I have lived through high school, crime, and friendship together. Everyday we made top scores on exams, visit each other frequently, and make plans for college.

Cole's Mom embraced being a devoted, single woman. She gets involved in a lot of things from Yoga classes and attending book club meetings.

Dennis is spending ten to twenty years in prison, while Cole's Dad and grandparents were spending five years in county jail. Cole spends time visiting her grandparents a lot, but she never visits her father, which I couldn't blame her.

People were starting to see us as heroes and good civilians while others see us as their competition. Our rivals were mostly the cops, the cool kids, and Madison.

But nonetheless, we didn't focus more on solving mysteries. We focused more on schoolwork like any other eleventh grader would be doing and read Sherlock Holmes or the Hardy Boys.

Cole is convincing me to read Secrets Can Kill from the Nancy Drew category, but I was more focused on how the Scandal in Bohemia ends. But I did promise her that I would read it if I had time.

On Saturday, I started doing some push-ups on my bedroom floor. More and more, I have been starting to gain some muscle build up. As I reached to thirty, someone knocked on my window. It was Cole, carrying two paperback books. I put my shirt back on and opened the window.

I took the paperbacks and set them on the bed while Cole entered my bedroom. She wore a white blouse and skinny jeans. Her hair had surprisingly grown a couple of inches.

Tucked in her pocket, was her IPhone with her Pretty Little Liars case wrapped firmly around it. She had very light brown skin and chocolate brown eyes. Her lips were light pink and her nose was small.

Her figure was a lot like an average ballerina's. Seth was right, she was pretty attractive. "Hey Luke," Cole said, holding up the books. They were both Nancy Drew. "Wanna get started?"

"You know I need to finish Sherlock Holmes," I reminded her. "We both have already read the entire series," she said. "Especially the Hardy Boys. Can we please try and read something different?"

I took a deep breath then sighed. She does have a point, I thought. "Okay," I said. "Let's read Nancy Drew." Cole smiled and took out the book then flipped to the beginning of the page. I did the same.

It has been awhile since we haven't solve any case. I knew it was getting to Cole. I see a tiny vein on her forehead, she keeps biting her lips, and rocked unsteadily on the carpet as if she is a ship.

"Is there something bothering you?" I asked. Cole looked up at me then gave me a warm smile. "Nope," she lied. "Nothing wrong." "Then why do you fidget like squirrel who just drank a gallon of Starbucks coffee?" I asked.

Cole gave me an annoyed look. "Nothing," she said. "I am just bored, that's all." "I know," I agreed. "It's been two weeks since we solve a case."

"It sucks," Cole sighed. I nodded in agreement. "If I were Sherlock Holmes," I replied. "I would take my anger out on the wall, but I'm won't." Cole put a bookmark on the second page then closed the book.

She thought about it for a moment. "We should have a name," she said. "A name?" I asked. "For our duo," Cole explained. "For months, we have people call us, Batgirl and Robin, Velma and Shaggy, Bonnie and Clyde..."

"Also the Hardy Boys," I added. "Which is ironic because you are a girl." Cole gave me a sarcastic look. "Well, how about we should come up with a cool name as well," Cole continued. "Like the Wonder Kids?" I looked up from my book. "The Wonder Kids?" I asked. "Isn't that like a 90s television kid show or something?"

Cole let out an anxious sigh. "Too childish?" she asked unsurely. "No," I answered with a snort. "Too 90s." "What about the Amateurs?" Cole suggested. "Are you giving us a name that will make us cooler or a laughingstock?" I asked.

She let out a moan. "At least I'm trying to come up with a cool name." I thought about it for a while then looked at Cole. "What about The Expedition?" I suggested. Cole gazed at me. "The Expedition?" she asked. I nodded. She smiled and nodded eagerly.

"I like that name," Cole said, rising up from the floor. "Expedition, let's move out!" I gave her a worried look. "What?" Cole asked. "Never say that, ever again." I said slowly. Cole rolled her eyes. "You like it," Cole sneered. "You just don't want to admit it."

"Cole," I said. "There is a thirty percent chance that I will say that." "But there is a seventy percent that you will." "No, I won't." I insisted. Cole gave me a nod. I stuck my tongue at her. "Anyway," she said. "Have you been studying for the English final?"

I nodded nonchalantly. I haven't been sweating on failing the test. "How about you?" Cole shook her head. "I have been stuck on Chapter nine forever," she groaned. "And if I study too much, my brain is going to explode."

I closed the book and walked over to her. "Memorizing different chapters isn't that hard," I explained. "What I do is visualize the words, sort of like a picture. Then, I take a photo in my brain." "Like a camera?" Cole guessed. I nodded. "Photographic memory must be awesome."

"I don't think of it as a method to look awesome, I think of it as something you have to use it for everyday life." I explained. "Sorry it sounds a bit nerdy." Cole shook her head. "Nah," she said, giving me a playful punch on the arm. "That was pretty deep."

Just then, my mom screamed my name. Oh, boy. I thought miserably. "Luke!" she screamed. "Where's my ointment?" "Check the bathroom drawers!" I shouted back. "It's not there!" she argued. "Then go buy it!" I yelled. Suddenly, the door was opened. There was my mom, glaring at me with hateful eyes.

Do you ever get the feeling that seeing Jason Vahoores' face makes you want to puke? That's how I feel when I saw Mom's appearance. She wore a grey t-shirt with red plaid pants under an ugly pink robe. Her brown hair was mottled from the shower and her brown sunken eyes stared at me.

"Where is the ointment?" Mom demanded. "Check in your room?" I asked. "I have already checked-" "Check in the bathroom," I interrupted. She gave me a mean look then glanced at Cole, who was eyeing her nervously.

"Don't make out with him," she warned. Cole stared at her in disbelief. Mom walked out of the door and slammed it behind her. "Lovely, isn't she?" I asked sarcastically.