Work in Progress

Chapter 44: Where's Eli?

*SAM'S POV*

I look at my phone. It's been thirty minutes since Eli said she'd be here. Normally I wouldn't be worried but even if Eli was taking her time it would've just taken her twenty minutes max to get here. Even more worrying is that she hasn't texted that she'll be late. She always texts me when she's running late. What if she got into an accident while texting? No, that wouldn't happen. She never texts while biking. We've FaceTimed a few times while she was biking but I soon learned to drop any effort of talking to her because she was too concentrated on paying attention to her surroundings. She's always been safe and responsible. So why isn't she here now? Why hasn't she texted or called?

Ten more minutes pass. I try calling her. No answer. Again. Still no answer.

I can't take this anymore.

I decide to go to her place. I shake any thought of being a crazy clingy girlfriend because this is Eli we're talking about. I didn't put much thought to it but... ever since we ran into her friends at the gas station, I've noticed she's been a little on edge. It wasn't anything major. At least not enough that I thought I should ask her about it... but maybe I should have. Come to think of it, her voice was a little shaky earlier. Damn it, Sam.

Finally, I make it to Eli's place. There was no sign of her on the way so hopefully, she's just home and maybe... I don't know.

I knock aggressively on the door. "Eli! Eli! El--!"

The door opens and I breathe in relief but immediately become disappointed.

"Ouch. That's the same look my mother gave me when I said I didn't get into her alma mater." Tera jokes but I just push past her.

"Eli! Are you here?" I look around wildly and check her bedroom and bathroom. Nowhere. She wasn't here.

"Hey, hey, hey what's going on?" Tera stops me and grips my shoulders, a worried look on her face.

"We were supposed to meet. But it's been forty minutes and she hasn't texted me or called me back. She always texts me when she's late. And when we were on the phone I think I heard her voice shaking but I'm not sure because I was too excited to eat yogurt with her. And I'm scared that something happened because I think she's been on edge ever since we saw her drug dealer friends three weeks ago. And--"

"Okay, okay. Sit down for a moment." Tera leads me to the couch and sits beside me. She takes out her phone all the while looking at me reassuringly.

"She's not taking my call either. I'll try Vanessa."

"Who's that?"

"Her drug dealer friend." Tera explains and I look at her surprised. "I met her a few times and Eli gave me her number in case I couldn't reach her."

I nod then focus on the ringing from Tera's phone. I immediately sit up when the ringing was cut midway.

"Vanessa! Hi it's me, Tera, Eli's friend." Pause. "Yeah, do you know where she is? It's just that we were supposed to meet a while ago and she hasn't texted back or taken my calls. She told me she ran into you and Evan last week..."

Wait. Evan? As in the one that made Eli clench her jaw like a stone Evan?

"Alright, thank you."

I look at Tera expectantly.

"She says she'll try calling Evan." Tera squeezes my hand to comfort me but I could see that she was worried as well. We both jump when her phone starts ringing.

"Hello?" Pause. "Are you sure?" Pause. "Shit. Ok. We'll pick you up."

I could feel my heart drop to the ground.

"Sam? Sam!" I feel Tera shaking my shoulders. "Hey, we know where Eli is. Don't worry."

"How?" I stare at her blankly, the rest of the world fading into a blur.

"Vanessa tracked her phone..." A pause. What isn't she telling me? I give her a look demanding her to continue. "She's at the same place Evan is... an abandoned lot just outside of town."

I couldn't process what she was saying. No. I actually could. I just didn't want to think about what that meant.

"C'mon. We have to go. We're picking up Vanessa on the way." Tera pulls me up and picks up my keys that I had dropped earlier.

We rush out the door but were blocked by an elderly woman. No, she's not that old. Probably in her mid-thirties. She looks tired but excited.

"Aunt Tessa!" Tera shouts. My eyes grow wide. Eli's aunt?

"You look like you've seen a ghost! Although, it has been a while. How have you been, Tera?" Aunt Tessa gives Tera a hug all the while smiling. They moved apart but Tera just stood there mouth agape and me still looking shocked and worried. Aunt Tessa's eyes darted between us and soon her excited expression was replaced with dread.

"Where's Eli?"

A/N: I'm trying something new called suspense... I hope I'm doing it right...

Also, what the heck y'all!!! Thanks for all the reads and votes and follows ❤️ Keep on commenting too! I love hearing your thoughts ✌🏽