Tire Swing Talk- A Solangelo Story

Chapter 1- Nico's P.O.V.

-Saturday-

I lean forward, fingers gripping the joystick of the arcade machine, eyes locked on the flashing screen in front of me. Each level I cleared felt like a tiny victory, something that felt so good I didn't want to stop. I couldn't stop. The game was so cool.

I was fighting monsters in it. Back then, that sort of thing was fun instead of triggering of PTSD symptoms.

I don't know how long I had been sitting there. Hours? Days? I don't feel like it has been long, but again, looking back, it could have been years that I was playing that single game before Bianca stopped me so we eat and sleep.

I was halfway through another level when it hit me.

Bianca.

I stop, and look to my side. A wave of horror washes over me when she's not there with me. My chest tightens, and my heart pounds.

"Bianca?" I call out, still sitting at the machine, waiting for her to come back to me. But she doesn't.

My hands slip off the joystick, and I scramble to my feet. I do a 360 and scan the area around me. This happened sometimes, but it usually didn't last for long. Somehow, we were drawn to each other. We never forgot each other.

The arcade is packed, full of people, but none of them are her. I would be able to find her immediately if she was here.

My throat feels dry and I can hardly breathe, not thinking straight either. "Bianca?" I say again, louder this time, but my voice seems to disappear into the hum of the games, the music, the laughter... Everything about this place was meant to keep people from finding each other, yet, I'm still looking for her.

Where is she?

I weave through the rows of games, dodging people who don't seem to notice me. I look down every row and she's not there. She isn't anywhere.

I need her.

"Bianca!" My voice cracks, so I try again, "Bianca!" I spin around, searching still, desperate.

She was just here. She's always by my side. She never just disappears.

"Where are you?!" I shout, my voice starting to shake, panic creeping in.

It's too loud in here, too chaotic, and everything looks the same. I don't know how I ever survived.

I slow down, trying to keep whatever bit of focus I have to find her. Every corner I turn leads to more blinking screens and more people who aren't her. They're too entranced by their games to notice me though, so I don't bother asking if anyone has seen her. I know they haven't.

I keep calling her name, over and over, but there's no answer, just the endless noise.

"Bianca!" I scream, my voice hoarse. Nothing.

She's gone. She was always with me... I was supposed to turn, and she was supposed to be there.

Always, but...

...

I sit up quickly, panting. My head is spinning. I don't know where to go.

"Where are you?!" I ask desperately.

She usually shows up sooner. Something is wrong. If she's gone, it usually lasts only for a minute at most and she comes back to me.

"What?!" Will gasps, sitting up beside me.