~Stuck like glue~

Adelina looked at her phone for the umpteenth time. The messages she sent to her best friend hadn't ticked twice to show she read them. She was supposed to be in school today so they could go over a revision in calculus. Adelina's weakness was calculus which she always managed to scale through on an average but today more than ever, she needed Dolores to come to her aid.

It was way past third period and the girl still wasn't to be seen. "Did she decide to stay at home and didn't want to tell me? Or is she trying to get away from tutoring me?" Adelina wondered out aloud.

Nicolas wasn't present in class too and that got her on the edge of her seat. Although she talked herself out of the incessant worries in her head, she couldn't help but ruminate over why they would both be absent on a week day, at the same time. She toyed with the idea that they might have been out on a date but they were supposed to be in school studying for goodness sake. Not out on some dumb date. For Dolores, it was the case of boys come later.

So why the hell aren't you in school? You normally don't miss class except you get sick.

Throughout the entire teaching, she wasn't paying attention to the teachers. All she wanted to do was reach out to Dolores if she was fine and check up on her after school. Immediately after the bell signalled end of a period, Adelina whipped out her phone quickly to place a call through to Dolores. Something was not just right with her nerdy friend missing classes out of nowhere.

She looked at her watch while waiting for Dolores to pick up the call. She didn't. Adelina started to panic. She might have gotten into wrong hands and they might have taken away her phone on her way to school.

A hand slammed on the locker right next to her causing her to jump in fright. When she came to, she was peeved to see the smug smile on the face of her enemy. Carlos. She was no psychopath but the familiar weird urge to strangle him overwhelmed her and she welcomed it this time. He was standing a few inches closer and she could already imagine closing her fingers around his windpipes. That feeling gave her nothing but bliss.

"What's with that creepy smile plastered on your face? It's weird." He said. A corner of his perfect lips lifted in humour.

Perfect, huh?

"I don't want trouble now, Carlos. Dolores isn't in school which is very unlike her except... Hold on, I think I should be asking you. Where the hell have you kept her? Since she openly rejected you, you've been glaring at her with malice written all over your ugly face."

Carlos face scrunched up and his dark eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "I don't roll with your freak of a best friend so I have no idea where she has been." He made to walk away when his collar is tugged violently. He swung around and his eyes met with Adelina's whose aura reflected sparks of spite.

"If I find out that something unwelcome happened to her, I'll have your balls for that. Unshaved and all of those nasty things that could be done to a character on a paranormal book. Got it?" She didn't wait for his reply before she shoved him out of her face, stomping away angrily.

Stupid asshole!

Next on her list was putting a call through to the house if the housekeepers saw her leave in the morning. When she did, they responded in the affirmative. She really left for school. The question of where she would be lingered like a pestering fly in her head. Before long, it was time for another period and she moved her quest to after school hours. She would have to drive down to Dolores' apartment and if she wasn't home, she would fulfill her threats to Carlos.

°•°•°•°•°

Hurriedly stepping out of the large doors of the school, Adelina jumped the steps two steps at a time as she flew along to where her car was parked. She didn't mind that her brain was in overdrive and it seemed like she was overreacting but she wouldn't be able to live knowing Dolores wasn't in school even when it was reported that she left for school. She might have been kidnapped for all anyone knew. Dolores was a figurative social leper and so didn't have any friends.

She went to her call logs and tapped on a name. Her blue manicured nail hovered over her phone's screen. It was Dolores' Dad. She wanted to call him and confirm but on second thoughts, she decided against it and wanted to check the house first before coming to scary conclusions.

The engine revved up the moment she inserted her key in. She pulled out of the parking lot and headed towards the gate. Once more, she tried to reach out to Dolores to be sure she was in safe hands wherever she was. The phone rang but no one picked up the call. Adelina felt her fear heighten at the sound of the beep that ended an unanswered call.

Soon, she drove into Dolores' house and pulled up right before the customized cobblestones which served as steps into the big house.

"Dolores!" Adelina didn't mind the fact that she was out of breath from running or that she was gonna bring down the roof with her yelling. She just needed to be sure Dolores was indeed in the house and safe. It was very unlike her best friend to miss school without telling her or informing the school about it. That's how responsible and intentional she was.

She hurried up the stairs the moment it came into view. She couldn't get to Dolores' door fast enough. She opened it in a rush and couldn't stop her collision into someone at the door. All her brain registered was the flash of brown hair and familiar eyes.

"Ow! What was that for?" Dolores moaned in pain as her hand came up to rub the aching spot where Adelina had bumped into her.

Adelina scrambled up on her feet as her furious gaze rested upon her friend. "Where have you been Dolores Romero Huerta?"

"She's using the full name card now. I must have committed the greatest offence." Dolores muttered, turning to walk back to her bed.

Adelina gave a very exaggerated roll of her eyes, yet followed her in. "That's not what we are talking about now. Where have you been? Why didn't you show up in school today?"

"Hold on. Was that why you ran a marathon all the way from school? You could have just placed a call through instead of looking this disheveled because of me. I didn't go missing."

Adelina threw a nearby pillow at her face in anger. "Have you checked your phone lately? I've called you almost a million times- In school and on my way here. We both know you never miss school except unexpected reasons call for it. You just missed school and now you're acting like you did the most dutiful thing in the world. How responsible!"

"Oh, that." Dolores waved a hand carelessly. "It wasn't on purpose. Something came up and I had to attend to that. I didn't realize the day would go by so quickly."

Adelina pursed her lips as her green eyes squinted. Then she stretched her hand out to Dolores. "Give me your phone."

The latter stared in a confused manner but did as requested all the same.

Adelina felt like smashing her friend's head against the wall when she realized the phone was placed on silent. "Your phone was on silent all those times I was calling? Are you serious now?"

"What?" Dolores asked guiltily then she sighed. "I saw those calls but I needed my privacy."

"On a weekday? For Christ sake, Dolores, you didn't see a better day to need your privacy? You had me worried sick. I thought you were kidnapped, I thought something really bad happened to you. Hell, I even threatened to cut off Carlos' balls if he did something to you."

Dolores had her jaws kissing the ground in astonishment. "All of this just because I didn't tell you of my absence in school beforehand?"

When Adelina saw that her eyes were starting to water, she rushed up to her side. In a half embrace, she placed her hand around her. "You know you're the one dearest to my heart. I was sick worried about you. Don't give me that kind of scare next time." She chided.

"I won't. I promise." Dolores managed in a teary voice.

They pulled apart. "Where have you been then? Since you weren't in school and you weren't at home either."

"I got busy talking to Nicolas and I lost track of time." She stopped when she noticed Adelina's raised eyebrow. "Well, I got a call from someone who informed me that Nicolas was really unwell. I had to just check up on him."

"Really? What happened?"

"Nothing really. Some minor accident but he's fine now."

"Accident? Well, whatever. I don't know when disappearing from people became a priority on your list but you have to stop disappearing on your own. If you need someone to disappear with, I'd be here. Always and forever. Just hit me up and I'll be right there."

She watched as Dolores watered up again at her reassurance. She meant every word she said. She was not going to leave her hanging as long as she was alive. The same timid girl was the first to approach her when no one else did, including offering words of friendship when no one did. Dolores might not know it, but they were both in it for the longest time.

~~~{•}~~~

Another update guys.
I need your comments on how the book is coming along and how you're enjoying it.

Don't forget to leave a star below after reading this chapter.

~~Chignature~~