It's Complicated

Chapter 28: Inside the Office

*STORY IS IN KIM'S POV*

I'm shocked. What on could possibly drive Mary out of the gym? I mean, I asked if she was fine & she said yes but then she pulls this crap? I love her but damn, I can't keep running after a grown ass woman. As I sit at my desk in the office I know she should be sitting next to me. If she were here we'd probably be laughing because it's time for "Daily Dan FaceTime Calls" or just laughing because of the day we were having. Normally this office is full of laughter & happiness, only today it's full of silence & confusion. I try to shake off this feeling & go back into the gym, I know I told the girls to run for 30 minutes but that's kind of cruel.

I walk onto the gym floor & notice how out of breath the girls are. Everyone has their hands above their heads, attempting to get more air, & running in a heard. A couple of the girls begin to slow down when I realize Annie isn't doing too well, she collapses before I can get a word out. "Shit — Fuck — Ugh, stop running, all of you! Practice is over! Don't forget to eat breakfast tomorrow, it's the last meet before states! I'm sorry about today!" All of the girls stop & immediately run for the school room, I honestly don't blame them. I take note of Annie on the ground but I notice Kate walking up to her & my mind instantly begins to worry about Mary.

I run back to the office & check my phone, no messages from Mary. I dial her number, let it ring but it goes straight to voicemail. I try to text her, but my message doesn't say it's delivered. I call & text her sisters asking if they've heard from her, they haven't talked to her in a week. My next choice is Shelly, Mary's mom. I call but Shelly said she hadn't talked to Mare in almost a month; that definitely wasn't something she'd do. No one knows what's going on with her, no one knows where she's at. It's killing me inside but I know my only option to possibly get information on her whereabouts is to call Luke, her ex-boyfriend.

I reluctantly dial his phone number & put my phone on speaker. The ring tones seem to go on & on, it never stops, until it does. He answers the phone, sounding groggy & bothered. "Yeah, hello? Who is this?"  Your ex-girlfriends best friend, bitch, that's who; although I didn't say it, I wish I had. "It's Kimberly, Mary's friend.. Have you heard from her?" He gasps & silent for a moment before he proceeds by mumbling things under his breath. "It's all my fault, I've got to go!" He hangs the phone up before I can get a word in. The worrisome feeling only grew more, I quickly call & text about a million times but still, I get no response.

I'm flustered, I don't know what to do, I don't know what to say or even what to think. Where on Earth would Mary go in a time of crisis? I can't think of anything, my mind is working a million ideas at once. I feel like I can't breathe, the amount of fear I'm experiencing is overwhelming me.

I walk out of the office to find Katie & Annie, they're sitting in the viewing room. I owe them an apology, well, several apologies. I sit down next to them & sigh. "Sorry about the run, I just I'm flustered. I don't know what's going on with Mary. Well I know a little bit, but not much. I'm waiting on your moms to get here to talk with them. I've called her & text her so many times but she won't respond. No one knows anything. I've called her mom, her sisters, even Luke!" They both look at me worried & surprised. No sooner had I said this the moms walked in & I felt kind of relieved. I look at them & they both look so chipper & full of life.

"Thank gosh, you're both here. I need to talk. In private, please. Katie, Annie, try to get some school work done!" The girls reluctantly agreed & made their way to the school room as me & the moms went to my office. My heart is racing & I feel like I can't breathe, the walk to my office seems never ending.

We finally make it to the office, Katie & Jill sit down while I shut the door. I stay facing the door for a moment, really I'm trying to gather my thoughts. Breathe in, breathe out Kim. I swallow the lump in my throat & blurt it out, I couldn't hold it any longer! "Mary's pregnant & she doesn't want to keep her kid. But she needs to because there are people who can't have kids, like me & it's so upsetting to see her deal with this on her own. I don't know what's up with her!"

It all came out like word vomit, I couldn't stop once I started. I didn't even realize I'd told them about me until Katie said "wait, what did you just say about yourself?" Both of them have such shocked looks I don't know who to look at first or what to answer. I really didn't think this out.

"We'll talk about me later. Right now I can't get a hold of—" I was quickly cut off by Jill's phone that was ringing. She grabs her phone frantically out of her purse & says "why is Mary texting me?" My heart instantly sank. "Um, for whatever reason she says to let everyone know she's okay. But, why?" My heart shatters & I don't know what to feel anymore. I'm glad she's okay & safe, I really am but my heart is hurt that she didn't bother to let me, her best friend, know that she was okay!

My eyes get watery & my nose instantly becomes sniffly, I can't cry, I won't cry. I hold back my tears & compose myself. "That's what I was going to tell y'all, Mary left in the middle of practice & didn't tell anyone anything. No one knows where she's at, but I mean at least now we know she's safe."

I can't help but cry, it's literally like my face is leaking & I can't control it. The girls notice & they instinctively come towards me to hug & console me. "I don't know if I can do this anymore. I don't. I think it's time I end things now!"

I love Mare, but being her friend was becoming more of a job than anything. "I just don't know how much longer I can work with Mary or even be her friend. I think we've reached our breaking point.. It kills me inside to know that. I just want what's best for her, for us, because I love her. I just don't know if I'm what she needs anymore.."

Tears stream down my face & feel helpless. My best friend is out there upset, driving around feeling alone & I'm here in this office crying because of it. She wants nothing to do with me & she made that very clear. "Mary Catherine, wherever you are, eat shit!"