Mr. Stump

Could Have Gone Worse, Right?

Patrick's eyes land on me with only one question.
What. Do. We. Do?
It was a good question, I looked around the room as Kristina and Angie continued to furiously bang against the door. The only thing that came to mind was the first thing I saw.
The closet.
Never thought I'd be doing this, especially with my history teacher.
Well....I did think of some things wi-
Okay, focus Kora.
" Closet. And you go handle them. " I say as I scramble my way into Patrick's walk in closet and closing the door behind me.
I left the door slightly cracked to see the best I could. But I could only listen.
Sort of listen.
The smell of Patrick's closet was errotic because it smelled just like him.
" MR. STUMP ! " A loud voice cries out hearing that Patrick had opened the door...shirtless.. I laughed at the thought.
" Oh! My apologies girls! And Pete. " I hear him shuffle back to the room and grab a shirt, glancing towards the closet.
"
MRSTUMPLEASEHELPUSWECAN'TFINDKORAANDSHEHASNTANSWEREDHERPHONE!" Kristina blurred out in a sobbing line of words barely audible.
" Cmon Kris, keep it together " Angie comforting words reassure Kristina's hysteria state. Then Pete's voice comes out.
" The last time we saw her was at a restaurant last night for New Years. She hasn't answered any of our texts or calls ". There's a pause.
Then Patrick speaks.
" Alright here's what were gonna do. Maybe her phone has died. So, have you checked her house? "
Another pause.
" We don't wanna worry her parents.." Angie explains.
Then I hear a buzzing sound come from the nightstand.
My phone begins going off from Kristina calling me yet again.
Its slightly loud but it moves closer to the ceramic plate, tempting it to create an even louder sound.
God dammit I have to get it.
I space the door open slightly more to see the disdance and where Patrick, Pete, Kristina and Angie were standing.
It seems that Patrick has moved the conversation into the living room.
I slowly creek towards the phone before I start hearing footsteps coming down the hall.

Shit.
Shit.
Shit.

In my state of panic I grab my phone but in the process I knock over the plate, sending it to the wood-staines floor, causing a loud and unexpected crash.
The voices cut off.
" What was that? " Pete asks.
Multiple footsteps proceeds down the hall towards me. I race back into the closet and once again close the door still slightly cracked.
The 4 of them enter the room. Angie and Kristina look like complete wrecks. Puffy eyes and blotchy faces from crying. Bags from lack of sleep. Nails chewed down the the nub from worry.
I'm sorry girls...
" Oh my plate fell from the nightstand, no worries guys " Patrick stuffs his hands into his pockets slowly moving in front of the closet.
God he's always one step ahead of me.
Sexy bastard.
" Well we're sorry for barging in like this, especially on a Sunday Mr. Stump " Angie apologizes. Patrick waves his hand in disregard.
" Just keep me updated on the search alright? " Patrick says before the 3 of them nod their head. Patrick motions them out towards the front door but as Kristina is the last to go, she looks around Patrick's room before her eyes land on something on the floor.
It was one of my shoes.
She stares at it for a second before Angie's voice calls for her down the hall to come on. She looks at it one last time and leaves. I don't leave the closet until I hear the front door close, relieving myself with a loud and long exhale.
" Well, you're friends have met your boyfriend. " Patrick says leaving against the doorway trying to make the mood a bit more light hearted.