Nick's blue car pulled up in front of Sarah's house. The girls heard its horn and came outside. But when they got outside, they didn't see Nick.
"Um, Mr Driver. Where's Nick?" Charlotte asked.
"He couldn't come because something urgent came up so he sent me here." The driver answered.
"But will he be in school today?" Sarah asked.
"Yes, he will be there." The driver replied.
The girls entered the car and drove off. What urgent issue came up? Sarah wondered. Whatever it was, it was a good alibi to avoid her.
No problem. We'll meet at school.
They reached school and settled down for class. Sarah sighted Ella and glared at her. Mrs Craig came in seconds before the bell rang. Soon it was lunch break. The girls went to the cafeteria. Sarah looked around with hopes to see Nick but she didn't see him.
"Hey, did Nick tell you if he was here? I don't see him." Sarah asked her friend.
"No. He must be busy with that urgent work." Charlotte guessed.
Sarah was disappointed. Just great.
Lunch break was over and they went to class. Sarah was at her locker when Amanda walked towards her.
"Hello blond loser." Amanda taunted as she leaned on her locker
"What do you want?" Sarah said, uninterested.
"I just wanted to tell you that since you are good friends with Charlotte, you should send this message to her."
"What message?"
"Tell her to stay away from Nick and whatever she thinks she has with him won't last." Amanda said.
Sarah was confused. "What do you mean?"
"He's mine." Amanda warned. "So, tell her to stay away from him." And she turned to leave.
Sarah was stunned. What just happened?
"Oh." Amanda turned to her again. "And you too." And left.
That was weird. I need to find Nick.
But Nick didn't show up for the whole day. The driver arrived to take them back home. When she got home, Sarah tried calling Nick but he wouldn't answer. She hoped that she would see him the next day but he still didn't show up. The driver came to pick them up for school instead.
"Charlotte, did you call Nick to ask if he's okay?" Sarah asked, concerned.
"Yeah." Charlotte responded with a bored expression on her face. "He said that he won't be around for this week. Something about his Dad and business."
"Okay."
"You know," Charlotte faced her. "You are more worried than I am."
"Of course I'm worried. I'm his friend and you are his girlfriend." Sarah said.
Charlotte didn't say anything further but Sarah could see something on her face. Something that looked almost familiar. Sarah turned her eyes to the window and focused her mind on something else.
Truly, Nick didn't show up for that week. It was Sunday evening. Sarah laid on her bed. She thought of calling Nick but she knew he wouldn't answer. She also knew he was avoiding her because of their conversation in the music room.
How am I going to know the truth now?
And what was Amanda talking about?
She yawned as she looked at the time. 9:06pm. It was late. Just as she turned off the lights to sleep, an idea struck her.
Ella.