An Old Friend

Chapter 9

Morgan's POV

After everyone was let out of the school, everyone's parents bombarded us with hugs and worried questions until they knew we were completely safe and unharmed. Hayden's mom almost blew up when she saw her with a worse black eye than before and a tissue in her nose. If we weren't in the situation we are in, it would've almost been a bit funny. But we're in this, and we can't get out. School's been canceled for the next two weeks, at the least and I haven't been able to sleep in days. Neither has any of the group.

As I stare at my ceiling my phone vibrates next to me. It's Hayden and the others on a conference call. "Still no sleep?" Taylor opens the conversation.

"None here," we all agree that we haven't slept.

"I need out of this damn house," Hayden sighs. "You guys wanna meet down by the river? Maybe we can try figuring this shit out again."

"It's almost three in the morning," Ethan groans.

"And none of us can sleep," Ash states. "Might as well be productive about our insomnia."

"Be there in ten minutes," I sigh lightly.

"Fine," Taylor sighs and we all hang up. I throw on my dark green flannel and sneakers before putting my laptop in my bag with my camcorder and going out through my window.

It's dark so I take my camera out, turning the flashlight on as I walk through the streets in the river's direction. When I get there I'm the first one so I sit in the grass with my camera light still on. One-by-one everybody shows up with small flashlights. "What's the plan?" Ash sits down. We end up sitting in a circle on the grass. Hayden and Ethan are on each of my sides with Taylor and Ash next to them.

"No idea," Hayden shrugs.

"We could just sit in silence until we think of something," Taylor shrugs.

"Fine with me, as long as I'm not alone," Ethan sighs. "My dad's been on my ass about being safe ever since what happened at school."

"Yeah, my mom and I have every exit in the house locked at all times," Taylor nods.

"My mom's been at work half the time," Hayden shrugs.

"I wish I had a sibling," Ash shifts, leaning on his hands. "Then I could stay up talking to them all night or something."

"Yeah," I nod.

"Hey," Ethan smiles. "We're all up talking right now. Like kids at a sleepover."

"Yeah," Hayden smiles. "You're right."

"Oh my god," I finally got it.

"What's wrong?" Hayden's smile fades to a worried look.

"It's Riley." Hayden and Taylor's faces go pale.

"Who's Riley?" Ash and Ethan both give us confused looks.

"He used to be one of our best friends," Taylor answers. "We all did almost everything together before he moved. We thought we could keep in touch but when we went our separate ways none of us talked. Even to him."

"He kept us from falling apart," I notice a tear falling down Hayden's face for the first time in over a year.

"And now I'm gonna be the one to fix that," we all jump up pointing our lights towards the bushes next to the water. "Hey, guys." The boy with fiery red hair grins as he stands in a black hoodie. The grey of his eyes almost glows, reflecting our lights.