Chapter 57: Let’s go out…..

It’s already evening when I finally get a chance to breathe. I’m sitting on the edge of my bed with my burner phone pressed against my ear, listening to Olivia ramble about everything that has happened since she left.

I smile as I listen.

"Wait, you’re telling me Nathaniel actually said that?"

"Yes!"

I laugh.

"That man is unbelievable."

"I know."

We talk for a few more minutes, mostly about random things and nothing important.

And honestly, I need that.

I miss her so much, I miss having someone around who already knows me, someone I don’t have to explain myself to.

Eventually, we say our goodbyes.

"Call me tomorrow," she says.

"I will."

"And Rissa?"

"Hmm?"

"Please be careful."

I smile.

"I will."

"I’m serious."

"I know."

"Good."

She hangs up and I’m left staring at the screen for a moment before tossing my phone onto the bed.

The room is still...almost too still.

I look around.

My clothes are scattered across the bed and the open suitcases.

I never actually finished unpacking yesterday.

Between getting ready for the event and everything else, I only managed to put away half of my things.

So I get up and start arranging the clothes again.

Fold.

Hang.

Fold.

Hang.

It should be boring but somehow, I’m enjoying having something simple to do.

My mind wanders while I work.

Mostly to Cassian.

It hasn’t escaped me that he hasn’t called since I got here.

Not once.

Maybe they finally figured Oli I missing, along side Nathaniel and hw thinks I have something to do with their disappearance.

No scratch that....he knows I have something to do with their disappearance.

I know Cass.

He’s probably hurt or angry..... probably both.

Maybe he’s giving me space because he thinks I need it or maybe he’s waiting for me to call first.

I sigh.

I’ll give him one more day, then I’ll call him.

I pick up another dress and fold it neatly.

I shouldn’t worry, he’s probably fine.

Still...i miss him.

I shove the thought aside and continue arranging my clothes.

I’m so absorbed in what I’m doing that I don’t hear my phone ring the first time.

It’s only when it rings again that I finally notice.

I jump startled.

"Jesus."

It’s about time I took Olivia’s advice and changed the shrill tone my phone plays when it’s ringing.

I look toward the bed, my phone is vibrating against the sheets.

Maybe It’s Cassian finally Calling.

I immediately rush over.

Maybe he finally decided to call.

I grab my phone but my excitement disappears when I see the number.

Unknown.

I stare at it.

Who the hell is calling me?

I almost ignore it.

Almost.

But curiosity wins so I swipe answering the call.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Nerissa!"

I blink.

The cheerful voice on the other end has a slight accent. I know that voice.

I smile.

"Hi, Bella."

"That’s what you’re calling me?"

I laugh.

"I can call you that, right?"

"Girl, it’s fine. You can call me whatever you want. I prefer that to Isabella anyways."

I chuckle.

"Okay, Bella."

"Perfect."

I can practically hear her smiling through the phone.

"How are you?" I ask her.

"I’m fineeeee."

She laughs.

"How are you?"

"I’m okay."

"Perfect."

There’s a brief pause. Then her voice suddenly becomes excited again.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing."

I look around at the clothes covering my bed.

"Well, technically I’m arranging my things."

"That is boring."

I laugh.

"I’m sorry my life isn’t exciting enough for you."

"It isn’t."

"Rude."

She giggles.

"Do you wanna go out?"

I stop folding.

"Out?"

"Yes."

"To where?"

"A new place that just opened."

I sit on the edge of the bed.

"Uh..."

I hesitate.

"I don’t know, Bella."

"Come on."

"It’s already evening."

"So?"

I glance toward the window, the sky outside is already getting darker.

"I barely know the city."

"That’s why you have me as your tour guide."

"That’s exactly why I’m concerned."

She laughs.

"Very funny."

I smile.

"I don’t know."

"Come onnnnn."

I hear something in the background.

Voices.

Music, maybe?.

She’s obviously somewhere already.

"I already told my friend I was coming with my sister-in-law."

I blink.

"Your sister-in-law?"

"Yes."

"You told your friend I’m coming before asking me?"

"Obviously."

I laugh.

"Bella!"

"What?"

"You can’t do that."

"I just did."

"That’s not how invitations work."

"It is now."

I shake my head, laughing.

"Come onnnnnn. Pretty please?"

I stare at my half-unpacked suitcase, then at the clothes on the bed.

Honestly...i could use a break.

And I did promise her we’d see each other again.

"Okay, fine."

"Yes!"

Her excitement is immediate.

"But...."

"No buts."

"I was going to ask how you even got my number."

She giggles.

"Shhhhh."

I laugh.

"Bella."

"It’s a secret."

"What?"

"A very important secret."

"You stole it from Lysander, didn’t you?"

"I said it’s a secret."

I laugh again.

"Okay."

"Just dress up."

"Dress up?"

"Yes."

"For where?"

"You’ll see."

I groan.

"You’re being suspicious."

"You’ll survive."

She pauses.

"I’ll come pick you up."

"When?"

"In..."

I hear her thinking.

"Let’s say an hour."

"An hour?"

I look down at myself then around my room.

"I haven’t even....."

"Yeah, okay. Byeeeee!"

"Isabella!"

The line goes dead.

I stare at my phone for a while then I burst out laughing.

"What the hell?"

I drop the phone onto the bed.

One hour.

I look at my clothes then at the

I have absolutely no idea where we’re going.

I don’t know who her friend is, I don’t know what this new place is.

And apparently, I don’t even get a say in whether I’m attending.

I shake my head.

Bella is insane.

But somehow...i’m smiling.

I pick up my phone again. My thumb hovering over Cassian’s name.

For a moment, I’m tempted to call him but I stop.

Tomorrow.

I’ll call him tomorrow.

Tonight, I’m going out and hopefully, whatever Bella has planned doesn’t get me killed, that’s becoming a genuine concern around here.