Changed For The Better

Missing?

Several Weeks Later

Ryan's POV

It's been a while since I've seen Marie. Last I heard, she was texting me the day after Mike and Agatha disappeared. She was really worried but I wasn't there to answer her texts which made me feel awful. But she texted me the day after and explained everything.

Since then I haven't seen her, and I've barely heard from her and I'm starting to worry. I'm sue she is okay though, as I know that Mike and Agatha would never let anything happen to her, but it's been ages.

I hope they haven't had her grounded for coming to see us that day. I would feel horrible I this was all my fault for inviting her over. But at the same time I'm sure she would just tell me over text if she was grounded.

Realistically, I am sure she is fine. She can look after herself, I know that much, but I just...I miss her. She hasn't even been at school for the past couple of weeks, and nobody knows or has heard anything of her.

She hasn't been answering my calls or replying to my texts. I even went over to the house but nobody answered the door. I guess they must have been out on a trip or something, or even just at the supermarket. They might even have just had the tv on too loud and not heard the doorbell. Mike does have the worst hearing to be fair!

I had a brief word with Luke about it but he told me not to worry. he said Mike and Agatha are probably just trying to get her to settle into life away from the dumping ground. But even then that just feels so wrong! She may not live there any more but that doesn't mean she doesn't need us any more! And it doesn't mean that we don't need her.

She grew up here. Maybe not for long but she did. If you were to compare her now to how she was when she first arrived, you wouldn't believe how much she has changed. And now she has suddenly just gone.

Maybe I should go round their house again. What are the chances they'll be gone a second time? Or even if Marie is out I can talk to Mike or Agatha and just find out what's going on.

What if she is really ill? That would explain why she hasn't been in school and has barely replied to my messages. She could be in hospital dying! That would also explain why she wasn't in her home, why there was nobody there; because she is in hospital!

But what could have happened to her under Mike and Agatha's care? Unless it wasn't like an accident, and it was some kind of illness or something and it can't be helped and maybe she'll be in that hospital for the remainder of her life...

I need to stop getting ahead of myself. I shouldn't get worked up when I don't know for sure that any of this has happened. I just need to calm down and clear my head. If something like that was happening then they would have had to tell Luke for safety reasons, and he would have told me if there was any news, even the tiniest of things.

I sat down on my bed and rested my head in my hands. Deep breaths, in and out. Just like Marie would do whenever she was panicking. Everything has started to remind me of her now that I haven't been seeing her. It's driving me insane!!

No I have to try now or I'm just gonna be awake all night worrying. I'm sure Luke won't mind me going round for a visit. We have all been staying in pretty much always anyway recently so it's fine. I grabbed my phone and checked again for messages, there was nothing, much to my disappointment.

I made sure the volume was up and shoved it into my pocket. I also grabbed my keys and shoved my converse onto my feet, not even bothering to untie the laces from the last time I wore them. I just want to get ready and get going as fast as possible. I know I'm worrying over what might be nothing, but either way I really miss her so I want to see her.

I put my jacket on then ran downstairs and into the office.

"Can I go and see Marie now?!" I sort of shout breathed. I was in such a hurry.

"Ryan you should have knocked instead of just barging in like that!"

"Sorry Luke I'm really sorry" I said hurriedly.

"Hey what's up? You look really stressed"

"Yeah no look I just, can I go and see Marie?"

"I'm really sorry Ryan. I would let you ut we have a trip planned for this afternoon..."

"Seriously?! We never have anything planned and the one time I actually have somewhere to be, you want me to go out on a stupid trip!"

"Hey Ryan calm down..."

"No! Can't I just give it a miss?"

"Afraid not. It's a house trip. Everyone is going and I can't leave you here unsupervised"

"I won't be. I'll be out with Marie or with her and Mike or Agatha please Luke"

"I'm sorry but there is no guarantee that you'll be supervised for the whole time. I just cannot let you go, not today Ryan. You can go tomorrow"

"I can't wait until tomorrow Luke!"

"Ryan, are you sure you're okay?"

I took a deep breath. Let's face it, I've lost. "Yeah, yeah sorry."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah whatever, um, I'll go tomorrow that's fine" I said as I backed away from the room.

"Ryan..."

"No it's fine. Where are we going on this trip?"

"It's a surprise, but be ready in about an hour"

"Right okay then"

With that I ran back upstairs. This sucks. I have to go on some stupid trip instead of seeing Marie and since we aren't going for another hour and it's already kind of late, we must just be going out for dinner or something. But why? I don't think it's anybody's birthday is it? Unless it's Luke's or Mai Lee's but I'm sure we would know about it if it was.

I kicked my shoes off and dumped my keys back on my desk before flopping down on my back. This is so annoying. I just want to see Marie. Why does something always have to get in the way? I hate this place.