Episode 3

Recap)

A larger crowd was quickly forming. Suddenly, the Principal emerged, slightly out of breath.

"They're going to take you to your guardian. It's not a kidnapping I promise."

"Miss you need to come with us please."

"I'll repeat myself. Hell no."

A person pulled out a cell phone, and the man shielded her, all of a sudden flashes swamed them. He pulled sunglasses out of his pocket, and handed them to Nova.

"Put these on, and cover your face please." 

He spoke gently, and in that moment, Nova started to trust him. Once they were in the car, cameras were still flashing at the windows for a couple seconds, but faded after that. 

"They can't see us. The windows are tinted."  He said. 

Nova surveyed her surroundings. The SUV had three rows of tan seats, and she was sitting in the last row. The seats were comfortable and there was a TV built into the seat in front. "Fancy" Nova thought. Then she noticed the other three people in the car besides the other man she already met. They were slightly bigger than the man in the shades. The car started moving, and they drove in awkward silence

"Soo, are you going to tell me where we're going?" Nova asked after a couple minutes.

No answer

"Don't you think you owe me a little explanation?"

The guy sitting in front of her frowned.  "We can give you very limited information."

"Well, lets start with the basics, who is my new guardian?" 

The driver looked in the review mirror, and glanced at the man sitting in the row to the right of Nova. He hesitated, then said slowly: "Your mother."

Nova blinked slowly, processing the information. Her Mother? She thought her Mother was dead or something. Apparently she was wrong. 

"My m- Mom? She contacted the school?"

"No, her agency did. Hence us picking you up"

"Oh." Nova really didn't have an answer after that conversation, so she pulled out her phone, and put in headphones. She started listening to music, and reading a new book on Wattpad. Time passed quickly, and soon the sky was completely dark. Nova had run out of data. Great. It ended up being perfect timing, because the SUVs pulled up to a gas station, and all three agency men jumped out to talk with the others. 

Nova dug into her backpack for the few bucks Taunti left her, and tried to open the car door, but it wouldn't budge. So she crawled up to the passengers side, and slid out. 

The gas station was big, and had a large selection of food, and other random stuff to look through. Nova counted the money. 10 dollars all together. Not bad. She ran straight towards the clearance isle first to check if any bags of chips were on sale, (Sadly not) Before grabbing a charger and a pack of gummy snacks. She paid, and ran outside. 

But she found the parking lot empty. Shit. They must've forgot her. Nova started to panic. standing outside alone seemed a little frightening, so she headed inside again. 

"Are you alright honey?" The old lady behind the counter asked. 

"Not really. They men who were in charge of me left me behind on accident." Nova managed to speak between short breaths.

"Those guys in the SUV? They paid with a credit card, so I can see the provider's number. Would you like me to give them a call?" 

Nova felt a sense of relief, and a sense of needing the bathroom. "Yes please. I'm going to go to the bathroom quick, while you do that." 

"Sounds good dear." 

After the quick bathroom run, Nova turned the corner to face the cashier, and at least twenty faces stared at her, and they all started making calls as soon as they saw her. 

"client secured"

"We've found her again"

"No I don't know how she got out." 

Then they all turned to her again, and started on Nova, asking her why she escaped, and what she could possibly be doing. Nova had that feeling again, the world seemed too small again, her breaths came in short, and heavy. 

"Help. I c-can't breathe!" Nova's lungs seemed to not function, and she couldn't seem to think straight anymore. Who was even standing in front of her right now? She felt trapped in her body, and it was failing. 

The man who retrieved Nova from school quickly made his way towards her. He crouched down in front of Nova, and spoke in a low calm voice. 

"My name is Beaux Varen, and I'm your lead bodyguard. Your name is Nova Allen.  We are at a gas station, and you were lost for a couple minutes, but we found you. You're okay now. " 

Tears rolled down Nova's face. She cried in public two times in a row now. That's a new record. She wiped them away, and looked around. She'd dropped the charger, and pack of gummies, and quickly picked them up. "Thanks.. Beaux." 

"No problem. I would've been pretty shaken up if I were you." Beaux stood up again, and gave her a small smile, and then looked at the bag of gummies Nova was holding. "Did you want anything else, or are you ready to start driving again?" 

Nova was about to tell him that she didn't bring any more money, but he held up a black credit card. "You're the child of a multi billionaire. You won't have to worry about money ever again." 

Nova's eyes widened after hearing those words. "What's the budget?" 

"Sky's the limit. Just come right out when you're done. We're on a bit of a tight schedule." Beaux said, and headed back inside the SUV. 

 Money definitely doesn't buy happiness, but it could buy temporary comfort. It was like he said the magic words. Nova fast walked around the whole station, grabbing a blanket, an overpriced stuffed animal pillow that everyone looked at as a little kid, but never bought. Nova also bought numerous bags of chips, monster drinks, a power bank, chapstick, drawing supplies, and books.  She staggered out to the SUV, and quickly threw the bags in the back. 

"I can't believe Taunti's gone. It can't be real. I'd feel something if she was dead. I'd be bawling my eyes out, but I can't even feel anything right now. It has to all be a bad dream."  She thought. 

Once they started driving again, Nova pulled out her phone, and looked at the time, it was almost 12:30 at night. After reading this she yawned, and pulled the blanket over her. 

 Nova craned her head up to the drivers seat "Hey Beaux! When are we going to be there? "

Beaux looked over at her though the rear view mirror.

 "When we get there." 

Nova rolled her eyes, and looked at the window. 

"I hate it when adults say that." She said right before her eyes drooped closed.