The thing about Troye

7

The next day, I was on edge. Troye had still not come back. Korey and I have called every local hospital and doctors office with no luck. Of course, confidentiality is a thing too, so, we don't know. Luckily, there's a long weekend coming up due to teacher in-service days. That'll give me time to recharge.  Lots of kids are briefly going home to visit family if they can, and I've overheard some of the plans. I wish that could be me. I wish.
I could go back home. Now when I go, it only makes me sad and lonely.
Ever since my dad left, and Jackie died, I'm all alone. When I got the call saying she was sick, I wanted to see her. I couldn't fly down by myself, not here at this hell school, so I called her on our provided phones in the privacy of my room. It was bad. She was bad.
What hadn't someone told me earlier? At the end of the call I was in tears.
Before she had died sometime later, I promised her I would graduate. So graduate I will; I'll survive another year of this place for her.
I sigh and wipe at my misty eyes with my sleeve then fiddle with the hem of my shirt.
All morning Korey and I have been sitting on his bedroom floor, talking about random things to keep our minds off of the chaos we've created.  Marcus claims we hit a light post, but I know we didn't. Korey knows too, but now he won't speak of it.
We had guessed that he was okay since he ran off, but we don't know where he is, which is the scary part.
Then the topic switches.
"So," The brunette starts casually. "Do you already want to be with him?"
My head snaps up and I blush at my own reaction. I laugh at the thought of him being mine.
"He's cute, and nice...and funny...but he doesn't like me because I probably broke both of his hands off, so- yknow, that could definitely hurt the situation."
My best friend chuckles.
"Well," he drawls. " He looked totally into you before we broke all of his bones."
I grin sheepishly, igniting the negativity of the sentence.
"You really think so?"
Korey rolls his eyes and nods. I sigh.
"Maybe he was into me, who knows. But it doesn't matter now because I messed with the hood, and just..." I trail off, averting my eyes to stare at the floorboards. "What do you think about that whole thing? With the hood, I mean." I ask, my tense shoulders leaning back against the headboard. My aching head pounds and I briefly close my eyes.
"I'm not sure to be honest. It's...weird." My best friend responds, voice low. I nod, eyes still closed. A moment of silence ensues. Cracking one eye open, I glance over at the other boy who looked deep in thought.
"He could be a vampire." He finally jokes.
I chuckle.
"Sure," I say with an eye roll. "It's probably a skin disease or something."
"Perhaps."
We're both silent for a minute, then I speak up.
"Y'know, the vampire thing isn't that far off." I blurt.
"Enlighten me." Korey shifts uncomfortably, squinting at me.
"Well," I start. "He's pale, wears a hood in the sun, and doesn't ever smile with his teeth."
"Vampires aren't real Ty, It was a joke-"
I ignore him and continue with my reasoning.
"He's always somewhere else at night but ends up in the room in the morning, and he won't enter an unknown room without permission."
"Tyler..." Korey groans. "Tyler, you've known this kid for a day,"
"You've known him for the same amount of time and you've been pissy around him every damn time you see him!"
Beside me, he frowns, eyebrows furrowed. I smile smugly.
"Y'know," he finally pipes up. "I am really starting to get worried actually. Maybe we should try to find him?"
I close my eyes.
I hope he's okay, but god, I don't want to face him.