Chapter 42

Ariana's POV

I hurried over to the rest and stopped right in front of them, panting.

“Hey, guys... Good morning.” I greeted, taking in deep breaths. They all looked at me quizzically.

“Good morning? What's wrong?” They all asked.

“Have you guys seen Natalie? Cause I haven't seen her since last night.”

“What do you mean you haven't seen her since last night? Darren asked.” Isn't she supposed to be with you?”

“No, I thought she was with Mira. She went out last night and didn't tell me where she was headed.” I said. Mira looked confused.

“Natalie wasn't with me last night.” She slowly said. “She didn't even call me at all.”

“Okay... That's strange. I've tried calling her since last night and she hasn't been picking up. I had to lie to her brothers that she slept over in one of her other friend's houses.”

“You aren't saying Natalie is missing, are you?” Darren asked.

“No... Although I might be speculating it.” I said worriedly. Mira and Darren glanced at each other, puzzled.

“I'll go ask the Andersons. Maybe they have an idea where she might be.” He suggested.

“Please do. We need to track her down as quickly as possible.” I said and he nodded, leaving us.

“I'll try calling her, she might pick up,” Mira added and brought out her phone. After a while, she looked up at me, despondently.

“Did she?” I asked, hopefully.

“No... It's saying switched off.” She replied.

“This isn't good...” I muttered and went to look for Darren whom I found with the Andersons. Mira was right behind me.

“Any news?” I asked. Darren looked at me and shrugged. Xavier was the first to speak up.

“What do you mean, you can't find Natalie?” He asked confused and worry underlying in his tone.

“She went out yesterday evening and didn't come home. So yes, I can't find Natalie.” I answered.

“That's weird....” He muttered. “She came to see me in the evening, and I walked her home... Well, not to the house exactly, but then I walked her to the street.” He said aloud. We all glanced at him,

“Wait, wait, wait.” I cautioned, and the attention went back to me. “Just before we all start to get worried, I'd like to say something. Natalie does this stuff all the time. She goes out and practically disappears only to appear a few days later. It only means one thing; she's gotten herself into trouble and only she will walk herself out of it. Now, if we were in Middleville I'd probably say, ' don't worry, we'll find her, eventually. Let's not be too serious about looking.' but this isn't Middleville, and Natalie doesn't know anywhere In New Orleans yet. So where could she be?” I ended.

“She could be in hell for all we care.” Someone said behind me, and I turned and guess what, it was Tricia in all her glory and damn her... She was snickering. How long as has she been standing there?

“Hi, Tricia...” I greeted warmly. “Care to join the party?' I asked sweetly, leaving a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. The rest of her crew stood beside her, with Bella looking slightly worried.

“What party?.. Oh, the party of the pathetic losers? Thanks but no thanks.” She replied. I could feel my blood boiling.

“You don't want to join? Well, guess what? If you don't shut your smelly mouth soon enough, you might get a free invitation.”

“The last thing I want to is to be around pathetic losers... Who by the way, are spearheaded by a stupid, female nincompoop, and by that, I mean Natalie.”

Okay, that's it.... I've had enough! I lost my cool and walked towards her, staring daggers at her.

“Unlike Natalie, I'm not so much of a nice person. If you don't stop talking... You might get it bad from me.” I threatened. She thought I was joking.

“What are you going to do? Beat me up? Well, bring it on bitch! She ordered. I smiled like a maniac.

“Of course, I will.” Then turned towards Mira and Darren. “Please get this on video, I'm not about to let my one chance of being the popular girl here pass me by.” He nodded and brought out his phone when I turned and gave Tricia a resounding slap. “How about that?” I asked sweetly. The entire hall gasped. Tricia doubled over and when she turned, the place I slapped was bright pink. It brought immense joy to my heart. Fury ate at her and she lunged towards me. I swerved, and she fell flat on the floor. Okay, this is getting a little more fun.

“Is That All You've Got, pretty girl? My nails aren't broken yet.” I prodded. She stood up and tried to slap me, but I dragged her by the hair and twirled her around, pushing her into the crowd of people. They avoided her and she fell on the floor again. I think I heard Mira laugh behind me. Then walked her and kneeling on her back, yanked her face up with her hair. She yelped out in pain, struggling to free herself but I cared less.

“I don't know if anyone has told you....” I began, whispering into her ears, “But no one insults my best friend and gets away with it, especially when that person isn't me. You got that?” I asked but got no reply. I slapped her on the butt.

“I asked if you got that?” I growled. She couldn't take it anymore.

“Yes, yes, yes I do. Now let me go!!” she yelled.

“You didn't add please...” I reminded.

“Please.....” she muttered through gritted teeth, her eyes watering.

“Good girl,” I said and stood up from her, then stopped and turned back to her again, pulling her up by the ears. She kept wincing in pain. “Oh, and one more thing, if whatever is happening now has any fucking thing to do with you, please have it in mind that I'm going to kill you. I hope you can remember that.” I said and walked back to the rest. I don't think Ambrose high school has got any action lately.

“Did you get that on video?” I asked aloud. A few people nodded yes. “Good, now do something for me. Don't stop playing it. Till it gets the highest views on YouTube.” I said, and they nodded. Tricia slowly stood up and limped towards me.

“Before you start feeling proud of yourself for beating me up...” she began, her voice hoarse. “Why don't you ask Lucy where Natalie is? She might know. “She said and tried smirking but failed woefully. Her face still hurts from the slap I gave her and am glad for that. I glared at her and she scurried away, the rest of her crew behind her.

“That's true....” Mira mumbled thoughtfully. “Where's Lucy??”

The rest exchanged glances while I just shrugged.

Where is Lucy??

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“What do you mean Lucy isn't in school?” Xander asked.

“Well, no one has seen her, neither have we seen Natalie,” I answered.

“Perhaps could...” Mira started and trailed off. Then her voice came back stronger. “Could Natalie be with Lucy?”

“Why don't we try calling her?” Darren suggested. We appreciate nodded and a few glanced at Xander.

“You're the only one with her number,” I whispered. He raised his brows and brought out his phone while we waited patiently. The phone rang, but no one picked it up.

“She's also not picking up.” He said slowly.

“Dang it!” I muttered.

“This is crazy... “Xavier mumbled. I walked around for a bit and stopped.

“We'll give this some time and if by sundown we still haven't found anything... Then we might have to introduce other people, although that might not be necessary.” I added.

“Let's hope so,” Mira muttered. I smiled sadly, and we all disengaged and walked to our separate classes.

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Natalie's POV

I slowly regain consciousness and squint my eyes open. My sight was blurry at first, but soon it clears out. In a room and it's nicely lit. But I'm tied to a chair. That's bad news.

I try to free myself but it's going to take longer than I expected, and I could already hear footsteps coming in this direction. I stay still and someone walks in... With a tray in hand.

“Little mistress says you should eat.” He says and places the food in front of me. I look at him and scoffed.

“I can't eat with my hands tied,” I reply to him.

“Well, that's your problem.” He said and walked away from the room.

“Hey, come back here...” I called out, but he has already left the room. I huff and remove my shoes, using my toes to pick up the knife placed there... They even put complete cutleries. How the hell am I supposed to use that with my hands tied?? Succeeding with that, I drop the knife on my thighs and make the knife way to my back, slowly using it to cut it off. I stop halfway when I hear someone open the door. The door creaks and someone walks in.

“Hi, Natalie.” Lucy greets and even though it's a plan, I can't help but feel surprised.

“Lucy?? You're behind this??” I asked, shock evident in my voice.

Hmm, surprised? I'm pretty surprised as well... Are you okay?”

“I will be if you released me,” I replied.

“Well sorry about that, but no can do.” She said and bit her lip.

The one tip Ariana gave me before we began this stuff was to keep Lucy talking, so her thoughts don't go astray, and then she does something unimaginable to herself and others and that was what I was planning to do.

“Lucy....” I began softly. “Why are you doing this?”

“I didn't do it... At least I didn't plan to.” She muttered.

“Then let me go.”

“I can't.”

“Why?” I asked her.

“Because I don't want to.”

“What did I ever do to you?”

“Nothing... Except that you stole Xander away from me.” I scoffed,

“I didn't steal Xander.”

“Oh yes, you did... You did.”

“Who the hell is giving you such thoughts??” I asked, exasperated.

“Nobody.”

I sigh and look around. “Please let me go. There are other ways to talk about this without me being tied up to a chair.”

“No! You stay right there.” She ordered and I kept quiet. Then Lucy paces around the room and begins talking to herself, but I heard her.

“Okay... I love Xander and I am not a cheap whore who goes around sleeping with their boyfriend's brother... Like, why would I? Xander was perfect for me. But for some stupid reason, that happened, and I got into a major fight with him.”

I glanced at her, but she was already staring at me.

“And what do I do? I freak out and run away, spend long terrifying months in therapy trying to get the incident out of my head, only for me to come back and see that you've taken him away from me, well if you did I wouldn't mind but you didn't have to rub it in my face!”

I rolled my eyes and scoffed. “For the last time, I didn't take Xander,” I say but I don't think she was listening because she was still talking.

“I just want to get back at him and see if we can be friends, but it's impossible with you around and now, Xander hates me!”

“Xander doesn't hate you,” I said aloud.

“Xander hates me! I know he does. He even pretended to forgive me when I went to ask for his forgiveness.”

“He doesn't... And I didn't steal Xander away from you. Damn, I don't even love him!” I said, and she froze.

“Yo...you don't?” She stuttered.

"Of course, I don't. Who the hell is giving you all of these thoughts??” I said and she keeps quiet, tucking her hair behind her ears.

Just let me go... Please.”

“I want to, but I can't. I've done something right now.”

“No you haven't, we can pretend this never happened,” I say softly, and she sighs.

“I wish we could, but we can't. It did happen and once again I'm going to get blamed for it.” She whispers, her voice quivering.

We stay like that for a while until I see something that alarms me.

“Lucy, you're bleeding... Through your nose.” I inform and she looks up at me, then cleans the bleeding nose with her clothes.

“Oh my God... This isn't good. “She mutters and rushed out of the room, probably to clean herself up.

Once alone, I struggle with the rope. I struggle with the rope and manage to get it off my hands. Then I take up the phone and call up Ariana, who picks it up after a while.

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Ariana's POV

School had already closed when Natalie's call finally came in. The rest were with me as I brought out the phone and pick it up.

“Finally! You called! I said into the phone.”

“Hi Ari, how are you?”

“Worried... About you! Where the hell are you?”

“I don't know... That's why I gave you this phone.”

I remove the phone from my ears and smile apologetically at the rest of them.

“Do you perhaps know where I can get a computer?” I asked.

“That way.” Mira pointed to a room.

“Thanks,” I muttered and run all the way there, turning it on and setting it up. Using a GPS scanner, I began to scan where the call might be calling from.

“Are you in front of a computer?” Natalie asks.

“Yeah... And currently we are searching for where you might be".

“Good, because there is a problem.”

“What is it?”

Lucy is bleeding through her nose, and I don't know what that means.

“What do you mean she's bleeding through her nose?? What the hell does that mean?

“I don't know but you guys have to hurry. Lucy is going to break down faster than we imagine.”

“Okay... You can hang up now.”

“Okay bye. I'll be waiting.” Natalie says and hangs up.

“Found it!” I announce and everyone stares at me. Then I look at it a bit more closely. “Where is this place?” I ask no one in particular.

“I know it....” Xavier says. “It's a pretty quiet town in New Orleans, not too far from here, perhaps an hour's drive.” He says.

“Good. Cause you two will be going to get her.” I announced.

“What do you mean, we both are going to get her?” Xander says, confused. “Why can't we call the cops?”

I turned to look at them, frowning.

“We can't call the cops. Lucy is going to freak out when she sees them. Natalie just told me she just started bleeding through her nose. Her condition is fragile. Any wrong move and she might never recover.”

Then I stand up and pat boys on the back. “Just think about it like this, the two of you going to save the girls that you love. Besides, you said it's just an hour's drive, it can't be all that hard.”

“But we can't.”

“Oh, you can... And you will. We'll pray for you here.” I say and push them forward, towards the exit of the school.

“Just go,” I say, but neither of them moves an inch. I rolled my eyes.

“It looks like am going to kick you two out,” I mutter, and finally, they leave, still stunned. I sigh and relax.

Mira and Darren walk towards me. I glance at them.

“Oh... Hi guys.” I greeted.

“What are we supposed to do? You just sent Xander and Xavier out of the school.” Mira says.

“You can guys help me in one way. By staying calm.” I say and nod. Darren stares at me quizzically and, taking an excuse from Mira, holds me by the arm and drags us out of earshot.

“I've been thinking.....Why does this seem like one of Natalie's plans?” He whispers.

“Because it is one of her plans. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a pink monster to catch red-handed. Do me a favor and take good care of your girlfriend. Got that?” I say and he nods.

“Okay, good luck. Let's end this shit once and for all.” I say and get out of school.