My Famous Brother's Best Friend

Gone

Calum's POV

I woke with a long stretch, my muscles feeling satisfied after the yawn. I licked my dry lips, glancing around the apartment for my blue eyed lover.

I was alone in the flat, no one to be seen. Madison's shoes were gone, her backpack removed from its place in the corner of her room. Maybe she went out? I scratched the back of my neck, pulling on my plaid pajama pants that I brought with me to stay the night. My red dress shirt was hooked on the corner of the ladder, making me wonder if she had worn it before she left.

I lazily walked to the kitchen, placing two slices of bread into the toaster. The toast was almost done when my phone rang. Assuming it was Madison, I picked up quickly, "Babe?"

"Nice but no," Lydia said, rushed and panicked, "did you see her this morning? Were you up when she woke up?"

My stomach dropped, "No, why? What's going on?"

I glanced around the room to find any type of sign that she was here, her car keys still hung on the hook. Suddenly I realized the note pad on the counter, the words, "I'm sorry. I love you." scribbled across the front. It was from her, her loopy handwriting making tears well in my eyes. What is she sorry for?

"Is she with Michael?" I asked anxiously.

I heard cars in the receiver, assuming she was crossing a street.

She knocked on his door, "I'm outside his apartment to check. She didn't tell me or Luke or her mother anything and I've been trying to call you and Michael all morning. I went to the apartment earlier and I saw the note and I panicked."

"Why do you think something bad happened?" I asked, trying to calm my breathing. I love this girl, and now she's missing.

"Before she went to New York, whenever she was upset she would get in her car and drive for hours just going straight down the highway, I would have to call her and beg her to come back," she said, "and I think its worse this time because she didn't even take her car."

I rubbed over my face, grabbing her keys and my jacket, " I'm on my way over to Michael's now, I'll be there in 5 minutes."

-------------------

When I showed up to Michael's house, it was pouring rain. I pulled my jacket over my head, the note pad tucked deep in my pocket. I ducked under the overhead of his front porch, seeing Lydia sitting on the top step. Her orangey brown hair was tied up in a bun, a big white hoodie and jeans adornin her body.

"He hasn't answered."

My eyebrows furrowed, ducking down under the small decoration piece his mom put in the front for cigarette butts. Lifting the frog with sunglasses, I pulled the key from under it.

I slid the key in the door, turning the handle and pushing. Successful.

"Michael!" I shouted, dropping my car keys on the table beside the door. I could smell strong liquor, knowing his parents must be out of town.

I climbed the stairs to his bedroom, seeing nothing but a neat bed. He had a picture frame with her in it, smiling at whoever took the picture. There was intense adoration in her eyes, making me miss the feeling of her warm pale skin. The glass of the frame was cracked, the corner of the wood chipped off. I looked up from the masterpiece, seeing a small dent in the wall. He threw it.

"Cal, he's down here!" Lydia shouted, coming from the basement. A part of me wanted her to be with him, to know she was safe. But another part of me hoped that she didn't go to him.

I took the frame with me, rushing downstairs. I entered the rec room in the basement, taking in the scene in front of me.

Michael's body was strewn across the couch, beer bottles cluttered the carpeted floor. Two whiskey bottles were on the coffee table. His eyes were red and puffy, tears dried into his face. She wasn't here.

Lydia shook him, his eyes opening with a gasp, gripping her shoulders. He was sweating.

"Michael? You okay?" she said softly, watching him rub his forehead.

He finally glanced up to me, his eyes were dead, like his heart was physically ripped out.

"Yeah, I'm good," he mumbled, "What are you doing here?"

"Have you heard from Madison?" I asked carefully.

His face faltered, "I saw her this morning, why what happened?"

I sat on the other couch, "What did you say to her?"

"I told her I was sorry for the ball and that I still loved her. She was wearing your dress shirt, mate," he said. His eyes flickered between Lydia and I, trying to figure out what was happening.

Lydia looked back at me, "You slept with her?"

"Only twice, I-I mean it's not serious..." I stuttered, changing the subject before Michael punched me in the face, "What about this?"

I held up the picture frame, Michael's lip being pulled between his teeth.

"She told me she'd never forgive me and I lost it. What's this about? Where is she?"

Lydia huffed, flailing her arms, "That's the problem! We don't know! She left the apartment this morning with her backpack and shoes and she's not answering her phone. She didn't take the car either."

I hugged Lydia as Michael tried to remember any quirks that could have meant something.

"Did she leave anything? No texts?" Michael asked, watching me pull out the notepad.

He read it, a painful sigh escaping his lips, "She left this... for you?"

I nodded, knowing he was hurt that she left me something and not him. Although it made me feel the tiniest bit better, I didn't want Michael to think she left it for just me.

I coughed, "Lydia saw it first, she's been racing around all morning. She's went to Luke's and their moms. No one has heard from her."

She skipped out on us. She left.

+++++++++++

I'm so sorry
where do you think she went?
love you guys :)
-m