Missing Agent

Prologue

Agent Three and Agent Eight stood in silence. 

"So...I guess this is goodbye.", Three said hugging herself. Why was this so hard to do?

"Don't say it like that! You say it as if we're never going to see each other again!", The octoling said, her eyes filled with guilt. It's true, Eight would visit time to time, but...when? How often? Would she just eventually forget about Three? Three shoved those thoughts aside. This is what's best for Eight. If she wants her own place out of town and discover what more is out there in the world, well then of course Three should support her! Right?

"No, you're right, Eight. But...just be careful out there, okay? I don't want anything bad happening to you.", Three said looking into the agent's eyes. 

"Thanks, Three, that...that means a lot.", Eight said as she smiled reassuringly. But it quickly turned into a frown as tears swelled up in her eyes. She ran to Three, pulling her into a tight hug. Three froze as a shade of light orange spread across her face, remarked at the embrace, and returned the favor. 

"I'm going to miss you so much Three! Don't forget to mail those letters! And send me those texts every day!", Eight said hugging tighter. Three smiled, how could she forget?

"I'll be sure to, Eight. Now, get going, or you're going to miss the bus!", Three scolded. Eight stepped back from the hug and nodded. As she stepped onto the bus, she turned around, and waved to Three. Marina started to sob as she smiled and waved back at Eight. Three completely forgot that Pearl and Marina were there. Which was kinda hard to do since they were almost always with Eight. They were practically Eight's moms to be honest. 

"DON'T DIE!"Pearl yelled. Marina whispered something into her ear. "OH, AND CALL US WHENEVER, YOU GOT THAT?", Pearl yelled again. The bus started to pull away and Eight laughed and nodded. But the bus started to disappear along the horizon line and Eight was gone. Lost to the unexplored wonders of the world. Three's small smile faded. Pearl sighed and frowned, and Marina still had tears streaming down her face. After a minute or two, the trio went their separate ways. Pearl and Marina went home, and Three went to her apartment.  Three put her hands into her pockets, but felt something inside. She pulled the item out and observed it. It was a photograph of Three and Eight, sitting outside of Crusty Sean's food truck. Eight had just gotten a phone to tamper around with, and decided to take a picture of Three and herself. Three didn't know why she remembered the day so well. She sat on her bedside and stared at the picture. A single teardrop fell from her face. Why did she feel this way, about an octoling who she only meet for a few weeks? Did she lose someone...that was more important to her than she thought?