Strawberry Fields

13

William's POV

"Come on, pick up." I say into the phone as I try and call Grace to wake her up. It's 6:30 and we were both running late from the looks of the time. I send her another text to try and wake her up and hope that maybe she just isn't near her phone.

I get dressed as quick I can before brushing my teeth and throwing on a beanie to cover my unruly hair. I grab my bag and keys before heading out for my car. The engine stalls for a bit but quickly revs to life on my third try. The heat comes out slowly and I make my way to Grace's as I usually do.

During the short drive, I try to calm myself and say that we have plenty of time but in all honesty, I know we don't. Eventually I arrive, pull up into the driveway and park the car. I rush to the front door and calm myself down before placing a simple knock to the door. My fist collides with the cold mahogany a few times and there is no answer from the other side.

I stand out in the chilling air for a few seconds before deciding to leave. I know that I'm late but I didn't care. All that mattered was Grace's safety and health. I sat in my car for a few more minutes before deciding to leave.

...

"Hey William." Brice says while walking over to me in the cafeteria during lunch. I wave to her as a 'hello' since I was taking a drink of water.

"Hey do you know if Grace is here?" I say to her eagerly, hope obvious in my tone.

"Um..Grace Loncar? No I don't think so. I mean I have her in my next class so maybe she's there. Why are you wondering?" She says with a playful smirk while nudging my shoulder.

"When I went to her house last night, something seemed off. Then I went to pick her up this morning and she didn't answer the door. I was just hoping someone would've seen her." I say while now staring down at the platform I was sitting on. Brice delicately places her hand on my shoulder and shakes me until I look up at her.

"She's okay. Maybe she just needed a day at home." She says with a hopeful smile. Brice always cared for people and that's one thing that I loved and continue to love about her.

We talk for the rest of lunch about how she likes it here at the school and what classes she's taking before the bell rings prominently, telling people to get to class. We say our goodbyes while exchanging awkward hugs before we go our separate ways.

...

I make my way out to the familiar car of mine and look around to see if Grace is anywhere. She isn't and I decide to try and call her. Had I done something wrong? Was this her way of letting me go? I wanted answers to these multiple questions running throughout my brain and yet I still got her voicemail. Her sweet voice told me to leave a message and so I did.

"Grace..I just wanted to call and see if you were okay. You're not at school and when I went by your house earlier, you didn't come down to see me. I just want to make sure you're okay." I speak into the cold phone before ending the nonexistent conversation between Grace and I.

I finally get into my car and decide whether or not I want to stop by and see her or if I should just leave her alone. I make the decision to see her and speed off to her house from the parking lot. I make my way to her house a lot faster than compared to the other times and when I arrive, I park the car before rushing to the front door again. I knock simultaneously before realizing that I'm getting no where by doing this. I go towards the back fence and rush through the frosty grass.

I see that no one has been out here since Grace and I last night and my mind thinks to the back door. I slowly make my way over, praying that this will let me in and as I turn the handle, the door opens. I thank the lord and as I step in, I speak out to her.

"Grace? Are you home? I..It's William." I say while seeing that no one has been here either. I make my way to the living room, seeing a few blankets scatter across the couch as if someone had been sitting there once as I round the corner to go towards the large staircase in the front room.

"Grace?" I call up once more and when I get no answer, I walk up. I don't see anything unusual and I calm myself down as I walk into her room. When I walk in, that's when I see my strawberry.