The Squirrel King

6 • The Search

How long does it take for a guy to use the bathroom? Bennett's been gone for literally a half an hour.

I heard footsteps coming up behind me, "Gee, Bennett, took you long en- Oh. It's just you, Beau." I was a little disappointed, seeing he wont tell me about this villian either. He leaned up against the wall with his arm and leg supporting him. Why would he ever stand like that? He looks so weird, I just had to let out a small laugh.

"Thanks for sounding so excited to see me. Why are you laughing?" Beau asked me.

"Don't worry about it. It's nothing." I replied to him. We both stayed silent for a few seconds and he stared at me.

Almost simultaneously, we both had asked where Bennett was.

He sighed, "I guess you don't know either then. I'll just go look for him myself..."

"Hold up, he went to the bathroom a while a go. I could help you look" I offered.

"I don't need your help looking for him. You'll just drag me down." Geez, he's being rude. Beau starting walking away and I decided to follow. I wouldn't wanna stay here myself anyway. I walked silently behind him for a while until we got to a staircase.

There's a staircase? Are you kidding? I could've used this but nooo, Bennett just had to take me up himself. Seriously, so annoying.

Anyway, I didn't realize he stopped so I kept walking and bumped into him. I guess that's what happens when you drift off into thought. He dramatically turned around and looked at me with a very pissed off face. I smiled sheepishly, which only seem to upset him more.

"Ugh, I guess if you're not gonna leave, I'll just have to deal with you tagging along." Beau sighed again. He would really be a lot more easy to talk to if he didn't sigh so much. He doesn't need to sound like he hates me that much.

He motioned me to follow him after that and we walked down the stairs quickly. It was, of course, a long walk down to the bottom of tree. But, it was a lot better than climbing down it. I continued following him to the bathroom hall.

He went into the men's bathroom and I waited outside, looking around the hallway. A few minutes later, he walked out but did not have Bennett with him. Where the heck could he have gone?

"Let's go to the food court. I'm getting hungry, we can look after." Choosing hunger over his own brother, how nice. I didn't object to it though, so I just went along and followed him again.

He told me to sit down at a certain table so I did as I was told. I noticed a napkin at the table but didn't think anything of it. I just sat there staring off into space waiting for Beau to return.

Maybe Bennett was just hiding some where in the tree and we didn't see. Or maybe we passed him on our way here. So many possibilities went through my head but I still doubted all of them. I just couldn't believe he'd hide for that long or that he'd walk by us without saying anything.

I was brought back to reality by a hand waving in my face, "I assume you're also hungry so eat." Beau said to me, sighing for what seemed like the twentieth time today. He took a seat at the other side of the table and took a look at the napkin.

"Oh sorry, I probably should've thrown that away." I apologized to him.

Beau rolled his eyes, "Did you not take a closer look at it? It's a good thing you didn't throw it away. We would've had no lead to him then."

"Hold on, what do you mean lead? We haven't found any clues as to where he is?" I questioned.

"Are you that dense? We were talking about the napkin. Obviously, the clue is on this napkin." Well geez, he doesn't have to continue being rude about everything.

"Well, can I see the napkin?" I asked him.

He paused for a moment then replied to me, "No." I don't think we make a very good team. Why are these guys so secretive? I got up and tried going over and looking at it but Beau put it in his pocket and started eating the food I just noticed was on the table. He had gotten fries and chicken, a normal little meal for anyone to eat. Expect vegetarians, but neither of us are, probably. I gave up on the napkin and sat back down on my side of the table. I grabbed a piece of whatever every once in a while and continued thinking about the napkin. How could one silly napkin have any clues?

He finished with the food and got back up and left again. I assumed he wanted me to stay here since he didn't motion me or tell me to move. I waited again like before and sighed like he usually does.

Beau returned after a smaller wait than before, though. He had a drink that was either a smoothie or a milkshake, with two straws in the same one?

"Want some?" He offered me it as he put it in the middle of the table. Is he kidding? I'm not sharing a romantic, cliché, movie moment with him.

"No thanks... I'm good." I hesitated to reply.

"I'm not trying to romance you. I know that's what you're thinking. But suit yourself." He said starting to down the liquid, "And when I'm done, we're going to go find the one that actually wants to seduce you." He pulled the napkin out and waved it. My face reddened a little and I turned away. I'm seriously tired of these guys.