Page 129 of The Breaking Pointe
He clears his throat. “Uh, don’t tell Colton?” he wearily mentions.
“Tell him what?” I furrow my brows, as if he can see me. “I don’t know…I’m uncomfortable.”He sighs.“I feel likeitmightbetoomuch—”hesays,thenherapidly startsspeakingtosomeoneelse,hisvoicemuffledinthe
background.
He switches back to me after some words. “Noelle, I have to go. But hopefully you find Cole. I’m sure it’s nothing,” he says.
“Okay. Thanks. Just stay in touch, Steven. Things will get better,” I respond.
“Right.Later, Elle,” he says, abruptly hanging up.
I sigh after the line goes silent, dropping my phone from my ear as I begin walking in the direction of Cole’s condo. I’m almost scared to see what I might walk into. Popping up at someone’s home is normally not recommended to do. As paranoid as I am about reactions, I’m taking my chances. I need to ease my conscience and make sure things are okay. I need to make sureheis okay.Then I can relax again.I’ll even leave him alone for as long as he needs.
Iwalksofast,italmostbecomesajog—gettingmeto the front door of his building within minutes.Scurrying into the lobby, I slide past different people until I get to the elevator.Jumping in front of it, I repeatedly press the up button, staring at the doors intensely.My feet do a tiny two-
step,clunkingmybootheelsagainstthefloorasIwait.
When the door opens, a few people flood out, makingme step back before running in after it’s empty, and now pounding the button to his floor and the button to close the doors.
Imumble,“C’mon,let’sgo,let’sgo.”
Out of spite, the doors seem to close slower than ever.
Tapping my feet more, I watch the numbers change as it takes me all the way up, with no interruptions, and step out the second the doors open again.I book it down the hall, turning to walk to his door.My boots halt in front of it, and I ogle at the numbers on his front door, raising my fit to knock. Swaying in place, I sigh, knocking before I can change my mind.
“Colton,it’sme!”Iyell,knockingagain.
I grasp the strap of my bag, waiting to hear his footsteps, but nothing happens. Just barking from Bonnie, somewhere inside. I look to each side of me before remembering what condo number is Trey’s, and sway my body to walk that way.I count each door until I get to the one that I’m sure is his. Number 21.Looking the door up and down, I give it the same treatment as Colton’s.
“Trey,it’sNoelle!”Icallout.
I look around, then tighten my coat, waiting and becoming more and more antsy as the seconds tick by.
The door swings open, bearing Trey who is dressed in none other than work out attire, holding a vitamin blender cup.
“Elle. What’s up, girl?” He smiles. “I need your help,” I vocalize.
“Is everything okay?”His tone suddenly changes.“Colton isn’t answering. He didn’t pick me up yesterday,”
I flail my hands as I speak, “and I’ve called more than enough times, but it goes right to voicemail. I even texted, and the messages won’t deliver.Like his phone has been dead for hours,” I explain, jamming my words together, hoping it even makes sense.
“Alright, calm down.”He nods, resting a hand on my shoulder. “You went to his place?”
“He didn’t answer the door. So here I am.” I hug myself. “It’s okay.”He nods more and reaches behind the wall,
grabbing his keys. He steps out with me and closes the door behind him.“C’mon,” he says, leading the way back to Colton’s.
Trying to keep up with him, I almost run into his side as he stops at the door.
He puts a key in the lock, and opens it right up.“I’ve had this key for a while now.Here’s to using it for the first time,” he says, letting us both in.
“Lock the door behind you,” he tells me, putting the keys in his pocket.
I follow him inside and shut the door, listening to his directions. Bonnie starts to go nuts, barking profusely once she realizes who we are. She begins jumping around in her cage, crying between each yelp.
I step a step forward to get to her, but I’m stopped by Trey’s arm.
“Watch it. The lamp is shattered.” He points to what used to be a large, stained glass lamp that is now in a billion pieces. “Jesus…” I whisper,pushing it to the side with my bootand stepping over to Bonnie’s cage. I kneel down and unlock the door, opening it for her. “Hi, baby.Where’s your daddy?” I ask her, petting her as she rams her head into me, wagging
