Evil Within

CHAPTER 7

The next day was not as sunny and glorified as it was yesterday but the black clouds had covered the pale blue sky. The unpredictable weather of Charlesrange made the town unique and interesting which attracted many tourists from other states.

The evergreen atmosphere was chilled and spooky as the thunderstorms were growling loudly in the sky. The lighting stuck the entire time and made the rain more mesmerizing.

Luna was getting ready for the college but the poor weather seemed to be an obstacle for a pleasant trip to the destination. While she waited for the rain to stop, there was a loud knock on the door. Luna frowned and checked the time. She wasn't expecting anyone, at this hour. She stood up from the couch and went to open the door.

Peter was there at the doorstep, and Luna rolled her eyes internally.

"Peter? What's wrong?" She asked.

"Oh! Actually, I was thinking of dropping you to your college. I know it won't sound good since your brother asked you to keep your distance from me but I want to return the favor for what you did for me, yesterday." Peter stated cheerfully.

Luna was confused, so she asked him instead, "what did I do?"

"You gave me a warm meal when I was freezed by the rain." He recalled.

"But I did not ask you to return any favor. I did that because I was guilty." Luna said.

"Please! Don't  say no! I know you don't want to miss your college today.." Peter insisted Luna come with him.

Luna does want to go to college, so she went with Peter. She locked the doors and sent a message to her BFF, Carla.

Luna was not feeling good as she thought of betraying his brother. She was lost in thoughts when Peter noticed her. He turned the radio on to ease the anxiety.

Luna turned the pupil of her eye to him as he hummed with the tune. 

"So, luna? What are your plans?" He asked casually.

"I have classes to attend, and a thesis to complete." She replied.

Peter chuckled and shook his head, "I meant your future plans."

"Oh!" Luna sighed, "well, after graduation, I want to be a professor in a reputed college."

"That's really great but that's not what I really asked." Peter scratched the nape of his neck.

Luna frowned and asked, "what are you trying to get to know?" 

"Your plans for tonight."

"Why?" She was suspicious.

"I just wanted to know, hey there is no place for formality.. we are friends now and I think I can invite you to my home." Peter explained.

Luna was quiet and observing everything inside her mind. Peter seemed like a genuine guy but she will be wrong to trust him too early.

More, the news has gotten her heart twisted. Most of the victims lived nearby her locality. She was afraid to travel alone now.

"Um.. for now, it's not decided. If I will be free, I will let you know."

"How will I get to know that you are free? I don't even have your number." Peter complained.

Luna revealed that Peter was right and she exchanged her number with him.

"I guess we reached…" Peter informed Luna.

"Yeah! Thank you.." luna exited the vehicle after bidding goodbye to Peter.

He left soon after she entered the campus. Luna met Carla and she told her about Peter. Carla was teasing Luna for having an admirer.

“He is not an admirer. He is just a friend..” Luna scoffed.

“Aren’t all lovers friends before commitment? I want to meet this guy friend of yours.” she winked at her.

“Uhhh… it’s nothing like that. Lucas will be mad to find out that I invited Peter in the house. He hates him.” Luna said.

“Com’ on… Lucas lives in his rented apartment and that too far away from here. He won’t find out about Peter, unless you tell him. So chill…” Carla was a cool person.

“It's easy to say..”

Later, they attended their classes and Luna worked on her thesis which needs to be completed before the due time. The students of her batch still gave her weird looks but she ignored them.

It was difficult to breathe around them. The rain had almost stopped and Luna was waiting for Carla, so they could go back to their home.

“Hey! I decided to stay with you today..” Carla said.

“What about your parents?” Luna asked.

“They are relaxed… they trust you, Luna.” Carla clarified.

Luna’s phone vibrated and she glanced at the screen to find a text message from an unknown number.

She frowned as she opened the message, “hey… what about your plans for tonight? Pete….” 

She rolled her eyes and slipped the phone back into her pocket.

“Is that your admirer in the car?” Carla said to Luna.

Luna saw Peter waiting in his car. “What the hell is he doing here?” she rushed to him.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Waiting for you…” he replied quickly…

“Peter… I can manage to come back home.. You don’t have to wait for me here everyday…” she complained.

“Sorry, but i had to tell you something…” peter stepped out from the car, i found a job in a local departmental store as a manager.”

“That’s great.. Now you will be busy…” Luna whispered to herself.

“You said something?” Peter asked.

“Yeah… congratulations.” 

“Hey… i think you are Peter.. Luna was talking about you.” Carla said while giving teasing looks at Luna.

“Oh really?” Peter was on cloud nine.

“What?” Luna was shocked.

“Let’s go for a movie…” Carla suggested.

“Yes..” Peter was excited.

“No!” Luna was eyeing at her best friend.

At the end, they decided to go for a movie….

“I hate you for this…” Luna whispered to Carla while Carla was grinning ear to ear.