Unexpected

Chapter 1

                “Oh. My. God,” Each syllable fell from my lips with such disbelief.

                The whole situation startled to slowly sink in.

                Rick. Missing.

                I tried it out on my lips, “Rick. Missing," I whispered into the night.

                I scrambled to launch myself out of the bean bag chair that was so tactfully engulfing me, the fear of losing my first real boyfriend lodged itself in my brain, refusing to leave.

                “Rick!” I screamed, “Missing!” The Mac Book previously residing on my lap hit the ground with a dangerous crumbling sound.

                That’s OK, Daddy will get me another one.

                A fit of tears cascaded their way down my face as I sprinted down the hall of the sorority.

                How could someone just disappear, just like that? He must have been kidnapped! Holy shit, what if he’s dead!

                Skidding to a stop outside my best friends dorm I paused to catch my breath. Which didn't help, considering I was crying like no tomorrow. Each sob racked my entire body, I heaved my head right into the frame of the door.

                This all makes sense, really. I mean, he hasn't been returning any of my calls or texts… But how could I not have known if my own boyfriend were to go missing!

                I rested my throbbing head against the Mahogany door, closing my eyes, gaining a few seconds of peaceful silence. I could hear the faint familiar deep voice of the New Hampshire news anchor inside.

                “And another missing case, this time a local. Rick Kennedy, 20 years old…”

                An animal like groan escaped my lips. Hearing the news the second time was just getting to be too much. I picked my head up from the door, only to slam it against it just as hard as the first time.

                Suddenly there was a fumbling of a doorknob on the inside that drowned out the story on the news.

                Melissa and her clumsy hands.

                My head support was abruptly flung open, leaving me temporarily unbalanced. Melissa stood in the doorway, half dressed and wide awake.

                “Oh my god, Tiff!” she cried, throwing her arms around me. Almost like she knew I was coming. How charming.

                I let her do her best in comforting me, even if her sad attempts just made my tears flow faster and fuller.

                “I just heard about Rick, I just can’t believe it! I mean, he was such a good guy! Who would do this?”

                Melissa’s short pixie hair lodged itself into my nose. The grip she had on me was throttling at best and she reeked of the disgusting smell of sex.

                “Agh!” I cried out, thrashing in her little arms, “Let go of me!”

                Her face fell as her hands dropped lifelessly to her sides.

                I wiped the snot from my nose and redirected my gaze to the floor, “You don’t understand, Melissa! I ju-“

                “Hey, uh Melissa. I’m ready for round two if you- Oh.”

                The tall man looming behind Melissa’s short figure stopped short, taking in the scene in front of him. Probably wondering why a crazed blond girl was crying at Melissa’s doorstep.

                I should have known she was busy with yet another new guy.

              I turned my back on Melissa and stormed back down the hall, ignoring her calls from behind me. Obviously, she wasn’t going to help me. Besides, I already feel numb from crying.

                   As I made my way back down the dully decorated hallway I realized something.

                It’s time I met Rick’s parents.