The Five W's

Part 1: Who

Chapter 1

Grace was the girl you saw with the big smile on her face. She was the one you saw who spent most of her time with either her friends or her family. Grace raised her hand in class, turned in homework on time, and was always in class at least two minutes early. She was involved in nearly every club, and was acquainted and loved by everyone in the school. Everyone knew her, and everyone loved her.

Until they didn't.

Or maybe, perhaps, it was more like they couldn't.

No one knows exactly when it happened. We all remembered seeing her in school that Friday, and waving our goodbyes as we left the building. But sometime in the course of that weekend, or maybe it was a week later, we noticed her absence. No one was constantly answering the teacher's questions. No one was smiling at people in the hallways and giving out free hugs. She was just...gone.

Of course, her friends took notice quicker than others. But no one knows when she was taken, or by whom. No one knows when, where, or why she was taken, and no one knows what happened.

I don't know how long it's been.

But I will find her. I need to, because I haven't been myself without her. She took my heart with her when she left. I need her back.

My name is Selena, and I will find my girlfriend.

October

I wrapped my coat tighter around myself as I walked across the frozen grass to the next building. This year, it was colder. Everything was dying quicker, and suddenly autumn wasn't so beautiful anymore. I kept my head down as people moved to their next class, bumping into me on their way. They didn't bother to say "sorry" anymore, because they knew I wouldn't respond. I felt my phone vibrate in my satchel. I knew it was probably my father, reminding me of my early release from this haunted place. I ignored it. I was already aware, and gratefully at that.

I opened the door and felt the warm air brush across my face. I let out a breath, and adjusted myself to the change in temperature. I took off my satchel, and then my coat, and then swung my satchel over my head and back onto my shoulders. I looked around the Art building. There were paintings on the walls, posters thumbtacked on the board notifying everyone of the upcoming band/choir performance, and a few more sign-up sheets for Theater still taped on the walls, even though auditions were well over. I was glad this was my last class before I left, although I couldn't bring myself to smile. It still reminded me of her.

I sighed as I sprinted up the steps to the band room. I opened the door and was greeted by the sound of voices and chaos. Everyone was in their designated section with their instruments, and they were talking loudly. I tuned them out and slid into my seat as the bell rang. I grabbed my instrument from the rack underneath my chair, opened my music, adjusted my stand, and sat in a ready position, waiting for my director to start class.

"Hey." Someone whispered. I swept my eyes over to meet soft blue ones. They belonged to Jenna. I nodded in response. She gave me a smile and turned her attention back to the director. It was even difficult to look her in the eyes, because they were the same blue Grace had.

I felt a pang in my chest as I thought of her name for the first time in months. I had been avoiding it. I remember all the times we would lay in the grass and look into each other's eyes, saying nothing, holding hands, and letting the silence envelope us as we pretended we were the only ones left in the world.