Deadly Infatuation

20 - Without A Trace

Taylor's POV

'Hi, this is Tameron's mailbox, sorry I couldn't answer your call, please do leave a message and I'll get back to you!'

I breathe out heavily in exasperation when I hear her voicemail go off again for what could possibly be the hundredth time already. "Tam, I haven't heard from you all weekend, I hope this is just a misunderstanding but, I'm really starting to freak out here, please, when you get this, call me back, text me or something... Anything," I say and hang up.

Where the hell could she be? I mean, it's Monday and she's a no show at school, which is weird. I tried her phone all day yesterday, especially when I noticed that she wasn't responding to my texts.

I can't help but wonder if she's okay, because nothing like this has ever happened before. Tameron always has her phone with her. I'm sure that there's a logical explanation to this.

Or maybe I'm so whipped that, I can't function without her even for a day.

Hopefully, I'll find her laughing with Elle in class and she'll tell me how I worry too much, I think to myself as I make my way into the school's main entrance. I greet my friends and open my locker to take out my Geo textbook. I notice that there's commotion of some sort and I look up from what I'm doing to find my girlfriend's parents walking with Principal Carter to his office.

What the...?

Tameron isn't present with them, and can't help but wonder what they're here for. Mrs Cummings looks distressed and her husband has his arm around her, trying to console her as she wipes her tears. An uncomfortable feeling sits in the pit of my stomach as I watch Tam's parents disappear into the principal's office.

Just then, Elle appears by my side. "Taylor, what's going on? Have you seen Tameron around?" She hounds me with questions. "Wait, you don't know where she is?" I ask her in confusion. Elle looks at me in exasperation. "Now why would I waste my breath asking you that question if I knew the answer?" Elle crosses her arms.

I close my locker door and gape at her. "You're her best friend, aren't y'all supposed to be inseparable?"
"Taylor, I saw her parents go to the office and they don't look good, she has been offline all weekend and hasn't returned any of my calls. Is she alright?" Elle says in a worried voice.

"And there I was, about to come to the conclusion that maybe she was avoiding me," I respond.
"What?" Elle asks me. "The last time I talked with her was Friday after school," I tell her. Now I was worried. Suddenly, the first bell of the day rings and students shuffle off to their classes.

I grab Elle's arm and lead her into one of the vacant classrooms. "What are you doing?" Elle whispers in surprise. "Shh, I'm not going to class until I know what's going on, we'll wait for Tam's parents to leave and we'll find out for ourselves- at least, you will because I'm scared of her dad," I explain to her and she nods before chuckling lightly. I don't want to start shit.

"Shut up," I fight off laughter and shake my head at her in annoyance.

***

Elle's POV

The minute I see Tam's parents waking towards the exit, I run towards them. Karen turns around at the sound of my shoes skidding on the floor.

"Elle?" She says. "Hey Mrs Cummings, Mr Cummings," I greet them both. Edward nods at me. "Hi love, how have you been?" Karen gives me a small smile, although I can see that inside she's breaking. "I've been okay thanks, do you know why Tameron's not at school today?" I ask them.

Karen and Edward share a brief, sad glance at each other before Tam's mom speaks, "Tameron hasn't been home for two days now, the last time we saw her was on Saturday, we don't know where she could be, we came here to notify the school," She says, fighting off a sob.

My eyes go wide at the news. "You're joking right?" I shake my head in disbelief. That would explain why no ones has heard from her all weekend. Oh my god, I hope she's alright. "Did she say she was going somewhere? Was she sad or something?" I ask, fearing the worst. Karen shakes her head. "She looked perfectly fine, we've searched everywhere we thought she could possibly be, it's like she disappeared without a trace," Edward says gravely.

I put my hand to my mouth in shock. Tameron's been abducted. Why would anyone even? "Please Elle, if you hear anything, anything at all, please let us know," Karen pleads with me. I nod my head. "I'll do whatever it is I can to help, she'll be back," I say adamantly. "Oh, I pray so," Karen says before leaving with her husband.

When they've gotten into their car, I hear Taylor's footsteps behind me. "So?" He looks at me frantically. I can't stop the tears from falling and I wipe them furiously. "Elle," He says again, before his eyes widen at the sight of my blood shot eyes. I hardly ever cry. I shake my head at him.

"Taylor, she hasn't been home in two days, she disappeared on Saturday in the afternoon when her dad sent her to the convenience store, the police are involved now, Tam's mom thinks she's been kidnapped," I sob uncontrollably. "What?" Taylor says in shock. He rakes his hands through his hair in utter despair.

"How? She lives in one the safest neighborhoods here," Taylor breathes. I saved my head at him, not knowing how to respond. I'm still trying to absorb this news. My best friend is in danger and I'm powerless to help her. "Fuck," Taylor curses sharply. "I knew something was off but this... Elle we need to do something, we can't just-"

Taylor is cut off by the sound of Principal Carter's voice on the intercom. "Attention everyone, during the first break, I expect every one to be in the auditorium, there's an urgent announcement you all need to hear, everyone in auditorium at 10 am," The principal says curtly.

Taylor and I look at each other in dread.