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Tenzin

I knocked on their door, holding her bag and backpack, but there was no answer. Oh. I must have beaten them home. Knowing Clark, he took her out to ice cream or something as a reward for a good game. He seemed like he’d grown up in the sort of house where all games got treats, not only the winning ones.

My sister was like that, always finding me a treat after a game, regardless of the outcome. Usually we’d stop at the grocers on the way home and I’d pick out some chips.

Sending Clark and Gwen a quick text, I showered and put on something more comfortable. I frowned at my phone. Still no text from either–and no answer when I knocked on their door again.

A quick scroll through the team group chat told me nothing. I called both of them, but it went to voicemail. Worry roiled in my belly. I didn’t have access to either of their locations, so I couldn’t tell if they were getting takeout or if something happened.

Me

Has anyone heard from Clark and Gwen? They were supposed to meet me.

Dimitri

She’s always hungry. Maybe they got takeout.

Of course. Nothing bad happened; they got food and weren’t answering, because they were on their way back. I tried to push bad thoughts out of my mind and went to make some tea, to give myself something to do.

I sipped the tea and turned on the news. Sports news was full of Ty and Gwen’s debut. The couple of clips they showed of her interview after the game were charming. Gwen had captured everyone’s hearts, especially with the answer about the pink gear.

Where had the pink gear come from? It looked brand new. Someone had said her birthday was yesterday, which wasn’t true. Her birthday was right after Cooter’s.

Once again, I frowned at my phone. Still no text. I tried their door and called them both again.

Nothing.

Jonas

Did you find them?

Dread spread through me. This didn’t feel right.

My phone rang, and I jumped. I didn’t know the number, but it was a local area code, so I answered it. “Hello?”

“Is this Tenzin Brooks?” the female voice said.

My stomach sank. “Yes."

“You’re listed as an emergency contact for Gwen Di Rossi,” she said. “I’m calling from the emergency room of Manhattan General Hospital to inform you that she has been in a motorcycle accident.”

Thank you for reading Loving Ladybug, Part 1 . Read Loving Ladybug, Part Two now and see what happens to Gwen, Clark, and Tenzin next.