Coincidences

Act LVIII

I came up to him, waving, "Hey, Rocky! It's good that you're here." Well, it was only good for him to be here this time, since I needed to know about Zoey's whereabouts.

"Martin," he sneered, in his usual grumpy, but surprisingly baritone voice. He didn't seem too happy at the moment.

"Hey, I wanna ask you something. Do you know where―?" I reached him, and, by the time I did, he grabbed my collar.

"Shut up. You better stay back," he warned, his hand firm on the prey. That's me. He continued, "I don't care what you say, but just shut up."

"I just wanna ask about Zoey."

"Zoey? Look, don't you ever come near―," he started to pronounce, but he looked at his watch and, strangely, darted away. "Sh*t," he cursed, took one good look at me, and disappeared off into the distance.

Come near who? Zoey? It's as if he knew something. I tried to follow him, but no avail. He was quite the sprinter back in elementary school. Those sturdy legs of his outclassed everyone's. There was no beating him; not even his brother can manage.

His brother. Maybe he knows. For the millionth time, I fished it out of my pocket, and my fingers did the rest of the work.

I was lucky to, at least, make a call to someone. Right after lifting it up to my ear, he responded, "Hello?"

"Tyrone, thank goodness," I praised. "Hey, I have a question."

"I have a question, too, but okay, you go first." He's usually this nice, same as always.

I was about to ask him about her, but I hesitated. Is it really fine to talk to him about this. I mean, how am I going to explain that, today, I was planning to take Zoey out on a date? Whatever, now is not the time to think twice. I spoke, "Do you know where Zoey is, by chance?"

"I don't know. Is she not home?"

"I dunno, too. They aren't answering the door. I was kinda hoping you would know."

"Sorry. I can't help."

"Ok," I rubbed my forehead, disappointed. "What did you want to tell me?"

"Oh, um, never mind that. I'm busy at the moment. I'm not home. I'm waiting for someone," said he. "Oh, what a coincidence."

Coincidence?

"The person I was waiting for is here. Ok, gotta go. See ya, Marty."

I didn't find any clues to figure out where Zoey is. Bummer. "Um, Sure. Yeah. Smell ya later." I could hear him chuckle, maybe because of what I said. I used to say that to him in a funny fashion a lot of times, so he must have remembered me back at the day. He really is a great guy, if it wasn't for his brother.

"Smell ya, too." The call ended.

The heck? I was supposed to be with Zoey for the whole day, but I can't find her anywhere. I must trace Rocky and see if there's some sort of connection with her whereabouts. Dang it. I should have asked Ty. I tried calling him again, but, just my luck. The number is now unavailable. It's so frustrating.

Everything is so frustrating.