(Next day)

Mitchum's Point of View;

I woke up this morning, and out of habit, I first checked my phone and saw a message from the school's group chat. That was strange considering how the school ran on green energy, what could have happened?

I didn't have a class until around two this afternoon, so I didn't need to rush today. After doing my morning routine I left my room and saw Presley lying on the couch with his headphones on. The time was probably close to eleven and he was still in the same clothes I saw him in yesterday. He must have come back to the apartment very late last night. I wondered if he was one of the few that the dean had to come to bring to their rooms. Another good question was why two travel suitcases were packed near him. Did more of his stuff arrive?

I thought he was asleep so I tried my best to close my room door quietly but as soon as I did his eyes opened. That probably meant that he wasn't listening to anything in those headphones either.

On seeing me, Presley just got up off the couch, muttered a greeting and rushed in his room without waiting for a reply. That was weird but I had breakfast on my mind to worry about it. When he came out he was changed but he still hadn't said anything to me as he seemed too busy with fixing his bags. It would seem as if I had to probe if I wanted to find out anything. He was always a private guy but it's not like I had anything else better to do at the moment.

"You got in late last night?" I asked, finishing the last of my cereal as he now began searching the cupboards.

"It wasn't by choice," He answered dryly not even looking at me.

"What do you mean by it wasn't by choice? Were you held hostage or something?" I questioned while referring to the message I saw on my phone this morning.

The flour container slipped from his grasp which caused him to flinch when it hit the floor. I don't know why he apologized for that but then began to explain what had happened yesterday.

I almost couldn't believe that it really was a hostage situation."Oh my gosh! That's terrible! Poor Gail; I don't even know what to say. How do you cope after experiencing something like that?"

"Well, she is terrified considering what happened in the hall. As for how to cope, if there is anything she can do, it's her choice." He said that so casually as if it didn't have any options. I knew what I would do if I ever found myself in a situation that I didn't know how to handle alone.

"She can talk to a guidance counselor, a teacher or even tell her parents and maybe there would be something they can help with. It would be better to talk to someone who can help instead of going through it alone. But to think that there are people out there who would do horrible things like that to others. You have to be so careful out there. No wonder my mom sent me her Taser gun as a housewarming gift. I thought she was just being cheap."

"At least your mom cares enough to send you something," He sighed quietly which kind of surprised me.

"What do you mean?" I asked concernedly but it seemed like he didn't expect me to hear him.

"Oh um, nothing I was just saying that you shouldn't complain. It is a gift from your mom after all."

His prior statement was still suspicious because as far as I knew his mom died when he was much younger. At least that's what he told me a few years back. He didn't give off the vibe of I should be lucky I had a mom but stressed her caring. Why would he make it sound like that? I still decided not to pursue it, at least not yet.

"Oh OK, well I'm not complaining, just reevaluating. I probably wouldn't have gotten close enough to use it anyway. But it sure was a good thing you showed up; you were practically a hero," I said changing the subject.

"I wouldn't say that, everyone helped and anyone could have done what I did," He answered me in a monotone. I hate it when he does that. I compliment him and he downplays it every time but I wasn't going to let him get away with it this time.

"Yeah but not just anyone did it, you did. That's why Chief Trust was obviously impressed with you so she still wanted your version of events off-record. Uh, wait what are you doing?"

I hadn't noticed up until that moment that he was kneeling flour using his hands and had a frosting-like filling in a separate bowl. Then after he cleaned the flour off his hands, he got the bucket of ice cream out of the refrigerator. He didn't even look in my direction as he answered but he did give me a spoon as he took one for himself.

"I'm going to bake a pie and eat some ice cream while I'm doing it."

"Why? Shouldn't you be looking to get breakfast or in your case brunch," I asked him after refusing it. I just ate cereal and there is no way I could stomach anything cold now.

"Well pie, as well as ice cream, are good at any time of the day and both are great after you come back from class. If you want food, you're on your own today because the fried rice and stewed turkey I froze yesterday was liberated." He said before putting a spoonful of ice cream in his mouth and putting it away. I raised my brow questionly towards him waiting for a further explanation.

"The two guys who helped me carry up my luggage when we moved in here came by and wanted breakfast. I would have made sandwiches but microwaving the food was convenient," he admitted and although I'm not upset about the food, I was beginning to wonder if it was a regular thing.

"That's alright, I could pick up something from the cafeteria. They have healthier choices than ice cream. Are they coming back for some of what you're making now also?" He only nodded in response to my question and I remembered the ice cream carton he had not too long ago handed me.

I'm in no place to call him on his eating habits but when I saw the two-gallon tub of ice cream he gave me it was on its last. We bought it earlier this week and I broke the seal last night. Did he really almost finish this by himself when he came back? Why didn't he at least go for the food?

I've honestly never seen him eat much since becoming his roommate so this spark in appetite seems off. There's nothing really wrong that I can call a complaint but he just seems different. It could be this recent event he experienced with Gail and being used by the older students but I still get the feeling he's not saying something.

I can't forget those travel bags over there and he's not one to answer direct questions. I should at least give him the chance to in case it's something he wants to talk about.

"Hey Presley, just between you and me; were you scared when you were saving Gail and the other girl?" I asked, hoping to draw him out a little.

"I was..... concerned but I'm fine," Somehow I didn't really believe that last part either but what could I do if he doesn't want to say? I'll just have to wait until it's the right time.

He always gives me short answers like that. He barely even keeps up with me in conversation anymore; in fact, I've been feeling him drifting away even before we got here.

To change the conversation I asked him if he wanted to go out for lunch instead but he declined as usual. This wasn't the first time he's done that. I've invited him out many times before but he always makes excuses for not wanting to leave the apartment.

"Well, where are you planning on having lunch then? By the looks of it, you're probably planning to sleep over there," I said gesturing to the luggage.

"It's funny you should mention that. I, uh um... Well, I have to go out for the weekend," He stammered while avoiding eye contact with me.

"When you say 'out' I'm guessing you mean out of HIDCA?" He nodded his head in agreement with me. There was only one other place I knew he would want to go for the weekend and my house was ruled out because we both live here now.

"Can you make that flight back to your grandmother by yourself? You really hated the flight here from our hometown and your grandmother is further. So you will have to stay on the plane a bit longer," I continued. He heavily signed in response so I knew I was right in my assumption.

"My class is at two so I'll be out around 4:30-ish. So I can get my bags together now and go with you," I offered without really waiting for a response. I was heading to my room to start packing when Presley followed close behind but stayed in the doorway of my room.

"But- you can't do that!" That was all he managed to say like I was giving him a choice. He could have left early and sent me a message or something but instead, he just lounged around, meaning he must be terrified of the plane ride.

"Sure I can, I'm doing it right now. Plus we're advised to travel in pairs outside the school. So don't worry we're students and in the fall season flight tickets will be easy to get. The town your grandmother lives in is about six hours away and I can get my mom to pick me up so no inconvenience to anyone." Under normal circumstances, I would not have interfered and let him talk himself out of this.

But a break from the city to the country may be just what he needs right now. I could probably bring up the topic of not agreeing to everything someone asks you to do. I also know the relationship with his grandmother is much like a parent to a child so he'll be more relaxed.

When he didn't even attend the prom for high school even though I offered to pick him up because he had to be by his grandmom as she wasn't well. The strange thing was when I passed by his house to deliver something my dad had for him, his dad answered the door and had no clue of his mom being sick when I told him that I hoped she felt better.

It would also be good to drop in on my parents unexpectedly since they text me so much to keep them up to date about settling in here.

"You're not an inconvenience it's just... just," I turned around to look at him to see his lips pressed together and his eyes also closed as he was trying to finish his sentence. I went closer to ask him if he was ok but he left the doorway and went straight to his room. I called after him but he didn't answer. What was that reaction? Was this even just about flying on a plane?