"So that's the only thing I saw," Aubree said, looking at her well-manicured nails. "She seemed really happy though."

I clenched my jaw and my fists at the same time as I watched Aubree give me a smile before dashing off to Marco who was waiting for her at the edge of the cliff with his hands in his pockets, staring out at the city. Carl and Luke were leaning against Luke's Mercedes as I leaned against Aubree's Porsche, thoughts scattering in my mind on what to do with Thea after hearing she had a fun day with that jerk. I've been looking forward to taking Thea out properly since I didn't get to do that due to a call that I had received about Dickworth approaching my sister.

It was my fault.

I had told Aubree I didn't care about Thea and that she should do whatever she wants. Now that Aubree thinks Thea is happy, all I can do is to be happy for her and wish her the best. Sike, I'm going to win her back. Like I said, I lost her once, not losing her again. I sighed, the thought of Thea being happy with someone else flooded my mind and fucking up my emotions in the process as I watched Marco and Aubree, who was standing hand in hand together, staring out at the view as it made me think of Kiki and I when I took her out here because of our grandparents' death.

I watched Aubree reach into her pocket before pulling out her phone then answered it. She turned to face me, her eyes widening as she bit her lip then mouthed 'yeah' before hanging up. Her face began to drain colour as she hurriedly made her way towards me, shoving me out of the way.

"Aubree, what's up?" I asked with a bit of worry for my friend.

"Thea," Aubree answered as she opened the driver's door. "My dad said that she ran away about twenty minutes ago and he still can't find her. I need to go help."

"Can't Thea make her way back?" Luke asked after approaching towards us with Carl in tow.

"Thea doesn't know her way around idiots," Aubree answered with a shake of her head before taking her keys out and tried putting it into the ignition.

My heart started beating against my chest as my throat when dry. "I'll help."

Aubree can only nod then close her door before Marco quickly went into the Porsche's passenger seat as I hurriedly got into my Tesla. In the rear view mirror, I watched Carl and Luke quickly get into the Mercedes before Aubree started her car, zooming down the dirt road.

~

~

~

When we reached Thea's house, Mr Pearson was worried sick. He was trembling and his face was pale as if he'd seen a ghost. I watched his wrinkles form on his forehead as he had one of his friends, Chris, calm him down whilst Anastasia was getting him a cup of water. I ordered Marco to stay here in case Thea appears whereas Carl and Luke to check the mall. Aubree insisted she check the neighbourhood and I volunteered to come along which she had protested for a few seconds but then thought it was for the best.

Now, we were in my Tesla, driving slowly around the neighbourhood in the direction Mr Pearson had last seen Thea run off in. My worry for Thea grew every second as well as Aubree whose eyes were concentrated on the window for any signs of a teenage girl in a unicorn onesie, her index finger twirling around a strand of her blonde locks tightly.

"Thea's a strong girl," I mumbled, hoping Aubree could hear.

"Our dad lost Thea once, he's not going to lose her again," Aubree replied with so much determination. "I'm not going to let that happen."

I sighed as I let my eyes observe the street around us, desperate to catch Thea but all I could see were houses and trees. Pink was staining the sky along with dabs of orange as the sun was beginning to set. My hand clenched around the steering wheel as Aubree mumbled incoherent words as I rolled my eyes and started stepping on the gas pedal as my car began to accelerate. Seconds, minutes, have passed yet I hear no word from Aubree and all I could do was hope that Thea was okay.

"HALT!" Aubree shouted as her long arm pushed my back against the seat. Along with her words, I halted the car as well as my heart.

I growled lowly at her as she scratched her head nervously before quickly realising what situation we were in. She quickly got out of the car, taking her beige stilettos off and threw it at my face which I had dodged swiftly. I watched her run towards a nearby park as she quickly hurried towards the swings and tackled someone to the ground. I pinched the bridge of my nose, wondering if she has forgotten about Thea as I quickly reached over to the passenger door and closed it quickly. I stepped on the gas pedal once more as my car sped down towards the park as the view was getting clearer by the second. My eyes lit up at the sight of a unicorn onesie as I halted the car, got out of the car and quickly jogged towards Thea who was currently being crushed by Aubree.

"Everyone was so fucking worried about you, T," Aubree announced, observing her physical features.

Thea's brown hair was messy, her brown eyes were looking lifeless and that had torn my heart apart. Her unicorn onesie has brown stains, as if she was a pig who rolled around in the dirt. I watched her eyes lazily travel towards mine as her eyes quickly lit up, giving me a small smile which had my heart thump against its cage.

The last time we saw each other, we left it at a bad note and I regretted it but seeing her safe, I was beyond happy. Aubree shuffled aside as I scratched the back of my neck nervously, waiting for one of us to say something but what shocked me the most was that Thea wrapped her arms around my waist. Aubree watched me as I calmly combed her knotty brown hair with my fingers, soothing her with words that I would say to Kiki when our parents would fight over on who gets to spend time with Kiki on the weekends.

After a while of trying to get Thea to my car, Aubree bit her lip the whole entire, her worried eyes concentrated on Thea as she laid on Aubree's lap, sleeping soundly. I sighed and zoomed back to the Pearson's household, knowing that Mr Pearson would want to his daughter straight away so I didn't want to waste time at all.

I watched Thea's body being engulfed by her father along with Anastasia and Aubree as I could make out Aubree, wiping a stray tear swiftly as if not wanting to let anyone see her weak side. Chris backed away from the family's reunion as he joined me by my side.

"Thank you, Xavier," Chris thanked with the most sincerity. "You do not know how much Thea means to her father."

I nodded.

After the family broke apart, Anastasia helped Thea upstairs to get her cleaned up whilst Aubree informed me that she was going to collect the others and with a nod from me, she took Marco with her in search for Carl and Luke. I watched Chris and Mr Pearson do the 'bro hug' as if they were still teenagers before we both watched Chris leave to go to an important meeting. 

It was now Mr Pearson and I.

"I cannot tell you how thankful I am," Mr Pearson whispered with such relief that it only made my eyes widen a bit. "Thank you, Xavier."

"As I said Mr Pearson," I managed a smile. "With my life, sir."

A smile stretched onto the man's face with relief as he placed a hand on my shoulder as if telling me that he wasn't suspicious of me and my actions anymore. "Call me Bryson." Usually, it was a big deal for a girlfriend's father to let you call him by his first name but in this situation, I am not Thea's boyfriend or nowhere near that, I am her friend. 

Her best friend but she just didn't know it yet.

"I'm proud of you Xavier," Bryson said with a glint of amusement in his eyes. "You've never failed to disappoint me. Even when you and Thea were younger, you were always together and you've always taken such good care of her when I wasn't around."

I nodded as memories of Thea and I flooded through my mind as my smile was becoming wider. "I promised her."

Bryson nodded, knowing what I meant before disappearing upstairs to check on Thea as I made my way to the front door and headed outside, feeling a brush of wind gently caress my cheeks as I breathed in the fresh air, my mind at ease knowing that Thea was now safe at home. I reached inside my leather jacket, searching for a little pocket as I reached inside and managed to obtain a polaroid picture as took it out before observing it.

It's been so many years Thea, I will not risk losing you again.