CHAPTER SIX
1221 Words
DALLAS JOGIA
I was searching for my memory stick in my locker before someone walked up to me.
"Hey, Dallas."
It was Ethan.
"Hi, Ethan." I replied.
"Looking for something?" He asked.
"Yeah, my memory stick. I dropped it in here before History class and now I can't find it." I explained as I rummaged through my books.
"You could get another one..." He suggested.
"I could, but I can't. It's evidence of three years of my life. I can't just let it go." I shut my locker in frustration and turned to Ethan.
"I swear, if I find who took my memory stick, I'm gonna..."
"There's clearly nothing you're gonna do, bro." He objected.
He knows me so well.
"That was the old Dallas, who'd overlook things and take them for granted. I'm the new talk-and-do Dallas."
We're currently taking a stroll to our class.
"Don't fuss. You're gonna find it." He said as we walked into class and took our sears next to each other.
I noticed Mavis's absence in class. I tried calling and texting but she didn't take any of them.
Ethan turned to me.
"I've called Mavis five times, she isn't picking up." He said.
"Elle's her best friend, you know?" I asked.
"She said the same thing. No calls taken." He replied.
I feel paranoid.
"Hey, boys!" Ethel squealed as she walked up to us.
"Boys?!" Ethan retorted.
"One of the reasons I love ignoring you. Dallas isn't complaining." She said.
"So...you got anything?" She asked.
"No, nothing." I replied.
"This isn't good. My best friend is missing."
I could've sworn I saw beads of sweat on her forehead.
She turned to Ethan.
"Han, I told Dad we'd be going over to Mavis's." She said.
"What the hell!! What for?!" He asked.
"To check up on her, doofus." She rolled her eyes.
"Cool. What'd he say about it?"
"He said he's okay with it. He'll be sending Mr. Roberts to come pick us up from there."
"So, we could leave now?" I asked.
"Way ahead of you." Ethan replied as he scurried out of the class.
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We reached Heart Estate in minutes. Her Dad owns every single part of it.
I've got only one question. Why the hell do the houses have to be so freakin' identical?!?!
We found Mavis's family mansion. The entire place looked so eerie and I gotta admit, I was kinda scared.
Ethan and I didn't move any further, but Elle did. She walked up to the front door and placed her finger on the sensor. The door came unlocked.
"Why did I stop visiting again?" Ethan asked as looked around.
"'Cause you were banned, pipsqueak." Elle replied as she rolled her eyes.
"Only temporarily." Ethan smirked.
"Says who? Ethan, you know very well you're not welcome to this house. It's a good thing it's empty." Ethel said.
We made our way towards the stairs and started the grand flight.
"You do know I wasn't the only one who got banned." Han said with a raised brow.
"Whatever, Han." Elle retorted.
We reached her room and Elle placed her finger on the sensor.
WHAT???!!!
The room was freakin' empty.
This is so unfair!!
She didn't tell us she was moving!!
She didn't even tell me!!
And why did they leave dinner on the table?
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The ride back home felt much longer. The thought of where she could've been remained on my mind.
XP MANSION
It was almost 7pm and still no returns of calls and texts. I kept checking my phone every few seconds.
Ethan's playing a videogame while I'm standing in the balcony staring at the brightly lit sky and thinking deeply.
The weather's cool and all but I'm feeling woozy and sweaty.
Am I missing Mavis?
Well, of course I am. We just started building our friendship and she's disappeared without a trace.
"What's up, empty heads? Dad wants us down for dinner." Elle said as I walked into the room and made steps towards the door.
"Ethan? You heard what I said, didn't you?" Ethel said in a more aggressive tone.
"Ha! Take that, Darkside...What's that, sis? Dad..."
BOOM!!!
"Wants us...Hold on..."
BAAM!!!
"Down..."
HA!HA!!HA!!!
"YOU FOOLS!! YOU'LL NEVER DEFEAT ME!!! HA! HA!! HA!!!"
"Oh, we'll see about that, Darkside"
He wanted to play another level before Elle snatched the joystick from him.
"Oh no, you don't..."
"Come on!!! Just this one! I promise this is gonna be the last!!"
"No, you i***t. Why do you always think with your ball sac?" Elle smacked her forehead in annoyance.
"Dad's waiting for us. We have to be down now." Elle said, making him scowl and walk out of the room. She went too and I followed suit.
*. *. *.
"Let me guess, Han kept you." Mr. Xander said, grinning.
I don't think I've ever seen him mad.
"As always, Daddy." Elle replied as we took our seats and watched our meals being placed in front of us.
"Chef Iroh, can I get extra dumplings with extra filling, please?" Elle said.
"Of course, miss."
"Yeah, me too!" Ethan said as he stabbed his turkey with a fork.
"Copycat." Elle mumbled.
"How about you, Mr. Jogia?" The chef asked.
" No, thanks. I'm fine." I said.
"Anything else, Sir?" He asked Mr. Paige.
"I'm good, Joku. Thank you."
"Not a problem." He said and walked out.
The extravagant dining table was decorated with a gold platter of turkey, samosa, grilled chicken, potatoes-on-a-stick and popping wine.
Elle, Han and I don't drink wine, though.
"Is there a problem, Dallas? You seem disturbed. This isn't the first time you're sleeping over at my house, you know?" Mr. Xander said.
How did he even notice?
I stared at twins, hoping they'd say something. But they stared back.
"It's okay. You can tell him." Elle whispered to me.
Ethan gave me a "go ahead " nod.
I took a deep breath, then, opened my mouth to talk, but there was a problem...I couldn't. I quickly shut my mouth.
Mr. Xander stared at the twins with suspicion.
"Is there something you guys wanna tell me?" He asked.
The twins turned to each other. Elle spoke first.
"It's Mavis, Dad." She said.
"What about her?"
"She's indirectly missing."
" Okay...Mavis is the reason Dallas is sad, I got that part but she's indirectly missing, you lost me there, baby girl. You called and said y'all would be going over to her place."
"Yeah, Dad. When we got there, the entire house was empty." Elle replied.
"As eerie as ever, Dad." Ethan said and Mr. Xander's eyes widened in shock.
" Not that kind of eerie, Dad. Come on, Ethan, get serious sometimes." Elle rolled her eyes as her extra bowl of dumplings were displayed before her.
"Don't ruin my amazing dinner with your boring pep talk. I'm warning you!" Ethan said.
" Why're you guys changing the subject?"
Mr. Xander asked.
Why in Pete's sake is he interested in this?
"Sorry, Dad."
"Well, Dallas, I don't want you to lose hope or feel like she's disappeared or anything. You guys just became friends. I'm very sure she'd treasure the bond and make meaning from it."
"Thank you so much, Mr. Paige. I totally understand."
"You do? Well, that's wonderful to hear." He chuckled.
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- Writer
