This chapter is dedicated to LifeMystery101

❝𝙳𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐.
𝙸𝚏 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝,
𝚒𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚜. ❞

To say that we were alert on our way back would be an understatement. My partner, who's name I learnt was Augustus stuffed his hands in his front pockets where he had transferred all of his other belongings to prevent the thievery again. He lost his phone but to be honest he looked glad that he hadn't lost his wallet and I intend to ask him that. Not in a creepy way of course.

Why not do it now, eh?

"So, Augustus, you have anything important on your phone?" I asked him trying to be subtle when I realised.

Crap, I had to say wallet but I said phone.

"Nothing much. It's actually brand new so no worries about any personal information. Hey, I was thinking if I could borrow your phone to inform my parents. It's already late by now." he continued.

"No problem, "I whispered.

We ventured our way out and this time he didn't have to obscure because it was already dark and the sky was devoid of the moon. It was a new moon day. I looked up at the sky in awe as it was littered with stars.

I like to think that stars are special places where people we love reside, looking over at us.

I was in deep in thought,  peering up at the stars, watching them twinkle and shine.

"Zoe?"Augustus said in a soft murmur.
"Hm...", I hummed lifting my head to look at him. His brown eyes seemed to twinkle in the moonlight, his hair a bit dishevelled.

"Can I borrow your phone?" he requested lending his hand out.
Oh right, phone lost. Phone need.
Why the heck am I speaking gibberish?
"It's in my room. So can you wait here, while I go and grab it?" I replied in a rush I felt compelled to do what he asks which is not a good thing, right?

As I barged into my room, my roommate who had a serum mask on jumped up from her bed with her pink flip flop in hand, scared.
"Jesus Christ, lady. Are you nuts?" she yelled angrily. It was really funny considering she still had the mask on.
"Sorry, Ever but I'm in a hurry. I grabbed my phone from my nightstand and made my way back to the entrance of the cave. I was walking this time because I didn't want to cause chaos like last time running into people.

In all of this, I didn't understand one thing. Our instructor told us not to carry phones. Though there wasn't any checking the management did, if he had a phone in his jeans then it probably would have been visible. Moreover, if he had his phone, why not switch on the flashlight, why ask for help? Maybe he didn't want to get caught but it still didn't make sense.

Should I ask him? Well, he's my first friend here and generally, I don't like to push people. I was more of an 'if they feel comfortable they will tell' person.
I definitely didn't like interrogating them on our first meeting.

He was standing there with hands still stuffed in his dark blue jeans. He was looking over at a small group of people who were laughing at something.

"Here," I said handing out my phone.
"Yeah, thanks, Zoe. I think it's better if I just text them. If I call them now they will be wicked scared, especially my mom. If I text they will see it in the morning." he mumbled typing something on my phone.

Okay then.

As I lay in bed that night clutching my phone after reading the message
"Hey, Dad. How are you guys?
I might've lost my phone so this is a friends phone.
Don't tell mom but can you send me another one?
I'll call you guys later, okay?
Your favourite yet troublesome son,
Aug.
with lights off, listening to soft snores to my left as Ever sorry 'Everett' slept without a care in the world, I couldn't help but wonder about the past events.

Apparently, only her girlfriend calls her Ever and no one else should. So it's going to be Everett from now on.

The more I thought about them, the more it felt like I was exposing a pattern that started to make sense after fiddling around with the information. Like a jigsaw puzzle.

First, he comes in saying that he is scared of the dark even though he could've used the flashlight of his prohibited phone.
Let's not be insensitive Zoe. It's just an irrational fear just how you are scared of clowns. It's perfectly normal.
Second, he says he needs to call his parents and inform but what does he do? Text. He could've done that later on in the morning but nope, he had to make me run a mile.
Maybe a mile would be too far fetched. A little less would suffice.

The pieces fit and started looking coherent but my mind still couldn't grasp the ulterior picture, motive.
As I drifted off to sleep, I didn't want my overthinking and Sherlock Holmes influenced mind cost the destruction of a friendship but I couldn't help but grow slightly wary at things that are insignificant.

Augustus, don't make me regret anything or I'll snap you in half, boy.

I know that Zoe overthinks a lot
and is really dramatic
and some may say unreal.
But to be honest, that's how I am,
wary of everything around me. Calculative of actions.
You might say I'm the only one but
my best friend is also like me.
A bit more to be honest.
Anyways, enough with the story telling and
How did you guys find Zoe?
And what about Augustus .

Thanks for reading and hope you take care of yourself...