The bustling school hallway was filled with the usual chatter and laughter as students rushed to their classes. Mira walked alongside Amira, trying to push thoughts of the abandoned building out of her mind. The lingering unease from their last adventure still tugged at her.
"Did you study for the math test?" Amira asked, her eyes scanning the crowd.
"Kind of," Mira replied, feeling a bit guilty. "I've been... distracted."
Amira shot her a knowing look. "Still thinking about that creepy place? You can't let it get to you like this. It's just an old building."
Mira nodded, but the shadows from their exploration felt like they were still following her. "I know, but it just felt so weird. And now Tessa is... well, gone."
"Maybe she just needed a break," Amira suggested, though she didn't sound entirely convinced.
As they reached their classroom, the bell rang, signaling the start of the next period. The teacher began the lesson, but Mira's thoughts kept drifting back to Tessa. It felt strange not seeing her around, and the absence left a gap in their usual routine.
During lunch, Mira and Amira sat at their usual table, surrounded by their friends. The conversation flowed around them, but Mira felt detached, her mind still preoccupied.
"Hey, are you okay?" Amira asked, noticing Mira's distracted expression.
"Yeah, just thinking about Tessa. It's like she just vanished," Mira replied, picking at her food.
"Maybe we should focus on something else. How about planning for the school dance next week?" Amira suggested, trying to lighten the mood.
"Right, the dance," Mira said, forcing a smile. "What do you have in mind?"
As Amira began brainstorming ideas, Mira's thoughts wandered. The idea of the dance felt hollow without Tessa. They had always planned to go together, and now it felt wrong to celebrate without her.
After lunch, they headed to the library to study for their upcoming exams. Mira pulled out her notes, but the words blurred together as her mind wandered. What if Tessa was in trouble? What if she was too afraid to come back?
"Hey, you're really not focused today," Amira said, glancing up from her own notes. "What's going on?"
"I just can't shake this feeling that something's wrong," Mira admitted. "I know Tessa can be a lot, but I can't help worrying about her."
Amira sighed, putting down her pencil. "I get it. But worrying isn't going to help. Let's just focus on getting through this week. We'll figure it out."
"Yeah, you're right," Mira said, trying to push her fears aside. They spent the next hour studying, but the anxiety gnawed at her.
As they left the library, Mira felt a renewed determination. "I'm going to talk to her when she gets back," she declared. "I need to know what's going on with her."
Amira nodded, a hint of a smile on her lips. "That's the spirit! And if she doesn't show up soon, we'll track her down together."
The day dragged on, but as Mira left school that afternoon, she felt a spark of hope. Even without Tessa, she and Amira could face whatever challenges lay ahead. They would find a way to bring their friend back into the light, no matter how deep the shadows grew.
