Sorry about last chapter... Well... not really. But here's another?

Thanks already to brightyeolie and jueka1 for their comments last chapter.

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"We can't tell her today," was the first thing Sara said as we bid goodbye to Callie on our way to our Film, TV class.

"We can't," I agreed. "Not until Flynn appears at least to calm her nerves."

Sara nodded in agreement as we pulled out things out of our bags. "I just wonder where he is. This is very unusual of him."

I agreed as we walked into the classroom, taking our usual seats up the back. But even I was starting to feel a knot in my stomach that something was really really wrong here...

Because it's one thing for him to not reply to my sister. It could be a flat phone.

Then it's another thing for him to not even show up at school. Though maybe he's still somehow sleeping in and didn't hear his alarm thanks to the flat phone.

But for none of his mob to not be here?

Did they all rely on Flynn to get them up?

Did they not go to school if Flynn didn't?

None of this felt right at all, and my stomach was squirming for Callie's sake.

Sensing my unease, Sara's hand found mine under the desk. Fingers lacing between mine, she gave me a gentle squeeze, causing me to look at her. Soft smile on her face, she mouthed 'I love you' at me, and that last bit of worry evaporated.

It can't be that bad.

Everything will be fine.

Callie and I have used up all of our bad luck with her leg and Jess. No way could anything else have happened.

And with that thought in my mind, I slipped my hand out of Sara's and immediately dived into editing my project once the teacher said we can hop onto the computers.

Callie was walking faster than I had ever seen her walk before towards the office as I exited my drama class and she left bio.

I waited for her outside the office door as she eventually exited, phone turning on in her hand.

I stood right by her side as the screen loaded.

And as we waited for texts to come through.

But the moments continued to drag with nothing.

"Maybe," I whispered, though not quite believing the words myself, "Maybe your phone is getting old and just needs some time to receive them. Put your phone away so you don't have to think about it."

Desperate to believe me, Callie put her phone in her pocket and we headed out to the front to join Sara in Noah's car.

As Callie took her usual spot in the front to be able to stretch out her leg and Sara and I climbed into the back, Noah's eyes trailed over my sister, the car still idling in the school carpark.

"I take things are going well with Flynn then," he said, amusement in his voice, gaze focussed on her neck.

But then Callie did the very thing he didn't expect... though Sara and I had been waiting for it.

She barked one cry. Then her body began to shake. And next we knew, the sobs came out in full force.

Noah flinched away from her, glancing back to us as if to say 'what did I do' and 'help me'.

Leaning through the crack between the seats, Sara placed a hand on Callie's shoulder and whispered her the reassurances none of us knew were true. "He will message, Callie. There'd be a reason for this. But it's got nothing to do with you. You know he adores you."

But Callie shook her head, tears still streaming down. "He's definitely changed his mind," she got through her tears.

"If he changed his mind, then why was his whole group not here today? I think something else is going on, Callie."

Eventually her sobs slowed as Sara and I continued to try to quell her fears with promises we had no evidence to support.

But eventually she stopped crying.

Eventually Noah put the car into gear.

And eventually we drove home.

I sat with Callie in her room that night as she reluctantly hit the 'call' button. I told her to give him time. That he'd get in touch. But a whole day...

She was worried something had happened to his phone in addition to whatever reason kept him from school.

Adamant that calling him would solve one answer... eventually she found the courage to do it.

I sat with her, listening to the phone ring and ring and ring... until it went to voicemail.

She didn't leave a message. But the fact that it did ring said one thing: his phone was on.

"Maybe he went somewhere... Maybe he left his phone at home," I offered.

"Where would he go?" she breathed, not even looking up, her eyes still rimmed with red.

"I... I have no clue, Cal. But it's not about you. I'm sure of it."

"You don't think," she whispered, voice becoming unnervingly shaky, "You don't think something... happened to him, do you?"

The truth was, a part of me was worried about that. While Callie had her shower earlier, I quickly searched the local news for any car thefts in the area, worried he was involved in one, as racist as the thought was. But there was nothing.

So I shook my head at my sister. "I'm sure he's fine, Cal. Let's just try again in the morning."

I stayed in her room that evening, ignoring the texts coming through on my phone from Sara. I knew she'd understand my silence. Right now, Callie needed my full attention.

With the lights off, she snuggled into my neck while I had my arms wrapped around her, rubbing circles into her back.

A few times her body began to shake again, a wetness overcoming my arm and soaking my shirt. But eventually she went still.

And eventually she drifted off.