Nathan went home later in the evening, he parked in front of his house and heaved a sigh, his gaze going to the house next door but then something made him jump on his seat, her car wasn’t in the driveway anymore. He climbed out of his car and rushed to her door immediately and banged on the door, “Tracy?” he called but he knew deep in his heart that it fruitless because her car not being in the driveway means that she went out, but where could she have gone to?
He ran back to his car and grabbed his phone, dialing her number but it was not connecting and he had a low battery, his phone was just hanging by a tread. He shut the car door and ran into the house, searching for his phone charger. He ended up finding it in his bedroom and he rushed to a switch to plug his phone. He squatted, holding the phone in his hand and waiting patiently till it gained one percent battery and then started dialing Tracy’s number again, it didn’t connect as well but he refused to give up and kept dialing. He was afraid, afraid of not being able to see her again and also not knowing where exactly she may have gone to.
Lucy stood beside his door that was left ajar, she didn’t need to ask or to be told that he was trying to contact Tracy, she had heard him shouting for her immediately he came back and she didn’t know what to think about that. She heaved a sigh and watched him for some more, seeing how restless and worried he was, she didn’t know whether to feel bad or happy about what was happening. Knowing Tracy, there could be only one place she may have gone to, after all, if she was in her shoe, she would go to her grandma as well. Now watching how her son was obviously affected by her absent, she didn’t know whether to tell him or not, whether she should play a part in it but playing a part means that she has accepted their relationship isn’t it? And she knew deep down within her that she has not, so she heaved a sigh, turned and left.
Nathan tried Tracy’s number the whole night but it didn’t connect and he ended up falling asleep next to his phone in the early morning with the hope that she may contact him and if not for anything, just to tell him she was okay.
***
Waking up with a jolt in the morning, Nathan stood up and rushed to the window but his terrifying nightmare came through, Tracy was not back yet. He rushed back to his phone and checked it but he had no missed call or message. Where are you Trace? He wondered as he scratched his hair, dialing her number once more. Just like last night, the number didn’t connect and he could feel his heart clouding in pain and sorrow, where on earth are you?
“Won’t you be going to school?” he heard his mom and looked up to see her standing by the door, “it would be okay if you go to school, or you don’t want to?”
Nathan sighed, “did you see Tracy leave yesterday mom?” he asked.
“Get ready for school; the earlier you let them talk the better. They are not going to talk forever,” she said and turned to leave.
“Do you know where she went to?”
“I can’t even stand talking to her, how am I to get from her where she could be going?” she asked and Nathan heaved a sigh and turned his attention to his phone, dialing her number once more. Seeing that he won’t throw another question at her, Lucy left and hope things won’t be as bad for him as she imagined.
Nathan tried Tracy’s number a little while more but after meeting the same fate over and over, he decided to listen to his mom, who knows, maybe she would be back before he gets back from school. He stood up and dropped the phone on the bed before entering the bathroom to take a shower. He knew he was going to face a lot of stares and whispers in school and to be honest, he wasn’t in the mood for it but he knew his mom was right, the earlier they see him and whisper whatever they want to whisper, the earlier the rumor would die off. But even though he knew that, he was still not up for it but he has no choice.
***
Getting to school, Nathan paid a blind eye to the stares of the teachers and a deaf ear to the whispers of students. He went straight to his locker to get his textbook for his first class before the bell rings.
“Nathan,” he heard and turned to see his coach approaching him, “remember the game this week huh? We have to win,” the man smiled and patted his shoulder.
Nathan heaved a sigh, he knew deep within him that if he don’t find or hear from Tracy soon, he won’t be in his right senses for any game and the last thing he wants was to disappoint his coach and teammates. He nodded as a reply and the man grinned and patted his back again.
“Listen, I don’t care about what has been going on since Saturday or what everyone is saying, I believe that love can germinate anywhere. As long as you are not doing something forbidden, then there is nothing wrong. Don’t let what they say get to you, live your life, it’s yours and no one has the right to determine it for you. Personally, I think you guys are cute together; she is too petite and looks like a teenager when standing beside you, only who you tell will knows how many years older than you she is. Also,” he leaned closer to his ear, “my wife is five years older,” he winked at him and smiled seeing the boy’s shocked face and then patted his shoulder again, “get your head in the game by Friday,” he walked away.
Nathan stared at the man’s leaving back, in all around, his coach was the one he was afraid to find out his personal life, he had feared the man would think he is too much trouble and take him out of his team and now it turns out that he not only not take him out, but also supported him. He felt his heavy heart feeling a little lighter, if his coach could support him; it means that somewhere out there, they would be someone else who does. With new vigor, he turned around and grabbed his textbook. Shutting the locker, he walked to class with a smile on his face as the bell rang.
Nathan decided to sit out lunch by staying in the library. He didn’t want to make any research but he needed somewhere quiet to think and also to try Tracy’s number again. “There you are,” he heard and looked up to see Steven walking up to him, “what’s up man?” he asked as he took the seat opposite him.
“How do you think I am?” Nathan asked, taking his eyes back to his phone.
“Hey, don’t let that get to you, Midville is a small town and soon, they will have another news to talk about. The most important thing here is that you are going to be a father,” Steven said and punched Nathan’s arm playfully, “you didn’t tell me about it.”
Nathan chuckled softly, “I didn’t find out about it until later and also, I thought she was going to marry Gary and so had to keep it to myself.”
Steven nodded, “I understand. How is that one though, did you hear from him?”
“He wouldn’t dare,” Nathan rolled eyes, “though he left with his family yesterday, probably couldn’t deal with the embarrassment.”
“Serves him right,” Steven snorted.
“Exactly,” Nathan nodded.
“So, how does it feel?” Steven asked with a smile.
“How does what feel?”
“To have the woman you have loved all your life love you back and don’t tell me otherwise ‘cause I am pretty sure I heard her on Saturday saying she loves you,” he grinned.
Nathan thought about that day, that exact moment and a smile lit up on his face, “amazing,” but then his smile died, “but now I wish we will be giving the time to be together. I don’t know even know what to do.”
“What are you talking about?”
“She left yesterday and has not been back since then. Her car is not in the driveway but that does not mean she is in town. She has a parking spot in the airport. Now I don’t know if she is in town or not and if she is not, where could she be?” he ran his fingers through his hair and sighed frustrated.
Steven nodded, “well, if I’m to be honest, if I am in her shoes, I will do the same. I will leave and only the situation of things would determine whether I would come back.”
“Then what about me, why can’t she tell me where she was going?”
“Nathan, she is the adult here you know, and most blame is on her. I take it Lucy is angry with her, you don’t expect her to take away her son too because knowing you, you would have followed her.”
Nathan sighed, knowing he was right. Even right now, if he should find out where she is, there was nothing stopping him from going to find her.
“So, where do you think she could have gone?”
“I don’t know that’s why everything is tiring.”
“Well, what about a relative, someone she could have gone to?”
Hearing what Steven said, Nathan glanced at him sharply as his mind quickly circulate around, “wait, her grandma.”
“Her grandma?”
“Yes, her grandma, in Texas,” Nathan said and quickly stood up.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, where are you going?” Steven asked standing up as well.
“Texas, obviously,” Nathan replied.
“But dude…”
“Steven please, cover for me in practice today okay.”
“Dude we have game on Friday, remember?”
“I will work on that, but I have to go,” he said and ran out of the library, ignoring the Librarian who obviously wanted to say something.
Nathan drove home and was happy his mom wasn’t around, she didn’t have work this afternoon but maybe she had somewhere to be but nevertheless, he was happy she wasn’t there to stop him. He rushed up to his room and searched his cabinet where he was sure he had jotted down Tracy’s grandma’s phone number and house address. He screamed in joy when he found it and immediately took a picture of the address and copied the phone number into his phone. He broke his piggy bank and prayed it would be enough to pay for his ticket, Texas wasn’t that far, just a two hours and fifty something minutes flight.
He grabbed his backpack and dumped a few clothes into it; hopefully they won’t stare too long for him to need more. He grabbed his passport and everything he needed and rushed down the stairs. He stopped at the front door, contemplating whether to tell his mom where he was going but he decided against it, she might come after him and ruin everything before he got the chance to bring Tracy back and besides, he knew Steven would not hide anything from her.
Getting into his car, he sighed and nodded, telling himself he needed to do what he was doing. He couldn’t let her go through everything alone; he needs to stay by her side. He put her in this mess and he was never abandoning her. Satisfied with his decision, he started the car and drove out with one destination in mind: airport.