Page 27 of Missing

"Look," I snap, my patience wearing thin. "I'm just as confused by all this shit as you are, Dante. But something doesn't sit right with me about Harper. She's hiding something, and I can feel it." I clench my fists, the desperation to understand her gnawing at me.

"Griffin, man, you're overthinking this," Dante says, shaking his head. "She's just scared and overwhelmed. We've all been there, especially when our powers first manifest!."

"Fine," I relent, sighing heavily. "But we still need to tread carefully. We don't know what she's capable of or how she'll react to any of this."

"Alright, alright," Dante agrees, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I'll go wake up Orlando and fill him in on everything. And then we'll figure out our next move."

As Dante disappears down the hallway, I lean against the wall, my thoughts consumed by Harper's emerald-green eyes and the secrets they hold. What is it about her that has me so on edge?

Chapter 24

Harper Hillstrom

Icouldn't shake the feeling of unease as I made my way back to my room, the cold air nipping at my cheeks. My heart was still racing from everything that had happened this morning. I needed a shower, and some time alone to clear my head before facing the day.

Entering my room, I shed my clothes and stepped into the hot spray, letting it wash over me like a soothing balm. The tension in my shoulders eased slightly, but my thoughts refused to let go of Dante.

"Focus, Harper," I muttered to myself, trying to push the memory aside. After a few more minutes under the steady stream of water, I reluctantly shut off the faucet and grabbed a towel. Wrapping it around my body, I walked over to my cupboard and pulled out my school uniform.

"Ugh, I hate this thing," I grumbled, eyeing the white blouse and pleated skirt with disdain. But there was no time for complaints - I needed to get dressed and get to breakfast.

I pulled on the blouse and buttoned it up, then hesitated for a second before stepping into the skirt. As much as I hated wearing it, it was part of the uniform, and I didn't need any extra attention today. Slipping it on, I zipped it up and glanced at myself in the mirror.

"Great, just great," I sighed, rolling my eyes at the ridiculously short length of the skirt. One wrong move and I'd be flashing everyone in sight. Tugging at the hem, I wished it were longer, but there was nothing I could do about it.

Grabbing a pair of knee-high white socks, I sat down on the edge of my bed and pulled them up as far as they would go, hoping they'd provide at least some semblance of modesty. I considered putting on makeup but then shook my head. No, I didn't need that today. I would face the world with a bare face and all its imperfections.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed away from the mirror and made my way to Melody's room. My heart was pounding in my chest – a mix of nerves and anticipation – as I knocked on her door.

"Ready?" Melody asked, her eyes bright and smile wide as she swung the door open.

"Ready as I'll ever be," I replied with a forced grin. Together, we headed down the hallway and descended the stairs towards breakfast. The scent of bacon and fresh coffee filled the air, making my stomach growl, but the thought of facing Dante at the table had me swallowing hard to keep the bile down.

"Hey, you okay?" Melody asked quietly, casting a concerned glance my way.

"Fine. Just nervous about this whole Dante thing," I admitted, feeling my palms grow sweaty.

"Whatever happens, I've got your back," she reassured me with a warm smile.

"Thanks, Melody," I whispered, grateful for her support.

Melody nodded and was about to say something else when her phone buzzed in her hand. She glanced down at the screen and frowned as she read the message.

"Griffin just texted me," she informed me, her voice low. "They want to talk to you about what happened with Dante this morning."

"Seriously?" I sighed, rubbing my temples. "What do they want to talk about?"

"Maybe they just want to clear the air," Melody suggested gently. "You know, make sure everyone's on the same page."

"Or maybe they're trying to figure out how to cut me out of their lives," I muttered bitterly. "Can't say I blame them."

"Harper, don't think like that," Melody admonished. "You have no idea what they're thinking or feeling. Give them a chance to explain themselves before jumping to conclusions."

"Fine," I relented, though inwardly I still felt uneasy. "When should we meet?"

"Griffin suggests lunchtime," Melody replied. "And he said it's up to you if you're comfortable with that."

"Sure, whatever," I agreed, biting my lip. "But can you ask them not to bring it up until then? I don't think I can handle any more drama right now."

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