Chapter 6

• Around 9pm, I picked up my phone to call my friends in Canada. I know they'll be worried. I also have to call mum and Dad.
• The phone rings twice Chloe picks up.
• "Hey Gab, just wait for a minute. I'll video call you and add Dave and Katie. They've been asking you."
• She hangs up.
• After some time she calls back. Dave and Katie are already on the call.
• "Hii guys" I smile sheepishly at my phone, just seeing their faces make me happy.
• "How are you?"
• "Where are you?"
• "Are you alright?"
• "When are you coming back?"
• "Will you be back tomorrow?"
• Dave and Katie shoot questions at me.
• "I didn't know you missed me that much. We'll I'm fine and I'm in Australia." I say. I'm a bit amused.
• "Australia?!" They say simultaneously.
• "What are you doing there?" Katie shouts.
• "We'll…. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I came to investigate… I want to know what really happened. I suspect there was foul play."
• They kept quiet.
• "Gabs darling, we can't stop you from investigating because you're already there. I understand you didn't tell us because we wouldn't have allowed you to go. I wish you the best though. I support you," Dave says as he smiles at me.
• "Gabby… you have our full support. You know we love you," Katie says.
• "I don't like you though," Chloe says.
• We all laugh. Awww. This is so nice. I feel like crying.
• We talk for an hour more before we end the call. I miss them, it was really nice talking to them.
• I scrolled through my contact list, my mum's number was glaring at me through the phone. I haven't spoken to them for a while.
• I called her phone. She picks up at the first ring. Well, I guess she was probably using her phone or waiting for my call.
• "Hii mum, Good day mum," I greeted her. It's 12pm here. I don't know what time it is in South Africa.
• "Hi my Darling, how are you? How's school and your friends, how are they?"
• "I'm fine
• “Hii Darling, how are you my baby girl?” she asks.
• “Well… I’m fine, thank you. How are you and dad? I actually have something to tell you. I just hope you won’t be upset or angry.”
• “We’re fine dear. What is it? You sound really serious? Is anything wrong? I hope you’re alright?” She sounds worried already.
• “Nothing is wrong mum. It’s just that I transferred to Sammy’s school without telling you. I’m sorry ma.
• After a few seconds she replied.
• “I know darling. Do you think your school would have transferred you without our permission? I signed the transfer documents and paid for most of the expenses. Your dad and I just wondered why you didn’t tell us. We love you darling. We would have understood you, but I'm happy you summoned up courage to tell me. Why did you transfer there?” She says calmly.
• I’m shocked at how calm she is. She didn’t even say anything. I didn’t suspect a thing
• “I just want to check some things here. I can’t believe you knew. Why didn’t you ask me questions when you knew exactly what was happening?”
• “I wanted to stop you from going. I didn’t want to sign those papers but your dad said you knew what you wanted and why you wanted to go. He kept insisting that I understand you. I understood at some point, I just want you to promise me you’ll be safe. I’m trusting that you’ll come back home when you don't find what you’re looking for. I really love you sweetie and I don’t want anything to happen to you.” She sounds unhappy.
• A tear slipped down my left cheek.
• “Thank you so much for trusting me momma. I really love you too. I promise I’ll be safe.” My voice cracked a bit.
• “Your dad wants to say hi.”
• “Hii pumpkin, How are you? How’s Australia treating you? I hope you’re okay? Do you need more money?” He says happily.
• I laugh as I reply, “Hii Daddy, I’m fine. Everything's fine, although the weather is hot. Yes daddy, I need more money.” I say the last part with a small voice.
• “Alright darling. I’ll send you something. We’ll talk later, pumpkin. It’s late and it should be 1am over there. Bye Darling.”
• “Bye daddy,” I say as I hang up.
• I hear my phone beep. I check to see a credit alert from my dad. I quickly sent him a thank you message. I don’t even know when I drifted to sleep.
• I have morning classes today. I'm a morning person so I like waking up early. I get dressed in a plain white button-up long sleeve shirt and a short straight gray skirt. I let my hair flow down my shoulders. I put on make-up and jewelry.
• "Bye Cath," I say as I shut the door behind me.
• I'm a bit early for Radiographic Physiology so I just enter the library and take a seat. There are a few students on their phones or studying. I bring out my notes and samsung pad to study. I have some time before I go to class.
• After a while, the door opens, Sage walks in.
• "Hii.. how are you?" She whispers. She’s a bit surprised to see me here. This is my first time in the library.
• "I'm fine. How are you?" I whisper.
• "I'm okay.”
• She sits beside me and brings out her books.
• Okay… I think I should ask her about my brother but it’s not convenient now.
• “Sage, please can we talk after school today?”
• She turns to me. “About what?”
• “I really want to know what happened at the engineering department.”
• I know she won’t tell me the truth so I add.
• “Samuel Daniels was my….”
• “You know him?” she asks with a serious face.
• Hmm…
• “Yeah.. He lived in my neighborhood, he was my neighbor.”
• “Oh… Well here’s my number. You can call me.” She says as she writes the number on a piece of paper and hands it to me.
• “Thank you. My class starts in two minutes. I’ll call you later. Bye for now,” I reply as I pull out my chair and leave.
• I walk into my class and see empty seats at the right side of the class, close to the window and I take a seat. I bring out my books and arrange my table to prepare for class. Someone sits beside me. His hair catches my attention, a light shade of blue. He’s wearing a cap though. I wonder if it’s allowed here.
• “You really don’t know how to stare without my notice?” Blue boy chuckles.
• “You can teach me”
• We both laugh.
• “Hi… My name is Ryan. And you are?”
• “My name is Gabrielle.”
• “My sister's name is Gabriella, so I’ll call you Gabby baby.” He says animatedly as he pinches my right cheek.
• I had a confused look on my face.