Forcing Forget

A story about two ex-childhood friends turned uncomfortably indifferent towards eachother growing closer than ever before.
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"Landon is dead?" I say quietly. She just sobs harder at my mention of his name, confirming my suspicion. My stomach balled up nervously.

The working-class of Tuskadel is in revolt, and not even the children are safe.

Without my permission, the phone clatters to the ground. I stand for a moment, feeling surreal, and I realize I should pick it up. Instead, I spot my brown leather jacket on the coat hanger in the corner, and run over to it.

"Are you crazy?" my father barks after me when he realizes what I'm doing. I don't stop my momentum, so he chases after me, snatching my jacket from my hands. "You can't go out, Aubs!" he shouts, throwing the jacket to the ground. Then, he grabs my shoulders, gluing me to my place.

"Gretchin called... Landon is dead. Ms. Aldaine probably needs..." I trail off, my quivering voice fading away. I try to piece together my explanation, in hopes he would let me go. But I couldn't say it all. How Landon had been best friends with Xavier, and if Landon had been a party, Xavier had been bound to be with him. And if Xavier was dead...

I shiver at that thought. Him and I may have had a falling-out, but the thought of him not being around anymore tore through my heart. He had to be okay.