12. Chapter 12
Chapter twelve
Atticus
I’ll murder her.
Went to the restroom, my ass. I couldn’t concentrate the entire swim practice, and it didn’t help that Cameron kept running his fucking mouth. If Bran weren’t watching so closely, I would’ve drowned the asshole. He kept going like Ash and I weren’t there, even in the change room. I had to hold Ash back a few times, but I told him when Mad is back, we’ll have our fun. Cameron will be finished for good.
My main concern is finding that God-forsaken girlfriend. Each call rings before heading to voicemail. We should have activated her location, and with each passing minute, my anxiety shoots through the roof.
Ashton went to look inside Darrow Hall while I headed to the main campus. The only way she could’ve left the property is with Spence or if someone dragged her out. I’m hoping it’s neither, to be honest. It's not that I care if she hangs with Spence, but she would’ve told us, and that’s what is bugging me. Fuck it.
Me: Is Jinx with you?
Beats wondering and making me go any crazier than I already am.
Dickhead Spencer: No. I’ve been in class all day
Me: Okay, thanks
I Ignore the text he sends after. He’s useless to me now. It still leaves unanswered questions. Where the fuck is Jinx? And I can’t ask anyone else since Miss Darkness didn’t make any other friends. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. Fuck the main campus; I veer for Greywood Hall. Maybe she’s practicing her Cello. I’m praying fucking hard that’s where she is. Why can’t she fucking listen to us? All Ash asked was to be with us during the meeting. How hard is that?
I’m beyond pissed, and red has now become my favorite color. I pity anyone who gets in my way, including this prick who’s walking slowly in front of me. Without thinking, I give him a shove and watch him tumble to the ground.
“You asshole!” he yells at me.
I stop and swivel around. “I wouldn’t start with me, or you won’t use your mouth to eat from.”
He doesn’t say anything else. It’s probably the smartest thing he’s done his whole life. I continue moving, weaving in and out of all the dicks of this pathetic school. I’m trying not to think the worst, but I can’t help it. What if her stalker caught her, or Serena somehow convinced her to sign the school over. Then there is that ass Roan. How has she built a fan base of haters?
The music hall is chaotic. Finding her here will be a challenge. With each person that passes by, my patience wears thin. As my phone vibrates in my pocket, I desperately hope it’s Ashton with good news.
“Ash, tell me something, bother.”
“Nothing, man. She isn’t in Maddox, ours, or her dorm. I even checked the laundry and common area. She isn’t here. Any luck on your end?”
“Wish I could say I had good news, but nothing. I’m at the music hall, trying to find her, but I’m getting pissed off.” I bump into another dickhead, trying to make my way to a classroom.
I hear Ash sigh. “Breath, dude. I’ll be over there shortly.”
The line goes dead. I push further in, still coming up empty-handed. When I reached the concert hall, my temper maxed out. I shove the doors open and find it empty. I breathe deeply and settle into a vacant seat, letting my head rest in my hands as my thoughts drift to where Jinx might be. I would say her ignoring us isn’t like her, but her track record speaks for itself.
I swear if this is her way of just avoiding us, she wins. I’ll give her what she wants. I’ll drop out and move. I can’t keep up with her mood swings anymore. I’m emotionally wrecked. The worst part is we can’t tell Maddox. He needs to stay in rehab for the entire time. This would send him spirally to the finish line. Fuck, Maddox. We only dropped him off this morning; it feels like days have passed. If he finds out, he’ll be broken. We need to find Jinx before that happens.
I try Jinx once more; this time, her phone goes directly to voicemail. My stomach sinks, and now my mind runs freely in the wind. Either her phone died, or she got sick of me blowing it up and turned it off.
“Ace. If you think any harder, you’ll blow a blood vessel. We’ll find her.” Ash says from behind me.
I glance over my shoulder and take in a disheveled Ash. “You don’t know that. We’ve always been able to find her. Something is different this time.”
He rests his hand on my shoulder, squeezing it. “We’ll find her. Did you check the main campus?”
“No, I needed a breather.” I need more than a breather, but Jinx is my priority now. I’m at a loss, and I’m feeling useless. “Do you know anyone that can track a person?”
He goes to answer, then stops. He pulls his phone out and types. I watch his eyebrows furrow with each movement of his fingers. Whatever he’s writing, he’s making his point known. I hope whoever is on the other end doesn’t fuck this up because I’m out of options. A person can’t disappear without a trace. It’s not possible.
“Okay, I sent a text to my nerd. Let’s fucking pray he knows how to figure something out.”
His fucking nerd. “Seriously, you're banking on the hope that he can find our girl, but you don’t even know if he can. I’ve known you to do stupid shit, but this tops it, Ashton. I’m headed to the main building while you wait for your prayers to be answered.”
Jesus, a nerd, to find Jinx, he has to be kidding. Nerds are only good for one thing. To cheat from or to beat up. They can’t find people—end of story. What’s next? He’s going to ask a bookworm to find her; maybe a fictional character can hack into the school and find her. Shit doesn’t happen like that in the real world. Sometimes, we only have what we have to work with, and I have nothing.
I storm out of Greywood Hall. My last hope stands in the final building with two other people who talk to her. If they haven’t seen her. I’m officially fucked. Walking up the stairs, a sense of dread washes over me. She was here; I know it. Florence better have some answers. It’s better than a fuckin’ nerd.
The office is busy; I guess most of these dicks are trying to figure out their schedules as they try to leave for Thanksgiving next weekend. But that isn’t my problem; besides them getting fat from overcooked pies, I have more important things to deal with. Florence glances my way, looking tired, and I simply nod with understanding.
I whistle, grabbing everyone's attention. “Hey. The office is closed. Get your shit and leave.”
“Who made you the boss?” A curly-haired prick asked.
I step up to him, towering over him. I look into his eyes, watching him shrink down. “The knife in my back pocket did. Would you like to feel it going into your chest?”
His Adam's apple bobs up and down as he tries to swallow. I jerk forward, watching him stumble backward. He grabs his friend, and they scramble. When I reach behind my back, the rest of the crowd rushes out.
“Atticus, that wasn’t necessary,” Florence scolds me.
“Sure it was. I needed your help, and it looked like you needed a break.” I move toward the desk, leaning on it.
“It looks like you need a break, hun. What’s the matter?”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. When I open them, Florence is watching me patiently. She’s one person here who has never been rude or judged me for all my tattoos. She’s always been so accepting; now, if I ask her about Jinx, she hasn’t seen her. It’ll break her. I’m unsure what to do: protect her or risk it.
“Have you seen Jinx today?” Jinx is more important to me. I’ll risk anyone at this point.
Her face scrounges up as she thinks. “No. She usually visits, but not today. She must’ve gotten busy.”
“Allan didn’t have a meeting with her?” I’m pulling at strings now; she would’ve told us if she did, but I’m desperate for an answer.
“No. Allan is away for a conference in the city. He won’t be back until Monday. What’s going on?”
“I have a feeling Jinx is missing.”
“Missing? What the hell is going on, Atticus.”
Is it my place to tell her about Jinx’s stalker? Jinx had plenty of time to tell her dad and never did. He could’ve helped her, and now it’s too late. She needs help, and I won’t let that pass by. I’m tired of keeping secrets. I’ve kept her a secret for years, and it’s tiring.
“Jinx has a stalker, Florence. I’m not sure if he finally caught up with her or if she left the school grounds alone. But I need to find her.”
She gently leans back in her chair, removing her glasses and letting them rest on her chest, held in place by a delicate chain. “Atticus,” she whispers. “Why didn’t you tell me this beforehand? Or even when Prescott was still alive, we could’ve helped her. What if.” She broke into a quiet cry.
“Florence, I don’t want to think of the what-ifs. Because if I do, I’ll go to a very dark place.”
“I wish I knew where she was, but I don’t. I wouldn’t even know where to look. I’m sorry.”
I’m back at square one. With no other clues to go on, I’ve got nothing. I'm unsure what to do if Jinx doesn’t contact me.