Can You Keep A Secret?

Chapter Fifty-One

-Liv's POV-

I sat in the idling car, the mansion in front of me illuminated by the headlights. The initial excitement of finding a picture of Andy uploaded by some random girl on FaceBook had long since gave way to anger.

A flurry of activity had erupted when I'd found it – The live.ly had been ended abruptly, and I sat waiting impatiently for the girl to answer my message. Around twenty minutes later, she'd finally replied, saying that she'd seen him at a party at some guy Chad's house. She'd then given me his number, just in case he knew something more about Andy. At first the situation had seemed a little hopeless, but it had been a happy surprise to find out that he'd been actually staying there.

Blair had come in right around then, and we'd promptly piled into his car to try and find Andy. All of the days of frantically searching for him had led up to this moment, but it felt like less of a victory than it should've. We'd driven for hours, only stopping twice – Once for gas, and the second time because Brooklyn felt carsick, which was uncharacteristic for him, but I didn't question it – A little break from the car was nice, and all of the traumatic events had us all a little less fit for the wear.

He'd come back out looking a little pale, and after taking a few sips out of a bottle of gingerale, he'd promptly fallen asleep on Mikey's shoulder. I'd scored the front seat, which gave me some time alone with my thoughts – And what I was thinking was that we shouldn't all have to be in this position. We shouldn't have to be stressed to the point of feeling sick over a boy who was fucking partying in a damn mansion.

This whole time I'd pictured him lost somewhere, upset, maybe out in the pouring rain, maybe even...dead. But, no, he was out here living it up, probably not even thinking once about the hellstorm that he had caused by his leaving.

I didn't understand why it was so damn hard for him to understand that he was loved and cared for, when all anyone ever did was repeatedly prove how much he meant to them. Maybe he did know, and was simply pulling an attention stunt. I couldn't help but connect the dots that he'd left the night that Mikey had arrived. Maybe he couldn't deal with the thought of anyone thinking about anyone other than himself. I simply didn't know anymore.

Mikey shifted, causing Brooklyn to stir. He rubbed his eyes, yawning.

"Good morning, sleepyhead. Feeling any better?" Rye said affectionately. Brooklyn nodded, attempting to stretch out in the cramped up car.

"I have to pee," He stated after a moment.

"Don't we all," Mikey sighed. I wondered when Blair would come back with Andy, and what was taking so long.

"It's kinda stupid that we have to hold it in when there's a house right there," Brooklyn said moodily.

"I'd suggest that you empty your man-bladders out on his bushes if it weren't raining," I said.

"Man-bladders?" Rye snorted. It was silent before, like a little kid on a long car trip, Brooklyn peeped up again.

"I really have to go," he whined, already beginning to unbuckle himself. I watched with amusement as he crawled over Mikey to get to the door.

"You're ridiculous," he said as Brook squished him.

"Would you rather I wee in here?" He asked, causing Mikey to yell out, "No, no, go!"

I couldn't help but let out a little giggle as Brooklyn dashed through the rain and hid behind one of the hedges growing on the lawn.

"He's insane," Rye noted, with just the slightest hint of awe in his voice as he said it.

A moment later, Brooklyn was running back. Mikey made him wait outside for one more minute before unlocking the door.

"You asshole," Brooklyn muttered as he climbed back inside, dripping wet. "I was trying to save you with that."

"Oh, really?" Mikey said mockingly.

"Yeah, I coulda just pissed on you. In fact..." Brooklyn threatened, moving as if to unzip the front of his pants.

"Don't you dare!" Mikey yelled. "There's a woman in the car!" He cried out, using me as a line of defense.

We had a moment of pure, unrestrained laughter, a temporary break from all of the shit that had gone on. It didn't last for long, though – As the laughter slowly faded, I saw the front door finally open. It was time for the moment of truth.