Chapter 27
Buzz buzz… buzz buzz. I slowly pry open my sleep-crusted eyes, focusing on the repetitive vibrating noise.
Buzz… buzz. It’s so dark in here that I reach my arm over, patting the bed, searching for Theo’s body.
My hand grazes across his arm. I finally turned over and slapped my hand along my nightstand, searching for my buzzing phone. What time is it?
“Hello, Michelle?” I whisper, trying not to wake Theo. I hear her shuffling on the other end. “Olive, honey, I’m sorry to call you this late. Is Nora with you?” I can hear the urgency in her tired tone.
I pause for a second, dread heating my entire body.
I pop up, scooting to the edge of my bed. “Uh, no, she’s not here. I thought she was at home with you guys?” I press.
Michelle lets out a long, shaky sigh. “She was. She had gone up to her room around 8 p.m. Daniel and I had cut a movie on and ended up falling asleep, and we just woke up and realized Nora wasn’t home. And she’s not answering my phone calls.” Her voice cracks.
I close my eyes, laying my head in my hand. This is not like Nora; where the hell would she be at this time of night? I calm my breathing and brainstorm. “Maybe she couldn’t sleep and went to Jake’s gravestone, considering what day it is?” I theorize.
Daniel mutters something in the background.
I take a deep breath. “Let me figure this out. Please try not to worry. I’ll find her.”
Michelle sniffles quietly. “She has been hurting for a while now, and I just hope she knows we love her and want her back home.” Her voice breaks.
My throat tightens as I reassure her that Nora is okay before hanging up. I use my phone light to locate my sweats on the floor, accidentally slamming my phone back down on the nightstand, forgetting that Theo is still asleep just feet away.
I hear him shuffle around in the bed. Once my sweats are on, I snatch my phone, dialing Nora’s number.
The phone rings over and over. I try a couple more times with no answer.
I swiped through, going to my text, realizing she had never answered my “I love you” text from yesterday evening.
My heart quickens with every minute that passes.
“Olive, what’s going on?” Theo groans out from the bed.
I cut on the small lamp on the nightstand, trying to calm the storm inside me.
I sigh heavily. “It’s Nora. She’s not at home, and she’s not answering phone calls. I may know where she is, and I need to get there now.”
Theo rubs his eyes before running his hand through his sleepy hair. He reaches over and taps the screen on my phone. “Olive, it’s 2:20 in the morning. I don’t think you need to drive, considering you drank a decent amount last night,” he admits calmly.
I know he’s right, but I have no choice. She’s my sister, and it’s my turn to be there for her.
“Either you take me, or I’m driving, Theo. I need to go NOW!” I bark louder than I expected.
Theo’s expression stays neutral as he gives me a quick, understanding nod. He then jumps out of the bed and dresses within seconds. “Let’s go, baby.”
Lottie whimpers at the end of the bed, wagging her little pompom tail. I give her a quick kiss on the head before exiting my bedroom. “We’ll be back soon. Go back to sleep, sweet girl,” I say under my breath.
As much as I know Danielle would have wanted to help, there was no time for us to spend waking her and Chase up to fill them in.
Honestly, I should already be at the gravesite.
Theo gases his car, feeling my urgency to get there.
My chest is heavy, staring into the endless night.
The uncertainty eating at my flesh as we drive in dead silence.
Nothing but the car engine and my toxic thoughts ring in my ears.
I replay last night in my head. Not once did I check to see if Nora reached out, which she didn’t. But I should have checked in periodically, even if I never received a response from her.
Once we arrived at Taylor’s party, so much had transpired that it slipped my mind. By the time we left, I was still buzzed, and adrenaline coursed through me from the events that took place. Once we got home, the boys stayed, and we all crashed around 12:30 a.m. I’m the worst little sister.
“Olive, I don’t know where to go,” Theo says softly, squeezing my trembling hand. Focus, Olive. I glance at the time again—it’s 2:42 a.m. Why does it feel like we’ve been in this damn car for an hour? I look back up at the road.
“Oh, shit. Turn left here!” I shout.
Theo quickly veers into the graveyard, and I motion him to continue straight. Please be here, please be here. I keep repeating those words while frantically searching for Nora’s car.
“Stop right here, please.” Theo hits the brakes and puts the car in park. I jump out and search for Jake’s gravestone using my phone’s flashlight. “Here it is,” I mumble under my breath.
But there’s no sign of Nora or her car parked anywhere. It’s just Theo and me surrounded by loved ones who have passed. My chest aches. I was so sure she would be here. Or maybe I just made myself believe that to protect myself from the worst.
I glance back, shining my phone’s light onto Jake’s gravestone. I notice flowers and a photo leaning against the right side of the stone—fresh daisies, to be exact. I gently rub the petals between my fingers before picking up the photo propped beside them.
It shows Nora and Jake in their first picture together when they were still in high school. Jake stands behind her, giving her a bear hug and kissing her cheek. Nora is laughing, her eyes nearly closed from joy. She looked so happy and in love.
I flip over the picture, and to my surprise, I find Nora’s gorgeous handwriting.
Sunday, 12:00 a.m.
Happy Birthday, Jake. I miss you so damn much that you haunt my mind and dreams, breaking my heart all over again. It’s all I have left of you, so I accept it.
I will love you forever. I can’t wait to be with you again.
XOXO your Nora
I stare blankly at her words, feeling guilt build in the corners of my eyes. Nora was here, but where is she now? She doesn’t seem to hang out with anyone that I know of. My mind wanders momentarily, searching for answers I don’t have.
A warm hand gently rests on my shoulder, and I turn my head slightly to look up at Theo. He gives me a half-smile that doesn’t fully reach his eyes. I’m sure he can read the defeat written in bold letters all over my face. Theo clears his throat. “Is there anywhere else she might be?”
I shrug my shoulders, feeling helpless. What if she’s somewhere crying alone? Or worse, what if she’s hurt? Every worst-case scenario races through my mind.
I blow out a shaky breath. “I don’t know—” I freeze momentarily as an imaginary lightbulb flickers violently above my head. “Our mom’s,” I whisper, the words barely escaping my lips.
Somehow, Theo hears me, releases my shoulder, and quickly approaches his car. He then calls over his shoulder, “Tell me where to go, babe.”
Mom isn’t answering her phone, and it’s no surprise—it’s almost three in the morning.
But that doesn’t matter; I need to see that Nora isn’t there.
I motion for Theo to turn left into the neighborhood.
Embarrassment washes over me, making my already flushed skin feel even warmer.
I never intended for him to come here or potentially meet my mother.
What if she’s high or drunk? My thoughts drift back to when I stopped by her place a month ago; the yard and house were messy. I can only be thankful that it’s nighttime, and most things aren’t visible right now.
Instant relief floods through me when I spot Nora’s car parked in the driveway.
It’s weird that she would come here instead of calling me.
She knows she’s always welcome to stay with Danielle and me.
But I don’t even care right now. I am just relieved that I found her.
She probably just fell asleep after going to visit Jake.
But something in my gut tells me I need to make sure.
We didn’t drive all the way here for nothing.
I need to see her physically to ease this nagging gut feeling.
I tell Theo to wait in the car while I knock on the door.
I want to avoid him meeting my mom, especially since it is an unexpected visit in the middle of the night.
Mainly because there is no telling what state Jewels is in right now.
It is pitch black, except for the headlights from Theo’s car. And there are no lights on in the house, which tells me that whoever is in there is asleep. I stop by Nora’s car, checking through the dark window—no Nora.
Once I reach the front door, I give a couple of light knocks, listening for footsteps on the other side of the door—nothing but silence.
I knock again, but it’s more of an aggressive pound this time.
I hear shuffling from inside the house, and the living room light flicks on shortly after.
I see the blinds bend, someone peeking through. My patience is running thin.
Mom swings the door open. She’s wearing the rose-colored robe she’s had since Nora and I were kids.
Her curly hair is pulled back into a messy bun, with sprigs sticking out in all directions.
Confusion fills her tired eyes. “Olive, what in the hell are you doing here at this time of night?” she mutters.
I swivel my head, glancing past her to see if I can spot Nora in the living room, but Mom quickly pulls the door shut behind her, blocking my view.
She must have a guy in there, probably some low-life piece of shit.
I can’t believe I brought Theo here. Honestly, it doesn’t even matter at this point.
I just need to know where the fuck my sister is!
A wave of dread and panic washes over me again.
My words come out strained. “Mom, is Nora in there?” I already know the answer, but I ask anyway.