Howie opened his eyes slowly. He felt calm, entirely at peace. Taking a deep breath, he sighed softly and rolled over, expected to feel a warm body next to him. He found only more cool sheets.
Howie sat up with a start. Immediately he knew that Grace was gone. He glanced over at the bedside table and saw the cell phone he had given her. The digital clock beside it told him it was 6:10.
At first, all he felt was a sort of numb shock. He glanced at the cell phone again. He hesitated for a moment, then picked it up and dialed.
"Where is she?" Howie demanded, storming out of his hotel room. Melissa from SHE just about jumped out of her skin.
"Who are you looking for?" She inquired.
"Grace," Howie snapped. "Where's Lou?"
"In his room," Melissa replied quickly. "Just down the hall." She watched as Howie stormed away. Shaking her head, Melissa continued to look for Cora.
As Howie rounded the corner to Lou's room, he bumped straight into Nick.
"Have you seen her?" Nick asked.
"No," Howie replied. "I'm looking for her."
Nick looked slightly confused. "Oh, Mel told you?"
"Told me what?" Howie snapped impatiently.
Nick rolled his eyes. "About Cora! I've been searching for her since I woke up this morning! Alison doesn't even know where she is!" Nick sighed. "Actually Alison wasn't talking much at all this morning . . ."
Howie was anxious. "But have you seen Grace?"
Nick sighed deeply. "No, why? She hasn't left already, has she?"
"Seems that way . . ." Howie told him. He looked over Nick's shoulder as Lou stepped out of his room. Howie pushed Nick aside and barely noticed as Andrew walked out of his room.
"Where is she?" Howie demanded of Lou."Do you realize that we have no way of finding her? She left her cell phone here. There are no flights out of Cleveland to her home!' Howie paused as Lou stared at him. "I checked!" Howie snapped. "Besides," He continued, shaking his head. "I don't think she'd just go home anyway . . ." He sighed deeply and glanced back as Andrew pushed past him. He stared after Grace's friend.
‘Where would I go?' He asked himself. ‘If I were her, where would I go?'
As Howie stood in front of Lou pondering, Brian approached Nick. "Nick, what the hell is going on?" His friend demanded in a whisper. "What happened with you and Cora last night?"
Nick barely met Brian's gaze. He stuttered, then shook off the question. "It's, it's none of your business." He tried to push past Brian, but his friend grabbed his arm.
"Nick, it is my business," Brian told him firmly. "Where is she?"
"I don't know!" Nick cried, exasperated.
The hallway was silent. Beki and Mariama stepped out of their room. "What is going on here?" Beki inquired. "Are you gents planning on waking the entire hotel?"
Just then, Alison came around the corner. She stopped, and stood in front of them. They gave her expecting looks. Her face was red, but she could speak calmly. "I haven't seen Cora, but Lou I need to talk to you."
Howie sighed and leaned against the wall. For the first time that morning, Lou spoke. "Everyone just calm down, please." He turned to Howie. "Howie, I'll assume you were speaking of Grace just a few moments ago, well she left me her resignation this morning, and you're right, until she goes home I really don't have anyway to contact her, but that was her choice." His voice was gradually getting louder. "Nick, what the fuck is up with you? Find Cora, and I want to know why the hell everyone on this tour has been acting so irresponsibly!" He paused and looked menacingly at the group. He turned to Alison. "I can speak to you for a minute."
He stepped back into his room and held the door open for her. "I want everyone on that bus by seven o'clock!" Lou slammed the door.
An eerie silence filled the hallway. "Well, I guess we got put in our place . . ." Brian muttered.
Kevin jogged down the hall. "What's going on guys?" He asked Brian. "I heard Lou yelling and a door slam."
Brian sighed. "Let's just find Cora and get on the damn bus. Where's A.J.?" "Downstairs," Kevin replied,"there's a breakfast buffet. We have time to grab something before we get on the bus."
"Typical man," Beki muttered, brushing past him. "Always thinking with his stomach." She smiled as she saw Victoria coming down the hall, small luggage in tow. "Hey Vicky!"
Victoria smiled at her friend. "Hey Beki, what's up with all the yelling?"
Beki dropped her bags to make an exaggerated gesture of aggravation and rolled her eyes. "I don't know! I know Nick's looking for Cora, and I overheard Howie say he was looking for Grace! Alison looked like she was crying and went to speak with Lou! If you ask me, this whole tour has gone completely mad!"
Victoria's face went blank as she took in all the information. She gave Beki a half smile. "Hey, at least it breaks up the monotony!"
Beki laughed and shook her head. Light, blond strands of hair swirled around her head. "That's for sure!" Beki smiled and picked up her bags. "But you know, I really don't see the point of the Boys searching for these gurls. If they want to catch their bus, they will. The gurls can take care of themselves, you know."
Victoria smiled and walked with Beki to the elevators.
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