The Six Of Us

Gone.

Sky's POV

He should've been back by now. I bit down hard on my fingernails, polish flaking and falling into my mouth. The clock on the wall ticked loudly in the thick, suffocating silence. Sweat beaded my forehead. 4:00. School ended at 2:30. He is late. I pushed away from the table and began to pace. Come on Cole. I stopped at the window. What was I doing? Stressing myself out for no reason, that's what. He probably just got stuck in traffic on the bus or ran into some old friends, yeah that's the ticket. I shook my head and ran upstairs to shower. All will be fine in the morning shine.

>>>>><<<<<

My alarm buzzed frantically. I lay awake, staring at the ceiling. I didn't sleep a wink. Cole didn't return home. My heart was racing with panic. A voice dragged me from my frantic thoughts. "Sky honey! Breakfast time!" Cole's mom. I jogged down the stairs and tripped into the kitchen. "You ok hon? You look a bit tired." A bit was an understatement. "I'm fine. Had a bad sleep I guess." I forced a smile and tucked into my breakfast. "Cole texted me. He wanted to let us know that he was meeting up with a few mates and going out. Won't be home for the weekend." Almost choking on my toast, I looked to Cole's mom. He texted her? I shoveled down the rest of my food and raced upstairs.

I dug through my drawers. When I arrived, Cole had lent me an old phone of his. I yanked it from the drawers and smashed the screen with my fingers, racing to text him. After almost locking myself out, I finally opened the message app. Cole. I panted like an overheated dog and yet all I'd down was tear apart my room lookinh for a phone. I pressed the call button. My body trembled with anticipation. Cole declined. What the-? Cole would never hang up. Panic immediately reclaimed my body. No, it's ok. He texted his mom. He's fine. I cracked my knuckles nervously; I didn't believe myself. A call made me jump. Mavis. I answered without hesitation.

M: Hey Sky, did you get a weird text from Cole just now?
S: No... what does it say?
M: He said "hey, won't be at school next week". What's that all about?

Panic and fear plagued my body. Not going to be at school?! Mavis called my name repeatedly but I stayed in my trance. Cole...Cole's gone... But where?