Summer Boy

17.Proceed with Caution

   I woke to an abrupt jolt as the car stopped in front of the Belvadere house. I haven't been back here in days, but it still looks the same- and I can even hear all of the girls and guys in the house bustling around inside.

  We had gotten off the boat this morning, and when I say morning I mean about 6 AM. We got off in Rhode Island, and drove all the way up here. Its nearly one o'clock now, and I'm proud to say I slept the whole car ride. Maxie sat up front with Derick driving so that Holly and I could lay in the back and sleep.

  "Wake up, ladies!" Maxie cheered as I rubbed the sleep from my tired eyes. "We're here!" he unloaded his and Holly's bags from the trunk as Derick took mine and his.

  We all staggered up to the house, groggy from the long car ride from Rhode Island. I had decided not to tell the girls about what had happened. Derick and Maxie made a plan for us to sleep here tonight, and pack in the morning. The four of us are staying at Derick's for a while, but its not just for a fun little getaway.

  Derick had said it would be safer if we were with them at all times, just in case there were more people posing a threat to our safety. I think its cute that he's so protective, and there's no doubt in my mind that this little retreat could be a really good time for all of us.

  "Chloe!" they all yelled as we stepped into the house. A flock of girls came rushing at me, and I greeted them all eagerly.

  "I missed you guys!" I said, hugging them back.

  "Where the hell were you?" Emilia asked.

  "Oh, wait, Holly didn't tell you guys...?" I asked clueless, looking at her through my sunglasses- which were just big enough to hide the big bruise on my eye, and the swollen lump on the other. The swelling on my lip had gone down, but there's still a noticeable cut down the right side. Damn kidnappers.

  "Tell us what?" Bree asked.

  "We went on a cruise, I thought Holly told you!" I said.

  "No, she didn't tell us anything. We were wondering where you were!" Olive said.

  "Oh, sorry, guys!" I apologized. I really thought Holly had texted them or something. Right on cue, Holly walked through the door with Maxie and Derick trailing behind.

  "You went on a last minute cruise?" Dana asked incredulously as the rest of the girls hastily attacked Holly with hugs and more questions about our little "vacation".

  "Yeah, it was kind of a spur of the moment thing." I said, smiling at Derick who had now appeared at my left.

  "I guess so." Christi said, eyeing Derick suspiciously.

  "Sorry, girls." Derick said, stepping in. "I decided to surprise Chloe with a romantic cruise, and Maxie and Holly decided to join us." All of the girls "awhed" at his romantic gesture, except for Christi, who gave him a vicious glare.

  "Its okay. We're gald our little Chloe got to have a good time." Emilia said, winking at me. I smiled shyly, looking back at her.

  "Well, we're going to go now and let you girls have some alone time." Derick said, turning on the charm to get me out of trouble to disappearing for two days. "Bye, Chloe." he said, smirking and leaning down to kiss me on the lips lightly so it wouldn't hurt too much when he put pressure on the cut.

  "Bye, Derick!" they all chirped, except for one- Christi. Is she angry at him, or something? Maxie waved at me before saying goodbye to Holly and kissing her. They both left, and it was just us in the kitchen. Then, I noticed both the guys and Tiler were missing.