Sorry for the wait guys.
And I apologise in advance for the rest of the month and next month too. Exams are coming up so updates won't be regular.  Please you guys shouldn't hate on me for choosing academics over wattpad. It's the right thing to do.

For those that understand, thank you so much.

For those that don't care and just want to get on with reading the book,

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have done that." The girl with the straight hair kept pleading as another girl dressed in a rainbow cloak walked slowly towards her. "Please" the girl continued screaming but the hooded girl wouldn't listen. She kept going closer and closer until the screaming girl was covered in her cloak. The hooded girl  continued walking but the screaming girl had disappeared. What came out from beneath the cloak instead, was a simple brown paper. A brown paper with 'Missing' as the caption and a girl's face. Amanda's face.

As I opened my eyes, memories of the dream came back to me. The straight haired girl, the hooded girl and most especially, Amanda's picture. It's been a long time since I had bad dreams and I had never dreamt about Amanda so why now?

I rubbed my eyes jumped down from my bed. Today, aunt Marie and I were going to church. I'd taken much time to pick out the dress I was going to wear because it had been a long time since I last went to church. It's not that I stopped believing in God -I would never do that -but dad had stopped us from attending our former church. He'd promised us that we'd start going to the Baptist church down the road but that never happened. We just stuck to online services. But today, I was going to 'House of grace'. It's aunt Marie's church. Although today, we'd be attending a wedding.

"Hurry up Barbara, we don't want to get there and meet them exchanging gifts." I heard aunt Marie shout down the hall.

"I'm sorry. I'll be ready in thirty minutes max ." Hopefully.

_________________

"Why is he crying?" Ever since the bride stepped into the church with her father, the groom had been crying.

"It's probably because he can't believe he's finally marrying the Queen of his heart." Aunt Marie replied, clapping and cheering.

"Oh." I didn't think about that. I'd thought he was crying because he was forced to marry her. Who was I kidding? This woman was a pure definition of beauty. Why won't a man want to marry her? Um, hello.  They don't get married to beauty alone. You know, character, dedication etc.  These are important too. You're right.

They said their vows and the priest blessed the rings.

Soon, we were heading over to the reception ground.

"You know I made that dress." Aunt Marie said proudly when the bride came out wearing a second dress. This was was a golden gown with lots of stones on it that shone under the rays of the sun.  Before I knew what was going on, aunt Marie was being dragged away by a woman I barely recognised.

"You came with someone?" A voice said over my head.

"Yes. She just got up a few seconds ago." I replied without looking up.

"Oh, okay. My sister's the bride though." She said in a tone I didn't like. I turned to look at her. Tall, slim with a face packed with makeup. Lots of makeup. "So' she dragged the word,' I thought you were someone important. Your dress, you know.  You know Charles?" I shook my head. "Olivia?" I shook my head again. "Jeez! You don't know anyone then. I better be going. Charis!" She screamed with a high pitched voice -probably fake -at a girl walking in the opposite direction and cat walked to meet her.

I let out a sigh and stood up before anymore slay queens came to give me a headache. Aunt Marie wasn't back yet and I was getting thirsty. Luckily, the kitchen wasn't far from where I stood. Just a glass of water  and I'll be out before aunt Marie comes back.

After drinking to my satisfaction, I started heading back to the reception ground when something caught my eye. The bride. I don't know if it was the thought of finding aunt Marie that drew me to the window or something else.

Looking closely, I realised the person she was talking to wasn't aunt Marie but a man. A rather handsome man if I must say. Maybe her brother.

I knew I was overstepping boundaries but I just couldn't drag myself away. I was too curious.

"You know we shouldn't be doing this, Olivia?" So she's the Olivia.

"But... But." She started crying and he held her. Kissed her. And I don't mean a -you'll-be-okay- kiss on the forehead. He was kissing her lips. I have no brother but I do know that brothers don't kiss sisters the way he was kissing her.
Barbara, this doesn't concern you. Walk away.
I wanted to but I heard him speak again.

"I'll always love you. Even if you're married to him." He cupped her face again. I would have said it was a romantic thing to do if she wasn't wearing a wedding dress. If she didn't have that shiny ring on her fourth finger. Enough Barbara! Finally, my legs listened to the voice in my head and walked away from them and straight to the reception ground.

There, I met aunt Marie.

"Where went you?".

"The kitchen. I was thirsty." I replied and sat down on my seat. "Aunt Marie, does the bride have brothers?".

Aunt Marie smile at me. " No. I know she's beautiful right? She'd have had equally handsome brothers. Was that why you asked?".

"Yes." I lied. I couldn't tell her my main reason for asking.

"Don't worry B. There are plenty of hot guys around. Wait! I shouldn't be telling you that." She cleared her throat. "Barbara," she started in a fake tone. "You should be focused on your studies and not thinking about boys."

I laughed. "Alright." From a distance, I saw a very familiar face in the crowd. "Darlene." She was walking towards the kitchen and stopped abruptly. She turned around, trying to locate where the call had come from.

I stood up and waved at her.

"Who's that?" Aunt Marie asked.

"My friend. Darlene kiz. I'll be right back." I said and walked down to meet her.

"Barbara! What are you doing here? Know the bride?" She hugged me. At the word bride, I felt like throwing up.

"No. I came with my aunt and"

"You have an aunt?" She cut me off.

"Yes. I've been living with her for sometime now so..." I remembered Darlene knew nothing about my family so I stopped.

"Oh, alright. How about Aurora? I saw her last week with her boyfriend. She explained that you haven't had time to come visit. I hope you're alright. No school stress?".

"Nope. I've just been busy." I said calmly.

"It's okay. You look beautiful"

"Thank you. My aunt made the dress as well as the bride's. "

"Wow! She must be super talented then. I'm a friend of the groom. Brian is super lucky to have Olivia as his wife."

Cheating wife. I don't see how someone is lucky to have such a wife.

Judging from first sight.

Who are you and what have you done to my subconscious?

"Barbara" Darlene called. I think she'd been talking and I wasn't paying attention.

"I'm sorry. I was thinking."

"Is something wrong?"

"No. Nothing's wrong." My subconscious was right. This didn't concern me. I wasn't going to ruin a marriage -which already is ruined -by snitching.

"I hope you're telling the truth."

I desperately wanted to change the subject. "What about Cassandra. Did she come too?"

Darlene shook her head. "That workaholic wouldn't leave her computer for her friend's wedding. Brian was so mad when she called and said she couldn't make it. She had to promise to make it up to them later. Oh! That reminds me. I have a gift for Olivia. I'll talk to you later". She turned and headed in the direction of the kitchen. 

___________
It had been hours since we left the wedding venue and I still couldn't get the picture of Olivia and -I-don't-know-what-to-call-him- out of my mind.

"Barbara, Cameron's here to see you!" Aunt Marie shouted from the kitchen.

"I'm coming."

I got downstairs and met a very worried looking Cameron.

"What's up?"

"Eric and Rory thought it was okay to have a holiday towards exam period."

"I don't understand."

"Her mother called and I think Rory gave her my number as a teacher's number. She said Rory hasn't been home in two days and Rory told her about some group assignment. I called Rory and she said she lied to her mother that she was staying at your house."

"That means, she'll be going to find her in my house. "

He nodded. "I know you guys are not in good terms and she's too proud to ask but she needs your help. Will you help her?"

Should she?

Sorry I had to do this.
Someone mentioned they don't have original names.
Barbara, Aurora, Eric, Cameron, Amanda, Mark, Eunice, Marie, Hailey and Laney (you know,Eminem) and a whole lot of others. Or is it Almond? I have a friend named almond. I mean people even bear 'stone' as names.  Every name is original. My name's even ATURE. 

Once again, I'm going to apologise and I'm going to be doing this a lot the whole of next month.

I appreciate all those who'll put up with all the inconsistency. I love y'all.  😘😘😘.

Does anyone actually read all these footnotes?
Like seriously, do y'all?
Or do you just feel like the main story is over, lemme flip over to the next page.