I have one and one purpose only, to find Emily......

Even if that means I have to take all the insults thrown at me along with a few punches. I think I now know what Drake is trying to do. Before he was probably trying to rile Charlotte up but today, I am sure he is doing this because he feels I am involved in the missing of the girls. He probably wants me to completely trust him and tell him where I hid the girls. Funny, how people think I will hurt the girl who always stood by me, but their doubt about me regarding Charlotte isn't something I blame them for. But this time I am actually innocent. I just hope none of them are involved in Emily's missing case, because if they are.....then God save me, I will murder them.

Why will they,of all people, hide Emily? Don't they all love her in different ways?

Not all, just the Knights. The girls hate her. Why will they not? After all she has always been on my side and been a bitch to them when necessary. Even though Charlotte is incapable of such malice, Candace can probably hide Emily and Charlotte, so no one doubts them.

I reach the parking lot. I look around and finally spot Austin's pure white Lamborghini. I walk up to it and pull the hood of my, er, Drake's hoodie. I have put this hoodie on as a sign of temporary truce with them. More like with Candace, so she knows I am not here to steal her boyfriend or that of her best friend.

"......are you sure? I mean don't you remember what she did to France?"

"Obviously I remember. That is one of the reasons why I want her to help us. Just imagine if she could do that to the boy she claimed to love, what can she do to the girl she has openly admitted her hatred towards. I am only saying that by having her in the team we can at least keep an eye on her actions and if she is really guilty we will be able catch her red-handed."

"True. But......don't you see how Drake is recently acting towards her? He is openly showing his support towards her. What if he comes to know all this? Do you want to stake your friendship?"

"No. But....we need her. Guilty or not we have to keep her in the team. I have a doubt there is something very big going on with Julia Archer than what meets the eye. I am really curious about it. And moreover she is the Julia Archer. She sure has a lot of connections that can help our investigation. So what say, Candy?"

"I guess you are right, Aus."

"And I guess you both have never heard of whispering or have no clue that you two aren't the only people here?"

Both of them gasp at the sudden announcement of my presence. I smirk and say, "From your facial expressions I am guessing it is the second one, right? You had no clue I'll be here so soon."

They both look at each other and then back at me.

"You actually came?", Austin asks looking shocked. I smile sarcastically and reply, "No, I died and this is my ghost." "That's why! I do hate you. But I didn't want you die, now so many will starve!"

Slap!

Candace slaps her boyfriend causing me to snicker. Austin caresses his own cheek, all the while groaning. She turns to me and scowls. I flip her the bird making her gasp. Before any one of us can say anything, I hear a smooth male voice say, "Seriously? What are you? Six?" I turn around to come face to face with a slouching Drake grinning at us. I ignore the thanks-for-coming look on his and face and turn back to Candace and say, "See, I want a truce. Okay? A temporary one but a truce nonetheless. I want to find Emily. She is my best friend, so even if she is capable enough to handle herself I still want to make sure she is safe. As for Charlotte, she could die for all I would usually care. But not this time, this time I owe her a favor and Julia Archer pays off all her debts plus the interest as soon as possible. And now Auburn, if I really wanted to seduce anyone of the Knights then I would have come in my typical Julia outfit but I didn't right? I am just interested in finding the girls and then we can go back to hating each other. So truce for now?" I ask extending my hand towards Candace. She contemplates for a moment then sighing she says, "Truce for now." I smile.

"But make a move on my boyfriend and I will burn you alive."

I chuckle causing all them to join in and reply, "Ooh, I am scared."

"Okay, so now that all is well we should head to the beach house. I already told Principal Ethans that we need a month's holiday. He sanctioned it, so no worries."

"Wait, who does the we include?"

"Obviously France, Drake, Candy, me and you. Who else?"

"What if I wouldn't have agreed? What did you even tell the reason to be? And what about officer Palwin?"

"Chill. Don't worry about Palwin, he knows we are staying in my beach house. He can very well contact us. As for your coming, I knew you will come. How can you resist hot me?", Austin queries with a cocky smile.

3....2....1

Slap!

"Jeez, girl! Are you insane?! I was kidding! I swear if you keep slapping me like this, I will spank you right here."

"You wouldn't dare, Jones. Plus I told you zero flirting with girls you slept with before."

"Try me, Auburn. Plus I wasn't flirting I was stating a fact. You of all people should know it."

Both of them glare at each other.
Austin smirks. Candace blushes.
Ridiculous!

Nudge!

I turn to Drake, "What do you want, Walters?"

"Let's get going before these two decide to start a live porn show."

"Nah, I like porns. Especially live ones. Though I prefer acting, for this one I am content with watching."

"Ugh! I am not okay? Please, Trice. I know the address." He shoots me a puppy dog face that reminds me of Emily.

I swear these Walters will be the death of me.

"Don't do that. That's cheating. Stop it, Walters. Urgh! Okay fine. Lead the way."

"Yippee! Follow me ma'lady.", he says with a fake British accent. I chuckle and follow him.

"I guess you prefer your car to my baby?"

"Yup."

"Hmm, don't worry baby. Daddy loves you but that aunty is too uptight for you. I am...."

"Dude, did you call my AUNTY?!!"

"Umm, I....I mean to say."

"I am going to fucking murder you!!"

"Hey! Hey! Calm down. I am going to your car."

He walks to my car. I get into the driver seat right after he occupies the passenger seat. If I wouldn't have been a bike lover I would have seriously damaged that beauty to show how pissed off I am right now. Drake types in the address in my car's GPS and we hit the road. Austin and Candace tailing us in Austin's pure white Lamborghini.

"See I was kidding, okay?"

I don't bother replying, still seething of the fact that he called me aunty. I mean seriously? I am just 17.

Chill. He was joking.

Oh shut up, Greta.

Greta? Who is.....Wait! You named me Greta?

Bingo, Greta.

What the HELL?!! Greta? GreTA? GRETA?!! Are you kidding me? Who the hell names the conscience Greta?! Huh?!

Me. Julia Archer. Who else?

I hate you.

Feeling's mutual, Greta.

Silence.
Not a single word.
My conscience has build up a wall.
Now she won't torment me for quite sometime.
Good.

"Trice, Trice? Earth to Trice."

"What?!"

"You just zoned out."

"Don't talk to me, uncle Walters."

"Hey, calm down. How was I supposed to introduce you to Miley? My baby doesn't know you."

"Dude, you are freaking annoying. And seriously, Miley? Of all names you named your bike Miley?"

"At least I don't refer to myself as Greta." He deadpans.

I step on the break and the car jerks to a halt.

"Are you trying to kill me?"
"Did you eavesdrop on my mental conversation?" We ask in unison.

"How can I eavesdrop on your mental conversation? You just kept mumbling Greta. I figured it wasn't meant for me so you must be referring to yourself. Having a fight with your conscience or something like that."

"Oh. Okay. But I am still mad at you. Next time introduce me to Miley as your sister's bffl."

"Bffl?"

"Best Friend For Life."

"Oh."

We drove rest of way in a comfortable silence.

*******************
We reach the place in about an hour or so. We stand in front of a magnificent beach house. The house has a warm look it, painted in soft shades baby blue and sunny yellow. The area in front of it is filled with lush green grass and the boundary is marked with white fence with a humongous old-fashioned looking gate, but with modern security technology.

"The beach is on the rear end of the house. It's beautiful. More so than the front."

"I am not interested. I have been here countless times for parties. Or when Austin wanted to sleep with me. I am only interested in one thing finding Emily and Gray. But I have to say, the location is strategic. We are at an optimum distance from the town. Far enough to plan our hunt away from prying eyes but close enough to visit the town for supplies and information. Good idea."

"Thanks. It was my idea."

I nod and walk up to the gate and wait for Drake to put the code in so we can enter. He presses a few buttons and a pad comes out. He then places his palm on the pad. The pad scans it and the gates open as a mechanical version of Candace's voice announces, "Welcome, Drake Walters. One who's silence rarely falters."

Drake shakes his head mumbling, "Idiots" while I struggle to hold back my laughter.

Silence rarely falters. Riiighttt! The voice should have heard how much rubbish Drake had been spewing in car just an hour ago.

Shaking my head I enter the front yard, following after Drake. Ignoring the urge to walk on the lush grass barefooted, I walk ahead. A repeat of what happened on the outer gate takes place but this time, it is Drake's iris that is scanned by another machine replacing the pad.

Just as we enter we hear someone pacing. The boy turns his head and we come face to face with....

"You?!"

************************************
Heya, buttercups! I am so sorry for going MIA but that is because I am having my half-yearly examination.
I am going to compensate that with a surprise.😉

Now for the Q/A round,
1) What do you think about the truce between Candace and Julia? Do you think it will last?
2)If you were in Drake's place what would you have named your bike?
3) How would you have introduced Julia to Miley?
4) Do you think Julia should have named her conscience something else or is it an apt punishment?
5) Lastly, who do you think the boy is? A hint, he is one of the main characters.

Please try and answer the questions (all if possible or at least one.) It will mean a lot to me.

Until next time.

Comment. Vote. Share.

💞💋💞 Reina