Hey guys, thank you soooo much for the kind reviews! Hope this next chapter doesn't disappoint

Brax's POV:

I walk into Angelo's. The place is already crawling with people, but amongst all the faces, one stands out, annoyingly. Tegan sits at a booth away from the bar, away from everyone. She smiles at me as I approach, but all I feel is anger, because as she always seems to, she has come between Charlie and I. Instead of spending the day with the girl I love, im having to meet with her to sort out HER problems...again!

"What do you want this time?" I ask her, standing beside the booth.

"Just to – "

"Aren't you with Jake now?" I continue. "Again? Shouldn't you be bothering him with whatever problems you're having?"

"I thought I'd just go to one of my oldest friends for help." She said, "Because I thought that just maybe, he'd be willing to hear me out?"

"Yeah, well, you thought wrong didn't ya? Because I really couldn't care less, aye"

"Please Brax –"

"No Tegan, I'm sick of cleaning up your mess all the time, alright? Go bother someone else for a change."

We share a moment of silence, staring at one another, me with contempt, and her with hope. It's eventually broken by her phone beeping. She checks it, and slides out of the booth.
"Fine," she says, with half a smile. She walks out without another word, and I am just fine with this.

After my meeting with Tegan I decide to surprise Charlie at her coffee date with Ruby. I drive down to the diner thinking about the smile that will be on her face when she sees me.

I walk into the diner and scan the room. To my confusion, Ruby is sitting at a table in the corner on her own. She looks at me, and is just as confused to see me. I approach her.

"Hey Rubes, where's Charlie?" I ask as I join her at the table, " I thought she was having coffee with you this morning?"

The look of confusion on Ruby's face turns to worry.

"Well she was, and she isn't answering her phone...i just thought she was with you?"

"No, I haven't seen her since she left my place to come here this morning...she should be here by now". A sudden wave of concern rushes over me. Where could she be?

"Don't worry about it Rubes, I'm sure everything's fine", I say to her with false sincerity...deep in my gut, I know something is wrong.

I try calling Charlie for what seems like the 100th time, but still there's no answer. I walk up to the front door of Leah's house and, just as I'm about to knock on the door, it swings open, and Leah stands before me.

"Oh, hey Brax," she says with genuine surprise. "Charlie's not here right now".

"She's not?" I ask, "Well do you know where she might be?"

"I thought she was having coffee with Ruby? Look I'm in a hurry; you should try the diner..."

"Okay..." Leah slams the door shut and pushes past me. "Sorry to bother you." She says nothing.

I stand alone at the door wondering where I should look next, but before I have a chance to think, my phone beeps. It's a message from Charlie. Thinking that she's finally about to put my mind at ease and tell me that she's okay, I rush to read what it says

the sender of the message is Brodie, I am a little disappointed.. I really wasn't in the mood for what he had to say, but I thought I may as well get his issues out of the way so I could focus on finding Charlie. I open the message, and read...

"I know your secret Brax, and now I know why you wanted to keep her a secret... she truly is beautiful... meet me at the diner in 2 hours, and we'll discuss my terms... and if anything happens to me, or you try something funny... she will die!"

I stare at the phone, and a wave of emotion rushes over me... fury, terror, worry... I am now more determined than ever... I will get her back. I walk away from Leah's house and try to think of what I can do to get her back...