Deadly Infatuation

24 - Torture

Elle's POV

The minute it's sports time,  I head down to the changing rooms and get ready for swimming class. I didn't even notice how fast the day went by today, I don't even care.

As I'm sitting on one of the benches in the changing rooms, I groan in annoyance at how loud the girls in the room are with their various conversations, some share laughs with each other over stupid jokes. I watch how they interact with each other, even Jenny's squad seems like it is unaffected by its leader's absence.

I can't help but feel angry at the sight. How are people so quick to forget?  How do you function without the one person that you endure this shit hole of a school with. I guess, deep down inside, I'm jealous. Jealous that people have the audacity to laugh and act like nothing has changed. Yes, it's unreasonable of me to think that way but I can't help it.

My best friend's been kidnapped and ever since she went missing,  I just feel like crawling into a hole and dying. I hate it. How I'm an emotional wreck these days, how I feel so distant, so out of touch with things. I think the grief is messing with my mind.

I hate how weak I am,  when I should be staying strong for Tam.

My heart aches at the thought of what she could be going through. She really doesn't deserve any of this. But then again, so do the other unlucky ones who have been subjected to kidnapping. It's a cruel world.

I snap myself out of my thoughts and manage to finish changing into the school's uniform swim wear. Draping a towel around my waist, I grab my belongings and trudge to the pool in the school's gymnasium.

Suddenly, I feel a presence behind me and I turn around to find the new girl in our class struggling to keep up with me. I chuckle to myself at the sight of Alexandra Savan taking long strides towards me. "Don't just laugh, wait for me woman," She grits her teeth. "Well I am now," I say when she finally catches up to me.

Together we put our belongings in our respective lockers. While she's busy stuffing some of her things into the locker, a packet of pills falls to the floor. I hear her curse before quickly picking it up. "You're on medication?" I ask her and she scratches her head. "Yeah, but it's nothing serious,  these are just the daily vitamins I take," She says casually and I nod in response. I don't understand why people take that stuff,  I hate medication of any sort.

When we're done, we lock up and walk to the gymnasium.

Alex is shy and doesn't have any friends, so ever since I noticed that she's actually okay to talk to during Accounts class one time, I try to at least keep her company. "You okay Elle? These days you look... Distant," Alex's voice softens. "I'm okay I guess, just..." I shrug her off. "It's okay,  you can tell me," Alex gives me a small smile.

I breathe out. "I miss her so much, it's been so long and it's feels like she's not coming back..."
"Don't say that, and don't beat yourself up about it,  it's understandable for you to feel like that, she's your best friend after all," Alex replies sadly. "I'm sorry you're going through this Elle, but we have to hope."

I smile at her in response as we walk the rest of the way in silence.

Taylor's POV

"We're doing doing drinks at The Eat tonight as a celebration, you down?" Dustin asks me as we pack up our belongings and get ready to leave.

I shake my head at him as I put on my backpack. "Nah, I'll pass, I'm tired as hell, I just want to sleep," I respond. Dustin's face drops at my response. "Taylor, we just won against The Hawks, are you really going to do this to me right now?"
"You go ahead and get wasted,  not me, not tonight," I pat his shoulder and leave him gaping at me as I walk to my car.

Everyone's in a celebratory mood today all due to the tedious basketball game against Webster High that took place in the afternoon. Normally I'd go out with my friends but I really am not in the mood. I find it hard to be happy under the circumstances.

All I do these days is wallow in my sadness which is slowly turning into depression. After I park in the garage at home, I slowly walk to my room and shut the door behind me. Luckily,  my parents are indisposed and my twin brother is out with his friends as it is a Saturday. Good. I can't stand the way my family looks at me these days and how fussy they are, always asking if I'm okay or not.

God, I hate pity.

I throw myself on my bed and pull my arms behind my head. My mind aimlessly wanders to thoughts of Tameron, it's nearly mentally impossible to try and not think of her,  because every time I do, I end up sadder than before. Having to feel like I've lost her, brings me immense pain.
She's not just my girlfriend,  but she's my best friend,  and she's been a part of my life for so long.

I don't know what I'd do if the worst case scenario occurred. Like an idiot,  I decide to torture myself even further by scrolling through pictures I have of her on my phone, smiling to myself as I remember the memories they bring.
I think of how close I came to telling her that I love her, truly, I do. Well,  that would have happened if it weren't for Joseph interrupting us.

I love everything about her, the melodic sound she makes when she laughs, her horrible off-key but highly enthusiastic singing, her intelligence (even though it's kinda intimidating at times), her low key savagery, her beautiful toothy smile, her heart of gold... The list is endless.

I sit up and switch the phone off before I start getting emotional. I can't just sit around and hope the cops will bring good news one day. I have to do something to help find her, anything.