What An Assassin Has To Do

What is Happening to My Best Friend?

3 Years Later...

I wander through my house calling Briar's name, where is he? We're going to miss the train! Today Apollo was finally graduating from high school, Paige and Briar already graduated because they were older than him. I finally give up, figuring Briar will show up eventually, and step outside of my apartment and lock my door. Outside the weather is the usual gloomy, brown colored clouds and muggy air, I have my curly blonde hair in a high pony tail today to keep it out of my face. I see Briar leaning against the building and I go over to him, he glances up and we start to walk side by side with our hands in our pockets.

"Why didn't you tell me you were outside already? I was looking all over for you!" I tell Briar with a slightly whiny voice, his lips quirk up the slightest bit,

"I was waiting for you," I huff at his reply which makes him chuckle. I love his laugh, it's a rare thing to hear and that makes it all the more special. I realize I'm smiling at the ground and he's now smirking at me, I blush lightly and shove his shoulder,

"Shut up!" With my cheeks still burning, I rush to change the topic,

"Have you seen Paige? I thought she was coming to Apollo's graduation." Briar get's a thoughtful expression on his face then shakes his head,

"I haven't seen Paige since she visited us last week, she said that she would be busy with work but we never work that much. I think it's an excuse to hang out with her new friend." I sigh, a month ago Paige told us she met a Motunuamoloupen at work and they became friends. I don't like the sound of this friend but as Paige keeps telling me, I don't control her life.

"I don't like the sound of that," I sigh out, Briar nods his head in agreement,

"She's been different after hanging out with her, Paige always has more tattoos, she hasn't been obsessing over her hair as much and she isn't putting on makeup and is wearing darker clothes."

"No, she was starting to act like that before a few weeks ago so I don't think it's the friend." I say shaking my head,

"But she still is different, you have to admit the tattoos are new and they're permanent." I sigh again and shake my head at what Briar is saying, what is happening to my best friend?

"Well she better show up for Apollo's graduation, he'll be pissed if she doesn't." And with that, we walk onto the train to the high school.

"Residential, north side of town, City Hall 3.4022e-12 light years away, 36 people exiting." The train announces, we and 33 other people stand up to exit the train. As soon as we get off, Apollo, now graduated, jumps up and smacks Briar on the back of the head and shouts,

"You're it!" He then races off with Briar just behind him. I would play but I'm too deep in my thoughts so I just keep walking while they run ahead, Paige wasn't at the graduation, she didn't even call or text us! Where was she? She couldn't have forgotten, could she? I was so worried about her, I felt in my gut that something wasn't right but my head kept telling me that she was probably out partying and was still sleeping or was waiting to surprise Apollo at his house. I was still absorbed in my thoughts when I felt a hand on my back, I jumped and spun around to see Briar running off down the sidewalk shouting,

"You're it!" I had my hand over my pounding heart and was just standing there, Apollo was standing next to me,

"You alright Kyn? We were just playing tag, we thought it would be more fun playing with three and you looked so-" he was stopped when my hand shot out and smacked him on the face, I kept it there and yelled,