Chapter 20
20
A lex
I wake up the next morning, the early sunlight filtering through the curtains and casting a warm glow across the room. I glance to my right, but Jake isn’t there. The bed’s empty.
I’m not surprised. Jake must have left before I woke up.
A sense of contentment lingers from last night, mixed with a touch of longing to see him again.
I stretch and get out of bed. I head to the living room and notice a small note on the coffee table. Curious, I pick it up.
Alex,
I didn’t want to wake you, so I decided to leave quietly. Last night was incredible, and I can’t wait to see you again tonight for our date. You’re truly special, and I’m looking forward to getting to know you even better.
- Jake
A smile spreads across my face. He’s so sweet and thoughtful, yet there’s a shyness about him that I find endearing. The connection we shared last night feels deep and genuine, and his note only strengthens that feeling.
I carefully fold the note and tuck it away. My thoughts are filled with anticipation for our date tonight. There’s so much I want to learn about Jake, so much I want to share with him.
After a quick shower and breakfast, I decide to head over to Opal’s place. I want to check on her and make sure she’s doing okay after everything that happened yesterday. I grab my keys and head out the door, my thoughts still drifting back to Jake and our date tonight.
The city is bustling as I make my way to Opal’s apartment. When I arrive, I knock on her door and wait, hoping she’s up and about.
The door opens, and Opal greets me with a tired but relieved smile. “Alex, hey! Come in.”
“Hey, Opal,” I say, stepping inside. “I wanted to check on you, see how you’re doing after everything.”
She gestures for me to sit down on the couch, and I can see the signs of a restless night in her eyes. “I’m okay, I guess. Still shaken, but Kathy stayed over, which helped a lot.”
“Good,” I reply, feeling a sense of relief. “I’m glad she was here for you. Do you want to talk about it?”
Opal sighs, running a hand through her hair. “It’s just so surreal, you know? Being grabbed like that and not knowing why… It’s terrifying, but having you and Kathy around makes it easier.”
“We’re here for you,” I assure her, reaching out to squeeze her hand, “and we’ll figure out who did this and why.”
Opal nods, looking grateful. “Thank you, Alex. That means a lot.”
We spend the next hour talking, the conversation ranging from the events of the past day to lighter topics. It’s good to see Opal smile and laugh, even if just for a little while. I tell her about Jake, and she teases me a bit, which feels like a return to normalcy.
“So, you have a date with him tonight?” Opal asks, a mischievous glint in her eye.
“Yeah,” I admit, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. “He left a really sweet note this morning. I’m looking forward to it.”
“You deserve some happiness after everything,” Opal says warmly. “I hope it goes well.”
“Thanks, Opal,” I reply, smiling. “I hope so too.”
I decide to probe a bit deeper into what happened to Opal. Maybe there’s something she overheard or saw that could give us a clue about who took her and why. I sit back down and look at her with a reassuring smile.
“Opal, before I go, I wanted to ask you if you remember anything else about what happened. Anything at all could be helpful.”
She takes a deep breath, her expression turning serious. “I’ve been trying to piece it together. I didn’t see much, but there were a few things I overheard.”
I lean in, encouraging her to continue. “What did you hear?”
“There were two voices,” she begins, her brow furrowing in concentration. “One of them was giving orders, and the other seemed to be following instructions. They mentioned something about ‘the target’ and ‘timing.’ It sounded like they had a plan, but I couldn’t make out much more.”
“Did they say anything specific about you?” I ask gently. “Why they took you?”
Opal shakes her head, frustration evident on her face. “No, they didn’t mention my name or give any indication why they grabbed me. It’s like I was just… in the wrong place at the wrong time, but they did say something about needing to ‘send a message.’ I don’t know what that means.”
I nod, absorbing the information. “Did you recognize the voices at all? Anything familiar about them?”
She closes her eyes for a moment, thinking hard. “No, I didn’t recognize them, but one of them had an accent, like maybe Eastern European or something. It was faint, but it stood out to me.”
I jot down these details in my mind, trying to piece together the puzzle. “That’s really helpful, Opal. We’ll figure this out. And don’t worry, we’ll make sure you’re safe.”
Opal looks at me with gratitude. “Thanks, Alex. It’s just so scary not knowing why this happened, but having you here makes it easier to deal with.”
I give her a comforting smile. “We’re in this together. I’ll keep digging and see what I can find out. Just take it easy and try to rest.”
She nods, visibly more relaxed. “I will. Thanks, Alex.”
As I stand to leave, I give her a hug, feeling her relief and gratitude. “Call me if you need anything, okay?”
“Okay,” she says, hugging me back. “Be careful out there.”
I step out of her apartment with a renewed sense of purpose. Today is about supporting my friend, but tonight is about exploring something new and exciting with Jake. It’s a balance I’m ready to embrace, and with each step, I feel more confident in the path ahead.