Wish You Were Here

Let's Find Spruce

As I rested my chin against the palm of my hand, my eyes watched the different color trees move past the window. We had been driving for a few hours at this point and we planned to figure out where Spruce was living. John had brought up something about Spruce sending him a card.

"A postcard that says 'wish you were here'? It's not even signed." Branch rolled his eyes and scoffed at his older brother which made me and Poppy break out into a small giggle. Why is he one of the sassiest people I've ever met? Poppy was sitting next to me trying to find shapes in the clouds while Branch continued to bicker with John.

"Wait. Guys who's driving?" I just realized no one was behind the wheel, but how were we keeping so steady? I was about to run over and place myself in the driver's seat until someone spoke up.

"Alright! Tiny, Branch, Poppy, Veneer, and this random dude, on another musical adventure filled with heart, hilarity, and happiness!" How did he sneak in with no one seeing him? RIght. He told me he snuck on stage for Barb's concert with the Snack Pack. He's probably good at hiding himself.

"Tiny! What are you doing here?" Poppy ran up and pushed herself right against me with a huge smile. I took a few steps backwards because she gave me almost no space at all. While Tiny was talking about being a man now, I went back to my place next to the window and sighed.

"Kid, you okay?" I cocked my head to the side and saw that John had spoken to me. He sat down on the spot where Poppy was sitting before she got up, and placed his hand on my shoulder.

"I guess I'm just scared and nervous." There were so many things on my mind. So much has happened in the last 24 hours. John found us, the idea of Floyd was brought back into my life, he's been held captive by someone who may or not be my twin sister. It was all so much to take in.

"About what?" Didn't you just tell us your brother has been taken? What do you think I'm nervous about you dum-dum?! I kept my composure and told him as calmly as possible.

"About seeing Floyd again after such a long time, and hoping that he's okay." My eyes stared at the ground and I sniffled. It's been so many years but I think I still care about him. Seeing him hurt would probably crush me.

"What?! I thought you two lived together. Didn't you guys leave with each other the day the band broke up? I heard your plan one time about a tree house and picnics. Or did that never happen..?" My mind went back to the time I turned around and realized he was gone. Tears pricked my eyes and I fell into John's arms. He hugged me while I sobbed at full volume into his chest. This caught Branch and Poppy's attention. They rushed over and kneeled down to my level and Branch placed his hand on my arm.

"Hey, what's wrong?!" I couldn't stop the tears. What's wrong with me? Why does the idea of Floyd hurt me so much?

"I think I know," John responded to Branch with a look of sorrow. "He misses Floyd."

I do. I do miss Floyd. I should've tried to find him. If I found him, maybe I could've asked him all the questions that used to keep me up at night. Why he left me, what he whispered before he left, did he reciprocate the feelings I used to have for him? I came to realize a few days after he left that I had a crush on him and never realized it. With how we acted with one another, it made me question if he liked me too.

"Oh... that's definitely it. He told me what had happened a few years ago." I sat up and wiped my tears and saw Poppy switching her confused expression between John and Branch. She was the only one who was unaware of my situation with the brothers. I sat up and sniffled a few times before the tears almost completely stopped.

"Okay. I'm okay now, I just needed a good cry." They all looked at me with worry in their faces. Especially Branch. He had known me for most of my life now, so he was always the one who was most concerned about me.