Trouble in Tiltown

Together

As we finished up the last few posters, Laurence walked into the dimly lit library.
"I'll be right back." I whispered to Jerrick and he smiled. I walked over to Laurence who's long and bony fingers were tracing all of the spines of the books, as though he were searching for a specific book.
"Hey." I greeted him quietly. His eyes trailed over to me for a split second before returning his focus back onto the books.
"Hello." He spoke lowly.
"So, Jerrick and I have been making posters for my dad." I told. He paused his hand and turned his head to me.
"What happened to your dad?" He inquired. His baby blue eyes gleamed against the buzzing lights that hung above the aisle of bookshelves, having an appearance of a baby face.
"He, uh, he's missing. When I woke this morning, he was just gone." I informed him as his hand began moving along the books again. Old and new.
"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that." He said flatly. His eyebrows pinched together, picking up a book and sliding his glasses up with a curled finger. That's it?
"That's all you're going to say to me?" My voice winced at his emotionless. His eyes glanced at me as if I had just screamed at him. They widened slightly before his face scrunched at me.
"I'm just really busy. I promise I'll help but I have something to do." He apologized before taking the book up to the front desk. I stood in the same spot as I felt a slight pain in my chest. A hand came over my shoulder, turning around and I saw Jerrick standing over me holding all of the posters.
"You ready?" He weakly smiled down at me. I nodded as he threw his arm around me, walking out of the library. My eyes glanced back at Laurence who was now sitting at a table, eyes squinting at words on a book that laid flat.

Oh no. I glanced over at Jerrick who was taping a poster on a street lamp and once he felt my eyes on him, he looked up at me quickly.
"I ran out of tape." I told him. He grinned widely and took out more tape from his pocket before handing it to me.
"No problem." He smiled at me.
As I taped the last one, I stared at him.
"Did you steal that?" I inquired as I handed him back the tape.
"I borrowed it, thank you very much." He defended himself, crossing his arms like a little boy having a tantrum.
I giggled, "Riiight. Anyways, I should go home. It's getting dark."
His warm smile disappeared, "Oh. Well, do you want me to walk you home?" He offered.
"Sure." I smiled as I interlocked my arm with his. As we walked, I softly landed my head on his broad shoulder. My eyes looked up at him who couldn't help but allow a wide smile go across his face. My eyes went back to in front of us and I grinned.

As we finally got up to the front door, Jerrick stopped me before entering.
My face turned up slightly to look him in the eyes.
"Can we try it again, please?" He asked me, his eyebrows slightly raised in anticipation as he waited for an answer.
"What? You mean our relationship?"
"Well, yeah." He laughs while redness appears slowly across both cheeks.
My eyes rolled, "Probably." I smiled at him as he returned it. After a while, we said our goodbyes.

Sitting in my father's rocking chair and listening to the radio, waiting for West to come on. He finally did. My feet rushed to the red and chipped phone on the wall.
"Hello late, late listeners. I'm feeling lonely tonight so go ahead and call in right now to talk." As he went on to announce the number, I hurried as I dialed.
"Wow, a caller already! You're on the air." He speaks over the phone as it echoes onto the radio.
"What do you think of people who have gone missing here in Tiltown?" I inquired without hesitation.
He rumbled a laugh that never escaped his mouth completely.
"Right away, huh?"
"Answer the question please." I said. My feet only travelled so far to keep my eyes on the radio, the curly cord following.
"You'll have to be more specific with your answer." He replied.
"People keep going missing in town and there's never been a solved case. Why? You know something." I stated. My tone of voice kept a hint of frustration.
"Kat. I cannot help you with your father. I'm sorry." He responded darkly.
"No! Don't hang up. You know everything and you pretend that you don't." I spat at him. Tears raced one another, falling down my cheeks.
"There are always an answer. I just don't have one for you at the moment." He spoke. He hung up on me, leaving me listening the radio instead. I rushed to stand in front of the radio.

"Sorry folks. Some people deal with the loss of family and friends in this town, but others refuse to. That's all for tonight." I brought my hand up to my eyes, attempting to wipe away tears as more rolled down. A knock on the front door came and as I answered it, there stood Jerrick.

Without any words being exchanged, we hugged each other as I placed my wet cheeks in his neck.
"What happened?" I said through my tears.
"I'll stay with you." Jerrick responded as I felt his hand softly trace my back. As my eyes looked up, I spotted Laurence rushing down the sidewalk with books in his arms. Far too much for him to carry. His expression held anger, fear and much more.