Chapter 2 #2
“Elizabeth, do you know this guy?” the other guy asks her again.
She clutches at her chest. “I... I don’t know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know? Of course you know me. We’ve known each other since we were nine years old.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispers up at me, her eyes wide and panicked. “I don’t remember.”
“Elizabeth, what is going on?” This time I do reach for her, and she stumbles back into the guy beside her.
“Elizabeth?” Fallon says, rushing up behind me. I completely forgot he was here. Hearing her name spoken once again, Elizabeth turns in the direction of Fallon.
“I’m sorry,” she cries, stepping back. “I can’t do this.” Frantically clawing at the strap of her backpack, she takes off down the hall toward the exit.
“Elizabeth!” I shout after her, causing several students in the hall to glare at me. I can’t let her leave. I have to stop her. Before I’m able to make two running steps to chase her down, I'm shoved back—hard.
“I don’t think so, man,” the new guy says.
“Move," I warn him.
“Not moving. She’s clearly afraid of you.”
I try to push my way past, and again he stops me. I've had enough. I raise my fist, prepared to knock him out so I can go after Elizabeth, but Fallon jumps in and holds my arm in a death grip.
“Stop, Ry.”
I yank my arm down and whirl on Fallon, fury and rage now directed at him. “Don’t try to stop me, Fallon. That was Elizabeth. My Elizabeth! We haven't seen her in months! And she’s here.”
“Yes, and clearly she doesn’t want to talk to you,” Fallon replies.
“She acted like she doesn’t know me!” I scream back at him.
Two teachers poke their heads outside their classrooms, looking up and down the hall to see what's going on.
Fallon lowers his voice. “Not here, Ry. Let’s go, man. Come on.”
He leads me quickly to the back exit, the new guy following behind us. I'm scanning the grounds, the parking lot, the sidewalks. No sign of Elizabeth anywhere. It's as if she was a figment of my imagination. We pass the gate to the football field, and Fallon pushes me toward the bleachers.
“I don’t understand, Fallon. How could we not know she was here? Where has she been all this time?”
Fallon jumps on top of the bleachers and looks down at the new guy. “Since Ryder doesn't know who you are, you must be new. What's your name?”
“Trevor. You?”
“Fallon.”
“Alright, Fallon. I'm clearly missing something. What did he mean when he said that girl has been missing for months? Was she kidnapped or something?”
“Why are you asking me? Ask him. He's standing right there.”
“How do you know Elizabeth?” I demand, looking around again to see if I can see her. Fallon must sense that I'm getting antsy and about to bolt, so he jumps down from the bleachers and lands between me and Trevor.
“Dude, I just met her like thirty minutes ago.”
My attention flits back to Trevor. “Keep talking.”
“I don’t think so. Look, I’m obviously missing something.”
Fallon crosses his arms and cocks his head, a picture of pure relaxation and ease. Only his voice and eyes say differently. “What you’re going to do is answer his question.” Fallon’s tone makes it clear he’s not asking, he’s telling.
Trevor’s face reddens, and I wait impatiently for him to get on with it. After a lengthy stare-down with Fallon, he says, “I saw her in the parking lot. I mean, she’s totally hot, so yeah.”
I glare at him.
“Yeah, so, anyway, she was standing next to her car. The car is what caught my attention at first before I saw her. I chatted her up. We came inside. That’s about it. Honest. Can I go now?”
“Did she say anything else?”
“Um, she bought her car in Durham. That’s all, I swear.”
“Give me your phone,” Fallon tells him, motioning with his hand for Trevor to hand it over immediately.
Trevor enters his password and reluctantly hands his phone to Fallon.
Fallon sends himself a text and gives it back.
“I’ve got your number now, and you’ve got mine.
You see that girl again, no matter where or when, you contact me, yeah? ”
“Yeah, I got it. Can I go now?”
Fallon nods, and Trevor shoulder bumps him as he passes. I feel bad for the new guy. He doesn't know Fallon's reputation. Trevor doesn't realize it yet, but that shoulder-check just painted a target on his back.
“What are you going to do now?” Fallon asks me.
“I need to find Elizabeth.”
“What about Jay and Jules?”
Crap. Jayson’s going to lose his mind. Julien too. I exhale roughly and get out my phone to dial Jay’s number. He answers on the first ring.
“Hey, we just got here. Where are you?”
“Jay, shut up and listen.”
“What's going on?”
“Is Julien with you?”
“Yeah, he’s right here. Why?”
“Are you some place private?”
“We’re in the parking lot.”
“Put me on speaker so Julien can hear.”
“I’m here,” I hear Julien say.
“I’m with Fallon out at the bleachers. Elizabeth was here at school. She was right here. Right in front of me.”
I can hear Jayson suck in a lung full of air. “Where are you?” he says urgently. “We’re coming now. Keep her there and don’t let her leave.”
“She’s gone. She ran off.”
Over the phone, Jayson’s temper explodes.