14. CAN'T STAY WITHOUT YOU

I got ready one hour early and left the house. soon i reached the bus stop and surprisingly Arlen was already there waiting for me. I sat on his bike and left for the garage i asked " someone is very excited to meet. Neon." he chuckled and said " nothing like that its just I am happy today." " what's the reason of your happiness " I asked he smiled and said "you" my cheeks turned red. i hide my face behind his back. Soon we reached the garage gate and as i was about to step on ground Neon said " dude why did you brought her now." i looked at them confused then Arlen said in serious tone " why what happened?." "Anthony is about to arrive I was waiting for him." neon said I was just listening to them then Arlen said trying to start the bike " you could have called me." " your phone is off dammit " the tension was seen clearly he said " drop her and come soon." Arlen dropped me at the gate and i asked " what's happening? why ate you both in such hurry." " I will explain everything afterwards please understand Rose." Arlen said and I nodded he gave me smile and left.

I was early so I went inside the changing room and started scrolling my phone. Soon others joined Michelle entered and our gaze met i gave her small smile and resumed watching phone. After practice was over I can to changing room and saw message from Arlen " Hey dear I won't be able to pick you up today sorry." i sent a smile emoji and left the academy. Laurens saw me walking towards the bus stop then he asked " come i'll drop you." " no thanks" I said " don't worry even I am going to your place Kate had called me." I agreed and sat beside him. The journey was quite soon we reached and he parked the car. we went inside kate was in the kitchen she came and started " I was waiting for you laurens you know i have some amazing gossips." she continued and i ignored her and went to my room. She was the gossip queen and laurens was only one who listen to her.

I took bath and came down I went inside the kitchen to cook something for us because my mother went to our farms for the visit. I asked kate from the kitchen " kate I am making pasta do you want." she said "no actually brother Alex told me he has night shift too so he won't be coming and jay is going for sleepover at his friends house." I came out of the kitchen and went near her " so it's just both of us." i asked she nodded and said " i have an idea why don't we go out for dinner." she looked at me " no I don't want to go." she made faces then started convincing me. Then laurens said " hey I have a super cool idea since rose is denying to eat outside let's have dinner at my place even mummy will be happy it's being long since you all had come." I was about to deny but kate said " done it's final we will go at your place." I gave up in front of them and agreed. soon we changed in comfortable dresses I wore saimon pink slit dress and kate wore shorts and hoody. we left in laurens car. His house was five blocks away from ours. we reach in few minutes.

Laurens had beautiful mansion as his father was in family business inherited since three generations. They were in textile industries his house was very very artistic giving it royal look. we entered and laurens mother was already sitting in center area. she gave warm hug to both of us and said " ohh god my babies came to see me after so long." she was sweet lady beautiful and always smiling. we had our dinner and talked about everything and enjoyed the dinner. while leaving she came to drop us at the gate and said " take care girls." we nodded " thanks for the dinner aunt" kate said she smiled. We went near the car and kate's phone rang she picked up het phone and her expression changed she kept the phone in hurry and said " Rose i have to go to my friends place we have submit assignment and files our with me." " do this tomorrow kate." " try to understand i have submit it on time and correction are needed to be done." she said " let her go here take my car." laurens said and gave her the keys. I agreed and she left.

I looked at him and said "so shall I go." he said " Rose do you remember all of us use to go for walk after dinner when we were kids." I smiled and nodded " shall we go walking?" he asked i agreed and we left the street was quite but peaceful streetlight were making it more beautiful. after walking for a while he said " can I ask you something? " i looked at him then he said " while having dinner you were checking your phone every now and then why?" " nothing " I tried to avoid I was waiting for Arlen to message as he went in hurry and was stressed about something. " you know you are a bad liar but i am happy you are moving on." he said without looking at me i stopped and asked " what made you think i moved on." he smiled and said " firstly as much I know you. you would have said no directly if it was false and secondly you won't talk to your friend at 2 am in balcony." I knew who told him this kate can never digest any single thing i didn't say anything but kept walking. He said " at least show me his picture. " I hesitated but then i showed one selfie of us. he said " nice boy" I laughed. soon we reached my gate and he waved me bye and left i looked for Arlen's message but there was none i slept looking at my phone.

Next morning i saw my phone there was no message i got ready for the university and left. In college I searched him everywhere but he was absent i was worried about him. i tried calling neon but even his phone was switched off. as soon the university ended I directly went to garage to know about there well being but to my surprise garage was locked. i came back home kate was preparing food with alex i went to my room i thought to visit his house but then I remembered he never told me where he lived. I knew nothing about it. I skipped my practice and i was at home. I was watching some show on tv while having my coffee soon alex jay and kate also joined. Alex asked " are you okay rose." " yes brother i am fine." I said smiling " yes rose you never miss your practice all good." jay asked " yes just a little headache. " " it's possible because you share your room with headache itself" he said pointing towards kate everyone laughed and kate threw pillow on jay " shut up duckling" and the evening went playing and laughing we cooked pasta and lasagna for dinner.

It's being three consecutive days and there was no call or message from both of them I was now more worried. i was sitting in the canteen sipping coffee then syndra and destiny came and sat near me i smiled at them. syndra said " hey rose how are you ?" "fine and you." " well you don't look like since few days you are so quite and in your own thoughts." said destiny taking a bite from my bread " nothing like that its just Arlen had suddenly disappeared he is not picking up my calls nor messaging i was just worried." I told " did you called neon he might be knowing about arlen?" she asked " i did but surprisingly even he is not replying I even went to his garage but it was shut." destiny said " did you inquired at his house." I was quite for a second then i said " i don't know his residents." all of us were quite for few moments then syndra said tapping my shoulder "don't worry dear he might be really in something urgent otherwise we all know he could never ignore you." she smiled then destiny said " yes he could never ignore you " giggling I said " it's nothing like you think we are just good friends and I am just concern." i tried to convince them then destiny said keeping her hands on mine " Rose we have seen how happy you are with him you glow differently around him it's clearly seen in your eyes you genuinely care for him and love him." I was somewhere deep in my heart accepting what she said i knew i had feelings for him she continued " I even know you have not expressed your feelings to him but trust me rose it's always better to express your feeling other than suppressing it and regretting later." I nodded to her then destiny said " let's go to table tennis court to make you feel better. " saying this she dragged me out of the canteen.

She was right I was feeling light after playing with them it was fun. I prepared for the practice and left home and reach the bus stop. Soon the bus arrived and when my bus bus reached near neon's garage I felt i should go and check once. i made my mind and soon i was near the garage and to my surprise it was open. i entered the garage but no one was seen i searched in cabin and in back yard but all in vain. i was about to leave then i remembered about basement. I have never been there but i knew where it was so i went there it was all dark and quite my heart beat raised due to the silence soon i reached the door of basement i stretched my hand to open the door as my hands touched the rough surface of door someone grabbed my hand and turned me I looked up it was neon. He started walking opposite to the basement door and we reached his cabin he said " why did you go there?" I ignored his question and asked " where were you both since past few days? I was worried as hell! and where is Arlen why isn't he replying and even that day he went in hurry and ...." I didn't finished but Neon interrupted " hold on rose let arlen come he would answer you better." he said leaning on his chair " where is he?" i asked " ummm... he will come here soon." he said looking at the clock. " tell in exactly." I said sitting on one of the chairs. " I can't tell exactly but do one thing you go and attend your practice and when you will finish come here till that time he will also reach here." neon said in tensed face " are you sure " i said looking at him for a while " of course trust me " i gave him a look then agreed.

i went to my practice but i was messing up in every step because i was not focused I was continuously thinking about arlen. the practice ended and i rushed to the garage.