Chapter 36: Accusations (Carter's POV) "Yeah, and then the season starts soon," Connor said. "We should be fine though, huh Carter?" I opened my mouth to answer but stopped when someone called my name. "Yo, Carter!" I looked down at the stairs and saw Nate running up to me. "What's up?" I asked. "Your girlfriend was looking for you. She was in the kitchen when I ran into her but I don't know where she went," he shrugged. "When?" I asked while pushing myself off the wall. "Like thirty minutes ago." I went downstairs and into the kitchen only to find the seat she was sitting in empty. She's probably somewhere around with Hannah or Abby, who I still don't trust. Alex seemed determined though. She's confident that Abby changed for the better. I hoped she was right. I went out into the backyard, out to the front porch, checked all the bedrooms upstairs and downstairs, even the ones that were locked and we weren't allowed to enter. I checked the bathrooms and asked everyone. Nobody knew where she was. The place kind of turned into a search party. I had the entire team looking for her, but nobody came up with her. "Carter!" I spun around and saw Jamie running over to me. "I just asked one of the girls. She says she saw Alex getting a ride with someone. She probably went home, chill." I was feeling uneasy. Like something was wrong. "I think I'll head out now," I said while pulling out my keys. "No, man, come on. Hang with us a little longer. All you do now is hang out with your girlfriend." "Yeah!" "Yeah!" The whole team agreed. "Just a little longer. Then I'm out of here." That 'little longer' turned into two more hours. "Seriously, guys. I'm heading out now." It was roughly two in the morning. She's probably dead asleep by now and so is her dad. I wasn't too confident about the decision I had made of checking up on her in the morning, but it's the logical thing to do. I woke up the next morning and took a shower and changed out into some proper clothes before ignoring breakfast and heading straight to her house. I rang the doorbell and she answered wearing her pajamas and I felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders. "Hi," she beamed. "Hey," I said while entering her house, "Where'd you go last night?" I asked at the same time she said, "Thanks for the ride last night." "What?" we asked in sync. "I didn't drive you home." "I didn't go anywhere," she replied. "Yeah, you did. Nate came telling me that you were looking for me but you were nowhere to be found." "I was looking for you for a really long time. Then I-" She stopped talking and stared at the ground, confusion glazing her eyes. "What did I do after that?" she mumbled. "Alex, you got a ride home," I chuckled. "From who?" "Were you drunk?" "No, I didn't drink anything after the margarita you made me," she said. "One of the girls saw you getting a ride." "With who?" she questioned. "She couldn't tell. You don't remember?" I raised an eyebrow at her. "No," she said absentmindedly. "Wait, wait, wait. Back up. What's the last thing you remember?" She thought for a moment before answering, "I was sitting there in the kitchen waiting for you. I didn't feel too good. Everything became hazy. I remember seeing Nate. I asked him to tell you I was waiting whenever he saw you. That's all I remember," she said. "Nothing after that?" I asked, now very worried. "No," she shook her head. "Do you know when this was?" "I don't remember the time. It was a little less than an hour after you left. I think." I scoffed, "You're kidding me, right?" "No, Carter. Why would I be kidding?" she retorted. "You mean to tell me you just can't remember a whole three to four hours of your night? It's just swiped. You have no memory of it?" "Yes," she snapped. "Okay, let's retrace your steps. We danced, I made you the drink, we talked in the kitchen then I left. An hour later, Nate came up to me and said you were looking for me. I go back and you're gone," I stated. "No, I told Nate and then I waited there. He found you a while after I ran into him, didn't he? I was sitting there that whole time," she argued. "Doing what?" "Nothing! I was just sitting there and having my drink!" Why was she getting so defensive? "What happened right after I left?" I questioned. "Hannah called me. I heard her calling me from upstairs. So I stood up and went to the stairs. Then I came back to my seat and stayed there the whole time," she answered confidently. That made sense. That's the last time Hannah saw her last night. "And then you started feeling sick?" "Yes." "Then you told Nate to tell me you were waiting. But he found me an hour later. Give or take?" "Yes." "Then you don't remember anything?" "No, I don't." "That makes no sense. There was roughly an hour in between you seeing Nate and me going downstairs to get you. You don't remember anything from that hour?" "I don't even remember coming home, Carter. I just assumed you brought me." "Why would you assume that?" She stared at me. "Maybe because you're my boyfriend!" "Stop yelling." "Carter, I am freaking out. Who the hell brought me home? What happened in that hour?" she panicked. "Maybe you hitched a ride?" "From who?!" she screamed. "Stop yelling!" I snapped back. She sighed and ran her hand through her hair, freaking out even more. She sat down on the bar stool, her leg bouncing up and down from anxiousness. "Are you messing with me?" I asked. "Do I look like I'm messing with you?" "Why are you giving me an attitude? I'm just trying to piece your night together," I huffed in frustration. "It's not my fault I can't remember," she mumbled. We both fell into silence, trying to think. "The drink! What if it was the drink?" she asked. "I made that myself. There was nothing in there that would make you get amnesia for the night," I rolled my eyes. She sighed, her leg bouncing up and down again. I watched her movements for a really long time. She looked nervous. It is impossible for something to actually make her forget the entire night and what- she just magically comes back home? There was no way. She was one hundred percent lying to me. "You're lying," I stated. "Why do you think I'm lying?" she huffed. "Because nothing that you are saying is making sense right now. You don't remember anything? That's not possible!" I argued. "Yes, it is. I'm telling you, it was the drink, Carter!" "I made that myself, Alex." She huffed and rolled her eyes at me which only pissed me off even more. "You're not telling me the truth." "What is the truth then? Since you know it so well?" she challenged. "Who were you with?" "Who was I with? What are you talking about?" "Clearly, you were with somebody. Were you hanging out with some girls?" "No!" "Were you with another guy?" "Carter!" "Answer me!" "No, I was not with another guy! Why would you even think that?" I huffed while clenching and unclenching my jaw. "You could have been with another guy," I shrugged, "You could have come home with another guy." "You think I cheated on you?" she asked in disbelief. "I think you could have. I'm not saying you did," I mumbled. "You really think I could do that to you?" "Then who brought you home, Alex? Who the hell were you with? How do I know it wasn't another guy?!" I interrogated. "How do I know you weren't with another girl?" she questioned. "I was with the team! Ask any of them!" "And Nate told you I was sitting there waiting!" she reasoned. "You could have left after that," I scoffed. "You really think accusing me of cheating is going to help? You think these accusations will lead to a solution?" "I'm not looking for a solution anymore! I'm looking for answers. Did you cheat on me, Alexandria?" "Carter-" "Yes or no? Did you cheat on me?" I ignored the lump at the back of my throat and stared down at her. "No, I did not," she said firmly. Her eyes were hazed. She had no idea what she did last night. She doesn't remember anything. She could easily have been with a guy and could be lying to me. Or she could easily have cheated and forgotten because she was drunk. "You know what?" I scoffed, "I don't believe you." . . . .