In which two bitter strangers mourn together and maybe, sort of find themselves whilst they're at it.
[SEQUEL / SPINOFF TO 'THAT NIGHT', CAN BE READ AS A STAND ALONE BUT CONTAINS HUGE SPOILERS, MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION INSIDE TO AVOID ACCIDENTAL SP...
RENA ABERNATHY IS DISCOVERED MISSING SHORTLY AFTER 12:30 AM, BUT THE RESIDENTS DON'T LEARN ABOUT IT UNTIL THE MORNING. Unsurprisingly, it's Nova who first hears the news and she passes it on with hushed words, like a game of Chinese whispers.
She sits at Aaron's table for breakfast, sandwiched between Jonny and Tahlia, the only others still stuck at Stanton, plate piled high with fruit and lips piled high with news.
"Did she run away?" Tahlia asks.
Nova shakes her head. "They don't think so," she says. "All of her stuff's still here. She didn't pack a bag, even. Just kind of went."
"Do they have any ideas?"
"None, really. She doesn't have much contact with her parents, and they haven't heard from her either. Literally no one."
"Damn, Nova - how do you know so much?"
She glares at Aaron. "I've already told you - I don't talk. I listen. That's how I know stuff."
"Whatever." Aaron picks at the food on his plate, aware that Arjun's usually steely gaze isn't fixed on him today and that he can probably get away with more than usual thanks to Rena's disappearance. He looks up. "You guys have known Rena for longer. Are we worried?"
Jonny shrugs. "Rena's always doing crazy things. From what I hear, she's gotten much better in the past few months, so we're not too worried about her health wise. But she's never left the house for this long before."
Tahlia nods in agreement. "Brad used to tell me stories of Rena and her great adventures. But nothing like this."
"Oh."
"Oh, indeed."
It's weird having Nova at this table, Aaron decides. He's not sure if it's a good kind of weird or a bad kind of weird. It's also weird not having Rena here - and that's definitely a bad kind of weird. The air feels emptier and the silence a bit thicker.
"Well," Aaron says eventually. "What are we going to do?"
Tahlia looks up at him blankly. "What do you mean?"
"Well we can't just sit here and do nothing, can we? Rena's missing. Let's find her."
Jonny shakes his head. "That's not how things work, Aaron. We just sit here and wait. They'll find her."
"Oh come on, guys!" Aaron pleads. "You have got to be kidding me! You're really all just going to sit here and do absolutely nothing! Let's be honest - all of us are here because we're not in the best mental state. If I wasn't here, I'd probably be dead. So you know what - I am worried. And I'm not just going to sit here and wait."
"What are you not telling us, Aaron?" Nova asks quietly. She's not looking at him. She's staring at the corner of the table, instead.
Aaron sighs. "I saw her last night," he whispers. "She came into my room. I thought she just couldn't sleep - she sure looked sleep deprived. And then she left because I said I was tired. And I thought she went back to her own bed. But she was wearing a jacket and trainers and I think I was the last person to see her before she left Stanton. And that's not really okay." He inhales deeply. "So I have to at least try to see if she's okay. Are you with me or not?"
Nova nods slowly. "We're with you, Aaron."
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