Finding Grace

The Beginning

                 On a rainy Monday morning I sat on my  windowsill overlooking the damp pavement as I sipped on my coffee. It had been only a few hours since the news had broken. Grace was missing. What was supposed to be our first year as high school seniors had turned into a nightmare. Grace and I had been inseperable since second grade and now I was supposed to return to school without her. I was shaken out of my thoughts when I heard the door slam shut. "Mom is that you?" I yelled out. "Yes honey, its me. They were able to change your tires on time but be careful out there. Honey, are you sure you want to go to school today? You know, with what happened to Grace, I wouldn't mind if you stayed home. I know she was your best friend." But,  of course I had to go to school. I wanted to know what everyone was saying. Was I being blamed for her disappearance? After all, I was the last known person to have seen her. "Where is Juniper?"mom asked. " Is she always this late?" Juniper is my twin sister, and although we are twins, we are complete opposites. She always disliked Grace, so I wasn't surprised when she walked down the stairs celebrating our first day as seniors. This was no time for celebration.

           When we got to school I headed straight for my locker. I had no energy to make conversation with anyone and I was not ready to find out what people were saying. I started jamming my books into my backpack when I heard a faint voice, a voice I did not recognize. "How are you feeling?" it asked. I shut my locker and turned around to see Carter, my boyfriend of three years, standing behind me with a sorrow look on is face. Carter was six feet, had scruffy brown hair, hazel eyes, and dimples so deep you cold get lost in them. But today there was no sign of the dimples I adored. Instead he looked pale and melancholic. "I'm alright." I answered.  He knew me well though and , instead of questioning me any further, he just pulled me into a long embrace. "I have to get to class." I said after some time. He let me go but instead of walking away he walked me to class. "I'll see you at lunch." he said, and kissed me before leaving. 

            At lunch I sat at the same tree I had sat at with Grace since freshman year. By now it had stopped raining but there was a slight breeze that gave me goosebumps when it grazed my skin. I sat there pensive until my thoughts were disrupted by the sound of the school bell ringing. I headed to my next class but before I was able to take a seat I was called in to the principal's office. I knew why they had called me. I had seen a police car at the front of the school and I knew it was a  matter of time until they called me in. Yet here I was terrified of what awaited me. The assistant opened the door and all eyes went directly to me. "Take a seat Ms.Summers." the principal said as he pointed to the old brown chair directly across from his desk. I had never been to the principal's office. Grace had, many times. She was always getting in trouble and it was all to get her parents' attention. Though they never seemed to care. They were always busy in meetings and when they were not in meetings they would be busy working from home. Even on the weekends, there was never time for Grace. 

            Without delay the officers started asking me questions like when I last saw her, if she had problems, and if she had thoughts of hurting herself or running away. Grace was a sad girl but she would never run away or hurt herself.  I answered their questions with all the strength I had. "Thank you for coming in. We hope to see you at the search on Wednesday."said the officer as he opened the door to let me out. It hadn't been long but they had already scheduled to search the woods and everyone in town was expected to go.  On my way back to class I saw Carter sitting on the bench just outside the office. He was next for questioning and was being guided in by the assistant. We were only able to give each other a quick glance before the door was shut behind him. I would have to wait until after school to see what they had asked him.