Maraschino 🍒 (gxg)

18

Chelsea thought about talking with Julia the rest of the weekend and Monday morning as she was getting ready. She honestly didn't know what to expect from her; she imagined it could go either way, with her also having feelings or being completely unaware and rejecting her. It was stressful, and there was a tangle of nerves in the pit of her stomach since her conversation with Stephanie on what to do. But she also knew she couldn't back down now, or else nothing would ever happen.

Carlie was always gone in the morning before Chelsea got up, so she took her usual route, alone, down to the cafeteria for breakfast. She tried looking for Julia in the crowds, but didn't see her anywhere. She knew she skipped breakfast most of the time, and felt stupid for looking in the first place.

When she headed into her first period, she waited until the final bell had rung to turn around and see if Julia was in her spot, but she wasn't. It was then that a bad feeling rose in Chelsea's gut. Julia wasn't late or absent -- she didn't get sick much and there wasn't anything or anyone to distract her -- so where was she? Did she actually get sick? Did it have anything to do with last Friday?

The worry wore on her for the rest of the day. She was so distracted in mixed athletics, the coach made her sit out because she "looked on the verge of passing out". She tried knocking on her door multiple times, but there was never an answer.

Chelsea sent at least a dozen texts that night asking where she was and if she was okay, but none of them got a response, or were even read. She was getting restless not getting answers, but she also didn't want to pry on anything personal. She was such a secretive person that she doubted she'd even say if Chelsea asked.

The following week was the same: no sign of Julia, no response to texts, and the other students and teachers reacted the same, like there wasn't someone missing from their routines. She knew Julia was a silent passerby, a background character in everyone else's stories, but Chelsea was frustrated nobody was concerned. By next Tuesday, she was seriously starting to worry.

"I just don't know what's going on," Chelsea muttered out of the blue. Stephanie was sitting next to her, her lunch in her lap as she chewed. They were sitting outside; it was starting to get colder, and Chelsea wrapped her jacket around her tighter as a stiff breeze flew between them. She didn't know where Manny or Carlie were, but today was a rare day that she got to sit with Stephanie alone and vent.

"About what?"

"About Julia." Chelsea set her sandwich down. She suddenly didn't have an appetite. "I haven't seen or heard from her in a week. It's kind of starting to freak me out."

Stephanie looked at her, shocked, as she swallowed her bite and put her food away. "Chelsea, you haven't heard? I thought she would have told you, or at the very least, heard the rumors."

Her stomach rolled. "About what?"

"There's rumors that she transferred to a different school."

The ground rocked beneath Chelsea, but only for a minute; there had to be a reason, or straight up false. "Well, that can't be true; nobody knows anything about her and they make shit up about her all the time. What're the chances that it is true?"

Stephanie shrugged. "I think you're the only person that can get the answer to that.
You haven't spoken to her at all?"

"I've been texting her all week. I didn't want to bug her or freak her out. I probably should have called her or something." Chelsea stared at the ground. She was right -- Chelsea was the only person, besides Lake, that Julia trusted enough with this kind of information. She really hoped there wasn't any truth to the rumor, but it was an "anything goes" kind of culture at the academy.

Chelsea began to ruminate on Julia's behavior the last time she saw her. Obviously she seemed fine -- she initiated a kiss and they made out. She might have gotten gutsy suddenly over the weekend, but she didn't seem sick or like she was planning on running away to a different school. Did something happen in that one evening?

She remembered what Julia had said in the soccer field when she watched her play: "It's a long story. I kind of didn't have anywhere to go and this school was here."

She didn't have anywhere to go. So why did she leave?

Chelsea rushed after her last period to her dorm in hopes of running into Carlie. Thankfully, she did; Carlie was just about to close the door behind herself when Chelsea ran up.

"Hey, what's up with you? Why the rush?" Carlie asked as Chelsea jogged up to her.

"I need a favor," Chelsea said breathlessly. She flipped her backpack off her shoulders to help her breath better.

"What do you need? I'm in a time crunch so please be brief."

What a shocker. "I need you to forge me a permission slip, for tonight."

Carlie's eyes widened, mischievousness glinting. "Whatever so for? Got a hot date in town?"

"Sort of. You're in a rush and so am I. Could you please help me or not?"

Carlie sighed dramatically and opened their door. "Fine, fine."

Chelsea ignored the comment and followed her inside. Carlie shuffled through her desk mess for a minute before finding a slightly crumpled permission slip, and using a signature Chelsea had made earlier for reference.

"There," said Carlie, handing Chelsea the signed slip. It looked as authentic as Chelsea could tell. "Now, I'll see you later. Bye!"

She skipped out of the room without another word. Chelsea dashed out after, rushing as fast as she could to Norris' office.

"Ms. Dawson!" He greeted her as she closed the doors behind her. "What can I help you with this afternoon?"

Breathless from running, Chelsea took a moment to catch herself. Her throat was dry and hoarse when she spoke. "I was wondering if I could leave campus for the night; my mother wants to have dinner with me. I have her signature here."

She handed over the slip. Her heart skipped for a second as he peered at the paper, inspecting it. What if he rejected it this time? What if she was stuck on campus, unable to reach Julia? What if she never saw her again?

"That's fine; just be sure to be back before nine o'clock." He handed the paper back with a small smile.

"Thanks, Mr. Norris."

Chelsea left his office, her heart hammering in her chest, adrenaline rushing through her fingertips. She still had no idea what to expect, what possible reason there was for her sudden, startling disappearance. She only hoped Lake knew.