Chapter 73: Gaining his trust


    “I’ll be back in three hours time. Hopper is waiting for me toe and visit him. It’s past his visiting


    time.”


    “It’s okay, Penelope. I’ll stay back here with James. I can’t leave him alone in this condition.” Helen


    responded.


    “Of course. I’ll be back, okay? Please take care of him and yourself.”


    Penelope opened the door and stepped out of the house. After shutting the door, Helen heaved a


    loud sigh and turned to look at James.


    “How did you two meet?” James asked out of the blue.


    “You mean Penelope and I?” Helen answered, and he bounced his head.


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    “I never got the chance to ask until now. Maybe this story would help me while away the time. I’m


    trying to get this situation out of my head but I’m finding it hard. Please help me.”


    Helen bounced her head and sat next to him on the couch. “Well, we both first met in high school. In


    grade one. It was not a pleasant meeting because I bumped into her that day, and also spilled her


    drink on her white t-shirt. She was so mad at me even though I apologized with great sincerity. I was


    running out of time and I had to run to the lecture room, but unfortunately she got in the way.”


    “Really? So what happened afterwards?”


    “I found out she was in the same ss as I was. Her chair was close to mine. I tried talking to her


    but she kept ignoring me. She didn’t want to have anything to do with me.”


    “I bet she was so mad at you.” James exhaled heavily and picked up his cup of wine. He took a sip


    and lowered his head in sadness again.


    “Yes, but crazily, I liked her. I wanted to be her friend badly and I kept trying to be her friend until we


    got into college. She was almost in trouble during the exams, but I was able to save her on time.


    After this, we became friends.”


    “What kind of trouble was she in?”


    “Exam malpractice, and this could have cost her schrship. Luckily for me, I was able to reveal


    who tried setting her up. This made her like me so much, and that was how we started getting along


    well.”


    “And that was all? You turned Besties after that time?”


    “Yes. But I noticed something about her.”


    “What?!”


    “She hates sharing her things with someone. She always wants to be on top, wants to be the center


    of attention, wants things to fall in love the way she wants.


    “Woah. You knew all this and you’re still friends with her?!” James scoffed.


    “That’s why we are friends. Those are her weaknesses. I really liked her so I understood her well.


    Everyone isn''t perfect, son.”


    “And did she understand you the way you understood her?”


    “Yes, I think she did. We lost contact after college when we had to go our separate ways. I can’t


    forget what we discussed before the night she left for Canada.”


    “What was it about?”


    “She met a young man on her way from the shopping mall. She identally bumped into him and


    ended up falling up with him. Crazy girl.” She uttered with a chuckle.


    “And is he Hopper?”


    “I’m not so sure. She didn’t tell me the full details. I don’t think she knew much about him either. All I


    know is that she liked him so much after they first met. She was so excited telling me about him. We


    lost contact afterwards, so I couldn’t follow up the drama.” She smiled widely.


    “Since she loves getting what she wants. She properly ended up with him. He could be Hopper.”


    “Well, we can’t be so sure. We haven’t gotten the time to catch up well, not after all this drama. We’ll


    talk about itter.”


    “Hmm… whatever. Thank God Amelia isn’t like her in some aspects. God, Amelia is just so perfect.


    I need her back.” He mumbled and grabbed his head in despair.


    “Hey, the cops are working nonstop. We’ll find Amelia. Don’t bother so much about it.”


    James heaved a sigh and bounced his head. “I want to look for her but I don’t even know where to


    start. It’s like she evaporated from the face of the earth. I can’t stop worrying, Mom.”


    “You are trying your best. I believe wherever Amelia is, she is trying so hard toe back home.


    Let’s hope for good news from Charles today. I hope he can finally rest a little. He has been up


    everywhere.”


    James exhaled and bounced his head.


    ***


    “You want to kiss me?” Fred was astonished.


    “Why are you so shocked? We have done it before, right?”


    “Yes, but…”


    “It’s fine if you don’t want to, Fred. I know you are thinking I’m doing this for some other reasons


    apart from the fact that I can now understand your point of view.”


    Amelia wore a sad face and turned to leave, but Fred grabbed her hand and made her stop.


    “It’s not like I don’t want to.”


    The corner of Amelia’s lips curved up in a smile, and she made it stop as she turned to look at him.


    She moved closer to him and Fred’s hand slid off her arm weakly. She moved her hand to his face


    and leaned closer. She had to stand on her toes to get to his lips because he was pretty taller than


    she was.


    Her lips covered his lips and she felt him inhaling deeply. Before she could move away, he moved


    his hand to her waist and yanked her closer to him, making her press her body against his.


    His lips parted too and he took her lips in wholly. Her breath caressed his lower face which sent


    signals to the middle of his legs.


    He wanted more than just a kiss. He grabbed her ass and a slight moan escaped her lips.


    “Hmm…” Amelia moaned, trying to pull out of his arms. She finally got her lips away from his. She


    lowered her head and clenched her jaws.


    “What’s wrong? Did I do anything wrong?” Fred asked worriedly. He moved his hands from her


    waist and raised her head with his hand.


    “No. Not that. I loved it, but I’m notfortable.”


    “Because it isn’t James, right?!”


    “No! Not that! I’m… I’m on my period.” She mumbled with embarrassment.


    “Are you serious?” Fred’s eyes popped wide open as he asked.


    “Yes, I am. Do you want to see it by yourself?”


    “Of course not! Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I would have sorted it out.”


    “I wasn’t aware it was today. It was when we got here I began to feel it. You don’t have tampons or


    pads here?”


    “No, I don’t. I’ll have to get that for you.”


    “Are you sure you can get that? Isn’t it embarrassing?”


    “I don’t care, Amelia. I’ll do it for you. Let me finish here, and I’ll head out to get it for you.”


    Amelia smiled and bounced her head. She stared at him for a while and said;


    “You are truly a nice person, Fred.” After speaking, she walked out of the kitchen and headed to the


    room where she ced Alice.


    She lifted her in her arms and nted a soft kiss on her forehead. “I’ll get us out of here. Even if it


    means doing anything to please Fred.” She whispered.


    Her eyes heated up with tears as she stared at smiling Alice. “You shouldn’t have to go through all


    this. I’ll find out why he is doing this, and who he is doing this for. I promise we’ll see daddy soon.”


    ‘All I need to do is gain his trust. I’ll get his trust and I’ll be out of here very soon.’


    ***


    “How have you been, Penelope?” Hopper spoke into the telephone as he stared at her through the


    ss.


    “I’ve been good. How have you been? Are they feeding you well?” She responded with great worry.


    “No, but I can cope. How are things at the house? It took you so long to visit me again. What’s going


    on?”


    “I’ve been busy helping James and the others look for Amelia and Alice. They were abducted.”


    “What? How did that happen?!” He asked in awe.


    “Why do you sound like that? Are you worried?”


    “Of course I am. She is my daughter, why wouldn’t I be worried about her?”


    “Wow, that’s so nice of you, Hopper. You are behind bars and you still worry about the person that


    sent you here in the first ce.”


    “I deserved it, Penelope.”


    “But we could have resolved it between ourselves. She didn’t have to make such a big deal out of it.


    I begged her not to press charges, begged James, begged his parents but they never listened.


    Even though Helen used to be a very good friend of mine.”


    “Hold on, Penelope. Are you holding grudges against them?”


    “Of course not. I’m just saying. Stop worrying about them and focus on yourself. They don’t care.


    None of them have visited you for once since you got in here. I feel bad for Freddie the most. Not


    even his childrene here to visit.”


    Hopper sighed and shook his head. “I’m not so worried about that. I know after I finish using my


    term in this ce, I’ll make it up to my daughters. I’ll make sure they don’t hate me anymore.”


    “Hmm… whatever. I got you some food. You look so lean already.” She uttered, pulling out the nylon


    of packaged food from herrge bag.


    “Thank you. Tell me, Penelope, how is the search for them going?”


    “It isn’t so productive. We have been on it for so long that I feel like giving up already.”


    “Hey…” He muttered and narrowed his eyes on her.


    “What? Why that look?”


    “Something isn’t right. I know how eager you were to get Amelia back. Now she is missing for some


    days, and you want to give up? Tell me something I don’t know, Penelope.”


    “You’re overthinking it. There’s nothing going on.”


    “Do you know something about their disappearance?!”


    “What?! Are you crazy? Of course not! Why will I do that to my own daughter? I’ve been there


    looking for her too. I’ve been so stressed. Why will I go through all that if I’m behind it.”


    “I didn’t say you were behind it.”


    “I know nothing about it, okay?! If you are going to use me, then I’ll be on my way.”


    “Hey,e on, I was just saying, alright? Stay with me a little longer. I missed you so much.”


    Hopper responded with a smile, hoping she was going to erase the frown registered on her face.


    “Promise me you won’t talk about them anymore. We’ll talk about us and that’s all.”


    “I promise.” He responded, crossing his heart and giggling.