Inseparable

I showed mom and Anna around town, including, at Anna’s insistence, the spot where Dane had broken my toe. Mom had looked slightly annoyed when she’d found out I hadn’t tripped over, but Dane had in fact, broken it. We went back to my place for a coffee, before mom and Anna got ready to head back home.

“Thanks for coming, mom.” I said, giving her a hug. Anna stood by, rolling her fourteen year old eyes in embarrassment. I laughed, positive that I was once like that.

“Come here, Anna.” I said, holding my arms out. Reluctantly, she hugged me. “Call me when you get home.” I said as they both got into the car. I waved as they took off down the street, suddenly feeling homesick. Trudging back inside, I tried to focus on catching up on some of the schoolwork I’d missed out on over the last few weeks. At least my professors had been pretty understanding in giving me an extension when I was able to produce a medical certificate, thanks to another friend of Fraser’s.

It didn't take me long to give up on my work. Picking up my phone, I called Gem, something I should've done way before now, but had been so preoccupied with everything. She had left me several messages, and thinking back about how it looked to her, one day I'm here and the next I'm unreachable, I was surprised she didn't call the police.

"Lily! Where the hell have you been?" She demanded, both annoyed and worried. "I've been trying to call you for days!"

"I am so sorry, Gem, I should've called you and I completely forgot." I said, feeling like an idiot. I explained everything to her, from racing to New York and finding Steffy, right through to my dreams and Abby.

"Wow, that's…I don't even know what to say." She gasped. "I saw on the news about the girls they found, and it made me think of Dane, but I never for a second thought it might be Steffy." The court case meant the media weren't able to mention Steffy by name, but I wondered how long it would take for the whole story to break.

Gem and I spoke for a while longer, arranging to meet for a coffee the following week to catch up. After our conversation, I went into the kitchen to work out what there was to eat.

Opening the cupboard, I cursed myself for not shopping while in town with mom and Anna. The only thing in the whole house that was edible was some instant noodles. Even I couldn’t get them wrong. Parking myself in front of the television, with my bowl of noodles, I watched old episodes of Friends, while wondering if four in the afternoon was too early to go to sleep. Just as I was about to give up and go to bed, my cell rang.

“Hey.” I smiled into the phone, caller ID already telling me it was Dane.

“Hey sexy.” He said. “I miss you.”

“Miss you too.” I laughed. “How’s Steffy? You’re back at your parents’ home now?” I asked.

“Yeah. We just got back. I was thinking I might stay here for a few more days, just to make sure everything is okay. I keep thinking as soon as I leave, something’s going to happen, you know?” He sounded stressed. I wondered if this was part of the guilt he was feeling for being home when Steffy had been kidnapped.

“Stay as long as you need to.” I said, trying my best to reassure him. An idea was starting to form in my head. His parents only lived half an hour from here. What was to stop me from driving to see him? The idea of actually meeting Steffy face to face was completely daunting for me, but something I really wanted to do.

“I have to go, Dane. I will call you soon, I promise.” I tried to keep the excitement out of my voice, so as not to give away my plan.

“Okay Lil. Love you.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

After calling Kella, and getting permission to borrow her car (and getting his parents address from Fraser), I quickly packed a bag and jumped in the car. The drive to his parents was actually only twenty minutes, so it was even closer than I thought.

The entire drive I kept imagining the look on Danes face when he saw me. For the briefest moment, it crossed my mind that maybe he wouldn’t appreciate me turning up at his parents’ house, but I pushed those thoughts out of my head.

As I d

rove through the streets of Templeton, I took in the big houses and sprawling green lawns. This is where Dane grew up. I passed the elementary school he would’ve gone to, and the high school he would’ve graduated from.

Down Elizabeth Street, Dane’s parents’ house was on the corner. High fences surrounded the front yard. The house itself looked massive, something you’d expect in a TV show. The electronic gates required me to announce my arrival. So much for the big surprise.

I parked on the corner, and walked up to the gates, pressing the small intercom button. I recognized Dane’s fathers’ voice right away. He sounded guarded, as if he had been fielding calls from the media all day.

“Hi, Mr. Hanson. It’s Lily Somerton, Danes, uh, friend?” I squeaked, suddenly extremely unsure of how to announce myself.

“Oh! Lily! Come in.” He gushed. The gates opened, and I walked through them, and down to the concrete path that led to the front door. Before I could knock, the door opened, both Dane’s parents appeared, smiling, and happy.

“Lily.” Mrs. Hansen hugged me. “Dane didn’t tell us you were coming to visit! Is he with you?” I looked at her strangely. As far as I knew, he was here, with them. At least, that’s what he told me half an hour ago.

“No, I came here to surprise him.” I said, smiling at her. She took my hand and led me inside. Their house was lovely. It made Dane’s place back home look like a tiny little shack. We walked into a living area that looked as though it was rarely ever used.

“Sit down and I will get us some drinks. Tea? Coffee?” She asked. Danes father came in and patted his wife on the arm.

“You sit down with Lily, and I will get the drinks. What would you like, Lily?” He asked me.

“A coffee would be lovely, thanks. White with one.” I added, as I sat down on one of the cream leather couches. “How are you guys? And Steffy?” I asked, trying not to jump on the thing that was bothering me most. Where was Dane?