He stood there unmoving while staring at Leia, his jaws moved but he couldn't say anything, for some minutes they both stood there trying to find what to say next.
"Hahaha... that was so funny... I think I just peed a little." Charles chuckled, breaking the awkward silence, trying to convince himself that she was kidding.
"I'm serious," Leia said to him, with a Stern look and folded arm. "I knew you wouldn't believe me." She said, giving up on trying to convince him further.
"Oh!...you are serious?" He asked as he observed her. He couldn't believe it! Was that even possible? But what if…
"That explains why you were trying to avoid me earlier." He said as the realization dawned on him.
Leia's eyes were moist as she smiled in relief, for she couldn't believe it was going to be easy to convince him. "So please can you help me? I don't know what's going on." She asked, snapping him out of his daze.
" Sh*t! I forgot. If what you say is the truth, then we must bring Emily back." He said. "But I'm afraid..."
"You are afraid of what?" Leia interrupted as her eyes observed his. She did not know why but she suddenly felt uneasy.
"We must look for Mr. Mysterio," Charles said and began to massage his temples. He looked quite frustrated and the visible vein on his forehead was proof of it.
"Mr. Who? who is he?" Leia asked him with a questioning look.
"He's..." Charles began but was interrupted by the door opening. Their head spun towards the door and their eyes locked onto that of the Janitor.
"Erm...you both are...ok." The janitor said and closed the door like nothing just happened.
Leia's cheeks flushed in embarrassment as she was certain the janitor just assumed that they were having...She couldn't even dare to think about it.
"Let's talk about this, after school ok?" Charles suggested and she nodded. "...And don't say anything to anyone." He added and they walked out, to be greeted with stares coming from the students.
"You both had a good time huh?"A boy asked and the students burst into laughter.
Leia felt like disappearing at that moment. This was the most embarrassing day of her life. Her cheeks turned red and she felt like committing suicide. Anything was much better and comforting than this embarrassment.
"Charles and Emily sitting in a closet...K.I.S.S.I.N.G." The boy said and began to make a smooching impression with his mouth, causing another burst of laughter.
Charles was upset and he gave the
boy a warning glare. Holding Leia by the wrist, he pulled her toward the class, amidst jest and laughter from the students.
********************
"Hit me." She said to the bar man as she gulped down the cock tail. Her eyes scanned around the bar, as she waited for her drink.
"Thank you."Camila said and gulped down the cocktail in a go. "Again." She said and gulped down yet another and another.
"Don't you think that's just too much?" someone asked behind her. "Hi." A young man greeted and sat close to her facing the bar man.
"Hey." Camila replied back and smiled at him. "Are you new to the city?" She asked him, while gesturing the bar man to pour her another.
"No...Please a whiskey." The man requested and glanced at her. "You look like a mess." He teased and she chuckled lightly.
"That's life." was all she could mutter and the stranger nodded his head.
"I've been here a couple of times." He said to her, while taking the glass.
"Huh?" Camila said confused, as she had no idea what he was talking about.
"You asked if I'm new around here." he reminded her and she laughed.
"Sorry, my bad." Camila apologized and smiled. "Ok then." She added and gulped down the cocktail.
"So you live around this city?" He asked her without looking at her.
"Yes.. I live around here... Well not around 'here' though." She emphasized and he gave a smile.
"I can tell you were not happy." He informed her and drank the last drop of his alcohol.
"You did?" Camila asked and gave him a glance before looking at the bar man, attending to someone else. "I just lost my job today and... and it's been disheartening for me. I love my job and I've done everything for that job, for that company... " She said and sighed, gulping down another shot.
The stranger glanced at her and faced the bar man. "Thats enough now." he told the wine steward, who nodded.
"Sorry if I'm acting too loose, I'm not usually like this." Camila apologized, slightly worried that she had irritated the stranger with her drinking habit.
"No that's fine..." he said. "...Found out my girlfriend got married to another man and almost drunk myself to death." He said and they both chuckled.
"Thank you." Camila replied, as she peered into his blue eyes. It felt somewhat captivating and yet scary. She could see the hurt in his eyes like it was trying to reveal all his emotions.
"You are welcome." he said and stood up. "And how much are the drinks?" He asked the steward.
"I can foot my bills." Camila protested as she dug her hand into her purse.
"I insist." The stranger told her and after paying for the drinks he turned to go. "Nice to meet you. " He said and headed towards the exit.
"Wait!" Camila called out to him and he halted in his tracks. "My name is Camila." She informed him.
Without turning around to look at her, he said. "Just call me Mike." and walked out of the bar.
*********************
There was silence and only the sound of the spinning ceiling fan could be heard. The room felt Abnormally chilly like Antarctica but it didn't seem to affect the duos in the room.
Charles was pacing around his room, deep in thought while Leia just sat down on his bed, staring at him. He would constantly stare at her and get lost in space.
"So?" Leia asked looking quite impatient. She was looking a little disappointed as she had expected Charles to come up with something, anything. "So who was the guy you mentioned earlier? Mr. who?" She added, hanging on a thin thread of hope.
"His name is Mr. Mysterio and he is a magician...Well use to be, but that's not the point." He said and sighed audibly. "Mr. Mysterio no longer performs and there are no ways we could meet him or something. He quit performing, weeks ago." He informed her and sat on his swirly chair.
"Well, that's just great!" Leia said in frustration. She wasn't liking any of this a bit. Somehow, she felt she had made a mistake telling him, as it still did not change anything. She was stuck here, trapped in the body of a teenager she never knew or met. She was on the verge of pulling her hair and going insane.
"I heard he is currently in Los Angeles, well I'm..."
The door suddenly swung open, cutting him off.
"You..."Mrs. Cromwell began and paused. Her eyes glanced at the two. "Erm…Did I interrupt you two from whatever you were doing and…"
"No mom you didn't." Charles cut in and she smiled at him. His brows creased as he noticed that his mom winked at him.
"Dinner is ready and you two are coming downstairs to eat." She Interrupted and turned to go while sparing a glance at Leia, who smiled at her.
"I'm good...Dear miss?" Leia told her while staring at her face. One thing she noticed was that there seems to be a particular way or name, Emily gives or calls people. This was her first seeing his mom and was clueless about what Emily would call her.
"I insist." Mrs. Cromwell protested, smiling lovingly at her, and walked out of the room.
At least I should know your name as you've known mine already. I can't go around calling you 'The blond guy'…"
"It's Charles…Charles Cromwell and the lady is my mom." Charles replied and walked toward the door. "You heard her, let's go." He reminded.
"...And I'm not hungry I said." Leia protested slightly annoyed. How could she eat when she doesn't even want to be here? She wanted to go home and not dine with some strangers.
"Well you have no other choice...just do this once, please." He pleaded.
Leia sighed and sluggishly followed after him, down the stairs toward the dining. She noticed that there were seven covered dishes on the table, instead of four.
"Are we expecting anyone?" Charles asked as he noticed the extra dishes on the table. His father sat at the end, staring at them both speechlessly.
"Of course! We are expecting…" His mother wanted to reply but was suddenly interrupted by the ding dong of the doorbell.
Charles walked to the front door and opened the door. Standing outside the door was a couple, holding hands and smiling at him.
"Oh my God!, I…"He began but was interrupted by a feminine voice.
"Hey, Charles...you remember me?"
Why does that voice sound familiar? Why does that voice sound like someone he once knew? He pondered and finally got his answer, as a girl walked toward him.
She wore a black leather jacket and her black hair fell on her shoulder. She looked beautiful and her smile revealed the sparkling pearly white teeth, underneath.
"Samantha?" Charles asked and stared at her in shock with moist eyes.
...
A/N: Dear readers, do you like it? add to your shelf and leave a review. I really need your opinion on the book and will appreciate it if you do so. Thank you and God bless you.😘😘💕
Xoxo
*****