Chapter Twelve

Today is Sunday. I get into a modest floral dress, smiling into my mirror. I'm quite excited that Sebastian is coming with us. It will be quite the adventure. I feel the expected text at exactly nine thirty. I smile at his punctuality. I rush to his car because I don't want to be late.

"Sebastian!"

"Hey, Nia. You look great." He is wearing khakis and a button down shirt.

We begin to drive to Mass, and I give him the proper directions. When we arrive, we are a few minutes early. We sit in a middle pew. Trent and Kim aren't here yet. I don't know what their plans are, so we don't save them a seat.

After Mass, I introduce Sebastian to Trent and Kim. They seem delighted when meeting him, even Trent. I also introduce Sebastian to a priest and a few random parishioners.

When we get in the car, I remember something important and blurt it out to Sebastian.
"Sebastian, I totally forgot to tell you! I invited Kim and Trent to brunch. I wish I could have warned you. This is dreadful!" He just chuckles slightly.

"It's fine. I wondered why you didn't invite them before. Now I know you did invite them." A smile spreads across my face at this.

"Oh good. So, how did you like Mass?" I feel a little bad for practically forcing him to come. I didn't mean to.
"It was beautiful. The choir and the Mass were both wonderful. I didn't understand everything that was going on, but I remember a little about it from when I was a kid."

"Did you go to Mass with your family when you were a kid?"

"Yes. We were practicing Catholics, but it's been a long time. I haven't gone to Mass since I was about fourteen."

"That is a long time." There is a gap in our conversation. I decide to fill it.

"I'm glad you came today. What did you think of Trent and Kim? I know you barely talked to them and that you will talk to them more today, but what are your first impressions?"

"They both seem very nice and just the way you described them."

"Oh good. You know, you're the first person I've ever introduced to them. They are usually the people introducing me to other people." He grins, but his grins sort of fades into a frown.

"How come? Did you not like them meeting your other friends?" I feel the biggest blush I have ever felt come to my cheeks. I don't think I've felt this embarrassed about something in front of Sebastian.

"Uh, well, uh, so, you're my first, like, actual friend." It was probably hard to understand what I was saying in that jumble, but I think he got the idea because his eyes widen slightly, slowly going back to normal after a few seconds.

"Oh, well, I'm honored to be introduced to them." My blush deepened.

"Anyways." I should have just said yes before. I had to be the way that I am and say that in the most awkward way. I sigh. We pull up to the place where we're having brunch. It's a small breakfast place. I smile at it.

"Here we are. Thanks for this, Sebastian."

We get out of the car. I send a text to Trent and Kim to let them know we're here. We walk in, and Sebastian gets us a table. We make our way to it and sit down. We sit across from each other, but I wonder if we should be sitting side-by-side. Kim and Trent could sit side-by-side as well. I frown.

"Do you want to sit side-by-side so that they can sit side-by-side?" After I say this, I blush.

"Oh, yes. That's probably smarter." He stands and slides next to me. I smile, willing my blush to go away.

"Nice. I wonder what's taking them s-"

"Hey guys."

"Hello." Sebastian does an awkward wave thing that brings me to a giggle. He frowns at me playfully.

"Hey guys. Sorry for the hold up. We had to get gas." Trent says this while sitting beside Kim.

"No problem."

"So, where are you from, Sebastian?" Of course Trent had to say something like this. I smile at this, realizing I also have no clue where he's from.

"I'm from CA."

"Oh, that's nice." That's all Trent says in response. Kim decides to speak up as well. Hopefully she doesn't say something strange.

"So, what's goin-"I snap my attention away from her and look at Sebastian for some reason, not catching the rest of what she said. Sebastian says something I don't catch, and the waiter comes over to our table.

The rest of brunch is a bit awkward and mostly consists of small talk. Sebastian takes me to my dorm.

~~~

I feel a buzz against my leg. I check it, thinking it's Sebastian. It's not. It's my mom. She's video chatting me. I smile. It's been a while since we talked. I answer, propping my phone up on my side table so I could sign.
"Hey mom. What's up?" Her phone is also propped up already so she responds with a weak smile.

"Nia! I've been worried sick about you!" I frown. Why's she worried?

"Why mom? What's wrong?"

"Haven't you heard? Hasn't Trent told you?" I shake my head. She continues talking.

"You need to be careful. Look at the news from your campus and be careful! Text me when you're well informed."

"Okay, will do mom."

"Alright, take care."

"Alright. Bye mom, love you."

"Bye, love you."

I frown at that whole conversation. I'm a little concerned to say the least. I go to my phone and go to some sort of newspaper. I find what my mom was talking about. There is a picture of several girls that seem to be unconscious. The article says this: 'Several young ladies have been murdered. The cause of death is unknown, but there are signs that it's the same person killing them. Each girl seems to be random, but Detective Rudy has said that this could be a serial killer of some sort.'

I feel my frown deepen as I read this. I look at more recent stuff. I see the update, and my eyes widen in horror as I read.

'It seems that each victim was killed by a phone. The killer simply leaves the phone face down and kills the young ladies with no other thought. The phone apparently makes a noise that is such a high frequency that it kills whoever hears it. Whoever is doing this got sloppy one day and left the phone behind after killing one of their victims.'

I don't bother reading anymore. I feel a little bit concerned as I realize this is around me and I didn't even know about it. I look closer at the pictures and realize I know one of the victims. I feel the depression of it all. I will have to be more careful of where I go and what I do. I feel slightly selfish thinking of myself and my own safety at a time like this when there are already people dead, but I can't help it.

~~~

I'm walking beside Sebastian. We are walking along the lake.

"Okay, so you're telling me you've actually never been to a pool?" He says this with a frown. I laugh slightly at his face.

"No. My parents were too scared I wouldn't- I don't know. They wouldn't let me."

"Wow. Your parents sound cruel." I shake my head.

"They really weren't. They are just a little overprotective, which is why I get to do all these things for the first time now. That's not a bad thing."

"Yeah. It's also not necessarily a good thing." I breathe out a sigh.

"Yeah..."

"Well, either way, I'm taking you to a pool!" I frown.

"I don't know. I can't swim."

"Don't worry about that. There's a shallow end."

"Oh?" I'm confused. I didn't know there was a shallow end at the pool.

"Yup." He continues talking. "What did you do on lazy days? I mean, when you had free time?" I reply with a smile.

"Well, I always liked to read and garden. I like to braid hair and such."

"That's cool." I blush slightly.

"Yeah, I know. Everything I like doing is slightly girly, but I don't have skills in anything else. So. What do you like to do on 'lazy days'?"

"Oh, I don't have lazy days." I frown.

"Wow. So what do you do in general then?"

"Well, I work as a waiter, and I have school. I have another job as well." He doesn't say what the 'other job' is. I don't question it.

"That's boring. You need hobbies as well. You have to balance work with things you like to do."

"Hmmm, I never said I don't do things I 'like to do'. As a matter of fact, I spend time hanging out with you and..." I blush, looking away before he can finish his sentence.

"Oh." I look back at him. For some reason a frown is on his lips. I frown as well.

"We should probably get you back now..." I'm a little surprised, but I don't say anything.

"Okay..."

The whole car ride is sort of awkward. Something made Sebastian act strangely. I keep stealing glances at him. He looks so serious all of the sudden. When we make it back to my apartment, I bend over to give him a kiss on a cheek.

"Thanks, see you soon." I slip out of the car and to my dorm room.