Opposites That Aren't So Opposite

Chapter 22

(Kyle's POV)

Where is he?!

I had run the neighborhood three times already and called the girls to see if he had showed up at home yet. No dice. Counting from when he left it had been almost seven hours.

I tried calling the police but, they said it wasn't a missing persons case until fourty-eight hours. Stupid idiots. If someone dissappears without a word then they're missing!

After circling the city for the second time, I found myself pacing in front of a flower shop. I was practically pulling my hair out. He was definitely in trouble, there's no way he'd just disappear like this without a word. I knew something had to have happened. Maybe I should look through the neighborhood one last time. Or call the girls again.

I pulled out my phone and started for Kayson house again. Macey picked up on the first ring. "Kyle? Have you found him?" She asked. I could tell she'd been crying about broke my heart.

"No, I haven't." I said sighing deeply.

She was silent and I heard Kayla speak gently to her in the background. I glanced around. "I'm gonna have another look around the house." I said. "If I don't find him-" Suddenly my eyes landed on someone sitting lazily in a nearby alley, their head resting back against a wall.

My eyes narrowed at Bert, my hand tightening around my phone. "I have to go." I said and hung up.

Before I knew what I was doing, I stormed over and grabbed the front of his shirt. His expression didn't change as he stared up at me, eyes vacant.

"Where is he?" I asked, shaking him. He was the only one who would know. He was the only one.

He blinked at me, beyond drunk. "I know you... You're that kid, the one Kayson..." As he said his name, his eyes drifted.

I growled. "Tell me what you did to him. Where is he?!" I demanded.

He looked up at me again, his eyes tired. "Why? It's not like you love him..." He said. He sounded like he wanted to be bitter, but just didn't have it in him.

I frowned, my grip loosening. "What are you talking about?"

He dropped his eyes. "I loved him... more than I loved anything else. He was my world." He said, tipping his head back to take a swig of beer. "But I lost him. I..." His eyes grew dark and he looked angry. "I loved him and I still-..."

Slowly, I released him. "What did you do?"

He rubbed his eyes, a shuddered sob slipping from his throat. "I hurt him...! I hurt him so bad and..." He buried his face in his hands. "I never meant to-... I never meant to hurt him. Not like this. I just wanted..." He suddenly threw his beer bottle across the alley, smashing it on the opposing wall and sending glass flying everywhere. "I just wanted him to love me back! To love me!"

I watched him as he covered his face, crying wordlessly. It was pitiful and I couldn't help feeling bad for him. I bent down slowly and grabbed his shoulder. "You can still fix this, Bert. Just tell me what you've done with him." I said.

He looked up at me, his eyes shiny with tears of regret. "He'll never love me. He'll... hate me. Forever." He said.

I frowned. "Tell me where he is."

His hands clenched into my shirt for a moment before he released me and all the energy left him. "Just down that way." He said, nodding further down the alley. "He's i-in... the back room of my bar..."

I was on my feet instantly, but as I turned to go, Bert grabbed my ankle. I looked down at him as he stared pleadingly. "Please... tell him I'm sorry. Tell him-... that I never meant to hurt him." He begged, shaking his head. "Please..."