Chapter 8

Persuading

    "Where should we start looking?" Amber asked, shuffling through the maps laid out on the table. I gazed around, suspecting any peering eyes. No one in the library was in hearing distance.
              "I'm not sure." I replied hesitantly.
              "Oh that's great, Hope. No leads. How do you suggest we find him then?"
       "I don't know. I'm no detective," I said, hissing the words. Finding Angelo was very unlikely, but I had to try. I needed to apologize to him.
              "Maybe we should try town hall." She suggested, grabbing the maps. I followed her to the front desk.
              "Why would we do that?"
              "We could see when he left and where he went."
       "Amber," I started but stopped. The librarian was listening. Carefull choosing my words, I said, "I don't think Angelo is the type of person to use public transportation."
              "I know but it's worth a try. What else do we have to lose?"
              "Everything," I said under my breath, as we left the library.
      
      
              "What's wrong, Hope?" Amber asked, turning down the music in her car. We were headed down town.
              "I don't know. I don't feel good." I replied, leaning back on the head rest.
       "You're probably just nervous, that's all." Amber was smiling, not aware how important this was to me. Even though she was my best friend, I couldn't tell her everything. Secrets and her didn't go together.
       "Ya, you're probably right." I agreed. We were stuck at a red light; next to us, a car was filled with laughing, teenage girls and boys. One couple was making out in the back. I sighed. They looked so happy together. All of a sudden, the driver; a blond with a chiseled face, glanced at me. I ducked down, feeling the heat in my cheeks.
       "Hope, you're so lucky. You've got the looks, the brains, and everything else I envy about you," Amber commented, noticing the car beside us. I wondered if he was still looking. Finally, the light turned green and the car speed ahead of us. I once gain leaned back in my chair, my heart pounding.
              "Can I ask you something?" Amber asked.
              "Sure."
       "Are you in love with Angelo?" With those words, my heart stopped. I couldn't breath and I felt flustered. I had never described these feeling as love; I had never described them period. What was I going to say?
              "No," I replied, facing the window, trying to act natural.
       "Oh, okay then." Amber seemed disappointed, but I wasn't going to confess. "I just thought maybe the reason you wanted to find him so bad, was because you liked him."
              "No, I just want my stinkin' wish. He promised me that."
              "Isn't that kind of selfish?"
              "So what if it is?" I replied defensively.
              "I'm just saying--"
              "I know what your saying, Amber. I don't care. I'm only finding him so I can get my wish."
              "Fine. If that's what you want."
              "It's what I want."
      
      
       Town Hall: a luxorious looking building, held all the important papers concerning the people of the city. It was a place I rarely visited; a place that elementary schools took you on field trips. It smelled of sanitary wipes and old people. It was a place I felt so out of touch in. My baggy jeans and hoodie did not go well with suitpants and ties. Even the people working here smelled of disinfectent.
       I followed Amber into the building,keeping my eyes to the ground. The smell almost choked me as we walked in. Looking up, I could see that a woman was running the front desk. She looked about in her mid-forties, wore her gray hair up in a bun, and had a pointy nose that made me think of her as a bird. In my mind, I named her 'Bird Lady.'
              "Yes, how may I help you?" She asked, as we approached her.
              "Could we please see the papers reporting transportation?" Amber asked confidently.
       "I'm sorry, Miss, but those are restricted," Bird Lady replied. Amber's eyes shifted to me but all I could do was shrug it off.
              "Well, that's okay then."  
       As we turned around to leave Bird Lady called to us. "Miss, I can direct you to the president of transportation. He is the onlyone allowed access to that kind of information."
              Amber smiled wickedly. "Oh my, that 'd be fantastic!"
              "What are you doing?" I wispered harshly. There had to be other ways of finding out where he was.
              "I know what I'm doing," Amber replied through her teeth. "A little persuasion and we'll get what we need."
              "I don't think sleeping with an old man is going to get us what we want--"
              "Is there anything else you girls need?" Bird Lady interrupted.
       "No, we'll just wait to see the President." Amber smiled. She looked at me, rolling her eyes. I took a sit grumpily, near the farthest wall. Finally, an old looking man appeared from behind the gigantic oak doors. Amber happily stood up; I on the other hand, took my time. I was in no mood to persuade anyone.
       "Hello, I'm Mr. Killingford," the old man greeted us, holding out his hand. Amber shook it with excitement. I did it grudgingly. As Amber started to state out wish, I couldn';t help but notice the slight slip of his toupee. It seemed crooked, almost as if it were going to fall of. Obviously, he hadn't had a mirror with him when he had put it on, because there was a slight contract between his few, remaining, natural hairs, and the fake mop on his head. Like the Bird Lady, his nose was more on the sharp side.
              "And you are?" he asked me.
              "Hope Mathanal, sir."
              "No need to use to proper ediquite. We're all friends here," he laughed.
              "Ya, Hope," Amber joined in. What a suck up.
              
      
       "So you need to find a friend, huh?" Mr. Killingford asked, offering us a glass of water. His office, as well, smelled of disinfectant and was probably the size of my whole house. It reminded me of the oval office in the white house; so proper and prime.
       "Yes," Amber said, taking a huge gulp of water. I politely declined. Mr. Killingford took a seat in front of us; a huge cherry wood desk seperated us. It was almost hard to see him, due to the over cluttered mess, in which he called work.
              "And what is your friend's name, ladies?"
              Amber glanced over to me; I gave her the thumbs up.
              "Angelo."
              "Angelo what?"
              "Well you see, that's the thing, we don't know. He never told us."
              He looked at us suspiciously, then finally spoke.
              "Then I guess you don't know him very well." He assumed.
              "Actually sir, we do, I mean Hope does. Right?"
              I quickly sat up. "Yes sir."
              "How so?" He pushed.
              Before I could respond, Amber repleid, "He was her boyfriend."
       His eyes switched back and forth between us. I gulped, feeling the dryness return in my throat. Our story was likely suspicious, enough to get us kicked out for lieing. Who dated someone but didn't know their last name?
       "Aww, young love," he cued, suddenly standing up. He walked toward us but abruptly stopped in front of the desk,  plopping down onto it. Crossing his legs, I could see that his socks didn't match nor were his shoes the exact color. For some reason, this bothered me. "I remember being your age. No responsibility, friends, and girls. Yes, life was good. But then I grew up, and here I am. Working for the town that once raised me. Yes, it gives ones self a load of dignity," He continued.
              What a load of crap, I thought. Was he deliberitly trying to get on my nerves?
              "Sir, your job is a very prideful one, if I may add," Amber added.
       Suddenly, he became very quiet. Sitting up straight, he said,"Girls, I understand how you may feel about this 'boy', but that is no excuse to waste your time on him. There are plenty of nice boys out here, around town. Obviously, this boy does not care, because he left. So I suggest you move on and find someone who would likely be more considerate of your feelings." He opened the office doors, ushering us out. "Good day, ladies."
              As we walked out, I couldn't help but open my mouth. "Get laid."
       The whole ride home, Amber couldn't help but laugh. I had to give it to myself. That had been the best thing that had happened all day.
      

Author's Note

Rough draft