Vanished

Vanished



Chapter 1

He’s been avoiding me all week. I can’t get a hold of him on his cell or anything. Does he not want to be with me any more because I’m a senior in High School and he’s a freshman in college? Am I too immature for him? Maybe he decided to take a last minute vacation. I didn’t blame him if he did. Laya, Arizona wasn’t the most interesting town.
“Hey Peyton.”, Lacy said, walking toward me from her lunch table.
“Hey,” I said. “ You didn’t tell me you were getting your hair cut. It looks good. Short like that.”
“Thanks. I’ve been wanting to cut it for months, but I just haven’t had time.” Lacy open’s the top to her salad. She was never much for meat.
“So . . . have you heard from Justin?” Lacy asks.
“No, I’ve been trying to reach him all week.” I say, exasperated. “ I don’t know what’s up with him. If he wants to break up with me why doesn’t he just do it and get it over with.”
“Because he’s a twit, who doesn’t want his reputation ruined.” Lily said, sitting down across from me. “Give him up Peyton. He’s a loser. He has nothing to live up to. No dreams, no ambitions, nothing.”
“He’s not like that.” He just needs some love in his life. His life hasn’t been that exciting so don’t judge people you hardly know Lily!”
“Whatever.” Lily said, coldly.
I always thought Lily was somewhat of a know-it-all. She hasn’t known Justin for two years. She wasn’t there when he was having problems with his family. She wasn’t with him when he went to rehab and yet she sits here talking like he’s scum under the earth. She knew nothing.
“Well,” Lacy said, as if she just finished watching a teary soap opera. “If you two are finished arguing, I’m headed off to the library. I need to get some information on Edgar Allan Poe. He’s my research project for English. Anyone wanna tag along?
“Nah., I’ll stay here. I didn’t eat breakfast.” I said.
“I’ll go” Said Lily. “I need to check my E-mail. I’m expecting one from my cousin in Florida.”
“Right.” Lacy said. “Bye Peyton. See you after school. Are we still up for the mall?”
“Of course. Lacy?”
“Yeah.”
“You don’t think Justin is wrong for me, do you?”
I’ve never seen her give me such a nervous look before. She sat back down slowly in the chair, like she just got a letter that her husband was killed at war.
“Peyton.” She said, looking at me. “You know you’re my best friend right?”
“Yes. Why.” She’s never said that before. All of these years I’ve known her, not once had we talked about our friendship. We never needed too. But the way Lacy was saying it made the situation unnerving.
“I think you could do better- acutally much better. You and Justin have been together for about a year know is that right? I know you’ve been through a lot with him but he could go back to his old ways. Maybe that’s why he’s been missing.”
“Justin would never go back to drugs! I never knew Lacy felt this way. She use to always support my relationship with Justin.
“Peyton, I know you care a lot for him and that you’ve seen beyond of what he’s done.
I know I have no say in who you date. but think and be careful, please.
“Justin has recovered from his drug obsession! He went to rehab for six months! Lacy I know he’s recovered and done with drugs!”
She looked at me as if she had pity. “Drug attics never fully recover...” And with that she left.

Chapter 2


“Ugh! Why do I think I can buy anything in the store when I only have fifty dollars?” Lacy was saying, ten minutes after we walk into Abercrombie and Finch. “I’m so spoiled. Sometimes I think I should kill my parents for raising me this way. What do you think Peyton?” She looked at me funny.
“ I don’t think you should kill your parents just for your satisfaction. Besides, you’re too young to go to prison.”
Lacy looked at me like I was insane or something. “Peyton I was just kidding. Jeez, take a nap.”
“ I should take a nap.” I said hoping to annoy her.
I’m starting to get bored. Abercrombie and Finch makes me feel ugly. I’m not ugly but I just think this is a store for the pretty people. I looked over at the flare jeans section. There was a group of girls looking for their sizes. One was pouting because they didn’t have her size. Another went into the dressing room with a baby tee and low ride jeans. I was never much for buying anything here.
“Listen.” I say to Lacy. “Are you gonna buy anything here?”
“Hmm. No. Not here. I want to buy something cheaper.” She put the black jeans back on the rack and we walked out of the store when we were walking out one of the girls was buying a bundle of cloths when the clerk said her credit card balanced. Bummer.

When I got home around six, I Immediately heard my parents talking in the library. Before I greet them, I go to my room upstairs. I always hated the fact that my room was upstairs. I get enough exercise in Gym class. Our house was exceptionally large, four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a huge backyard. A nicely build kitchen, which our maid, Sandra, favors. Sometimes I think we could do without the beautiful house. My parents think the opposite. Both are highly respected lawyers. They spend most of their time in their office. (I don’t mind them not spending time with me a lot. I’m eighteen, I’m moving out this summer.) My mother has lost very few cases in the years she’s been in law. My father, on the other hand, does not exceed up to my mother’s state. I tell he gets angry when she brings home more money, but he never says anything. My mother knows this, she could always tell, but she thought it would be best not to say anything. “If I say anything, your father will think I’m bragging.” She said one day when I told her about Dad. That’s our family, full of secrets.

“Hey Mom, Dad.” I say, walking into the library.
“Hey sweetie.” Mom says as she walks over and hugs me. “How was your day at school and how was the mall?”
“School was fine. The mall was kind of boring, but I dealt with it.”
“Good.” Said my father. He looked very run-down today. Like he just finished a track race or something.
“Dad, you ok?”
He sits in the chair at the desk. “I’m fine. I just have this huge case I’m working on.”
My Mother looks at him alarmingly.“He’s been tired for a long time know. It’s not just this one case. It’s been a lot of cases for at least a month. I keep telling him to slow down, but he’s so stubborn he doesn’t listen.”
“Nonsense.” He says, glaring at his paperwork. “I’m fine. This is just a difficult case too win.”
I start getting annoyed at the two for arguing. They hardly ever fight. When they do, I don’t like to be in their presence. I wasn’t use to it. “I’m going up to my room now. I have a lot of homework. I should get started on it now. When’s dinner. I’m starving?
“It will be ready once Sandra comes back from Wendy’s.” My mother says.
“Wendy’s?” I say surprisingly. “We never have Wendy’s for dinner.”
“Thought we’d make a change in our routine. Besides, after dinner we’re going to the church. We have a meeting tonight about our upcoming carnival in the spring.” Mom said.
Oh great. A church meeting. What could be worst in my life? I’ve been going to these meeting every Friday since we joined the church. Practically everyone at school goes to this church.
“Fine. I’ll be in my room.” I say, not introducing an argument.
When I walked into my room, the phone rang. Ugh! Let my parents get it. I’m too tired to walk all the way down the stairs again.
“Peyton! It’s for you.” My Dad yells.
“OK!”, I yell back. I run downstairs, thinking it’s odd for my friends to call me at my home phone. They always call my cell. I take the phone from my father. When I finally catch my breath, I say “Hello?”
“Is this Justin Velde’s girlfriend?” A woman’s voice asked.
“Yes, who is this?” I didn’t want that question to come out rudely. But who would be calling me about Justin?
“This is his sister, Katie. Do you know anything about Justin’s disappearance?”
I can’t even start to comprehend what she asked. Justin’s disappearance? What was going on here?
“I don’t even know about he disappearing. Is this some kind of joke?” I say, a little angrily.
“Do you think I would joke about something this serious?”, She snaps back. “Look, he’s missing. He’s been missing every since Sunday. Do you know anything?” she asks desperately for me to say something like, ‘yea, he’s been at my house the whole time. Got ya.’ But I say, “No, I really don’t. I’ve been thinking he’s been avoiding me all this time. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. I’m sorry too. He really liked you. Bye.” She hung up.
My mind was swirling like a wurl pool. I couldn’t believe he dissapeared. Why? I started to think about the drug addiction. Maybe he started up again. Maybe four months of rehab wasn’t enough. While I was thinking all of this, I forgot about the church meeting being the worst thing in my life.

Chapter 3

I stay in my room a long time. I told my parents I wasn’t going to the meeting. They understood. I lay on my bed, thinking, hoping, praying. Maybe Justin. Forget it. He had no right to just dissapear. Maybe something happened to him that nobody knows about. Maybe he got kidnapped. That was the most stupid hypothesis for this solution yet. But, in a way I thought it would be better if he did get kidnapped. That way I know he didn’t just dissapeared on purpose.
I picked up my phone. I knew exactly who I was going to call. He’s always with Justin when he’s wasn’t with me. They’ve known each other since the third grade and I knew he would know where he is. His name is David Wilkins, Justin’s best friend. I dailed his home number; I didn’t know his cell phone number.
“Hello?” A man’s voice said.
“Do you know that Justin Is missing?” Supringly I ask that question angriliy. I was beginning to think why didn’t he tell me if he did know anything.
David sounded distraught. “Who is this? Peyton? Is that you?”
“Yes it’s me! Did you know Justin’s missing?”
“What?” He sounded suprised. I thought he was just playing me.
“Do you know anything about Justin dissapearing?!” I am so annoyed with him for delaying his answer I don’t realize I’m raising my voice.
“No, I don’t Peyton. Don’t get all upset. I haven’t seen him since Wednsday. What did he say to you when you last saw him?” He sounded innocent but I couldn’t help but push him a little more.
“Well, you saw him more this week than I have. I haven’t seen him since Sunday. What did he say to you when you last saw him?”
“He didn’t say anything. We just talked like we always have. Why is he gone?”
“No one knows stupid! That’s why I called you. I thought you’d know where he is. Obviously not.”
“All right. Thanks. I really don’t know anything Peyton. Sorry. Bye.”
“Bye.” I say. I hear him hang up. I couldn’t help but think that David wasn’t very sad about Justin’s dissapearence. He kept saying he didn’t know anything and that they just talked like they always had the last time he saw Justin. Anybody could have told those lies and get away with it. At least with me. I should have asked if Justin seemed weird, what did he say anything that might have had anything to do with the conflict. Instead I dismissed my witness.

Chapter 4

The next day I called Lacy to come over. When she did, I told her about Justin. She was shocked and told me that everything will be all right. I couldn’t believe her. Justin would never disappear. I told her about the conversation David and I had last night. She did seem suprised about him not saying much.
“David’s in my World History class. He never says anything. I always thought he was kind of stupid. He would just sit there.” Lacy said to me, putting on her eyeshadow. She always wore a light brown eyeshadow. It matched her complexion very well.
I didn’t respond. I was wondering who would hurt Justin. I didn’t think David had anything to do with it. He might be weird and quiet but his father is a police officer at Laya county jail. I knew he would never get into anything against the law.
“ Well . . . ” I say getting into conversation. “Maybe someone did something to Justin.”
Lacy looked at me with a bright expression. “Maybe . . . But why would anyone wanna do anything to Justin. Everybody loved him at school. He was one of the best football players on the team. He kept his grades up. He was nice to everyone he talked to. Everybody loved him.”
She was right, I thought. Nobody was ever harsh to him. He liked everyone. He would have helped anyone who needed it.
“Yeah. But even though, a lot of people were jealous of him.”
“You’re right.” Lacy looked at me. Her face was serious. I thought her brown eyes were looking right through me as if she knew what I was thinking.
“What about Donald?” She said. Her voice was even straight sounding. I thought she was insane. Donald Green? Sure, he was a geek but he was nice to me and to Justin. I knew that he had a crush on me but I knew he would never be a suspect in my mind. Even though Lacy still stared at me and her serious face still appeared.
“You are insane Lacy Wilkins! Donald would never do anything against the law. Sure he was jealous of Justin“
“Jealous enough to do something that might keep you from Justin” Lacy said. She was really serious about Donald.
“Why are you after him?” I asked her.
She put her makeup back in her purse. “Because he is the best suspect. You may not realize it, but he is the one with a purpose to dispose of Justin. He is the one who could get away with it. Nobody would ever suspect him.”
Her words frightened me. She’s right. He could hurt Justin and get away with it.
“Listen” She said getting up. “ I have to go. I can’t be late to work or my boss will fry me. Bye Peyton. At least think about what I said.” And with that she left, and I suddenly felt a chill.

****It's not finsished. But tell me what you think so far!****