Linger

O N E H U N D R E D

I took in a deep breath as I ran my hand through my brown hair that I had carefully curled this morning, inspecting my reflection in the school bathroom mirror.

"Maybe we could talk to the counselor here," Chelsea suggested as she stepped up next to me, applying lip balm. 

"Does this school even have a counselor?" Alice asked as she stood next to me on the other side, tightening her ponytail. 

It was now the next day and Chelsea, Alice and I were getting ready in the school bathroom before the first bell went off for our first final of the day.

Keeping my eyes on my reflection, I turned the corners of my lips upward, hoping it was believable to before heading toward the door. "I'm going to see if Tyler is here." 

"Maddie, wait!" Chelsea and Alice called after me. 

I pushed the door open, leading us out into the hallway where plenty of students were heading to their lockers or classes, yet the air was quiet and still. 

I turned back to my friends with a confused look. 

They looked at me back with just as much confusion. 

I adjusted my bag on my shoulder. "What's going on? Are they extending the year for another six months or something?"

"Ugh, I hope not." Chelsea groaned as she headed to our lockers and we followed her. 

"It's the end of the year. Why isn't anyone excited about it?" My gaze scanned the hallways for any sign of my best friend's bright auburn hair, but there was no sign of him. I reached for my phone, sending him a quick text. 

"Isn't there a counselor here?" Chelsea turned to us as she opened her locker. 

"We could go to the office and ask," Alice said. 

"Have you guys seen Tyler?" I asked, tapping my fingers against my phone. 

"No, not yet." Chelsea shook her head. "Do you wanna go to the office and ask where the counselor is?"

I glanced down at my phone, only to see that he hadn't replied to my text or any of the ones I sent earlier. Or the ones I sent yesterday. Or my calls. I put my phone away yet anxiety began to rise in my chest.

"Maybe the counselor is available right now and we can see them," Alice said. 

I looked up at her. "To ask about Tyler?"

Chelsea gave me a puzzled look. ". . . No. So you--"

"What if he's in trouble?" I cut in, fiddling with my necklace. "Or what if they don't let him graduate and--"

"Mads," she stopped me. "We told you yesterday, they can't do anything," she reminded me gently. 

"Then why isn't he here?!" I threw my hands out at my sides. "And--and why hasn't he answered?!" I fumbled with my phone before holding it up. "Probably because he's mad at me," I answered my own question with a huff, rolling my eyes. 

"He's not mad at you," Alice told me quietly.

"Why wouldn't he be?" I shrugged. "If he's in trouble, it's because of me. If he loses his draft invitation, it's because of me."