Love’n’Lust

Morning.

Cherry was asleep when she heard her friend sobbing. She rubbed her eyes and sat up to see Brie’s face streaming with tears.

“Oh Brie, not again,” she hugged her to try and comfort her.

Brie had been crying a lot since Belle went missing and had Cherry cry with her sometimes too.

“It’s been days, the police are still not saying anything about her, no one knows where she is…. what am I going to tell my grandma? She doesn’t even know yet, I was supposed to look out for Brie but now she’s been missing and no one is calling with any information about where she might be.” Brie started to weep more loudly than before; she had been muffling her sobs because she didn’t want to wake Cherry up but now she had someone to cry her heart out to.

“She will be okay,” Cherry said even if she was beginning to lose hope in those words of hers, it was just an attempt to calm her friend down again.

“I hope so…” Brie sniffed and wiped some of her tears away.

*****

Almost noon.

Brie was at the Crisp-tv media house, she wanted to know if anyone had any information to give. It was always the same answers whenever she came, no one knew Belle enough to have any helpful information, but Brie didn’t want to give up.

It was the last free day she had to ask questions and gather any information she could get; the supervisor at her job had given her two days off to get herself together and return to work.

Mrs. Johnson had been helping her to draw attention to Belle’s disappearance. She printed little flyers and handed them out to all of her colleagues and juniors at the office, including Nathan.

She also added Belle’s description and a picture to any of the papers she reviewed before sending them out for publication.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Brie was on her way to Mrs. Johnson’s office when her phone rang. She continued walking while trying to get it out of her bag. When she got to the door of Mrs. Johnson’s office, she stopped to take the call before meeting her.

It was an unknown number but she picked anyway. She had been giving out her phone number to people, just in case they found anything helpful so they could call her to let her know.

“Hello?” She asked, expecting the person to go straight to the point because she didn’t have time to lose.

“Brie, it’s me,” she heard a voice she has been yearning to hear.

“O my gosh! Belle?!!!” She screamed with joy.”Belle! Where are you? Are you okay?” She was so worried that she had to ask.”Tell me where you are, and I’ll call Detective Harper right away.” She added that it occurred to her that Belle might be using her captive’s phone to call for help.

“I’m okay, Brie.” She heard Belle say.

“You are okay? Are you sure? Are you being forced to say this?”

“No, I’m okay. I am. I’m so sorry I didn’t call you first thing after I was out of there, I was too drained and too tired, I forgot to call you.”

“Out of where? Where are you?”

“I don’t where I am but I’m with Ben.”

“Ben? You are with Ben? Have you been with Ben this whole time?”

“No, I was… Brie, you know what? I will come over soon, and then we would talk about it. I’ll tell you everything, okay?”

“…” Brie went speechless, she didn’t know what to say or how to react even so she just stood where she was, her phone to her ears but not saying anything.

“Brie?” Belle called when she didn’t hear her sister saying anything more.

“Yeah? Okay, I’ll be waiting for you at my place. You sure you are okay?” Brie decided to ask again.

“I am. I’m okay.”

“Brie? Why didn’t you come in? Have you just been standing out here?” It was Laura Johnson.

“You won’t believe who just called me,” Brie said with a tone of voice right in-between happiness and surprise.

“Who? Did someone have any information to give?”

“Better.”

“The detective in charge of her case finally told you how far he’s gone with his investigation?”

“No. Belle… Belle just called,” she smiled, some tears forming in her eyes. Mrs. Johnson didn’t hide her surprise.

“She called? What did she say? Is she okay?” Mrs Johnson asked full of concern.

“She said she was, and she did sound okay, I’m just bewildered,” Brie replied honestly.

“Me too, but I’m mostly glad that she’s okay.

***

Jenna was with her best friend when she got a text from her cousin’s brother, Ben. Alex saw her smile and had to ask what was making her smile.

“Belle’s safe. Ben just texted me that she’s okay.” Jenna shared the good news but was too engrossed in genuine happiness to notice Alex’s face turn sour.

“Belle, is that her name?”

“Yeah. I’m so glad she’s been found, finally, Ben’s good mood would be restored.” Jenna was so happy.

“Don’t be silly, it’s not like her disappearance affected his mood or anything, Ben’s just a man who doesn’t like to smile,” Alex said, trying to make herself feel better.

“C’mon, I know he doesn’t like to smile but I am his sister and I know when he’s not in a good mood; Lately? Ben has been unhappy, that I know.”

“Well… maybe that’s true, I was at his office the other day and he wasn’t very friendly but still, you can’t attribute his bad mood to her disappearance.”

“You were at his office? Why?”

“Uhm…” Alex trailed, she didn’t expect that her friend would catch that.

“Why did you go to see him, Alex? You didn’t even tell me.”

“I just wanted to say hi to him… there’s nothing wrong with that, is there?” Alex defended.