Skyler looked at Cyril's phone number and clicked on it, the text history opened and he typed, "You want to come on a picnic today?"
Of course, Cyril didn't reply even after thirty minutes. Skyler watched the minutes pass by as he sat on the roof of his house. Edgar lay on the floor in the basement, blood leaking through his soggy bandages and falling over his eyelashes. Cyril looked at Skyler's message and kept his phone back in his pocket. He looked ahead at the poster of Edgar. It had been three days since he was gone now. And the police was not able to find even a single trace of his disappearance. 

He came back home. His mother sat in the kitchen, his dinner was still laying on the table. He gave her a quick look and then went back into his room. His eyes wandered at the sky as he sat on his bed. They wandered at the sky as he paddled his bicycle. When he parked his bicycle at the university gates, he found Skyler. 

"Cyril, you left me on read," Skyler approached him.
"Yeah so?" Cyril picked up his bag and looked at Skyler.
Skyler smiled nervously, "Why?"
"Why? Because I can't fancy going to a picnic when my fucking mate has been missing for three days. Maybe he didn't mean shit to you, but I care," 

Cyril shook his head and left. Skyler walked after him, "What do you mean? Of course I care. I care equally about you!" Cyril turned and looked at him, "I can tell you haven't been eating at all. You tend not to eat when you're stressed. But it's not good for you," He took out a ham sandwich from his bag. Cyril gave him an icy stare, "Keep it for your picnic,"

He walked away and Skyler just stood there, while everyone stared at him while walking past him. Soon, a group of four white boys came to him, "Ayo wassup', ching chong motherfucker! What? Edwards dumped you, mate?" He laughed as he put his arms around Skyler's neck. One of them snatched the ham sandwich from him and took a bite, "There, papa will it for you, haha!"

Arthur and Tristian walked past them with books in their hands, "Shouldn't we help him?" Tristian asked.
"You mean, get in unnecessary trouble?" Arthur looked at him, "Nah, I'll pass,"
"But that's racism right there,"
"It's not our problem, Tristian. Stop being too good. Let's go, we're getting late for class," 

Tristian looked at Skyler and yelled, "SKYLER!"
Skyler and the four boys looked at him, "Meet me at four in the noon today, I'll text you where,"
Tristian smiled and walked back to Arthur, "You're an idiot," Arthur said as he opened his locker.
"I just helped him out,"
"You made it worse," Arthur shut the locker.

"Why is he calling you? You gonna him a blowjob or something?" They laughed and Skyler ran inside. While they continued laughing, "What a poof,"

 "Tristian, why can't you mind your own business?" Arthur and Tristina sat inside their business and marketing class.
"Because it's all a bit tragic, isn't it?"
"But we cannot do anything against it. You alone cannot eradicate racism,"
"Maybe not. But I can perhaps make it a bit better,"
Arthur rolled his eyes, "You're impossible,"

Tristian smiled and looked at the professor walk inside the classroom with Cyril beside him holding a bunch of papers. He looked down at Cyril, his eyes fixed on Cyril's face. Covered with that same smile, a pair of bright eyes, beauty marks covering his best spots and freckles at the back of his neck. Arthur looked at Tristian and then at Cyril, "Oh, Cyril Edwards,"

Tristian blinked and took a deep breath, "This dude always looks like he's going to go for a photoshoot any minute,"
"Yeah," Tristian sighed, "He does,"
"Yeah," Arthur looked down at him, "I hate him. He's a jerk,"
"Yeah, he is,"

Cyril looked up at Tristina and Tristian was taken aback. He walked towards him, "He's coming here," Arthur quickly arranged his hair and tried to look as relaxed as he could. Cyril reached their seat, "I can't come for practice today. I need to be somewhere,"
"You've missed practice since the last three days. Dad is very upset-" Tristian said.
"My friend is missing. I'm not in the mental state to do anything properly. I'd only hinder you people so it's better if I didn't come. Tell your dad about it,"
"Okay,"

He looked at Arthur who had never seen Cyril from this close before, "Hey, Edwards,"
"What's with your hair? It looks like a bloody pigeon nest. Is that shit?" He pointed at a brown streak in his perfect blonde hair. Tristian covered his mouth and muffled his laughter.
"What?! No, it's a highlight. It's quite a fashion these days. Girls fancy these,"
"Looks like a bird shat on your head to me,"
"Oh piss off!"

He looked at Tristian, "See ya,"
He walked down the stairs, out of the classroom.
"Man, I hate him! Does it look that bad, Tristian?"
"You look good just the way you are. Don't do highlights,"
"Fuck you, mate,"
"HAHAHA!"

After college, Cyril paddled to the ocean and reached the coral rifts. He found Elijah there, trying to balance herself on a surfboard.
"Hey, Eli,"
"WOAH!" She fell into the water and looked at him, "Cyra! Why are you dressed like that?"
Cyril forgot he was still in a male's attire, "Yeah, erm, it's for a costume show,"
"Gosh, I barely recognised you. You totally look like a boy in that,"

He looked at the surfboard, "You're learning how to surf?"
"Yeah, thought I'd try something cool too. I've heard you're dope at it,"
"Haha, I am a pro,"
"Really? Go ahead, impress me,"

He smirked and removed his tracksuit. He stood on the board in his jersey and sports bra. He took the board and jumped into the water. Elijah stood on a rock watching him go at a wave, "Oh, that one's too high!"
"It's perfect!" He swam with the board beneath him and then got on his feet. He went towards the wave spiral, the started fresh with carving, burning the rail in the water and drawing an arc, creating beautiful curves across the wave.

"Oh wow..." Elijah looked at him go, higher and higher. The wave was at its peak, it was time for a final move, finishing with an aerial move. He took a deep breath in, adjusting his shoulders above the board, he went up, kicking the board, keeping one leg perpendicular, the other went higher, till he jumped over the waves, he projected half of his board off the wave's lip, and then drove it dramatically down towards the bottom of the wave, this time, without losing momentum.

"OH MY GOD! THAT WAS TOO GOOD!" Elijah shrieked.
"An off the lip," She heard and turned back. It was Tristian. Cyril threw his arms in the air and yelled, "YES! YES! I KNOW I'M THE BEST! WOOHOO!"
He reached the shore and stopped at Tristian, "You did amazing,"
"Erm, yeah, thanks, I should go now," He gave the board back to Elijah. 
"That was so good! Can you teach me?"

"I'm afraid she doesn't have the time. We've got a competition coming up,"
"Really? I'll come to watch! What is it called?"
"NOTHING!" He grabbed Tristian and whispered, "Don't tell anything to her, you dimwit!"
"Why not? Is it supposed to be a secret?"
"Just listen me to me,"

Cyril smiled at Elijah, "There's nothing like that. He's just kidding. But it;s true that I can't help you with it since I'm busy. Sorry,"
"Oh, I understand. It's okay, have fun. I'll get going,"
Once she was gone, Tristian looked at Cyril, "You're pretty aware, aren't you?" Cyril said.
"Well, so are you,"

"How am I unaware?"
"You're wet in salt water and you're wearing a non-padded, white sports bra. I can see everything,"
Cyril turned back, "Fuck!"
Tristian snickered, "You're quite a flasher,"

"I'm not!"
"It's the second time I've seen your tits,"
"Ugh! How lucky dead people are!"
"You said something?"
"It just keeps happening accidentally, okay?!" He wore his jacket back and picked up his bag.

"Maybe the accidents are trying to tell you something," Tristian smiled.
"Yeah, that you are a pervert I should stay away from, so goodbye!"
"Wait," Tristian held his hand, "I saw Edgar the night before he disappeared,"

Cyril turned and looked at him, "Where?" His eyes were wide open.
"We were at Skyler's garage. Didn't Skyler tell you?"
"...What? No, he said Edgar never came there,"
"That's bullshit. I talked to both of them,"

"What were you even doing there? You're not friends with them,"
"I...I went for...helping Skyler for some research work,"
Cyril narrowed his eyes, 

"Why would Skyler lie to me?"

-To be continued 

Glizzly Westburg
Undercover Blue Riot