Since I was young Scott had always been there for me no matter what. Since then, we have grown up and are now in high school. We go to different high schools, but both are in walking distance. Today after class Scott and I are going to eat at the diner down the street.
The bell rings and I run out to wait for Scott at the stop sign like normal. I wait five minutes. Then ten. Then thirty. By the time I look at my watch it's been an hour and a half.
I try messaging Scott to no avail. I decide to go home and wait for an answer or to see him tomorrow. He might have gotten busy. But neither ever happened.
Scott seemingly disappeared. I talked to his school and his name isn't on their rosters anymore. I check other schools in the area, he's not there either.
I search all around for Scott. He is nowhere. His parents didn't answer me when I asked them either. Something is wrong I know it. I looked through the whole town and he's gone. No message. No goodbye. No trace.
Every day I look for him. Every day. Since he disappeared it's been almost a year. I've been looking everywhere, he's gone. When I see things that he would like, I take photos and I write down things that happen so he can be updated when he gets back.
It's going to be one year tomorrow and later I will be visiting his family. I got his mom flowers and his dad a briefcase. They talk to me but try to avoid the topic of Scott. I assume it's because it pains them to know he's gone.
As soon as I can leave the school I am on the way to their house. I have their gifts. On the way I think about things me and Scott used to do. To pass notes in class we would write on gum wrappers. The teachers never caught on to it. Scott thought he was sneaky doing it.
Soon his house comes into view. I walk to the front door and knock waiting for an answer. The door opens to a familiar face. Alex. I haven't seen him in a long time. "Hey Y/N what are you doing here?"
"I brought gifts. Tomorrow is the one year of Scott's disappearance." Alex looks at me with a sad smile. He grabbed my arm and pulled me back to his room. He pulled something out of a drawer and handed it to me. A gum wrapper.
"Scott said once it had been a year to give that to you." I open the wrapper to see an address written on it. I look back up to see Alex holding out his keys. "Be careful ok."
I grab the keys from Alex and put the location in my gps. I pull out of the driveway eagerly. I start the drive to the location, unsure of what to expect.
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One drive later
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I pull up to a large house that reads 'School for the Gifted'. I drive up to the house and see people all around the place. I slowly get out of the car to be greeted by a man in a wheelchair.
"Hello, Alex informed me of your arrival. I believe the person you are looking for is in the garden. He is with some friends." He gives me a kind smile.
"Thank you sir." I quickly walk to where I was directed. I feel so nervous. I haven't seen Scott in almost a year. I thought he was dead.
I look through the garden and spot Scott with a group of others. He glanced in my direction and didn't even recognize me. Did he forget me? I slowly walk backwards closer to the building. It's been almost a year and he doesn't even remember me. This was a bad idea.
I pull out a gum wrapper and start writing on it. A girl with red hair walks in my direction. She gives me a smile.
"Are you going to sit with the person with the red glasses?" She nods "Can you give this to him, tell him it's from Jessica. Thank you." He will understand. It's a joke from when a teacher called me Jessica for a whole year.
I start walking through the back of the house to get to the car. I get in the car to go back home. I made sure not to slam the door because Alex would have a fit. I just sit in the car for a little unsure of what to do next.
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Jean walks over to the group with the gum wrapper in hand. She walks up to Scott. He sits with a puzzled look. Like he is thinking about something that he is unsure of.
"Here, this is from Jessica." Scott stares up at Jean with an even more confused look. He takes the wrapper and starts opening it. Written inside is 'Are we still friends?'. He stares at the paper with a shocked look.
"Who is Jessica, Scott?" "What does it say?" "Why is it a gum wrapper?" All the questions are getting thrown at Scott as the group watches him look around frantically.
Suddenly he takes off running. The rest of the group following him extremely confused. Scott was searching around as fast as he could. The rest of the group finally caught up to him and were yelling at him to answer them. He blocked out all the noise and just searched.
Scott caught a glimpse of Alex's car pulling out of the driveway and ran. He ran as fast as his legs could take him. He was too late. He watched as you drove off. He stood frozen as his friends caught up to him.
He had you in his grasps. And now you were gone. All that is left is a crumpled wrapper.
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1034 words
I hope you enjoyed this was inspired by the song ARE WE STILL FRIENDS? by Tyler, The Creator. As always Vote and Comment!
Edited 2.19.22
