*Jasmine*

I was immediately worried. I looked up at Christian for support but he had a dazed, faraway look in his eyes. Julie wasn’t one to just take off to the pizza place when she knew that Mark would be coming along too. Mark’s emotion matched mine exactly and I stood up, instantly thinking of Leslie and hating myself for doing so.
“I vote we go look for her!” I said, standing up. Mark nodded.
“I’m definitely seconding that.”
“Count us two in too.” Paul replied. I looked at Christian, my worry etched in my frown.
“What about you?”
Christian seemed to snap out of a trance.
“What?”
I glared at him. Why didn’t he care? Or even if he didn’t, he could at least act committal.
“Why don’t you just stay here and…watch dinner or something!?” I retorted before stomping towards the door.

*Ben*

I stood there, open-mouthed, watching both of them with gathered astonishment. Jasmine wasn’t the sort to lose her cool but it was understandable, considering it was her younger sister that was at risk but what was Christian thinking? Couldn’t he see her girlfriend was under an amount of stress? He could at least have offered to help. I shook my head.
“What’s up with you, man?” I asked him. He shrugged, cradling his still sore arm.
“I…honestly don’t know…I just can’t think straight.”
“We can all see that!” I snorted, before trudging off to join Jasmine, Paul following me. When we reached the kitchen, Jasmine was crying. I immediately wrapped her into my arms, having to be strong for Jasmine’s sake. Paul glared at me, warning me not to do anything else stupid, but I merely ignored him.
“Heya, sis. Don’t let Christian get to you like that.”
“It’s not…”
“I mean, he’s been acting weird since the whole Leslie episode.”
Paul fixed his stony gaze on me. Boy, if looks could kill you might as well pronounce me dead. This made Jasmine sob even harder. I wiped away a tear that was trickling down her flushed cheek.
“No, it isn…”
“So it’s normal for him to be like that…”
“BEN, JUST LISTEN TO ME!”

*Paul*

I held back a laugh. Ben fairly got what he deserved. He looked in a state of shock now. Jasmine never yells at anyone. I looked at Mark, who was observing all this silently, until now.
“Ben, I think you’d better listen to what she has to say.” Mark stated. I nodded in agreement. It seemed like it was really important. I also hated how Ben acted like every girl in the world liked him and, what was worse was that they usually did. Why couldn’t I get more girls to like me? Jasmine spoke and I couldn’t believe my ears.
“Leslie’s got her.”

*Mark*

My heart instantly dropped to the ground and I had to fight back the tears that pricked my eyes. With Lesley, anything could happen and I didn’t want to lose the girl I loved.
“How…how can you be sure…” I stuttered. Jasmine held up a hair pin, one with the words Gucci written across it. The lowest of low, I thought, trying to lighten up the situation, when someone buys a label hair pin. I tried to not see it for what it was.
“I mean…it might not even be Leslie’s…”
“No, it is.” Paul whispered softly. My eyes widened and I felt like I was weighed down by a heavy boulder. I couldn’t speak, couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. The person I loved was out there and I was determined to find her.

*Julie*

I glared at Leslie as she paced the room, still grinning madly after her accomplished feat. My head ached harshly and the room spun.
“They’ll come and…and then they’ll rescue me and put YOU behind bars!”
This produced laughter as Leslie continued to guard, filing her oh-so-precious nails.
“Oh yeah, well, I’ll tell you what sweetie, that’s the plan.”
My brow furrowed and I felt bewildered with confusement. Though I knew I shouldn’t ask, curiosity got the better of me.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, exactly that.”
This was getting nowhere. It was all so vague.
“Are you going to tell me more?”
Leslie looked me straight in the eye and I drew back, shuddering at the evil shimmering in her eyes.
“We are going to use you as bait.”
I tried lunging at her but rope bit into my skin, burning me.
“You’re nothing but a conniving little bitch!”
“On the contrary, since you probably won’t live to know.”
I gasped, and she grinned evilly.
“Yes, because once I’ve got lover boy back in my grip, you and Jasmine will be…what shall we call it…history.”

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