Chapter 2: She is gone

Nia felt an urge to share her confused feeling with her best friend but then decided against it. She didn't want to spoil the atmosphere as well as her mood. 

She tried to divert the topic and said," It's nothing at all.... Trust me. Aren't we getting late? Let's go!" she tried to get up from her seat but was stopped by Stacy. 

Stacy Miller was like a sister to Nia and had been with each other since childhood. They could easily tell by looking at each other's faces what the other person was feeling. At times, they were able to hide their feelings from their parents but not from each other. 

Just by looking once, Stacy knew something was troubling her and she was not going to leave it like that. She went towards Nia, sat down next to her, took her hands in her own, and said," You should not keep it from me. I know something is bothering you, Nia. I don't care.... irrespective of how dark it is you should not keep it within yourself... I promise I will take it to my grave until and unless you want it. But, I cannot be at peace after knowing that something is bothering you." 

Nia was moved by her words but rolled her eyes and said," Huh? Look at you! What kind of dark secret can I have? Rubbish! You should stop watching whatever weird stuff you are into these days..... immediately!!!"

She tried to get up but Stacy pulled her back and gave her a stern look. 

Nia sighed and asked," So, You won't let it go?" Stacy nodded her head in denial. Nia looked at the window outside and said," Stacy... I don't know why but I am feeling pain in my heart whenever I think that I am going to get married. It's like something is breaking within me. I am not sure why I am feeling this because this is what I have always wanted. I wanted to get married to Eric and settle down with him..... and, Now when it's turning into reality... I am not happy!" 

There was extreme silence in the room after Nia said those words. Neither Stacy nor Nia could find the right words to tell the other person. It was normal for a bride or groom to develop cold feet before their wedding but this was something different. She wasn't nervous but it was her feelings that were jinxed. 

After a while, Stacy spoke," Be honest and tell me when you exactly started to feel that way.... because as far as I know, you were very happy the day Eric proposed to you... Is it after you came back from your trip?"

Nia looked at Stacy with a shocked expression. Could it be that she was right? Nia's thoughts drifted to the stranger she met on her expedition to the jungle of Orizona. 

His grey eyes and attractive looks came alive in her mind. His masculine body, the wolf tattoo on his chest and the way he helped her after she lost her way were bringing back her suppressed emotions that she had locked somewhere in her heart after she left that place. She unconsciously touched her lips remembering the passionate kiss they shared, but immediately pulled her hand back after noticing that Stacy was still watching her. Nia was beginning to doubt herself for having developed feelings for him as the kind of connection she felt with him was unique. She never felt it with anyone. 

Stacy questioned her," Did something happen there? Tell me, Nia! Say something!" 

Stacy was pressurising Nia to speak up about her internal conflicts with her but Nia was hesitant thinking that her best friend might judge her. 

Stacy also noticed that there was something Nia wanted to share with her but she was hesitant in doing so. Stacy was not the one to give up so easily. She was going to get it out of her anyway. She looked at her watch and realized they were running late. So, She told Nia to put on a dress as they must leave immediately to reach the saloon on time. Nia nodded and went on to change. 

Stacy had brought her car with her and she decided to drive both of them to the saloon because they had merely five hours left with them before the wedding ceremony begins. 

Before the girls left, Mr. and Mrs. Froth gave them a reminder to reach the wedding venue on time and update them immediately if anything happens. 

While sitting in the car next to Stacy, Nia was fidgeting her fingers nervously and this made Stacy try persuading her one more time. This time Nia couldn't take it and she broke down.

Stacy offered her water and hugged her to calm her down. After Nia was feeling better, she began to open her heart to her. 

Nia told her that on her expedition to the jungle of Orizona, she was saved by someone after she lost her way and ran into trouble. He not only saved her but also took care of her for a whole night. In the morning, her group came back searching for her but he was not there at that time and she had to return back with her team without saying goodbye to him. The expedition was called off in the middle because of unknown reasons and she had to return a week earlier.

Stacy was listening to her carefully, finally speaking," Oh...So, that's why you came back a week earlier. I thought you came back because Eric was against this trip of yours. Thankgod you cleared my misunderstanding or else I would have thought that my best friend has become a docile wife

She giggled after finishing her sentence and a smile appeared on Nia's face too. 

There were a few minutes of silence in the car which was ultimately broken by Nia, when she confessed," I kissed him, Stacy!" 

" WHATTTT!!!!" Stacy shouted in shock. Now, She knew what was wrong with her friend. 

She asked Nia," Did you get intimate with him?" 

Nia looked shocked and replied," No! No! No! It was just a kiss.... but it was a passionate one.... and I don't know... but the way he made me feel... I don't know what to say, Stacy." 

Stacy's face was grim and she threw her next question," What is his name?" 

Nia replied," I don't know".

Stacy was shocked at her reply and gave a smack behind her head as she continued," Dumb girl! You kissed a guy and you don't even know his name? Hopeless!!! Eric was right when he asked you not to go on that trip of yours." 

Nia pouted as she rubbed the back of her head," I know... I don't know anything about him... except his face. He was handsome and he had grey eyes...."

Stacy enquired if he had told her about his family or profession or any information from which they can deduce who he was. Nia looked at her nervously and said," I think he was a local because he looked experienced with the Jungle. He told me that he came there with his friends for some important work. What work does anybody do in a Forest? I think he was a hunter or maybe, a woodcutter...."

Stacy stopped her in between as she parked her car and said," Forget how handsome he was.... or What his profession was... The point is... It was a mistake and thank god you didn't do anything else with him or else I would have personally killed you. Now, Focus on your wedding and think about Eric. He loves you and he is going to marry you. Just keep him in mind and forget about that stupid stranger you met three weeks ago. Now, get down, we have reached the saloon." 

Stacy's words knocked some sense into her brain and Nia felt she was overthinking. Maybe, it was because he saved her life that she was thinking so much about him. 

Nia was feeling light after sharing her feelings with Stacy and hugged her before getting down from the car. 

Soon, they headed inside the saloon to get ready. 

Stacy had already done the booking for both of them, so it didn't take much time for the professional to make them ready for the big ceremony. 

When the girls reached the venue that night, Nia was looking so beautiful in her wedding dress that everyone was mesmerized by her beauty. Her face was covered with a beautiful veil but it couldn't hide much of her beauty. 

Her cousins escorted her to the bride's room as the ceremony was yet to begin. 

That night, when Nia was sitting in her bridal room, Stacy had left her for a moment to go out and receive their friends, but when she came back... Nia was not there.