The River Speaks

Chapter Forty Seven: Gone

Chapter Forty Seven: Gone

I arrive at Aiden apartment a half hour later and shove my key in the door. I unlock it and push open the door.
Immediately, Tucker starts to freak out. He likes me though, so he calms slightly when he smells me, and then he bothers me until I pet him.
I shut the door and lock it, and then I ruffle his ears.
Light fills the living room and Aiden is standing in the doorway of his bedroom in his underwear.
"Lily," he sighs.
"We're getting married." I hold up my left hand. "For better or for worse. You can pretend to be fine all you want, but I see right through it. You're not fine, and I'm not leaving your side until you are."
He opens his mouth and then closes it.
"Okay."
I drop my bag on the coffee table.
"I'll be here when you're ready to talk."
He hesitates, and then he just sighs and goes back into his bedroom.
I get a bag of chips from the cabinet and sit down, shutting off the living room light. I lean against the arm rest with the bag of chips and Tucker lays in between my legs.
I snack on them and scroll through instagram. It's past two in the morning and I'm starting to get a little tired. I guess I feel better knowing he's on the other side of the wall.
It makes me anxious knowing he doesn't want to talk about it.
It makes me anxious knowing he's in a queen sized bed and I'm not in it with him.
It makes me anxious that he wants to be alone.
Suddenly, I'm not hungry anymore, so I get up and put the chips away, and then I get back on the couch and sit with Tucker, ruffling his ears.
"I don't think you're mean." I mumble to him. "I think you're just misunderstood."
He whines softly and I lean down. He licks my cheek. I kiss his wet nose and lie down.
The image of Aiden almost get killed on TV is the only thing I see all night.

*****

When I wake up, the sun is up. Tucker is sleeping at my feet, and the apartment is silent.
Lazily, I hit the home button on my phone.
10:24AM.
I hesitate.
It's almost ten thirty on a Saturday morning and Aiden isn't awake?
Worried, I stand up, walking into his bedroom.
The bed is empty.
I check the bathroom and that's empty too.
"Babe?" I call.
No answer.
I look around and see his toothbrush is gone. His phone, phone charger...
I check his dresser drawers and they're not as full as they normally are.
Panicked, I look under his bed where he keeps his suitcase.
It's gone. His suitcase is gone.
I hurriedly call him and it goes right to voicemail.
Tucker wags his tail at me and whines, looking at the front door.
"I'll take you out in a minute." I say, dialing Jackie.
He went to his Mom's house. Everyone goes to see their parents in a time of crisis.
It rings a few times and then stops.
"Hello?"
"Hey Jackie, is Aiden by chance with you?" I hold my breath.
Please say yes. Please say yes.
"No, why?"
I hesitate.
"Did he tell you he was leaving?"
"No. Did he run off?"
"Yeah."
She cusses quietly.
"I'll call Reese and Andrew." I sigh.
"Okay. I'll call Olivia."
"Thank you."
We get off the phone after a quick goodbye and I grab Tucker's leash, dialing Reese.
"Am I your favorite person? You seem to love bothering me." He grumbles.
"Is Aiden with you?"
"No."
"Okay I'm calling Andrew-"
"Andrew is with me. We're at the skate park."
"Go check your apartments. Both of you."
I hang up on them.
I text my fiancè.
Me: Lovebug, please call me. I'll give you the space you need if that's what you want. I just want to know that you're okay
I take Tucker out to go to the bathroom, and then I go back upstairs with him and change into day clothes. I pack up all of Tucker's food and toys and bowls and go to my apartment with him.
I take him and the stuff upstairs, frustrated to see Aiden is not here.
"Dammit!" I say, frustrated.
I slam the door to my apartment and let Tucker loose. He starts to sniff around.
I drop down on the couch, frustrated.
Jackie starts to call me.
"Hello?" I ask.
"He's not with Michael or Olivia. Are you sure he's not with one of the guys?"
"He's not with them." I say. "God Jackie, I don't know what to do. I'm worried about him."
"Me too. I'm coming to Boston, okay? What's your address?"
I tell her.
"Okay. Also sweetie, and I know Aiden is going to hate this, but Michael, Olivia, and Owen are coming too. It might take more than one of us to find him this time."
I feel like I'm just going to start crying.
"Okay. Just come to my apartment. Tell them also. I'll be home."
"Okay." She sighs. "When I get my hands on that boy, I'm going to string him from a tree by his balls."
With that, she hangs up.

*****

Spare me ok I'm having a bad day
Also, I love Jackie so much lmfao
~Sam