The Grace In Darkness (23 page)

“
B
ut if you just let her know I
’
m here, I know she
’
ll want to see me,
”
I begged.

“
I
’
m sorry, Mr. Dare. I
’
ve already told you it
’
s way past visiting hours. The only way you can get into the campus now is with a key card and do you have one of those?
”

“
No.
”

“
No, you don
’
t. Come back in the morning and I would be happy to let Miss Noelle know you
’
re here to see her.
”

I sighed and pushed away from the guard post. I
’
d been here for over an hour, trying to convince Marge here to let me in to see Araya, and it didn
’
t look like I was going to get in tonight. I was angry with myself for leaving so late and not making it back here in time. She’d been worried about me quitting and J.D.’s reaction so the fact that I hadn’t shown up wasn’t a good thing.

“
Well, thanks for keeping me company, Marge,
”
I said, saluting her.

She laughed and threw her hand in my direction.
“
Goodnight, Mr. Dare.
”

I made my way back to my car with every intention of sleeping in it until morning. I pulled my keys out of my pocket and unlocked my door.

“
Hey.
”
I looked up and instantly felt my muscles tighten.
“
Ryland, right?
”

“
Yeah.
”
I shoved my hands in my pockets.

He nodded, noting my attitude.
“
Are you here to see Araya?
”

“
Yeah... but I couldn
’
t get in.
”

“
Lockdown. Right?
”

“
Yep. So I
’
m just going to wait in my car until morning. Do you live in the same… building as Araya?
”

“
No. I actually go to the college here. It
’
s on the other side of the campus. Look, I don
’
t think Araya
’
s here. I think she went out with Makayla, but I can get you onto the campus and you can make sure for yourself.
”

“
Thanks.
”

“
Come on, follow me.
”

He took us in the opposite direction from Marge, and I looked behind me, half expecting her to be watching. He walked toward a side entrance on the campus, pulled out a card, and swiped it. The light turned green and he pushed open the door.

We didn
’
t say anything as I followed him through the building toward another back door that led us outside again. We made our way through a small outside eating area and then stopped in front of a large building with huge words that read
“
Be Brave
”
and then
“
MA Building E
”
directly under.

“
This is Araya
’
s building and this is as far as I can take you. You have to have a key card to get in and only residents here own those. Her apartment number is twenty-five.
”

He pushed a button and there was a loud buzz on our end. We waited, but nothing happened. He pushed it again and there was still no answer.

“
She probably stayed out with Makayla. You can stay here if you want, but if security catches you...
”

“
I
’
ll just wait in my car,
”
I said, looking up at the tall building.
“
I don
’
t feel like being arrested tonight.
”

He laughed.
“
Well, I
’
m sure she
’
ll be happy to see you.
”

“
That
’
s what I
’
m hoping.
”
I looked at him again.
“
Thanks for helping me out.
”

“
Well, it was mostly for Araya.
”

Before I could answer him, my phone went off and I was quick to pull it out, hoping maybe it was Araya.

“
What? I
’
m out. What do you need? ... No, I
’
m not going tonight. I
’
m kind of in the middle of something, Sebastian. ... Fine, I
’
ll be there when I get there.
”

I hung up on him before he could argue with me and put the phone back in my pocket.

“
Everything all right?
”
he asked.

“
Yeah, it was just my brother. Looks like I won
’
t be spending the night in my car after all.
”

“
It
’
s not as fun as it sounds, believe me.
”

“
If you see Araya before I do tomorrow, can you let her know I was here?
”

“
Yeah.
”

“
Until I come back for her, and I will, can you just keep an eye on her?
”

“
Of course, but why? Is something wrong?
”

I didn
’
t exactly have the time to explain to him my reasoning.
“
No. I just worry about her.
”

“
Okay.
”

“
Thanks.
”

I turned around without saying anything else. The conversation had been pretty awkward all on
it
s
own. I didn
’
t feel like adding a weird good-bye. He was the last person I wanted to ask to keep an eye on Araya, but I was desperate and he didn
’
t seem like he was trying to steal her from me even if he did have feelings for her.

I made my way back toward Charleston, and for Sebastian
’
s sake, I hoped he had a good enough emergency for making me drive all the way home.

I
heard Sebastian end his conversation and then sigh as he set down the phone. I didn
’
t move and every inch of my body felt like it weighed a hundred pounds. My head was pounding and I closed my eyes because it hurt too much to blink.

It was dark and I had no idea where I was or how I
’
d gotten here, but Sebastian was here and that helped keep me from freaking out completely. I tried to remember what had happened after Makayla and I got here—

“
Makayla,
”
I said, lurching up. I quickly retreated from my outburst and clutched the side of my head.
“
Ow. My head.
”

Sebastian had turned toward me and I felt his hand on my elbow.

“
Are you okay?
”
he asked.

I nodded. I couldn
’
t speak yet.
“
My friend, Makayla, she was with me tonight. Do you know where she is?
”

“
River went to look for her, but I don
’
t know if he found her. I
’
m sure she
’
s okay, though.
”

“
Where are we?
”
I kept my head and my voice low.

“
I think we
’
re still at The Underground.
”

“
You think?
”

“
I
’
m sorry, Red. I had a lot to drink before River brought you to me. I
’
m pretty sure I brought you up here to wait for Ryland.
”

“
It
’
s not your fault. I should
’
ve never drunk that beer. Thank you for helping me.
”

“
Ryland
’
s on his way home. I
’
m okay to drive now so we should go.
”

“
Do you... know where he was?
”

“
No. He just said he was in the middle of something.
”

“
Oh.
”

“
Don
’
t worry, Red, it was nothing like that. I
’
m going to help you get up, okay?
”

“
Okay.
”

He took my hands and helped me from the cot and pulled me to my feet. I wobbled a little before I gained my balance.

“
You good?
”
Sebastian asked, still holding on to my hands.

“
Yeah, I think so, thank you. Are you sure River went to look for Makayla? I don
’
t want her to think I left her.
”

“
She
’
ll be fine, Red. Don
’
t worry.
”

I nodded, wishing I knew for sure. Sebastian promised to look around the main floor once we left. The place was practically deserted by time we made our way toward the exit.

“
Do you see her?
”
I asked him.

“
No one who resembles your description of her. River probably took her home.
”

“
Okay.
”
It was so quiet.
“
What time is it?
”

“
A little after two, I think.
”

I tried to keep my eyes open as Sebastian drove us home, but I was still feeling the effects of the alcohol combined with the soothing ride. I couldn
’
t help but fall asleep. I was only slightly aware when the car stopped and I heard Sebastian
’
s door shut a few seconds before mine opened.

I woke up a few minutes later and he was putting me down and covering me. I was immediately wrapped in Ryland
’
s smell. I pulled the blankets up around me and breathed in his scent.

“
Thank you, Sebastian,
”
I whispered, already dozing off to sleep.

“
Don
’
t mention it, Red.
”