For Shits and Giggles [2024]

Chapter 28

Fior smoothed a piece paper onto a telephone pole, placing a neat strip of tape on each corner to hold it up. The paper read:

GRACIE

5'6". 165lbs.

Last seen: 123 Tree Street, around 2am.

Wearing red dress, black Mary Janes and white socks. Red bow.

Please contact Saint Splendid at (123) 456-7890

A photo of her bright, cheery smile took up most of the paper, right underneath the bold, red letters: MISSING PERSON.

A group of them; Santiago, Camilo, Felix, and some others; had spent all morning and afternoon handing out flyers. They put them up on walls and store fronts, asked friends and neighbors if they knew where Gracie might have disappeared to, they shoved them into open mailboxes.

Fior was almost done with her stack; she was in charge of taping flyers all around the North side of town. It didn't involve any talking or socializing, so she was happy to do it.

With a satisfied nod, Fior put up the next flyer just down the street. Suddenly, there was a gentle tap on her shoulder. Fior screamed, threw her hands up in the air as the papers went flying above her head. She clutched her chest as they floated down in every direction, Paola's face peeking out from behind as they scattered on the ground.

"Sorry!" Fior said quickly, dropping to her knees immediately to gather up the papers, "I didn't mean to scream... you frightened me, so sorry."

Paola bent down and took her wrists, bringing Fior back up to her feet.

She took one of the crushed flyers in Fior's hand, opened it, confirmed her suspicions.

"Oh, Fior..." she said softly. "Why are you out here?"

Fior gave her a puzzled look, "I want to help find Gracie," she said.

There was a long pause, silence between them. It would have been so easy to tell her. To tell her about Gracie and Felix, but she didn't.

"Have you considered... maybe she doesn't want to be found," said Paola, finally. "Maybe she's too ashamed to show her face."

"Ashamed? Of what?"

Paola bit her tomgue.

"I'm scared for her Paola," Fior said. "It's been over two weeks."

"It's not like she's dead somewhere."

Fior didn't seem convinced.

"The thing is..." Fior said softly, barely above a whisper. "Back at the Café... I feel like she was trying to tell us something."

"What do you mean?"

"Well... lately, whenever she talks about Camilo... it's always in this vague, 'can we move on from this subject' kind of way. She darts her eyes and hides her phone. I think she's hiding something, and I bet Camilo has something to do with it..."

It surprised Paola, Fior's conviction, the secure, even tone of her voice.

"How can you be sure?"

"I'm not... it's just, I have a strong feeling. I'm worried Camilo has done something to her."

Paola shook her head, handed Fior back the flyer.

"She doesn't deserve a friend like you," Paola said. She turned around and began walking away. 

"Why won't you help us look for her? Why are you being so cold..."

Paola thought she heard Fior sniffle, but she didn't turn around.