He ran with her away from the school campus. Across a lane that Natalie had not been to before. They climbed down a small hill drifting further away from the lights.

“It’s darker down here.” Natalie said before beholding a tall wired fence that stretched almost endlessly around the school premises. Beyond the fence rose tall evergreen trees. The wind swayed their branches and they were too strong Natalie felt that he could be taken away by them. “Trevor?”

He paused but, still had her hand in his. “Peaceful isn’t it?”

“Cold best describes it.”

“It’s not always this way. The forest is right there.” He pointed beyond the fence. “Behold, The Fence.”

Natalie gave a warm smile. A strong wind hit against her and she lost balance. She let out a shriek before he caught her. She had her eyes closed in fear of the impact. She opened them when a more gentle wind, showered the hair close to her nose. She realized that it was his own breathing. But, what was important at the moment was his eyes.

They looked at each other without speaking for a few seconds while he held her tight at zero distance. He felt something and probably she did too. He wanted to hold on to her forever, probably she was the missing piece in his broken life. Before he realized it, he bent his head, connecting his lips with hers. She gave up her mouth, allowing his tongue to enter and rub against her own. Flashing sensations run through her body. She vibrated.

His heartbeat run fast and she was driving it. He did not want to let her ago, he wanted to have her forever. He was falling in love with Natalie.

The kiss lasted long enough and he drew back probably to confirm that he was not doing anything wrong to her. “I’m… I’m sorry.” He said releasing her.

She giggled and replied, “That was so sweet.”

“I think I’m falling in love with you Natalie.”

“Me too.”

He grinned with joy. Her feelings were very important to him. He put his hand around her again. “Shall we do it again?”

“I don’t see anything holding us back.”

……………………………………………………………………………..

Natalie returned to the dormitory late more than other students did. Tonight, she broke the curfew and she was ready to face the consequences. After throbbing kisses with Trevor, they sat on the hill and chatted about their lives. He told her about his own and, she was very sorry. The strong, wise and responsible person that she saw in him was build up by a bunch of life experiences. She understood his connection with Ingrid and why she was too important to him. Ingrid was the only person that he could communicate with and because they were cousins, she just had to be his friend. But, now that he had Natalie, something new was created in his life. Something that he most certainly could not explain. Something that Natalie wanted to be.

As she walked through the corridor to her room, Natalie noticed that many room lights were off. The girls were tired from all the dancing and after jamming the washrooms, they buried their heads under their pillows to rest.

After arriving her bedroom, Natalie took off her shoes and padded to her bed. The opposite beds belonging to Sarah and Susanne were empty. Natalie knew that Sarah could be with the St. Ann Marie boy and Susanne had lots of other places to rest. What stroke her was Ingrid’s bed that was empty and well made.

She sat on it. It was her first stop and she felt tired to climb up to her own.

Where could she be? Natalie wondered.

She tried to imagine all the possible places and after deciding on one she rose from the bed and rounded it. She thought of fetching her cellphone from the mini closet but when she opened the closet, she was puzzled.

All of Ingrid’s clothes were gone. Only the mobile phone was there, lying at the dark corner of the closet. Natalie took it quickly and switched it on. She tried Ingrid’s line but, it was not reachable. She relied on her first thought and as the phone rang, she thought that she was exaggerating. Ingrid could not be there with him. With all her dresses? No, Ingrid might be in the building somewhere. But, why switch off her phone?

“Hallow?” Steve sounded weakly over the phone after it was received.

“Hallo Steve. Sorry for disturbing-”

“Oh. Natalie thank you. Please tell Ingrid sorry for me. I was going to show up but, I got sick.”

“What?” Natalie asked carelessly.

“What why? Didn’t she ask you to call me?”

“Ingrid is not with me. I’m not even sure where she is and I was somehow hoping that you would know.”

There was a slight audible disturbance over the phone and Steve came again. “Are you sure that she’s not with some other girlfriends? Did you check with Erin?”

“Oh.” She was not talking to Erin.

“Do that Natalie and tell me if you find out anything.”

“The thing is, even her closet is empty.”

There was a short silence. Probably he digested the news.

“What about Trevor?” she asked.

“What about Trevor?” he repeated.

“I don’t know.”

“Listen, Natalie. You can’t let him know that Ingrid is missing. Not yet. First, go check with Erin and, if she doesn’t give you a positive answer, we’ll sleep over it and we’ll see if she shows up tomorrow.”

“Okay.” Natalie agreed.

“Calm down. Okay? She’s fine I’m sure. I’ll try her line.”

“It’s not reachable.”

“Really? Out of battery perhaps?”

“I’m not sure.”

He sighed. “Okay, check with Erin. I’ll be waiting for your call.”

“Okay.” She hang up and walked out of the room.

She rushed across the corridor to the stairs and climbed down to a single floor below the one she was in. Erin’s room was the first one on her right and luckily it was still lit. The girls were up, talking from their beds. Erin did not participate in the conversations, she was perusing her magazine with her usual hard look on her face.

She walked in and gave general ‘hi’.

“Hi.” They chorused.

“Hello Natalie.” Erin called.

Natalie walked straight to her bed and crouched to reach close to Erin’s head. “Have you seen Ingrid?” she first asked.

“Only this morning, yes.”

Natalie sighed. “Didn’t you catch her anywhere this evening?”

“Most girls went to the party. Probably she did too. How can you miss her? You sleep in the same cube.”

“I just arrived at the cube and she was gone. She even took her clothes from her closet.”

Erin closed her magazine and sat up. “She never mentioned to me that she would be leaving, unless…”

“Unless what?”

“Did you read today’s paper?”

“No. Why?”

“Coz Trevor was in some kind of trouble.”

“Oh. But, he mentioned that Ingrid gave up her yellow card to save him.”

Erin narrowed her eyes. “Yellow or green card?”

“There’s a green card?”

Erin got her feet on the floor and Natalie stretched herself to sat on the bed close to her.

“If, it’s as you say, that Ingrid gave up her card to save Trevor then…”

“What?” Natalie asked slightly panicking.

Ingrid rose first. “When did you find out that she was gone?”

“Just now. Erin, what is it that you’re not telling me?”

“Probably there’s still time to change things.” Erin replied pacing to a bag on one corner of the room. “How did Trevor get into trouble?” she asked getting dressed.

“He was helping me. Nicky made it looked that I sneaked out last night and accused me at Mr. Gram’s office.”

“Did she have witnesses?”

“Yes. The St. Ann Marie girl. But, I didn’t sneak out, I went down to the kitchen for a glass of water. I was feeling thirsty.”

“And didn’t you have witnesses?”

“No.”

“Why? Why didn’t you find anyone?” she asked standing in front of the mirror and brushing her hair straight.

“What are you doing?” Natalie asked carelessly.

Erin turned to her. “What you told me… making my own choices.”

“Okay. What will you do?”

“Save our friend.”

how? stay tuned to find out...