“Yo Callaway. What’s good?” I look up from the ice chest filled with cheap beer to Jones approaching me with that goofy smirk. I straighten to meet him with a slap on the back. “We gonna kill it next week at tha game. They ain’t got a shot against us, son.”
Jones plays on the team, but he’s also loyal to me. He handles business when I call, no questions asked. He’s always a team player—even when the work gets dirty.
“Yeah man. They don’t have a chance. We got this,” I say as I glance over to put eyes on Fallon. I’m always looking for her. Even when I’m not thinking about it, my body just naturally gravitates towards her. It’s like my body understands my need for her more than my brain does sometimes. Except, right now it’s not getting what it needs. Fallon isn’t where I left her. My body tenses, the discomfort that arrives when she isn’t within my sight settling in quickly. I’m not trying to be that boyfriend, but when someone is with me they always have a target on their back. And Fallon came with her own target practice. The combination of the two hasn’t mixed well at all. I tend to be a little more protective of her than she likes.
“No doubt, no doubt. Aight man, check it later, enjoy the par-tay.”
“Alright, man. I’ll catch you later,” I say as I slap his hand and back away towards where Fallon is supposed to be. Unease settling over me as I turn around and my eyes search for her.
I look for her at the bench where she and Cason were sitting, then check the area around it. She isn’t here, and it’s unlike her to wander off without saying something to me. Even with her I’m-going-to-do-whatever-I-want attitude. She’s probably run off with Jade; those two are going to be the death of me. When I’m not constantly trying to convince Fallon to stay put, Jade is constantly pushing her to do more and “live life.” I want Fallon to live her life—but more than that, I want her to be safe. I prepare myself to enter the throng of people crowding the middle of the barn dancing, scanning each head in the crowd for her straight, light brown locks.
Come on, Fallon. You couldn’t have waited for me?
I keep searching the building for either of the girls or Cason. I’m starting to feel the trickle of panic set in underneath my calm facade. Something isn’t right—I can feel it—and my mask is slipping. I spot Cason huddled in the corner with that Narni chick that hangs out at the Depot. She’s got quite the reputation; hers is almost as bad as Cason’s.
I make a beeline to Cason. I hope he’s seen them, because I might just flip the fuck out if not. “Cason.”
As I approach the corner, the chick storms off, leaving Cason standing there watching after her. He rubs the back of his head as if it pains him to see her go before he looks my way. He seems as confused as I feel about the situation I’ve just interrupted.
“What’s that about?” I nod towards Narni’s retreating figure. She’s quickly putting plenty of distance between her and Cason.
“I don’t know. She needs to get laid or something,” Cason growls out. He shakes his head as if to clear his thoughts and turns to face me. “What’s up? You need something?”
“Yeah, have you seen Fallon? I can’t find her or Jade.”
He looks genuinely confused when he says, “Nah, man, I thought they were with you?”
“No, I went to get a beer and Jones stopped to talk. When I looked up she was gone,” I tell him. My eyes never stop scanning the interior of the barn, hoping to catch sight of her or Jade.
“She’s probably with Jade doing whatever girls do together.” He shrugs. “Maybe they held hands to the bathroom?”
I glance at him briefly before continuing my visual search of the party. “Yeah, maybe. But I don’t like it. Fallon knows I don’t like it when she wanders off.”
“Just chill. I’m sure they’re around here somewhere. Come on, I’ll help you look,” Cason says as he slaps my shoulder. As he heads off into the crowd, he turns and yells out, “I’ll check the front and outside. Meet you back at the doors in thirty?”
“Alright,” I say as I head towards the back, making a pit stop to check the one single bathroom awkwardly positioned in the middle of the barn, free standing next to the dance floor.
Who has bathrooms in a barn anyway?
I don’t think Fallon’s in the bathroom. The line to the bathroom is almost the length of the building and neither Fallon nor Jade are standing in it. The door opens, and a sophomore girl falls out as her friend tries to hold her up.
“She better not have puked in there,” the girl next in line rolls her eyes as she starts for the door. I grab her arm to get her attention, and she tries unsuccessfully to yank it back and glares at me. “Hey, watch it.”
“Have you seen Fallon Blake or Jade Callaway?” I ask her as calmly as I can. I won’t pretend like my insides aren’t quaking.
“Who?” she asks as she scrunches up her nose. She’s pretending like she doesn’t know them. It’s one of a few tactics I’ve seen girls use to get to the top of the food chain. They either try to be Jade’s—and now Fallon’s—best friend or they try to act like they are better than them, like their existence doesn’t matter. But it fucking matters, and I don’t have patience for petty ways of high school girls.
“Have you fucking seen them? Don’t pretend like you don’t know who they are. Everyone knows who they are,” I say through a clenched jaw, trying to keep my hand from squeezing her arm off.
She rolls her eyes again. “No, I haven’t seen them.”
I let go of her arm and walk away without so much as a thanks. When I ask a question, I expect an answer, and that girl is no longer necessary to me. I need to find Fallon.
I circle back around checking every corner or hole I can find. By the time I make it back to the double doors Cason is already there waiting on me. I don’t like the look on his face. He’s starting to look as nervous as I feel. He shifts his feet and then turns to pace with his hands on his head. This is not good.
“You find her?” I ask as soon as I’m within speaking distance
“Nah. I guess you didn’t either?” he asks, worry lining his face.
“No.”
“Hey.” Jade comes bouncing up at the perfect time. “I’ve been looking for y’all…”
She looks from me to Cason and then asks, “Where’s Fallon?”
“She’s not with you?” I ask, some subconscious part of me already knowing her answer isn’t going to be the one I want. It’s obvious she’s not with Jade since Jade is standing in front of me. Alone. But my logic is gone. I need to make sure.
“No, I’ve been with Adam. I left her with you guys,” she says confused.
I look to Cason. The panic is gurgling its way up my throat now. Cason and I both jump into action, pushing people out of our way as we start calling Fallon’s name.
“What are you doing? What is happening?” Jade yells as she follows me back into the party. “Why are you screaming for Fallon? Did something happen to her?”