Thin Air ✿ Jeff Atkins [COMPLETED]

NINE

"And the war began around uh," Clay looked at Jeff who looked like his mind was completely somewhere else, worry and frustration on his face. "Is everything alright?"

Jeff let a deep breath out, "Josie didn't come to school and it's unlike her. I called her like hundreds of times and went to her house to pick her up, she didn't answer."

"I'm sure it's nothing. Maybe something is wrong with her phone and she's sick so she can't open the door or come to school." Clay said, trying to make Jeff feel better about this but failing miserable.

"Listen, man, I appreciate what you're trying to do with but that doesn't make sense." Jeff sighed, closing his eyes.

"Well uh, you can go to her house again after school?" Clay suggested, shrugging.

"Why after school? Thanks man. We'll study whatever you've been saying for the past half an hour later." Jeff said, putting his backpack on his back before rushing outside the library. He jogged to the school door, quickly making his way to his car, getting in then driving off.

The car ride was filled with worry. It was unusual for Jeff to not turn the radio on while driving but his mind was filling up with plots, only wanting to see what was wrong with Josie because he knew something wrong happened.

He parked the car in front of her house for the second time in one day, locking it then jogging to her door. His finger was then on the doorbell, his knuckles knocking on the door in the same time. He sighed after 2 full minutes of knocking and ringing, standing with his hands beside him.
He rubbed his face in frustration, turning to walk to his car. Just as he was about to reach the car, he heard the door open, making his reflexes kick in and turn back around.

Josie stood there, her hair messy, her cheeks red and as Jeff got closer to her, he saw her swollen red eyes. He didn't say anything, only wrapped her body up in a tight hug. He hushed as he heard her start crying, her arms wrapped around his torso. He rubbed her back soothingly, confused. Josie pulled away and walked back inside the house, opening the door more and Jeff took that as a "come in" for him so he entered, closing the door behind him.

He followed her quietly to her room, furrowing his eyebrows when he saw her room was thrashed. Her belongings that were placed on her vanity table were lying on the carpeted floor along with her chair and curtains. He saw pictures on her bed, flipped over.

He watched her sit on her bed, looking defeated. He stayed standing, taking in his girlfriend's state. He knelt beside her, taking hold of her hands as she leaned her back and head on the headrest, closing her eyes. "Do you want to talk?" Jeff asked softly, rubbing her hands with his thumbs.

Josie only shook her head. Jeff sighed, standing up and letting her hands back on her lap before he started to collect the pictures on the bed, keeping them flipped to not offend her privacy before placing them on the vanity table. He sat on the bed and kicked off his shoes before going under the covers, lying down, "Come here," Jeff said, opening his arms and pulling Josie softly towards him.