Omegle

Chapter Fifteen

WARNING: This chapter contains mentions of suicide and self-harm, and may not be suitable for all audiences. This chapter isn't meant to mock anyone and is simply made to spread awareness. ALL people mentioned in these stories are characters.

When I read the texts, I started to blow up Alejandro's phone. I couldn't believe I could let this happen. He didn't respond. I was shaking, I had no idea what to do. The first thing I did was text Mattia. As much as I needed to get over him, I couldn't let anything happen to Alejandro.

"have you heard from Alejandro?" I ask. He answers almost instantly.

"no. we aren't friends anymore." I knew exactly what happened. I texted Joseph for a ride to Alejandro's.

"What's happening?" He asks once I get into his car.

"I'll tell you after, just drive." He knew where Alejandro lived since they used to be friends. On the way, I constantly texted Alejandro yet I still got no response. Joseph seemed stressed enough. I felt awful texting him, but he was the only person I could've turned to.

Once we got there, I immediately got out of the car and Joseph followed behind me.

"Can you tell me why we're here now?" He asked.

"I think Alejandro hurt himself," I respond. His face dropped immediately. There were no cars on the driveway, which probably meant his parents weren't home. I rang on the doorbell multiple times and got no answer.

"Look, he's obviously not gonna answer the door." He says as he walks past me, opening the door. I don't know why I didn't think of that, but everything just felt blurry. We walk up the stairs. The house seemed empty. We both look around the house for him. I open one of the closed doors, but he wasn't in there. Joseph starts to shout his name, but he was nowhere to be found. I eventually start to cry. I felt like it was my fault. It was me who ruined Alejandro and Mattia's friendship. It was me who didn't pick up the phone when Alejandro needed me. I felt responsible. Joseph came over to me and hugged me.

"Everything is gonna be okay. He's not dead, Tara." He said, attempting to comfort me, but it didn't work.

"Joseph, he isn't here," I respond, trying to choke back tears.

"He's somewhere, just relax and let's keep looking." He starts to walk downstairs. After looking for some time, I lost all hope. I start to text Alejandro's phone, telling him I was at his house, begging him to respond. He didn't.

"Wait, did you hear that?" Joseph said.

"What?" I respond.

"Text him again." He said. Once I texted him again, Joseph opened the basement door. "I heard his phone go off." Joseph turns on the light and starts to walk down the stairs.

"I'll stay up here," I say. I didn't wanna go downstairs because I didn't know what we'd see.

Joseph came upstairs 10 minutes later to tell me that Alejandro was downstairs and that he was okay. I felt so relieved. I don't know what I would've done if something bad did happen. I go downstairs to see him and sit next to him on the couch.

"Why weren't you answering your phone?" I asked. I was confused about why he would scare me like that. He didn't say anything. "What happened?"

"Mattia and I aren't friends anymore." He responded after a few seconds of silence.

"Oh. I'm sorry." I comfort him.

"No, I'm sorry. I scared you and I shouldn't have done that. I just feel so alone."

"You're not alone." I don't know why, but I started to like Alejandro. He wasn't as bad as he used to be, and he was growing on me.

"Where'd Joseph go?" He asked me. I looked around and he wasn't in the room.

"I don't know, let me check." I assumed he just stayed upstairs. I looked around and he was nowhere to be found. When I opened the front door, I saw him sitting in his car. It was off, and none of the lights were on. I get into the car and ask, "What's wrong?"

"I don't know, it feels like you just forgot everything and then used me for a car ride." He said.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you wanted to talk about it," I respond.

"Of course I did, why do you think I told you?" He says, angrily.

"I didn't mean to-" I say before he cuts me off.

"It's nothing, just get out."

"What?" I was confused.

"I'm going home."

"Okay." I got out of the car. I didn't wanna fight with him. He's my best friend, and if I lose him, I'll have nobody.

I went back downstairs to see Alejandro. "Hey," I say.

"Hey, did something happen?" He asked, concerned.

"Joseph left," I responded.

"Oh, do you not have a ride?" He said, obviously trying to offer me one.

"No, I think I'm just gonna walk. My house isn't that far." I lied. I just didn't know how I felt about Alejandro, so I didn't wanna spend too much time with him.

"You shouldn't walk, it's too late." He says. "Maybe you should sleepover." Fuck. I knew this was gonna happen. I didn't know what to say. I feel like if I went home then Alejandro wouldn't be okay. So I stayed.