Broken Lines || sequel • discontinued •

Chapter 11 ( Another Timezone )

• Luke's POV •

"Luke?" someone called outside my door. I checked the digital clock on my nightstand. It was 9:06 am. I stayed still, not wanting to answer the door.

It suddenly unlocked and Ashton walked in. I totally forgot Ashton had spare keys to all our rooms. "Luke... you have to go out, uh, Nicole's awake."

I didn't want to move. Everything that happened last night caught me off guard and now, I don't know what to do. But then, I had the idea to bring Nicole here. Her aunt might even report us to the police.

"We're so fucked," I said, starting at the ceiling.

Ashton sighed. "We told Calum and Kristen so they're at the neighborhood where Nicole lives probably explaining things. I hope it works."

"You guys what!?" I exclaimed, sitting up. "Ashton! We can't put Kristen and Calum in danger! They might arrest them both if they don't believe a word they say!"

"Luke, relax," Ashton said. "Michael's been in call with Kristen since they left. We'll hear every word they say. Come on."

With that, Ashton left the room. I had the urge to not move but I knew I had to.

I walked out of my room and followed Ashton downstairs to the kitchen. Michael was sitting on one of the chairs, with his elbow rested on the table and his hand held his phone. Nicole was sitting next to him, patiently waiting. She looked tired and sad. Stiles was sitting across from her, eating a bowl of cereals.

"Hey," I said, rubbing my eyes.

"Luke! Calum and Kristen-"

"Told him already," Ashton said, grabbing something from the fridge. I sat next to Stiles who didn't notice I was there.

"Hey, little bud," I said.

He looked up at me. The corners of his mouth had milk. I chuckled a bit and wiped it with my hands.

"Luke!" he said.

"Yeah, you go finish your food, alright?" I said, patting his head.

"Okay, everyone shut it," Michael said, putting his phone screen down on the table.

I looked at Nicole and she mouthed "thank you" to me. I just smiled at her.

"Hi! Good morning ma'am," Kristen said over the phone.

"Hello, what do you need?" A woman's voice said.

Nicole pointed at Michael's phone and mouthed "aunt".

"Uh, we're here to talk about what happened last night," Calum said.

"Last... night?" Aunt Emma said.

"Yeah, about the Nicole-Stiles abductiom last night," Kristen said.

"What? You took my niece and my nephew!?"

"We're friends of hers!" Kristen exclaimed. "My name's Kristen and this is my boyfriend, Calum. We met her at the playground days ago..."

As Kristen's voice faltered, I suddenly got nervous.

"Mitchell!" Aunt Emma called and Nicole stood up from her seat like she was terrified of that name.

Oh that's her uncle, I thought. I silently hoped the Casten tandem would pull this off.

"What is this?" the familiar deep voice said.

"Are these the ones who took Nicole and Stiles?" Aunt Emma asked.

"No! They were three teenaged boys or something. I'm sure they were boys! Unless the other one with longer brown hair was a muscular girl."