Chapter 1 - In case

Pictures in my pocket

Off to the first History lecture of the week I went, regretting it the moment I sat and down and came to the realisation that Michael, my most preferred teacher, was on a business trip. Of all days that I decided to actually turn up to a lecture, Michael wasn't even there.

Biting my pencil out of boredom, i tried to pay attention to the droning voice of our replacement professor. Impossible. So alternatively, I flicked through my timetable, checking today's agenda and hoping I'd have time to get to my room and make a few adjustments to my appearance (and socks) before meeting my cousin, Lucy, at the train station.

I read today's date and felt a very familiar sinking feeling deep inside. Every year since 2009 had felt the exact same. As I continued to stare blankly at the date in my planner, sitting at my desk suddenly became very uncomfortable, and in the meantime I was finding it increasingly difficult to control a sudden surge of emotions and thoughts.

Exactly five years ago I sat in fifth period doing maths, but not doing maths, if you know what I mean. My mind was so busily occupied with wondering where on earth Tiffany was that I felt utterly unable to do any work - despite my upcoming GCSE.

Me and Tiffany were best friends for as long as I could remember. Anything I did, she did with me. I couldn't trust anyone but her - we were 'two peas in a pod', as they say.

"Where's Tiff then?" People asked me each day.

"Hasn't she got loads of exams this week?"

I could not give a good answer. I had absolutely no idea where she was. Trust me, that was a weird feeling considering we had seen each other every day for about 5 years without fail.

I'd finally had enough of the mystery as to where she was and why she wasn't turning up to her GCSE exams, (Tiffany was the brightest kid I knew) so I decided that after class, I would walk to her house; knock on her door, and slap her silly for ignoring my calls, texts, emails, face-times... You get the point.

It did not once cross my mind that Tiffany would not be at her house, I mean, where else would she be? I walked and walked, planning in my head exactly how I thought the scenario would span out.

Confusion struck me as I arrived outside her beautiful Victorian home, only to spot a huge SOLD sign posted up at the front of her driveway. The lights inside were dim but still turned on nonetheless.

"Tiffany!" I called as I knocked on her door, my back sweating from walking in the heat,

"Answer your stupid door and tell me what's going on with you!"

"They've already left dear", as Mrs Madison leaned over the fence, I got a whiff of the wonderful cookies she was holding.

"Left?" I whispered. "What?"

"You didn't know about it either? Gosh, me and Albert were waiting for you to make a visit, we assumed you'd know where they've moved to." Mrs Madison commented, compassion in her voice.

"So, what, they're gone then?" I asked, feeling more overwhelmed than I ever had before.

"I'm afraid so, dear. Albert says he saw them on Sunday, perfectly normal they were. And then the next day, we saw that SOLD sign get put up." She pointed to the sign.

"We still thought they were home, but when I went round to babysit Tommy that night, no answer. I phoned them up, no answer. Janet down the road reckons they've moved abroad."

"That's all?" I questioned.

"That's all." She replied softly.

I can't remember what happened next. All I can remember is that I just ran and ran, before stopping in the middle of a street and sliding to the floor, sobbing my eyes out.

I couldn't face going home and telling everyone that Tiffany has sold her house and disappeared off to some place with her family. Instead I sat there, confused and waiting, waiting for Tiff to text, call, anything. She didn't.