The Animal In Me

She's Gone

( Alec's POV )

I've been away for awhile. Yeah, I know, definitely not the best choice, but it helped. A lot. Seriously. I camped out at my aunt's house for a few days.

Sam and Malleroy were pissing me off. I know Sam was getting a bit territorial I think with Malleroy coming around more frequently.

After I almost ripped Ember's heart out, I decided I'd be better off away from three people I was currently having problems with. I liked Ember, I really did, but Sam's been overprotective of her and it's annoying.

He can be a real pain, and no matter what some others think, I still like him as a friend. He's been my bro for as long as I could remember. But then Ember came along and all that changed.

Enough of this little sharing of feelings. I head over to Sam's house. I knock lightly. "Come in!" I open the door and walk into the living room. "H-hey, Sam." His blonde head whips around to stare at me.

"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes. Where have you been? Em's been wondering where you were." He says her name as if he had a bad taste in his mouth. "Speaking of Ember, wh-where is she?"

Sam looks away, hands clenching into fists. "She's with her boy-toy." "What? Who?!" He turns to glare at me. "Who the hell do you think? Look, it's obvious she's moved on. She doesn't like us anymore. We were too late. She has...him."

I feel my heart tear itself apart. Suddenly I can't take it and fall to my knees. I bury my face in my hands and sob. I don't care if Sam sees me cry, I don't care if he posts this on the Internet. I'm already crushed.

I loved her. She said she had feelings for me. Now I know I was nothing to her, nothing more than a friend. And that's all I'd ever be. People say tears are the words your heart can't express. I guess my heart can't express a lot of words right now.

I slump on the floor, holding my knees to my chest. "Alec...I know...." And that's all he has to say. Sam's always known what I've been feeling, and I know he knows exactly how I feel. Maybe he doesn't love her as much as I do, or maybe he does.

But we share the same pain. And even though he got to kiss her first, I forgive him. I forgive him for everything. The fights, arguments, looks, big mouth, all of it. It's stupid to hold a grudge.

After I calm down, we play video games and talk about how much we hate Malleroy.

*****

"What do you mean she's gone? Where the hell is she?!" Sam screams into the phone. "I want her found. Now! I don't give a crap if you guys get hurt. Find. Ember. Now."

I cower on the couch, wondering where the girl had gone. Ember wouldn't run away, would she? I know her home life isn't that great, and she's has every reason to want to run away, but she won't. That's just the person she is.

Sam throws the phone across the room in fury. "WHERE THE HELL COULD SHE BE?!" I shrug, and turn away from him. "Dammit, Em." I glance over at Sam. His eyes are glowing swirls of gold and blue.

He's in full rage mode right now. That's not good. "Sam, we'll find her. Maybe we should go check in the woods." He stares at me. "No." "What?!" "I'm done looking for her. She's run off before, and has come back. She'll come back this time. But I'm not looking for her anymore."

I stand and walk over to him. "Are you serious? She risked her life to help you when you lost control. You could've k-killed her. And I-I almost did. I know you're hurt, and you hate Malleroy, but this is Ember we're talking about. We still love her....right?"

He runs his hands through his hair. "I don't know, I don't know, I don't know! I don't know anything anymore! I'm so confused. It's like I love her, but I just want to rip all her intestines out and paint with them. I think I've lost it."

Same falls to his knees and starts rocking. "S-Sam? No. You haven't...lost it. You're like the strongest person I know. Please don't give up. She's around here somewhere." 

But I was starting to doubt myself. I knew something had happened to Ember. I know her, and she faces her problems by screaming at them, not running from them. I'm going to find her, even if it kills me.