The Disappearing Boy - Book 1

Chapter 1 - The Jewel

{Aaron's POV:}
I woke up to the sound of my little brother watching Technoblade videos. I sat up before looking at my alarm clock. It's noon. I look over at my little brother, Blake.
"Blake, can't you use headphones?" I ask.
"No, it's noon and you needed to get up at some point." He replied.
I sighed and got up, heading to the bathroom to get ready. I was going to go see my girlfriend, Vanessa. I threw on a black t-shirt, ripped jeans, and a brown beanie I 'stole' from my dad before heading downstairs.
When I approach the bottom of the stairs, I am greeted by my older sister, Sarah.
"Look who's finally awake." Sarah said.
"I'm only awake because Blake was watching YouTube videos without headphones again." I replied before slipping on my shoes.
"Where are you going?" She asked.
"I'm going to see Vanessa, she wants to hang out at her house." I reply, reaching for the doorknob.
"Don't forget your house key." Sarah replies.
"Right." I grab my house key and leave, locking the door behind me. I put the key into my pocket and started walking down the sidewalk.
Vanessa and I have been dating for two years now, it's crazy to think about that, it feels like I just asked her out yesterday.
I pulled out my phone and saw that she texted me..a while ago..whoops. I stopped walking and opened it.
The text said: 'Are you still coming over?'. I replied 'Yeah, I'll be there in about 10 minutes'. She replied 'Ok, love you ❤️'. I smile and send a heart emoji back before putting my phone away.
I start walking again.
{Vanessa's POV:}
I've been sitting here for an hour, waiting for him! Where is he?! I pulled out my phone and saw that he texted back. Oh, good, he didn't forget.
I get off of my bed as I hear faint scratching at my bedroom door. I open the door and a little, black puppy bounds into my room. "Hey Smokey" I smile while looking at him. He barks at me and jumps onto my bed. I pet him on the head and sit down next to him.
I grabbed my laptop and looked at my homework that I still needed to do. "Homework is boring, isn't it, Smokey?" he barks. I answer about 2 or 3 problems before my mom calls for me downstairs.
I set my laptop to the side, get up, and open the door. Smokey runs down the hallway and down the stairs, I slowly follow.
I get downstairs and head into the kitchen. My mom looks at me. "Vanessa, can you do the dishes? I asked you 10 minutes ago." She asked. "I was doing my homework earlier." I replied. "Well, do the dishes like I asked then go back to doing your homework. I'll let you know when Aaron gets here" She said. "Fine" I said as I reluctantly walked over to the sink. I start doing the dishes.
10 minutes later

{Aaron's POV:}
I knock on the door and wait. It's the weekend so Vanessa shouldn't be too busy, she might be doing homework, because she does for some reason I will never understand. Speaking of homework, I might ask her for help with my Algebra homework.
The door opens and I see that Vanessa's mom is the one who answered the door. "Oh, hello Aaron, Vanessa is upstairs doing her homework, you can head on up to her room." She said, "Thank you, ma'am!" I reply and head upstairs.
I knock on Vanessa's bedroom door and hear her dog Smokey bark. There's a short pause before Vanessa replied saying I could come in.
I walk in and she smiles. "Hey Babe" she says and pats the spot next to her on the bed. I sit down next to her and smile. "Hey" I replied.
"So, did you find the English homework tough too or was it just me?" She asks.
"No, it was definitely harder than last time" I replied.
"Did you finish your Algebra homework?" She asked, looking at me.
"I couldn't figure out how to solve the problems..." I admit, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Well, did you pay attention in class?" She asks.
"...No" I say.
"Were you talking to Adam again?" She asks.
"...Maybe" I say, looking away from her.
Adam has been my best friend ever since 1st Grade and we hang out all the time. Since we've been friends for so long, I'm convinced that he knows more about me than I know about myself.
"You don't have to be embarrassed about talking to him, I get it, he's your best friend but you still have to pay attention in class, babe" Vanessa says.
"I know, Van...but I don't want him to think that I'm mad at him because I'm not talking to him." I say, thinking of me paying attention in class and a disappointed Adam sitting next to me.
Vanessa places her hand on my shoulder and I snap out of my daydream.
"He won't think that you are mad at him, just be like-" She clears her throat and tries to mimic my voice "Hey bro, I gotta pay attention in class or whatever." She says, smiling softly.
"I don't sound like that" I say, laughing.
"C'mon, you gotta admit, it kinda sounds like you" She says, playfully nudging me.
"It does not!" I keep laughing.
"Anyway, I wanna show you something" She says, getting up off of her bed. She walks over to her dresser and pulls a little box out of the top drawer. She walks back over to me and hands me the box. Confused, I look at her.
"Open it! It's really cool" she says and sits back down next to me. I open the box and there is a sapphire necklace with a long gold chain and a pair of matching earrings inside.
"Woah" I say, and carefully picked up the necklace to take a closer look. "These must've been expensive..." I set the necklace back into the box.
"My grandparents gave them to me last week as a late birthday gift." She says while smiling.
"Are your grandparents super rich or something?" I ask, closing the box.
"No, silly, they've had that necklace and those earrings for years, they're a family heirloom." She says, taking the box from me. "They're super important." She gets up and carefully puts the box back into the top drawer of her dresser.
"Why are they so important?" I ask.
"Well..." She hesitates.
{End Of Chapter 1}