Learning To Deal

Finding Jane

**Billy's POV**

It's been one week since I've seen Jane and I'm more than a little worried. I've gone to her house, I've been to Donovan Decker and I've looked for her at school, but nothing. Even Ben won't tell me where she is and I'm getting pissed. Jane never goes this long without talking to me, even when she's beyond pissed. She may say angry or sad things, but she's always talking.

"Hey, Troublemaker, are you paying attention?" Zoe says while waving a hand in front of my face. Truth is I haven't been able to focus on anything since I woke up in Jane's bed without Jane there too. I had snuck out of her house before Ben could talk to me and it took me until I got all the way home to realize what Jane must have done. I passed a mirror by the door and the bright color against my skin caught my eye. I took a step back to examine my cheek a little closer. I smile to myself remembering the last time Janey's lipstick left a mark on my face.

"I'm sorry, Zo. What did you say?" I did feel bad because I wasn't giving her the attention she deserved. She simply smiled, "I said, we need to have some fun this weekend. What do you say you come over and we watch a whole bunch of scary movies and I pretend to be scared while you pretend to protect me and who knows what happens next?" She was holding her eyebrows high in a suggestive way. I so badly wanted to accept, but I needed to find my MIA best friend and see what her problem is. I can't help but want to rescue her like I always do.

I look down before responding sensing she isn't going to enjoy my answer, "Ahh Zo, you know I'd love to do that, but… I haven't seen-"

She interrupted me, "Jane. I know, its okay we can do it another night. Seriously go find your best friend. I haven't seen her either and I know that's why you've been distracted lately," I didn't move "Why are you still here? Go find her already." I thought about this for a quick second because it seems very trap like. "Are you sure? You don't feel like I'm choosing Jane over you right?" I asked just to clarify. That reason is ultimately what ends my relationships. "Yes, I'm sure, so go!" She pushed me away gently and I kissed her cheek. I was pretty psyched to find Jane.

I went straight for the first person that came to mind when I thought of Jane Quimby: Ben Quimby. I practically run to the office of our assistant… whatever, I really don't care what he is. I just know he knows where Jane is. I reach his door and open it to quickly shut it again. What I just saw was not something I care to talk about. Ben and Ms. Shaw were sucking face in a very suggestive manner. I walk to the other side of the hall and start laughing.

The door opened just enough for Ben to slip out and come towards me. I put my hands up, "I won't tell." I'm amused in so many ways. "What do you need, Billy?" He cuts right to the chase no doubt itching to get back to his office. I could play around with this, but the need to find Jane is stronger than my obnoxious side. "Where is she? It's been a week and I haven't seen or heard from her at all." Ben lets out a sigh seeming to struggle with what to say to me. He's been avoiding me and my attempts at finding Jane. "Her meeting with Gray didn't go so well so she's been… recovering so to speak." If Janey's meeting didn't go well then she must not be doing okay. Concern floods my face as I understand what Ben's saying. "Where is she?"

"Listen, Billy," He puts a hand on my shoulder. "I think leaving her alone is the best right now. Her world just kind of crashed down around her and she's not herself." It's just her job that's crashing down, I don't get it. As soon as that thought came it occurred to me it may not just be her job. She hasn't seen me in a week and even if that sounds a little vein we haven't been apart for this long since our friendship started in third grade. Both of us don't handle being apart well. I feel horrible for leaving her alone to get through something hard for her.

"Ben, come on. Jane means the world to me and I won't just let her down and leave her alone. We both know she doesn't do well when that happens to her. Where is she?" I ask hopefully for the last time. Ben seems to battle himself for a moment in deciding whether or not to tell me. It's not like I've been mean to her, I just haven't seen her. And its not like I haven't been looking, she just hasn't been there. No matter what, deep down, I still feel guilty for not being there to protect her. Apart of me will always want to do that for Jane, she's done a lot for me over the years.

Finally Ben speaks, "She's getting here tonight at six. You can pick her up at the air port and I won't tell her you're coming. She'd most definitely kill me." My brain got stuck on the word 'airport'. "Wait, where'd she go? She literally left?" I was surprised she could just up and leave without even telling me. What was happening?

"Ask Jane. You guys need to talk and I'm not going to be the one to tell you everything. Anyways, I'm going to go back to work…" He coughed nervously and turned away.

"Oh hey Ben," I called after him and he turns around. "Niiiiiiice." I whisper and hold out my fist. He bumps it and smiles, "Right?" He fully turns around and heads back into his office. I laugh and head to my next class. Just one more to go and then I have to waste time before picking up Janey. There is so much we need to talk about.

How could she just leave the state like that and not say anything to me? She tells me everything and it really pisses me off she would leave without a word.

What the hell?