Paging Dr. Vulcano

Chapter 8

*Ding*

Faith rolled over in bed to look at her phone. It was 7 in the morning, the day of her last test before she could get on her flight to visit Sal in New York. She couldn't wait, but this test was going to prove to be a hard one. She had been studying for a week which cut into her conversing times with Sal. They had been texting daily since he had left and had really gotten to know the good and bad about each other despite the distance.

Sal🥰: Good Morning Beautiful😚

Hey, handsome!😉

When do you have your test today?

It's at 9. I can't wait until it is over for more than one reason. I feel nauseous
just thinking about it.

I know babe, but you'll be fine.
You're super smart. I love
that about you. I have to go,
I just wanted to wish you luck.
I'll text you after.❤️

Thanks. Have fun with the boys.
Can't wait for the texts and to see you. ❤️

Sal had asked Faith to turn on her location sharing with him on her phone, it was something that they had both talked about doing as another layer of assurance between them considering they hadn't been face to face since the first three days of their relationship. That was 3 months ago now and Faith couldn't wait to see him again. The location sharing made him feel closer and reassured her even though it was his idea. She figured he had learned that meant a lot to her.

Faith jumped in the shower and started to get ready while she listened to Lionel Richie songs. They were Sal's favorite, and even though the fan girl in her had already known that, the songs felt different now that they were dating. Once in the shower, she heard a notification from her phone. One that was different from Sal's text tone and also Nicole's. Faith heard a nock on the door and Nicole asked if she could come in. She had to finish getting ready for her day at work and it was normal for them to not worry about 'boundaries' per se. They were best friends and they both had established that it wasn't weird sharing the bathroom with one of them in the shower.

"Can you look at my phone and tell me what the notification was?" Faith asked Nicole as she washed her hair.

"Yeah." Nicole looked at her phone and replied "I'm not sure you want me to read this to you. You better read it for yourself."

"It's really fine"

"Ok you're not going to like it. 'Sal 🥰 stopped sharing his location with you.'" Nicole said.

Great she knew this was coming, it was just a matter of time before he couldn't do this long distance thing, and needed to cover his tracks. He probably was doing something he knew she wouldn't approve of. She finished her shower and tried to calm down and not assume the worst. She decided that she would text Chá if he hadn't changed it by the end of the day.

The test had come and gone. Faith felt good about it and wanted to tell Sal, but she caught herself before she did, allowing him the option to follow through with what he said he'd do. She waited anxiously for him to text her. Nothing.

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The next morning she was finishing up packing. She was going to still visit him, Nicole told her she was probably over thinking the whole location thing. Faith agreed but what she didn't understand was why he had stopped messaging her. He never did that, even if they had fought. He was usually the one to text her first. She got all of her things together and met Nicole in the hallway. They were both going to visit the boys and started to leave the house. Nicole grabbed their suitcases and was walking out the door when Faith looked at her phone. She had a text message.

Chá: "I'm sorry sweetie, that's so unlike him. He hasn't been weird or anything. None of us have seen him all day. Just hang in there for a little longer, I'm sure you'll hear from him." To be completely honest, Chá nor any of the guys had any idea where Sal was and it was very unlike him to pull something like this.

"Thanks Chá, I will. Tell Joe and Q we're on our way."

She started out the door towards the car. Faith decided that she'd just bite the bullet and text him, not knowing what she'd get back.

"Hey Sal, I don't know why I haven't heard from you, I just wanted to check in and let you know I'm on my way to come see you❤️"

Right as she closed the door behind her, she sent the text. What happened next, she was not prepared for in the least.