Chance

Chapter 15 - "Where are you?"

Sylver Allynsha Armstrong

I woke up with a start. When did I come home?

I checked my clock. It was 7 in the evening. When did I come home?

Last I remember, I was at Adam Brown's and things were getting quite steamy until his friend, Shei showed up.

Now here's the thing I noticed about Shei. He's rude. He has no etiquette. He's British apparently, hardly acts like it. He's ungrateful and egotistical. He's selfish and stubborn.

Adam Brown, as witnessed by everyone, took a bully (and his impending minions) down for Shei. He proved to him that if the chance came, he'd take a bullet for his friend.

Shei wouldn't hear it. He was ungrateful, that bastard.

My poor Adam Brown. Only trying to do the right thing by assisting his friend.

I quickly left Adam Brown's house, half dressed. I gave him a quick kiss and smiled. "See you later," he said with a wink.

I smiled and looked down at my feet. Then I realised I was making this more awkward for Shei than I should. I hastily left. "Slut." I heard Shei murmur.

I turned around and the last thing I saw was Adam Brown aiming his fist at his friend and the rest was a blur.

There was blood. There was Shei on the floor. But there was no regret on Adam Brown's face.

I bolted.

∆∆

To be very honest, I'm sort of afraid of Adam Brown. I'm afraid of what he can be when agitated. I'm afraid of all the different versions of him I'm yet to be acquainted with.

The clock read 9.49 pm. I had missed Stella's dinner bell. I really wasn't hungry anymore. I was still trying to comprehend what I saw earlier.

Why did I run?

I picked up my phone and scrolled through my contacts.

Adam Brown came his name with a picture of him holding my hand but I'm not in the picture. He is happy in the picture. I can't remember where it is from.

I pressed call.

It went to voicemail.

Adam Brown, I'm sorry I left. I need to talk to you urgently. I hope you're okay. The situation seemed sticky. I hope I made a good decision by leaving. Are things back to normal with your douchy friend? Anyway, call me.

I kept my phone and paced around my room. I checked my phone again to see if he called back. Obviously, no such luck.

I decided to go see what was wrong for myself.

I quickly changed into something respectable. I walked downstairs with my purse.

"Stella! I'll be home late. Don't wait up for me," I shouted.

"Mija, you need to eat something."

I gave her a smile but she wouldn't have it.

"I promise I'll buy myself a bagel. Duty calls, Stella. Gotta run." I said and left before she could reply.

For a housekeeper, Stella was nothing less than family.

∆∆

I pulled up in front of Adam Brown's house. The windows were not lit up. The house was dark. I tried called their landline but no luck. I decided to give his mum's cell a try.

"Hello?" I said. She answered after the first few rings.

"Sylver! I need your help. I was just about to call you. How fast can you reach the police station?"

"What's wrong?"

"Hurry. I'll explain as soon as you come here." She said and hung up.

My mind played the worst scenarios. Adam Brown was in jail after assaulting Shei. Or he was killed in combat. Or he was kidnapped (though it was highly unlikely). I would only find out when I went there I guess.

I drove past their house and past the pizza place and past the pretty pink house and past the crazy lady's rose garden. Soon my mind had started to wander to the saddest of places, trying to understand who Adam Brown really was.

Before I knew it, I had reached the police station. I parked my car and walked inside.

I spotted Adam Brown's mother. She seemed calm as ever.  Her eyes told a anxious story. She looked scared and tried but tried so hard to put a brave face on.

"What's wrong?" was the first thing I could muster. My eyebrows were crunched up in curiosity.

"We didn't know who to ask. But you need to help me, Sylver," she said as slowly her brave face faded into the one of a very concerned mother. Her eyes started to swell up and my mind had wandered to a horrible place where the roses were dead and the sky was dry.

"Tell me what's wrong, Mrs. Brown."

"It's Adam," she choked.

"Yeah?"

"He's gone."

∆∆

I drove back home that night thinking about the best things and worst things that had happened to me in that very month. Adam Brown was the prime element in all of them. And now suddenly he was missing?

My skies were darkened. My sight was blurry. I parked the car on the side of the road and then hit my head with my hands.

"Where are you, Adam Brown?" I whispered to myself.

I turned the volume up to the Mayday Parade song that was playing faintly. I had to feel the damn words. I had to stop feeling Adam Brown. He had to stop being in my head all the time.

I drove past the lights and past the river and past the bridge and past the neighbour's garage. I pulled up in my driveway.

I had half expected Adam Brown to be waiting for me at my doorstep.

But he wasn't.