The moment I got to school, I marched up the steps, unintentionally ignoring the girls' greetings and the other students' congratulations. I was a woman on a mission and everything is going to blurry until I get some answers.

I knew that most of the football team who bothered to come early hang around the back of the school, either damaging their lungs with cigarettes or doing some sketchier things. The teachers knew about it, they have just given up on scolding them time after time before commanding the student body president take over that problem. The student council was well aware, but they just made them promise to keep it to themselves instead of flouncing it around.

The girls followed behind me, firing multiple questions for the explanation of why I was in such a rush. This continued until I reached the back door and pushed it open, spotting Gray's usual group of lackeys.

Rushing up to them, I walked up to the one who was on the very middle and ripped the cancer stick out of his hand before throwing it to the side, "Where is he?!"

After he sent me that message, I started flooding him with a bunch of replies, asking him what he meant. When he didn't answer, I tried calling him but it ended with the same result.

Nothing, na-dah.

Went to his house right after my attempts of contact but nobody was home, his car was missing from its usual spot. I tried almost every mean to minimize whatever distance he placed between us and it was frustrating that I was kept in the dark.

"Gray?" he questioned and I gave him a 'duh' kind of expression, "I don't know, he won't answer to us too."

My eyes turned into slits but I soon realize that he was telling the truth which was scarier. The thing is, this guy was always with my boyfriend – he was the Vivian to my Gray. He was always in charge in his absence, the second leader to the pack.

Gray Martyn, where the hell are you?

The bell rang and I groaned, turning around to go to my class. Just when I thought that everything could start going right, the universe had to prove me wrong.

By the time lunch came, almost everyone knew that this was not the normal case of Gray Martyn skipping classes. Usually, no one will pay mind that he would be missing – they'll just assume that he was just too lazy to go.

But this time, it must be because our whole group was also puzzled of his whereabouts. It wasn't like him to go disappear without telling anyone.

Well, in a twisted kind of way, he warned me.

A rare time with our rowdy group where we were speaking in hushed tones instead of the boisterous yelling that we always did to drown out the rest of the cafeteria noise – it was our way of grabbing your attention, while rubbing it to your face that you can't sit with us.

And because of this, it raised more suspicion.

"Even Clara doesn't know," one of his teammates huffed, running a hand through his hair, "His girlfriend doesn't fucking know where he is!"

Thank you, Captain Obvious.

Multiple phones were on the table as each of us took turns on calling him. All came down to one result, we couldn't reach his cell. He turned it off so it meant that he doesn't want to be found.

Should I just trust him when he said that he'll come back to me eventually?

The lingering question is, when is he coming back to me?

There are many things that I hate and one of them is not knowing something.

"Have you talked to his parents or his brother?" a girl suggested, slightly nibbling on her straw in anxiousness.

They all turned their attention to me and I shook my head, "Don't look at me, I'm pretty sure that they resent me to some degree."

His parents? No way. But if I set aside my extreme annoyance over Bryan, maybe I can talk to him and find out even just a tiny hint about his little brother.

"Anyone fancy an adventure after school?" I asked and most of the occupants of our table raised their hands as volunteers even though I had yet to explain.

Well Bryan, I hope you're ready for a brigade.

By the time school finished, I managed to picked out the seniors of the group, thinking that this would lessen the shock plus Bryan could recognize some of them. He was in Gray's position as captain of the football team during our freshman year so he might know some of them.

After telling everyone to go on, I passed by my locker and stopping on my tracks, I saw Erin stood there in front of hers. Her senses were being distracted once again by her white earphones as she busied herself with gathering up her study materials.

Walking up to my locker, I spun in the combination until it clicked open. Only when I swung my door did the brunette finally noticed my presence. Slowly turning to me, she yanked her earphones out as she opened her mouth to speak.

Waiting for it, she shook her head before focusing again on her locker, "Nothing, I'm sorry."

"If you're asking about Gray," I sighed, taking out a binder from my bag before stacking it up messily with the others on top of the metal shelf, "It's true, nobody knows where he is."

"But wasn't he during the cheer competition?" another addition to the conversation asked.

I peeked behind Erin and I smiled in relief at the sight of Evan. It had only been a week since I actually talked to him in person yet it felt like forever and I was actually worried he was starting to pick up some kind of dislike towards me.

But I have to keep up with my usual act since his sister was here, "Yeah and he texted me the morning right after."

"What did he say?" he questioned.

I was about to answer him, but then I glanced towards Erin. Evan, quickly getting my uneasiness, he directed his words to her, "You can go on ahead to the car, I'll be there in a minute."

It was obvious she wanted to stay but after her gaze started switching from him to me, she frowned but nodded in understanding. She knew it was something I wanted to keep from her and although she wasn't please, I was kind of grateful that she took the hint. Closing her locker, she said a quick goodbye before walking away.

Yes, I didn't hate her anymore but that doesn't mean I fully trust her.

Whipping out my phone from my pocket, I showed him the final message Gray left me before I went into a frenzy of texts that was left unanswered by him. His eyes scanned the words and his eyebrows scrunched up in confusion, "What does that mean?"

"If I knew, I wouldn't be troubled by this," I groaned, tucking the device into my bag, "I have no idea where he is and it's frustrating the heck out of me."

"Hey," he said, grabbing my shoulder before looking directly into my eyes, "He did say that he'll come back to you."

"When?" I whispered as if he would know the answer.

Please, someone tell me when will he come back?

You would think that I'm being a bit too dramatic for him being gone for about a day. Who the hell wouldn't get paranoid after your freaking boyfriend texts you that before disappearing to somewhere no one else knows?

I'll tell you, I have all the freaking right to panic.

"I don't know," he spoke softly, "But he will, take my word for it."

I know that deep down, he wasn't sure as well. He was just saying those words to comfort me and I'll take that over this anxiety that I'm feeling.

"We need to hang out, Evan," I finally told him, cracking a smile trying to convince him that the worry was lifting from my chest, "I need to talk with someone sane from time to time."

"Glad to know that you think I'm normal," he chuckled, sensing that my mood was lighter, "I'm only one call away."

Laughing, I waved goodbye as he said his farewell, running off to follow his sister. Finishing up with emptying my bag and grabbing the books that I needed, I closed my locker before I headed out of the school building.

Not even Evan could wash over this concern and I had to tug the ends of my hair to prevent myself from screaming in the middle of the school. Taking a deep breath, I kept walking as I saw the girls gesturing to me while they stood near my car.

"So where are we going?" Vivian inquired as she dropped her things into the boot of my vehicle along with the belongings of the three other girls who decided to ride with us.

"Bryan Martyn's college," I replied, taking out my phone as I scrolled through my contacts, trying to see if I managed to get his number to at least give him a warning that we were all making a sudden appearance.

Plus, I'm not willing to knock on every door of the apartments nearby there to search for him.

I frowned when I realized that I didn't. Opening my door, I slid into the driver's seat as the rest of passengers got in. My finger stopped scrolling when I saw Kelly's name and I tilted my head to the side as I contemplate on whether I should call her instead.

Oh well, I'm already deep into this.

Tapping on her name and then onto that little telephone symbol, it initiated the call as I pressed the device against my ear. When the ringing stopped and was replaced by her sugary sweet voice, I perked up, "Clara, never thought you would be calling me."

Trust me, I never thought that I would too.

"Do you have Bryan's number?" I questioned, putting on my seatbelt before looking over my shoulder to check if the other girls were alright in the back as Vivian followed my actions.

She hesitated a bit before confirming, "Yeah... why?"

"Can you text it to me?" I requested, sticking the key into the ignition.

She paused for a while before firing me with another unsure answer, "Sure."

"Thank you," I muttered, trying to make my voice preppy before I hung up. Passing the phone to Vivian, I then told her, "She'll text you Bryan's number and when you do, go message him to ask where he's staying."

Pressing down against the horn to signal the rest of the crew that we were moving, I was greeted with several beeps back and the few students and staff that were outside the school jumped in surprise at the sudden sound.

Vivian was tapping rapidly on the screen as I pulled out of the school grounds, a line of other vehicles following right behind.

See Gray? This is your influence. This is what you left.

Many of your boys ditched your coach to look for you and I canceled practice even though I was completely aware that we had to double up our efforts if we want to win.

"He replied!" Vivian announced before telling me the address, complete with the apartment number and such.

I gripped the steering wheel tighter as I pressed harder on the pedal. I was going slow before to give Bryan enough time to reply, but now, it's game time.

I was bordering the speed limit and the girls instinctively held onto the nearest thing they can grab due to my sudden acceleration.

The college wasn't far off – I could already see them tall cream-colored building getting closer as we drove by. He wasn't in there according to his text, but he was staying in a place a walking distance from it. I heard from Gray that this was Bryan's excuse to finally move out while enjoying the comforts of his own home town.

Identifying the apartment complex through the sign posted near it, I clicked on my turn signal to warn the others that I was going to another direction. Parking at one of the empty spaces, I placed the vehicle on park before unbuckling my seatbelt.

After turning off the engine and taking my phone back from Vivian, I got out and fished a few coins from my wallet and slotted it into the meter.

Checking Bryan's message once again to make sure, I looked up at the building before swallowing hard. The other cars also got themselves and we all got inside, smiling sheepishly at the doorman. He looked up from his tablet and took in the scene in front of him, with a grunt in response, he returned back to the game he was playing.

Glad to know security was tight here... not.

The elevator was a tight fit – and that was when others already volunteered to take the second ride up.

We all got out and I walked through the hallway, my eyes scanning the room numbers plastered on each door. Finding the one that Bryan told me, I went into a complete stop causing the others to collide onto my back.

I never thought that there would be a day that I would be asking Bryan Martyn for help.

Lifting up a fist, I knocked on the door and waited for him to answer. While doing so, the others who took the second trip of the elevator finally arrived to join us.

We heard some clattering from the other side of the door before it finally swung open. My eyes widened as I held back a gasp when I saw the figure standing in front of me.

Kelly stood there in a button-up shirt that was obviously Bryan's and a pair of her skinny jeans. She looked shock at the amount of people that turned up and she quickly yelled for the person we were all looking for, "Bryan, come here!"

Many flinched at her loud booming voice, having almost forgotten that this was the same woman who screamed commands during practice without a pause to breathe or let her lungs take a break. Turning back to us, she giggled before letting her eyes scan each student, "I thought graduation was goodbye forever, but Clara keeps proving me wrong.

"Kelly?" they still kept their gazes locked on her, finding it unbelievable that she was standing in front of them.

Before she can say her usual remark, Bryan came appearing on the doorway, yawning as he swung an arm around the older blonde's shoulders, "I told you to let Clara in."

My other companions then transferred their shock to him; because I still saw him often because of Gray and because I already met Kelly a while back, I wasn't surprise.

But this wasn't the case for the others.

They haven't seen these two for years – the last time could have been the party where Gray finally broke up with Kelly. To see the former team captains standing in front of them was a sight they drank out of, their eyes finding it impossible to tear away.

No matter how much you look at them, they were still a head-turning pair.

"Didn't expect this many people," he murmured and Kelly nodded in response. No wonder she was hesitant to answer me when I called her, Bryan could have been right beside her when she talked.

Sighing, there was no point in having a staring contest between all of us so I took a step forward and asked, "Where's your brother?"

"Gray?" he snorted at the thought, "I knew you were here to ask about him."

So he knows that he was missing.

"And?"

"I don't know," he shrugged.

My temper was going down and I was already thinking of a thousand colorful words that I would have loved to throw at him. If he didn't know and he already thought that that was the reason why I was coming then he should have just said that from the start.

Kelly interjected by slotting herself in-between us, waving her arms around to gather both of our attention, "Now's not the time for this."

"If I were you, I'll just let it be," Bryan spoke up, "All we can do is wait."

I'm not really the one for patience and everyone knows that.

"If Gray was right about the sick boasting he does about you then I know you'll wait for him," he added as he crossed his arms, "And if that lovesick idiot was really sincere about the things he says to you then he'll definitely come back."

"He talks about me?" I questioned, my expression softening at the thought.

"It was getting annoying," he grunted at the memory, "But I guess that's the reason why I've decided not to bother with you two anymore."

My expression softened before a thought entered my mind – that wasn't the only reason why this idiot had mellowed down.

My focus shifted onto Kelly who has now found her spot next to Bryan again. She noticed my stare and she nodded at my silent question, reaching down and intertwined her fingers with Bryan's and he made no move to pull away.

Perhaps nothing official yet but they were already smooth sailing.

"Two things," Bryan lifted his fingers, "One, he'll come back for you, I'm sure of that."

"And two?" I asked.

"He has faith that you'll understand him."

Who knew that this arrogant piece of shit would be the one to say that to me? My shoulders relaxed and I sighed, finally agreeing to his words.

But he said he'll come to my birthday.

"While everybody's here, why don't we all go out for dinner?" Kelly suggested in an attempt to diffuse the tension, "You already journeyed this far so why not make the most of it?"

Looking down on my watch, my lips fell into a thin line as I gestured at the time. We still had to drive back and tomorrow was a school day, let's not forget the homework the teachers mercilessly graced upon us.

"So?" Kelly responded, "Come on, you're the last group of people I need to say the words 'loosen up' to."

Turning to them, they shrugged at this and I repeated the gesture to Kelly. She grinned before telling us to wait for them as she pushed Bryan back into his apartment.

As we were all walking towards the elevator, Gray's right hand man took my arm and withdrew me from the crowd. His phone was pressed against his ear as he was speaking a quiet voice, I was about to ask but he quickly passed the phone to me.

"Clara?" I heard his voice and suddenly, my legs felt weak and my body was washed in some unknown emotion that I had to hold on to the wall for support, "Baby, I'm so sorry."

My eyes switched from the floor to his friend and he nodded, gesturing for me to speak, "Where are you?"

"Gas station," was his reply and I scrunched up my eyebrows in confusion but he only kept explaining, "My phone's battery will not be happy about everything so it might die on me soon but you should know I'm safe, I'm alright, and I'm going back to you soon."

"When?" I clutched onto the phone like it was my lifeline.

"I don't know," he replied truthfully, "I'll be back, I promise."

I let out a whimper and he started to hush me with an array of soothing words wrapped in such tenderness I didn't know he was capable of producing. With a final goodbye, he told me to give the phone back to its owner and I hesitantly did so.

"Yeah, yeah," he grumbled while he once again regained ownership with his cell, "I'll take care of her. See you, man."

Finally hanging up, he offered me a small smile as we started to follow the group that went ahead, "Well, that was surprising."

Which one? The fact that Bryan actually said something along the lines of decent, him and Kelly heading for an actual relationship, or all of us going to dinner together with the former queen bee and bad boy duo?

I'll say all three, but the biggest one was that phone call. I now clutched to that silver of hope as I willed my memory to remember every word he said because I'm afraid that that was the only conversation I would be graced upon for in a while.

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Big apology for not updating last night. Got home late and was completely knackered so I'm sorry. Evan chapters would be done in Wattpad after the last chapter has been posted so stay tuned.

How was your week lovelies? Spent mine sick with the flu but we're all good now.

Dedicated to Fairytail_ismy_bae for the wonderful covers! They're literally amazing and I'm in love with them. Sorry for not seeing them any sooner.

That's all folks; don't forget to vote, comment, and follow. i love you guys and I shall see you all next chapter!