The Better Life // Ryan Ross

Gone

-------------Meagan's POV------------

     "Kids, I'm home!" I called out like I always do when I get home. I expected to hear running down the stairs but heard absolute silence. This never happened before which ment that they weren't home.

     I ran up the stairs and checked their rooms to find nothing. I checked everywhere else and they were nowhere to be seen. Panicking, I called Pete to see if he may have picked them up from school.

     "Hey, Mea-" he started.

     "Pete, are the kids with you?!" I yelled.

     "No, aren't they home?"

     "I just got home, and can't find them anywhere!" I stated almost breaking down into tears.

     "Oh shit, take deep breaths, call parents and I'll be home as fast as I can."

     "Okay," I replied hanging up and calling Andrea's parents first. Her mother answered on the third ring and I immediately took control over the conversation. "Are Jamie and Bronx with you?" I asked.

     "No, why? What happened?" she asked.

     "They weren't home when I got here and I'm really worried. Pete hasn't seen them and I'm about to call Danielle and George."

     "Okay, while you do that I'm going to call the school. Just stay calm." And with that, we hung up and I called the Ross's.

-------------Ryan's POV--------------

     It was around five thirty when I went to the kitchen to find a quick snack when all of a sudden our house phone started ringing. I quit my search for food and answered the phone to hear Jamie's mom asking me if her and Bronx were with me since sometimes after school them, Spence and I would hang out. I told her that they weren't which caused her to frantic. Jamie isn't really someone who would go off somewhere, especially with Bronx, without letting someone know. I automatically started to worry about the girl I loved.

     The thing is, I was going to called her later to see if we could hang out just so I could finally ask her if she could be my girlfriend since Spencer and Andrea kept pestering me to ask her. And the day I finally get the balls to ask her, she's nowhere to be seen. I asked Jamie's mom, who was still on the line, if I could come over to try to help find Jamie. She accepted my offer and we said our goodbyes before I went up to my room to pack a bag with stuff for the weekend in case I were to stay for the nights. I grabbed my phone and texted Andrea and Spencer if they've seen them.

     Andrea replied rather quickly with almost the same amount of concern I had for the both of them. Spencer on the other hand didn't reply at all which caused me to call him only to get sent to voice mail. He never leaves his phone off. My concern for my best friends just grew bigger in an instant.

     Before leaving to walk to Jamie's house I informed my mom on what was going on and told her that I might not be home over the weekend. She gave me a quick hug and I soon left.

     When I arrived to her house, which was only a couple houses down the street from mine, I noticed that Andrea's mom's car and Spencer's mom's car were parked outside. I knocked on the door and was soon inside sitting on their couch waiting for a text from Spencer or Jamie with Andrea.

     A couple hours went by and nothing. "Do you think they're okay?" asked Andrea to me.

     "I think so, it's obvious something is wrong but I'm pretty sure that they're okay," I replied.

     "Hope you're right, Ryan."

     "Got to think positive and hope for the best."

     Throughout the rest of the night, their families called the police hoping that they could find them. During that phone call, Andrea and I over heard that it wasn't just them that were missing. It was them and everyone else who rode their bus this afternoon. By twelve Andrea and I both fell asleep while the adults, one at a time, were too.

-------------Jamie's POV--------------

     I woke up by someone poking my nose the next day and surprisingly didn't feel cold. I fluttered my eyes open and saw Bronx staring at me upside down smiling. Im guessing he heard the news but, I wanted to be sure.

     "Why are you so happy today, bud?" I asked in a nasally which earned a laugh from him.

     "We're finally leaving, Jamie!" he exclaimed.

     "We are!" I yelled getting up then spinning him around. Thank god I'm a morning person or else, I would've never been able to do that. After I set him down I made my way to the older group of kids who where stacking up the mattresses high enough to reach the handle of a hatch. After all the mattresses were stacked, our bus driver made his way up and opened the hatch to reveal dirt that we would have to dig through. 

     "Okay, I say we should take turns digging," said our bus driver. Spencer, two other guys and I volunteered to dig first while the others sat back. Once the guys and I got to the top of the stack, we immediately started digging.

     "Well, well, well, girly. Shouldn't you be sitting down and let the men do this job?" asked one of the dudes helping.

     I quickly turned my head to Spencer who rolled his eyes at the remark the dude made. "I think you should, since you're the one not doing any work right now." I replied.

     "I'm just taking a break, doll face."

     "Wow, you're such a man. Taking a break and we aren't even five minutes into the job. I bet all the girls just want to get their hands on you."

     "You want to go, girly?" he asked spreading his arms out wide.

     "Can't really go anywhere, estupid," I said moving my eyes upward still digging. Not soon after I was pushed off and hit my head hard on the solid surface below us. All I remember after that was seeing Spencer jump off and Bronx screaming my name. After that, it went all black.

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     Sorry for not updating on Sunday like I said I would try but I kind of spent that whole day and the day after at the mall for my friend's birthday but hey I updated tonight so, yay! Sorry if it's short but I'm tired and don't want to sleep in my classes since I noticed it's something that I really want to do now. Oh and if you like bands with a female singer I recommend Courage My Love. I've been listening to them all day and are now one of the only two bands I enjoy with female singers which I find weird but oh well. They're basically one other reason im excited to go to warped this summer. I'll put one of their songs as a video.