CHAPTER 40

XAVIER'S POV

Oh, I loved the baffled look on Ophelia's face, when I told her about our change of plans. Ahh, revenge is sweet.

I couldn't wait anymore. I just couldn't. It felt like Nicole had moved on so much with her life that she seemed to have forgotten us. I had to confront her. I knew this might be the beginning of something new or the end of something old.

'It could be the last time you see her.', the sadistic voice in mind whispered.

But I couldn't go on like this anymore. Even if it meant that it would be the end.

"What do you mean by that? I have to submit my English assignments."

Why do we not do this more often? I am loving this.

"It's okay. Just tell her that you were sick or something."

Ophelia jumped on her seat. She actually jumped.

"Would you please just tell me where the fuck are we going?" Her voice was so low that it actually scared me. I think, I took this a little too far.

"Fremont. We're going to Fremont, Spitfire."

I liked the name, spitfire. It suited her. With her red hair and temper, I think it was the best name for her.

"What, couldn't we just go tomorrow? It's Saturday and we don't have school, Xavier. And what's with the nickname?"

We could have. But it's too late to turn around anyway.

"I couldn't wait anymore, Ophelia. And I like the nickname. So we're keeping it."

She combed her hand through her hair and then folded her arms against her chest like a little kid who was denied candy.

"FINE!"

I wanted to laugh so hard. First, she blurts out, how she finds my eyes pretty, and then this. I really liked her. A little too much for my own sanity. She didn't just make me happy. She made me laugh.

I've had many people in my life who made me happy but she was the first one who made me laugh. And, I wanted to treasure her for that.

"Did you have anything for breakfast?"

"I didn't. I woke up late, plus I wasn't hungry."

I really wasn't. My stomach was aching since yesterday. Must be something I ate.

I remember having an awful stomachache when I was 7. My mum had to pick me up early from school because I couldn't stop crying. My dad was on a business trip and she was needed at the hospital, because of a shortage of nurses. She had to drop me home after giving me a few pills in the care of Nicole. She was eleven at that time.

I remember how she started to cry when I was crying from pain. I had acquired a fever too. She kept warm towels on my forehead and made me some disgusting chicken soup. But I had it any way, because I liked it, then.

I smiled sadly at how she was there for me at my worst, but I wasn't there with her, even at her best.

She shared my pain but I didn't even share her happiness.

I felt something warm slide into my free hand that rested on my lap. I looked down and saw Ophelia's hand in mine. She squeezed my fingers.

"We are going to find her, okay?"

I squeezed her hand back as a silent whisper of hope.

We then drove peacefully with silence as our companion. I could see the trees move from one side to another. The wind had increased its pace. I asked Ophelia to check the weather forecast for today in Fremont.

"Shit, Xavier."

"What!?"

"They have forecasted a windstorm today."

We're doomed. Fremont doesn't allow vehicles to move around without permission from the government, during storms. Either we don't go at all, or we have to find a place to stay for a few hours.

"What are we going to do, Xavier?"

These storms usually last for an hour or two. Either we take this risk or not.

"We'll go there. Find Nicole and then rent a motel room for an hour or two, as these windstorms don't last long. So, we'll be able to return around 3. We can just tell our parents that some teachers needed help and we were helping them, if they ask us why were late."

Ophelia's eyebrows were knitted together. Her nose scrunched up as she was in deep thinking process. I knew the plan wasn't very solid. After all, we were taking a risk. A lethal one. But, I couldn't let anymore time pass by.

"Okay, but I am paying for the motel. No arguments, Xavier. Let me contribute something too."

I just wish, she hadn't said anything about the money. I know she's paying because of my financial situation.

"Why would you need to contribute, Ophelia? Tell me one thing you're getting out of this trip."

Without a heartbeat, she said, "Your closure. Your peace. Your happiness. Want me to name anymore?"

"FINE."

I could hear the wind now. The trees kept bending as the hats worn by people walking on the road blew away. A little boy's balloon flew away, as he wept. The temperature began to drop too. I switched the air conditioner off as Ophelia began to rub her arms up and down.

Bags flew in the air. I saw a signboard that indicated Fremont was 1.2 miles away. So that just means, a few minutes more and we'll reach our destination.

"Ophelia, look up for motels in Fremont. We'll have to stop first. The windstorm's approaching a lot faster than I'd anticipated."

She nodded and took her phone from her bag. She began searching as I tried to see where we were heading. The fog in the sky got thicker. I couldn't see anything beyond the car in front of me.

"There are three motels close to the beach we walked in; Knight's inn, Moody Moon and Travelodge. Moody Moon has a decent rating and it's the cheapest."

Moody Moon? Was the owner high while naming it?

"Okay, search up Moody Moon in Go-"

"Take a right after 300 meters.", came the automated voice of the robot in Google maps.

That was quick.

Ophelia smiled at me, but I could see the fear in her eyes. Hell, I was scared too. I didn't know how we were supposed to stay safe in a windstorm. But one look at Ophelia's face and I knew we were gonna make it.

As long as she was with me, I was gonna make it.