When we got to the cafe, Ash, Avi, Neil, Sam, Jace, and Ryan, were already there waiting for us. I told them everything that had happened and got them up to date with everything.

A string of curses went around the group as soon as I stopped talking. Sam was assessing all our faces and reactions with curiosity, seeming unsure of what her reaction should be. On the other hand, Ash had gone alarmingly pale and the boys looked furious.

When I looked around the table, I was so grateful to have so many people in my corner. They were always there for me, no questions asked. I was hit by a sudden pang of guilt, for bringing all this drama into their lives.

"How do we deal with this? What next?" Avi asked, clearly stressed out.

"Well, I'm still finalizing plans, but I was hoping I could cross the Mexican border tonight, " I answered, thoughtfully, in an attempt to lighten the mood. It worked because I got a few chuckles and Ash's groan in response.

"My contact Pedro can set us up with new lives, " Neil said, taking out his phone.

"New life, new identity, and a change of scenery. I could use that, " Avi nodded.

Ashley slapped her forehead, muttering something under her breath and we burst out laughing.

This was the privilege of having best friends. You could speak absolute nonsense but still have that nonsense, backed up, and respected.

"On a serious note, I haven't really given it much thought, yet. Let's wait and watch." I shrugged.

"That's not comforting," Ash frowned.

"I don't know what you expect me to say, Ash!" I groaned and buried my head in my hands.

"Sorry, I'm just...nevermind, " Ash mumbled.

"It might be nothing. Mr. Stone probably just wanted to make sure you'll not speak up and you know...cause a scandal. And you're not planning to do that, so we don't have a problem. Right?" Avi said, his questioning gaze trained on me.

"Right...yes! Totally. We won't have a problem, you guys should stop worrying about it," I answered, putting on a smile, though I wasn't entirely convinced about it. I glanced at Tyler, he hadn't spoken a word since we joined our friends. He was drumming his fingers on the table, with a faraway look in his eyes.

He was always the calm and collected one. Someone you could count on, no matter what the situation was. But right now, seeing him so tense and...lost, was making me nervous. The look on his face and his entire demeanor was unsettling.

Just then, the server got our orders and placed it in front of us. I cradled my cup of caramel latte and tried to focus on the conversation that had thankfully steered towards other lighter topics.

"Hey, so are we going together tonight? Should I come to pick you guys up?" Neil asked.

"Going where?" I asked.

"Courtney's birthday party. We talked about this in the morning, you agreed!" Ash jumped in.

I frowned at her and took a sip of my drink. "But that was hours ago! I was younger then and full of hope."

"C'mon D'costa, it'll be fun, " Jace said. "It'll be a nice way to take your mind off things."

"Agreed." Neil nodded.

"You guys really don't understand that, sitting in your own house alone in peace, eating snacks and minding your own business is fucking priceless,"  I smirked, and my friends collectively groaned at that.

I caught Tyler staring at me with a smile, and I gave him a little wink that had him chuckling.

"I want you to come. Besides, you know Ian is coming too...I'll need you," Ash mumbled, with a small pout.

I mentally kicked myself for forgetting about that. "I'm sorry. Of course, I'll be there. Don't worry about it, but I might not stay late."

Ash instantly perked up. "Can we get ready together?"

"Nope." I shook my head and she slumped in her chair.

Her idea of getting ready together always consisted of playing dress-up for hours, with me being the subject of torture. But I had plans to finish a lot of my pending school work, and hopefully squeeze in a little nap before I had to make an appearance at the party.

Tyler dropped me back to my house later and told me he'll meet me later at the party, before driving away in a hurry.

I let myself inside the house with the help of a spare key I had and looked around for Mom.

"Ma, I'm home!" I called out.

No reply.

As I passed the kitchen, I saw that the door leading towards our backyard was slightly open. I dropped my bag on the couch, then went towards the door and peered outside to find Mom in the garden. Her gardening pants had dirt sticking onto it at various places, and she was wearing one of dad's old shirts. Her hair was in a low bun, a few errant strands framing her face. She had a small smile on her face as she tended to her plants, and the sight of it made me smile in return.

I quietly shut the door and made my way back into the house. I slowly trudged upstairs and into my room, before falling face-first into my bed. The entire house was eerily quiet, the only sound was of the clock ticking in my bedroom.

I rolled over onto my back and stared at the ceiling filled with the glow in the dark stickers dad and I put up when I was 8 years old so that I had my own little miniature galaxy. I still remembered that day, like it was yesterday.

"Pa! Look at that star, that's the biggest one. I think that's my most favorite one," I had told him, once we were done putting up all the stickers. He pulled me onto his lap and hummed in agreement, as we both admired our work.

"Which one's your favorite star, Pa?" I asked him, after a while.

He kissed my nose and whispered, "You."

I woke up from my bed, teary-eyed, and closed my eyes to get rid of the memory.

I hated the way the house felt empty without Dad. I thought I'd feel better without the constant fighting, but the quiet seems to be a hell of its own.

My eyes fell on the little Lord Ganesha statue my dad had given me for my sixteenth birthday, sitting on my study table. I walked over to it and picked it up, turning it over in my hand.

My dad being half Indian was a firm believer of Lord Ganesha. He always told me that this little statue was his lucky charm and that if I had a strong faith in it, it'll never let me down. You just have to believe.  

I cradled the statue in both my hands and kissed the top of its head, as a tear rolled down my cheek. "I miss you. So much."

"Hey." A soft voice coming from my doorway startled me.

I quickly kept the statue back to its place and turned around. "Hey, Ma."

"Why didn't you tell me you were home? I saw your bag on the couch and came up to find you here, " she said, as she came up to me.

"You were looking so peaceful and happy, I didn't feel like disturbing you."

My mother studied me for a long moment and murmured, "You miss your dad don't you?"

I nodded and she gathered me in her arms, before kissing the top of my head. "Well, then it's a good thing he is coming home by tomorrow."

I quickly pulled away from her to look at her face. "Really? Did he call?"

"Yes. He said he was sorry for not calling sooner and that he'll be back by tonight or early in the morning, tomorrow."

A sense of relief flooded through my body. Though I was mad at my dad for disappearing, for almost two days,  I couldn't help the rush of excitement at the thought of seeing him soon.

"Now turn that frown upside down, okay? We'll both teach him a lesson as soon as he is back home, " she smiled and I nodded.

As soon as Mom left the room, I turned back towards the little statue and grinned, before whispering, "Thank you."