The Silence Between Names

Chapter Twenty: I love her

(Walker Davison): Present Time; New York City

The clicking of my keyboard sent irritating signals through my head. Working under my father made me furious, but it was the only way for me to be in Shawn's life. At least, it was. Without Shawn, I was now the full target of my mother and father. I still can't get his body out of my mind. Finding him completely mutilated and face down in the pool destroyed me. The police originally ruled it as suicide, but I knew better. I knew that this person targeting Oak Dale students had taken my baby brother. I could feel my face glow red in hot rage. I had been sitting in the cramped office in my father's building for weeks since coming back to the city. It was so different. Why couldn't I get her out of my mind? I slid up, picking up my sports coat from my chair and turning off the lights; I was met with the sounds of the night from NYC. Loud beeps and music from cars shifted past me and I tried to ignore it. I felt a hand on my shoulder. Sam, one of my coworkers hopped up beside me.

"I'm assuming you're coming to Jewel with us tonight?" Our friends all padded up around us. 

I rolled my eyes. I needed a distraction from Ava. The best way to get over someone is to get under someone else. I nodded and we headed back to my apartment to pre game. I buttoned my collared shirt and slipped into a new pair of pants. I looked at myself in the mirror, and was so confused by what I saw. From the boy who were chucks and leather jackets, I looked like a boy walking out of his frat house. I laughed at myself and walked out the door with my friends, hopping into our taxi. When we stepped out, I felt my dress shoes hit the puddles in the cold streets of New York. After waiting in line, the Bouncer knew who we were and let us in as quickly as possible. We had our own designated table, and we ordered a full bottle service. I felt like the night was moving so slow, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. It almost felt like everyone was moving around me, and I was stuck. There was only one thing on my mind. I downed a few more drinks, and the room became blurry. The music started to fade, and everything went black.

_______

My head shot up, and I looked around, the windows from my apartment open, and the light dancing in from outside. The rays of the sun struck my eyes, and I shielded them. My head felt like a sledgehammer had been thrown against it. I groaned, and rolled out of bed, before I felt something grab my hand. I jumped. A blonde girl laid beside me, her eyes fluttering open.

"Morning, Walker." Her voice was drunk with sleep.

I jumped out of bed, and didn't say a word. This was the third time I'd done this in the past week. I needed to get real with myself and realize what was going on with me. Then I got the call. My phone buzzed on my nightstand and I raced to it, pressing it up to my ear.

"Is this Walker?"

"Yes. Who is this."

"This is James Carter. I'm Ava Carter's father. She's been taken. We need you here."

I had never raced out the door so fast in my life.