What About Us?

Chapter 24

Melisa

The cold November air whipped around me as I trudged back to the dorms.

Swim practice had run unbearably long. I shivered due to my wet hair.

Instead of heading back to my dorm, I headed to Charlie and Teddy's. Teddy had a huge project due at the end of the week and had been locked in his room since Sunday. I decided to bring him some pizza.

"TEDDY! I COME BARING FOOD!" I yelled through the door. A very stressed Teddy opened the door.

"Fantastic. Do you know how to write a paper on some stupid dead guy who did absolutely nothing in history?" He asked desperately

"No. I just bring food." I replied, "Are you ok?"

"Fine." He shoved a piece of pizza in his face.

Though he put on his brave face and pretended nothing was bothering him, I could tell he was hurt.

He has a funny way of hiding his feelings. He sets up walls to block out the pain and buries himself in his work. He did this when Maria went missing the first time.

"Well, I'm going to head back and take a warm shower. I'll see you tomorrow." I said as Teddy finished his 3rd slice of pizza

"Hey." He squeezed my hand, "Thanks."

"Anytime. Tell Charlie I say hi."

<*>

After a nice warm shower, I snuggled under my blankets and began scrolling through my phone. It was only 10 o'clock, but it felt like midnight.

I was just about to go to sleep when my phone started blowing up. Hundreds of texts started flooding in. News updates about Maria's case and messages from all my friends. One stood out bolder than the rest.

"Melisa, you haven't seen Charlie today have you? His shift ended an hour ago, but he still isn't back." It read. I checked the sender. Teddy. Then he called me

"Melisa. I've-I've check all over the dorms and I can't find him. No one else has seen him today." He said.

"Just calm down. I'll look around, you call everyone else."

I hung up and pulled on my shoes.

<*>

An hour of wondering the dorms and I was still empty handed. I started heading back to my room when I got another text. I looked down to answer it and run into something.

The low lighting in the building cast eerie shadows. I looked up to see what was blocking my path and saw someone shrouded in shadows.

"HOLY CRAP! JACOB! DON'T do that!" I yelled

"Sorry. I got Teddy's text." He apologized helping me up

"Any luck?" I asked

"None. All over campus and no sign of him. Not even Victoria has seen him. Apparently, he never showed up for his shift."

"This isn't good. Have you told Teddy?"

"No. He's already lost Maria. Losing Charlie just might kill him."

"We can't keep this from him."

The two of us walked up to his room. He answered almost immediately.