Page 31 of Autumn Secrets

“So, what do you say?” he asked with a smile. “I have popcorn…” he teased.

I couldn’t help but smile back. “Sorry, but I can’t. I have some things to do. Maybe another time?” I offered.

“Sure. Well, it was worth a shot. I’ll walk you out.”

We walked side by side to my car, and when I hopped in the front seat, Julian grabbed the door and leaned in. “I’ll let you know if I find your handbag.”

“Uh, okay, thanks.” I had almost forgotten about my little lie.

“One more thing, Aurora: don’t think I’ll give up that easily.” He smirked.

I blushed and closed the car door. I picked up my phone straight away and called Lexi, but there was still no answer. I was seriously getting worried about her. Even though I hadn’t spent any time at her place, I knew where the Dawsons lived. So instead of driving straight home, I headed towards Lexi’s house.

Chapter 10

Lexi lived in the centre of town, not too far from our school. There was a light on in one of the rooms on the second floor, but other than that, the house was dark. It looked like no one was home. But Lexi’s car was parked in the driveway. I got out of the car, walked up to the front door and rang the doorbell anyway. When there was no sound or movement from inside, I carefully tried the doorhandle.

This time I wasn’t so lucky; the door was locked. I rang the doorbell again and waited, my patience slowly slipping away. After a few minutes I picked up my phone and tried Lexi one more time, while ringing the doorbell again. I could hear Lexi’s ringtone from somewhere inside the house. I started knocking on the door. What if something had happened to her? What if she needed help?

“Lexi, it’s Aurora. Are you in there? Open up.”

I don’t know why I felt I needed to be so persistent. Lexi could have gone out with her parents. But part of me was really concerned so I kept trying. I was just about to give up, when I heard footsteps inside.

“Hold on, I’m coming.”Lexi!

A second later the door opened, and Lexi stood in front of me.

“Lexi! God, I’ve been trying to get hold of you all day.”

She grinned. “Sorry, I’ve been kind of busy. Come in.”

I stepped inside.

“What’s up?” she asked as I followed her upstairs.

I wasn’t sure what wasupexactly, I was just glad to see her in one piece.

“Well, I didn’t have a chance to talk to you before you took off last night, so I wanted to make sure you were all right.”

She stopped and gestured towards an open door.

“Welcome to my world. Excuse the mess.” She laughed.

I stepped inside and found myself in a much smaller, but way cosier room than mine. “What happened last night?”

“What do you mean?” she asked and threw herself on the bed.

I sat down on the other end. “Well, you took off without me…”

“Took off? No, I didn’t. I spoke to you. I told you I was leaving, and you said you wanted to stay. I would never just take off – you know that.”

I stared at her. I did know that, and that had been my first reaction last night as well. Something was seriously wrong with this whole picture. “When did I do that?”

“Well, you came back after leaving us in the kitchen, you know after you told Adrian off…”

“No, I never came back inside. Adrian offered to take me home, and I couldn’t find your car, so I took him up on his offer.”

Lexi looked at me and shook her head. “But that doesn’t make any sense. Isawyou. Italkedto you…”