Finding Luke

003

My phone buzzed in my lap. I pulled into the Starbucks parking lot and checked the caller ID. Isaac's picture stared back at me. It was from homecoming two months ago. We went together as a joke. Neither of us had been in a serious relationship. Isaac never will be. He wore a suit with a red tie, which matched my lacy red dress. That night was one of the best of my life. I answered, hoping it was all just prank he pulled.
"Mia?" A woman's voice "It's Carissa Taylor." His mom.
"Oh hi," I was disappointed "How are you?"
"This is hard. We basically lost two children in 3 days." Her voice cracked "Please, Mia, when was the last time you saw Luke?"
"Walking out of the school library before first period." I didn't want to say that it was kind of my fault.
"Oh Mia!" She cried "Can you help us please? I just want to see them both again." She sobbed heavily.
"Mrs. Taylor," I tried to sound more sympathetic than scared "I'll look. I'm driving, I'll talk to you soon."
"Thank you so much Mia. Bye honey."
I pulled back onto the road. I wasn't going home. I needed to find Luke. It was my fault he was gone.
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I drove around for 3 hours before the frantic texts from my parents summoned me home. I walked in the door.
"Where have you been?" My dad shouted. "It's almost 9!"
"I was looking for Luke." I started, but he cut me off.
"Mia Grace Lancaster! I'm tired of your games! You are to be home at 7 for dinner. Especially on a school night! What were you thinking?" He turned to my mom " It's probably a joke that all of the teenagers are doing."
My mom's face softened. "Mia, were you joking around?"
I shook my head. "Luke Taylor. Isaac's brother. He's a freshman and he's disappeared."
My father sighed. "I understand this is hard for you, but you don't need to go running after anyone. He will be home tonight."
I walked to the kitchen. A box of pizza sat on the counter. Three slices left. I heated them up in the microwave and brought them upstairs.
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Another sleepless night, spent thinking about how I could have stopped him. I read the text hundreds of times. Katie came in my room at 5:45.
"Why are you up?" I tried not to be mad.
"Where's your curling wand? I want to use it."
"At 5 in the morning? You're nuts!"
"It's 5:47 actually, and I have morning rehearsal today at 7."
I sighed. "It's in the bathroom. Just shut up and don't burn yourself."
"Thank you!"
How could she be so happy after all that's happened?