Mr.Notebook

"What are you doing in my house? Get the hell out or I'm calling the police."

side note : Kai is non-binary (goes by they/them pronouns)

"How can we be certain this is legal? It doesn't seem like it from where I stand" they said.

"I don't know, Kai." I whispered, "I really don't."

-

I slowly made my way into the mall and smiled at how beautiful it was. A shiny floor, shiny windows. We couldn't hear anything except my footsteps, no crying kids, screaming teenagers or rushed adults, like me, usually. It may be the first time I wasn't late. The loneliness, some hate it, but I don't. I find it mh, calming. Soothing. So much different from Ottawa in general, I hate this town.

"If you keep starring at the floor like this, who's going to open the store, Rostova?" Someone said loudly.

I let out a small scream that vibrated through the mall before catching my breath and noticing her.

"Well hello to you too, Hollin. Maybe not scaring me in the morning would be a great choice for your, you know, well being."

"You know I hate it when you call me that." She said in an annoyed tone.

"Likewise, Laura."

We shared a small smile and headed to FootLocker.

Laura has a tendency of calling me by my last name. Rostova, I hate it. It hides so much, pain. I can't wait to get married and change it. It'll be memorable.

"So?" she said.

"Pardon?"

"Didn't you listen to what I was saying?"

"Uhh." I let out in embarrasment.

"Classic. I said I would buy you that ring you've been obssessed with if you take care of the three next teenagers that come in. Deal?" Her smile was enourmous. How could I say no?

Suddenly, my phone started ringing.

"Give me two seconds, let me take this phone call." She answered with a head gesture as I walked over to the other side of the closed store.

"Hi, who's this?"

"It's Kai, how are you?" Their voice had a tint of worry.

"Hi, I'm okay. Why are you calling from an unknown number, did you change it again? Is everything fine?" I asked.

"Ally, you've just received 20,000 dollars in cash."

I couldn't answer. 20,000 dollars? In cash? Had someone died? My family never was very wealthy and we never were really close. How could someone send me that amount? This is ridiculous.

"Ally?"

"From whom?"

"I have no idea, it said MN on the package."

"MN? As in money?"

"I don't have a clue babe, just please come home, I don't understand this. Come home, please. Lots of besos. "

-

After a long road of unanswered questions, I finally arrived home where Kai was looking out at my car with worried eyes.

"Hi." I whispered out while hugging them.

"What are we going to do with the money?" they asked.

I mean 20,000 dollars, that's a lot of clothes, food and even accessories. It just doesn't feel right.

"Should we spend it?" I asked, feeling greedy.

"I don't know," They started. "how can we be certain this is legal? It doesn't seem like it from where I stand."

"I don't know, Kai." I whispered. "I really don't."

-

That night we went to sleep with a weird feeling. I mean, we've just received 20,000 dollars, why were we overthinking it? Alright, it is a bit weird but nothing bad could really happen. It's not like the money contains a bomb or whatever, it's money. Innocent money.

-

"ALLY." someone screamed.

I woke up in a shock and looked around to make sure no one was in danger. I slowly moved to the side and saw Kai holding my arms.

"Why Kai? Why?" I asked sarcastically crying.

"Has anyone told you it is IMPOSSIBLE to wake you up?! IT'S BEEN 15 MINUTES." they cried-yelled.

"Can you please stop screaming in the morning K?" I said.

"Better then having your father coming without any annoucement and beating the living crap out of me, suck it up babe."

"That so wasn't my fault, plus I've told you not to call him my dad. We've been over this."

Thinking about him made me realize just how much I miss my mother.

"Wait what time is it?"

"What do you mean what time is it, weren't you supposed to wake me up at six?"

They looked at me, I looked at them and there went chaos. They were running for their food, I was running for my clothes. They were looking for the keys, I was looking for the toothpase. Another abominal 18 (of course an exact timing) minutes and we were at the front door.

"Wait, isn't it Tuesday?" they asked.

"Yes, indeed. Why?"

"I thought you didn't work on Tuesday?"

I looked at them, they looked at me and there went chaos. I was crying, they were laughing.

They left a small kiss on my forehead and looked at me with the brightest gray eyes, those that I longed for so deeply.

"Look at it the good way, you have a whole day for yourself. Make the most of it, yeah? I love you." they whispered out.

"Have a great day, I love you too."

They smiled at me, the same smile that made me fall in love with them and went to work.

I quickly grabbed a coat and went outside to see if there was any mail or packages. I'd had bought a little something for Kai and I was waiting for it. There was mail, normal stuff for appartment and two packages.

It was square shapped I just KNEW it was his gift. I opened it with precaution and saw a small black notebook. A notebook? Why would they order a notebook?

I mean, it is pretty but why? I slowly opened it and saw there was something written in it. I smiled as I thought it was a little love note. Let's just say my smile quickly dissapeared.

"Hi, love. I hope you liked my little gift. Oh God, I miss you already. Take good care of my money, yeah? I love you ..lots of besos -Mr.Notebook"

I ended up calling Laura and telling her all about it.

"Don't you get it?! It's Kai." she screamed out.

"How could it be them? They don't have that kind of money, plus they would've told me instead of stressing me out."

"I don't know maybe to surprise you? Isn't it you guys' anniversary soon?" she said and then it clicked.

"Oh my God, in 20 days.."

"See! Use the money to buy them something cute. Buy me something as well, royalty for helping you out, you know." Bella said while laughing.

We talked for a small amount of time before she had to hang up to go back to work. I proceeded to listen to her advice.

I took the small notebook and wrote Kai a note "I figured it out Kai. ;) I'll be back soon, going to pick something out for you. I love you xox"

I started by going down to the pastry to buy them a little strawberry shortcake, their favourite of course. When we were in eight grade, I bumped into them and made them drop their shortcake, Kai ended up crying. We went out and I bought them another shortcake, I guess we can say that was our very first date!

I slowly made my way to a thrift shop to search for some clothes that would fit their style and they called me.

"Hi Kai, so I found this very cute dark green turtleneck, FaceTime me for a second and tell me if you like it. It's for you!" I let out in an enthousiastic voice.

"Ally, we need to talk."

I stopped breathing. Those words never ended in a good way. A break up or a fight, suddenly my vision went blank. Flashbacks hit right back, screams, cries, broken glass, holes in the wall.

"I didn't give you that money. It wasn't me." They said.

I slowly caught my breath and came back to my senses.

"What do you mean it wasn't you? It said lots of besos and it's our anniversary in 20 days, it makes sense."

"Kai? Kai?!"

"Ally, I don't know wh-" they started and the call ended.

I tried calling them at least 2o times but no answers. Zero. I drove back home even though my condition wasn't made for driving. I couldn't see the road from crying. I couldn't control the car from shaking. I just wanted them to be alright. I couldn't imagine myself without my significant other.

I opened my door in a hurry and started screaming : "KAI? KAI!"

"Hi, love."

I froze.

That voice. That scent.

"What are you doing in my house? Get the hell out or I'm calling the police."

"Is that a way to treat your father?" he whispered out.

"You are no where near being my father, Monic."

"She doesn't deserve you, Ally. My poor little girl, what has gotten into you?"

He walked towards me and grabbed my face. I pushed his hand away and took a deep breath.

"It's they, not she. Where is Kai?"

"You're safe now." He smiled.

A horrible smile.

"I've been watching you, you two. I left you some money to pay for a new home." Monic told me.

MN.. it stands for Monic.

"I don't need your money, nor do I need you. I only need Kai, where are they?"

Then I started crying. I knew what he was capable of, he hurt his own wife, in cold blood, laughing. Why wouldn't he hurt someone he barely even knows? How could I be too scared to tell the police back then? I could've helped them. I could've helped Kai.

"Of course you need me, why would you, why would you say such a thing?"

He looked at me with those cold eyes, the ones that used to scare me so much.

"Where is Kai, Monic? Where?"

"Gone, Ally. She's long gone."