Chapter 49: LA Is Sweet With You

Noah’s POV:

It’s been almost 2 hours and 20 minutes. I sped up a little when she slept in between. She was looking so cute, how I wanted to kiss her, but, shit, concentrate, Noah, you’ll surely get into an accident if you see her one more time.

I diverted my eyes again to the road, and started driving again. When we were about to get there, I woke her up.

“What’s the time Noah?” she asked still sleepy.

“7 PM” I said.

“Woah. We got here just in almost three hours?” She exclaimed.

“Yes, thanks to the sleep you went into. With the speed you wanted us to go, it would have taken 5 hours or even more” I said.

“So you overspeed when I was sleeping? That’s really tragic, I wouldn’t be able to even see my deat—” I kept my hand on her mouth. She looked at me with shock.

“You speak lot of rubbish you know? Next time you’re gonna regret any rubbish you speak” I said.

“And how’s that!?” she asked as I removed my hand.

“Oh, you need a demo?” I asked. She became nervous and nodded her head in a no. I laughed and then we got out. I parked the car in a public parking space and took her hand. She looked at me with shock, again.

“What?” I asked.

“You think I will get lost?” she said looking at our hands.

“No” I said and interlocked our fingers. I felt her cold fingers turning warm, and I liked the way she reacted to my touch.

“L-lets go” she said.

“Yeah” I said and started going to the relative’s place. It was way too near, that’s why we parked our car here.

"By the way, Noah, may I say something?" She asked me. I smiled at the formality.

"Without formalities" I said.

"This place, LA.. It's all so beautiful" she said. I smiled and nodded.

"But" she said. I looked at her. "Only with you"

My eyes lit up at her words. Only she is the one who can warm my heart.

"Then I'll always come here with you" I said. She smiled.

As we neared the place, she left my hand. I didn’t like losing the contact but then I understood.

She has a family, unlike you, Noah.

We went inside the house. There was an old woman. No one else seemed to be available.

“Astrid? Astrid!” The old woman’s life lit up seeing Astrid. She hugged the woman.

How I also wanted someone to smile and call my name is enthusiasm? How I also craved for that love by any, any relative but all I got was hatred and betrayal? All I got was ignorance. I was blamed for everything, but what could I do, God, just what? How could I possibly have protected her when I was just 7 years old then? I’m not blaming you god, but I.. I also need someone. Just don’t ever take Astrid away from me, she’s my first and last hope.

“And he is..?” the woman asked me.

“um.. Hi Aunty. I am Noah, her friend from her college” I said. She smiled and pulled me in a hug too.

“How are you two here?” she asked us.

“Actually we were searching for her mom” I said.

“Oh, Mary? (Astrid’s mom) She visited me some days ago. That’s when I last saw her” she said.

What? Few days ago?

“She didn’t come for this week?” Astrid asked.

“No.. what happened?” she asked. I looked at Astrid. We shared a worried look, but then she smiled and looked at the woman.

“No Aunty. Everything is fine! Okay, I gotta go, actually. Bye!” she said. And went out with me.

“I’m so worried Noah!” she said as we went back to our car. Then we started going to the police station.

She’s missing?

As we were about to get to the station, Astrid’s phone started ringing. Her mom.

She put the phone on speaker.

“Mom? Where are you?” she asked.

“I.. I am at my way home, Astrid. You are okay?” she asked.

“Yes mom, are you okay?” She asked.

“Y-yeah of course!” she said.

“oh, okay mom” she said.

“Bye!” she said, and the call ended.

Something was fishy.

We hurried back to California. She was still much worried about what happened. She slowly kept her hand on my hand on the steering wheel. I looked at her for a second. She was scared.

Was I driving fast?

“Slow down, Noah..” she said. I looked at the speed.

170!?

I pulled the car to a break. I’m losing my mind, I guess. I’m putting on stake everything, everyone.

“What happened, Noah?” She asked me.

“I.. I’m sorry for driving like this” I said.

“Y-you are just desperate to get back home. That’s all… I guess” she said. I looked at her worried face.

“Can you drive?” I asked.

“Yes” she said, and then we exchanged our seats. We completed our rest of the journey on time, even though her speed was very slow. That’s because we covered much distance by my insane speed.

I left her at the college café as she wished for, so that she could take the bus back home, so that in case her mom is there, she wouldn’t see me with her.

Astrid’s POV:

I got home. Mom hasn’t arrived, but she arrived after ten minutes. I asked her what happened. She wasn’t willing to tell, but at last she did.

“They were, at least 4 men. They kidnapped me” she said. My eyes widened in fear.

“You should’ve told me! They must’ve needed ransom, right, I would—”

“That’s what was strange about them” she said. “Then just wanted to kill me” she said.

I went to my room straight and called Noah. He needs to learn this fact.

Noah’s POV:

Astrid called me. I have already got to my hotel.

“Yes Astrid” I asked.

“Noah, mom told me everything. She was kidnapped!!” she yelled.

“What??” I said.

“But the thing was.. they wanted to.. k-kill her.. no money, nothing” she said. “And I assure you that she has no enemies”

This all is pointed to that one single thing.

No, it can’t be true!