Press Play

Video No. 1

Ding.
A notification. Something I don't pay much attention to anymore, with police interviews and SAT prep, I haven't had too much time to look at 'October's hottest memes'. 

One of my friends, Kelsey, went missing exactly a week ago and everyone's lives have been turned upside down. School is chaos. Here in the suburbs of Tampa, everything stays the same. Everyone follows the same life plan. This was not part of the plan. 

I decide to take a break from exam prep. Junior year's exhausting.
A foreign phone number titled '24' messages me. I press play. My heart to starts racing. There's video, just under 20 seconds long. I try to make out my screen. A fuzzy image of what looks like a green and orange sweatshirt pops up. I just manage to hear the words 'Columbus waters' in the background. Maybe someone at school. I'm not good with names.

I don't know what the words mean but I feel like I've seen that sweatshirt. I rack my brain. I know, the 'Peach's diner's uniform'. Wait no that's blue and orange. 

I'm no detective, but it doesn't take a genius to think it's most likely related to Kelsey's disappearance.

Ding-Ding. 
If this was a cartoon, there would be a lightbulb above my head right now.
Camp, 2014. Tampa city camp sweatshirt. Kelsey.

I don't think I've ever run downstairs and jumped into my car quicker. The police need to see this. I want my friend back. I'm in the car for a few minutes until a red light appears. The biker in front of me won't move so I- AGHH CAR!?? Let's just say driving is not my forté.

'What the hell are you doing, you tryna' to get someone killed?' Says the surprisingly handsome asshole, getting out the car.

'I'm really sorry I'm just in a hurry, I need to get somewhere.'

'What could be so important that it meant almost running that biker over?'

'I need to get to the police, quickly.' I reply, whilst hopping back into my car. 

'Wait, you're Nova, right?' The Calvin Klein model questions.

'Yeah...' I reply, suddenly nervous.

His brows knit together in concentration.
'We need to talk.' 

Beeeep.

'But not in the middle of the road.'

'No I need to g-'

Beeeeeeeeep.

'Just come with me'

We pull over both over our cars in a Starbucks parking lot. Whatever delaying huge police information on my friend, better be worth my time.

'Do you have time for a quick talk over a latte?'

'How quick are we talking?'

'To be honest not very, but it's not exactly your choice. It's safety'

I give him a suspicious glance before sighing.
'I'm on your side Nova, trust me'

Without saying anything, I start walking towards the coffee shop.

'You coming then' I reply.

'Oh yeah, of course.' He says with a tiny grin.

I never really looked at him. He was kinda cute though. Icy grey eyes, on tan skin with brown hair. Handsome, but not the right time. I need to worry about school and Kelsey, nothing else.
We sit down and just wait for a bit. 

'So are you going to tell me why I'm here?'

He stops thinking and snaps back into reality. 

'You got sent a video, from a number called '24', right?'