Missing

12 Years Later

I took a couple practice swings in the on deck circle. I was anxious....this game was riding on me. It was a tough game so far against Franklin and I didn't want to be the one to disappoint the team if we didn't make it to the next round of the tournament

"Mary....MARY!"

I turned around and saw my dad against the fence. I rolled my eyes and went over for a quick second

"Bring the base runners home and those One Direction tickets you've been wanting are yours!"

I grinned and went back trying to stay focused on the game. My parents had been pretty vague on whether or not I could go to the One Direction concert for my birthday. I couldn't wait. I looked over to the third base coach for the signal and stepped into the batters box. I waited as she pitched the ball...too high. I waited again and swung at the pitch...strike one. I stepped back and looked over at my coach who gave me the signal to fake a bunt to advance the runners. I moved to the front of the batters box and set up for a bunt. The pitcher released the ball and I slowly moved the bat back as the ball approached, blocking the view of the catcher causing her to miss the ball. I stepped out of the box as the ball hit the backboard behind her. The runners advanced to second and third and I smirked seeing my coach give the signal to swing away. I stepped back and connected with the ball. It sailed over the third base line and into left field. I ran as fast as I could as the base runners ran home. I quickly slid into third as the ball made its way back into the infield. Looks like someone is going to see One Direction for her birthday.

After the game I grabbed my bat bag and headed towards my parents with a huge grin on my face.

"Yes Mary, I will buy you tickets to the concert"

"Yay! Floor seats? I hit a triiiippplllle"

He gave me a look and shook his head "Don't press your luck"

The car pulled into the garage and I jumped out of the backseat and went into the house. I could hear my brother Chris and his friend playing video games in the living room. I was so excited I couldn't help myself and decided to brag. I skipped into the living room, grinning like an idiot and smacked Colton on the head

"OW! You just made me die Mary!"

"Pay attention next time. Chris, Guess what!?!? Guess what?!?!"

"I don't care Mary."

"Just say what"

He groaned and sighed "What"

"I get to go see One Direction for my birthday"

"Yippee" He answered rolling his eyes

"Floor seats!"

"I didn't say floor seats Mary!" My dad called from the kitchen

I made a face and whispered between them "Floor seats"

Chris turned around and ruffled my hair in my face and pushed my head back. He knew I hated when he messed with my hair. My hair was a source of contention for me and I hated it.

"Ow! Stop!"

"Go do something with that mess and go away."

I went into my bathroom and turned on the shower. I stared at myself in the mirror and sighed deeply at my hair. It was naturally curly and always a frizzy mess. My mom wouldn't let me get it straightened or blown out "it's just so cute" she says about them. I quickly took a shower and headed to the dining room for dinner.

"Mom, can I please get a straightener for my birthday?"

"Why Mary? I love your curls"

"But...they're just so...ugly. I don't look like anyone in this family. Everyone has straight hair and then there's me"

She sighed and shook her head "No Mary. You are just lucky to have such pretty curly hair."

"Boys don't like curly hair"

Colton and Chris laughed at me as my mom shook her head

"I said no."

I pouted folding my arms across my chest "It's not fair! Why are you so mean to me!?!"

"You know Mary, you may want to rethink that statement as someone who was just promised expensive concert tickets." My father said sternly

I shoveled the salad in my mouth and sat at the table pouting. They knew I hated my hair and it felt like they were punishing me just because they thought it was cute. They didn't have to walk in my shoes every day down the hall at school. My phone buzzed next to my plate and I picked it up to read the text before it was grabbed by my dad

"No phones at the table"

"But...it's Liam"

"He can talk to you after dinner"

I groaned and sighed and continued to eat my dinner. I heard Chris snicker next to me and I kicked him under the table

"OW!"

"Mary!"

"What!?!"

"Please leave this table and go to bed."

Angrily I pushed back from the table, grabbed my phone and stomped up the stairs to my room and slammed the door.

Jon's POV:

The only sound in my office was the sound of my pen scratching across the paper I was writing on. It was a welcome silence I needed this time of the year. I dropped the pen and sat back, leaning my chair back and running my hands over my face and through my hair. I was completely exhausted and ready to get home to my sons. JJ needed help in the gym and Noah needed a lecture on fighting at school. I sighed deeply thinking about Noah the constant trouble maker...reminded me of me.

"Hey Jon, aren't you going to miss your flight?"

I looked up at Sami standing in the doorway and then down at my phone to check the time.

"Yeah..shit. I got lost in thought"

"Maybe they can squeeze you in on my flight."

"You don't have to come out again this year you know." I said grabbing my bags

"Yeah I know, but I want to. Gives me an excuse to get out of Florida for a while anyway"

I chuckled as we walked out to his car. He comes out every year to help me look for Sierra. Neither one of us knew what we were looking for. I had no idea what she even looked like anymore....if she was even in the state....or even alive. But I couldn't just stop. It took a long time for Jenn and I to even speak to each other. Not even the birth of Noah could fix it at first. There was too much hurt, anger and pain to even think about forgiveness. Twelve years later and she still blames me. She swears she doesn't, but I know she does deep down. I shut the trunk and sat in the passenger seat as he started the car

"I have some shit to take care of in the morning with Noah and I promised Jon I'd help him in the gym. After that we can do what we always do"

"What's wrong with Noah?"

"Same ole shit I've been dealing with all year. He keeps getting into fights with other kids."

"Why?"

"Who knows" I shrugged "It's his answer to everything. He never has a good reason and it's never his fault."

"Oh?"

"Mmmm hmm" I smirked "Last time it was over a girl"

"Oh Jesus..." he smirked over at me

"Yeah" I laughed

The airline was able to get me onto Sami's flight and we headed back to Vegas. We threw our bags into the cab and headed to the house. I was anxious to get back. I was always anxious around her birthday. We always went back to the mall and all over the city passing out fliers, searching for anything we could. The police keep saying it's a good thing, but I know they're just telling me what I want to hear. They think I don't know how long it's been or how much of a waste of time it probably is. But I was never going to give up. I was going to do this until she was home or I was dead.

The cab stopped in front of the house and it was dark. I sighed in relief that everyone was in bed. We walked in quietly and set our bags by the door and walked into the kitchen. I opened the fridge and offered him a beer as we stood leaning against the counters talking

"You paid for the age progression this time?"

He held up a proof of the print ad I'd taken out and I nodded

"Yeah. I guess it looks like her. I don't know Sami...I'm trying anything"

"I know you are. I'm not judging. You never told me what happened with that woman..."

"Oh...yeah...I thought I did?"

"No. You said they found her and that was it"

"Yeah...uh...couple years ago they found her at the county asylum on a psych hold. She was picked up for some kind of episode at a convenience store."

"She didn't tell them anything?"

"No. She was too far gone. I dunno...drugs or something. She had shaved her head and was incoherently rambling. They asked where she was but all she could do was mumble and ramble about Sierra's pretty, curly hair. Worst part for Jenn and I was finding out that when they picked her up she was homeless and carrying a backpack. In the backpack they found the dress Sierra was wearing, the shoes, her hair bow and a lock of her hair"

"What? Seriously?"

"Yeah"

I looked down at my beer lost in thought about the day the police came to talk to us about finding her. The sound of his bottle hitting the marble counter top as he set it down jarred me from my thoughts and I set mine down as well

"Guess we should get some sleep"

"Hey...that doesn't mean she's not alive Jon. You know that"

I half smiled and nodded as I helped him pull out the couch bed and set it up. I quietly headed down to the master bedroom, changed down to my boxers and sat on the edge of the bed with a sigh. Jenn wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed my cheek. I smiled and pulled her arms off and laid down pulling her close. She laid her head on my chest and smiled as I kissed her head

"You're late"

"Yeah I know. I'm sorry. I decided to fly in with Sami"

"You OK?"

"I'm alright Jenn. Just exhausted."

"You seem preoccupied"

"A little. It's nothing. Lets get some sleep"