We pass the white mansion, standing tall behind large black fences guarding the property when I know we are nearly at Aunt Pia's house. I grip my phone in my hand looking down at Fera's details displayed on the screen. My cheeks begin to sting from grinning so much. I feel like a kid who just got given her favourite ice cream.

"Hold up!" She had called, slipping past people to reach me. I turned around at the sound of her voice. By the time she stood in front of me, her chest rose up and down while she attempted to regain her breath. As quick as a viper, she darted for my hand, opened my fingers and slipped a paper into my hand.

"Call me anytime." She winked. Her gaze then shifted to Noah standing beside me, who looked at our exchange with curiosity. She looked him up and down before displaying a smile and extended her hand. "The names Fera. And you are?"

They had extended names and exchanged conversation before Fera made her exit. She managed to whisper in my ear that she approved of him before running off. With her sandy blonde hair and quirky personality; she made being friends with her exciting. It was good to know that she got along with my brother.

A small finger poked the dip of my dimple and it grabbed my attention. Craning my neck to the side, I saw him staring at me with knowing eyes.

"What?" I asked, playing oblivious. I focused my attention on his collar not able to look him in the face out of shyness.

"Hmm." He drew his face closer while he studied me in determined concentration. I felt my cheeks flush at how hard he was trying to figure out what was causing my happiness. Something must have given it away because he leaned back in his seat and chuckled. The sound was sweet as chocolate.

"I like your friend." He admitted, with a smile.

"Yeah?" I said, unsurely. I wanted his validation.

"She's nice."

"That's what I noticed about her too. I just met her today, but she's a lot of fun."

He nudged my elbow while sending me a wink.

Noah had a knack for differentiating the good people from the bad in a crowd. Maybe because his own heart was fragile, he was talented in reading other people's hearts. His approval of Fera meant that she was a good person. It was the best thing that could occur today. Moving forward, I hoped the good things continued.

+++++++++++

I lay on the leather sofa beside Noah. We were watching an episode of Spongebob, our legs spread out on the coffee table in front of us. If there was one charm of this house, it was that most of the furniture was from the eighties. Considering Drew worked as an antique appraiser, it was only natural he'd taken a liking in the period and added a flare to his own place. It wasn't like the modern style that we were familiar with, but I loved the homely-feel this furniture seemed to bring and loved it all the same.

The dread of having to unpack our things led us to spend our time in the living room. Moving around had been a constant presence in our lives and soon or later we both came to loathe anything that had to do with packing.

"Patrick has always been my favourite."

"Come on!" I complained. "Squidward is obviously the best." To further empathise my point, I knock my foot against his on the table. He gives me a side-wood glance before returning the action, but slightly harder.

"Oh, is that so?"

"Uh-huh," I nod. "How could you not laugh at his futile attempts to avoid Sponge-bob and Patrick?"

"You have a point there."

"Of course I do, " I tell him, banging my chest with dramatic pride. He only shakes his head at my drama. The sound of keys clinking together signals that Aunt Pia is back from work. She rummages around the kitchen before entering the living room.

"I see you're watching Spongebob."

"Yep."

"Let me guess," Aunt Pia pinches her chin in thought. It doesn't even take her a minute to have the answer. "Episode 28?" she guesses.

"You're a Spongebob fan?" I ask, half in amusement and half in surprise.

" You didn't think it was just you guys who sit in front of the TV with your mom watching Spongebob, did you. It was me and your mom who first started the tradition. I may be old darling. But not that old."

Well... that was a dumb question. Noah and I both shared a look and mouthed 'wow'.

"Anyway." She walks to the glass table, grabs the remote and switches the TV off, the screen going black. I feel my eyes widen and my jaw dislocate as I look between her and the TV.

How could she?

Aunt Pia notices and only shakes her head at me, her lips breaking out into a smirk.

Why do I feel that everyone has been shaking their head at me lately? I'm not sure whether I should feel concerned or not.

"We're going out."

"Why?" We ask, simultaneously.

"Because-" she reasons. "Teens shouldn't be trapped in the house all day. And besides, I haven't shown you Metford yet."

That was true. Plus, I was going to be living here for a long time, might as well get familiar with the place.

"How about we all get going?" She points in the direction of the garage with her thumb.

+++++++++++++++++

According to aunt Pia, Metford was a town that both contained the rich and poor. Every year many tourists and workers from the mine would come through the town that it practically served everything for both lifestyles. To the north included: clubs, bars, hotels, cinemas and arcades. Whereas, the south had more parklands, cafes, restaurants and car yards.

We walked through Central Square the dead centre of South Metford.

"Just take a seat here." She led us to a bench near a juice stall. "I need to post visit the post office for a while and I know that would bore you too. I'll come back after I'm done."

"Will you be able to manage with the shopping bags?"

She held a bag full of groceries in each hand.

"Don't worry, this is not a problem for me."

I nodded hesitantly.

"Are you guys going to be fine with me leaving you?"

"We'll be fine."

"Okay," she nodded. "If you want to have a look around, you can do that too. Just make sure your back here in fifteen minutes."

"Will do."

She gave a final wave goodbye before disappearing around the bend.

I lay my back against the bench and just stared at the surroundings around me. I loved the feeling of just sitting and doing nothing. The world kind of stood still while I watched other people going about their lives. You could call it a peaceful quietness.

"Sis, I'm just going to find a bathroom."

"Okay." I nodded, not really paying attention. My focus was on a mom and her child. She wiped the face of the boy which was messy from ice cream. It reminded me of when mom would do the same for me when I was young. Back when she was still- I gulped, dismissing the thought.

I look beside me expecting to see Noah. Except he isn't there. Slipping out my phone, I press 1 on the dial pad set to call his number. The bringing sound starts and his ringtone plays.

It's Noah, here. Jokes. I'm not at the phone right now, please leave a short message and I'll get back to you

Hanging up, search the crowd for familiar blonde hair and the same eyes as mine. Nowhere to be seen. I can't help the leap of my heart at the thought something might have happened to him.

I must look for him.

And so that is what I do.