| ~Test of Your Sanity 19~ |
| Heather stayed in the bus most of the time, except for when she had to go into the hotel. Then she�d stay in the hotel. But after about a day, they noticed that she was eating regularly, just not heartily. She was drained of laughter and soul. This went on for about a month. Everyone hoped that everything would be alright. �Hey JC�� Jessie said, stopping him on his tracks. �What is it?� he asked, backing up. �Look at this,� she said, pointing to a piece of paper tacked onto the phone pole. JC did a double take. �Is that?� Jessie nodded. �Heather.� *** There was a black and white photo on the sheet of white paper, and some facts about her on the side. On the top was: �MISSING! Please report to nearest police if spotted. $10,000 reward!� �Oh my god�� JC looked at the woman at his side. �Should we tell them?� �I-I don�t know,� she said, confused. �AJ did this.� �Man he must be so worried. I think you should tell him,� JC said. �But�what if he gets mad at me? I mean�he loves her�and he trusted me,� she replied, torn by her friend and her other friend�s trust. �He�d never talk to me ever again.� �He�d probably be so overtaken by joy he probably wouldn�t notice,� JC assured her. She sighed. �Ok I�ll do it.� JC smiled and hugged her. �After some shopping.� She slipped out from his arms and headed toward Old Navy. JC rolled his blue eyes. �You stall too much.� *** AJ sighed and looked out the window, which seemed to be what everyone was doing these days. �Where is she?� he kept thinking. �AJ?� Kevin called. �What?� AJ asked, hoping for some news of his dear friend. �We�re at the hotel.� �Oh.� He had been so caught up in his thoughts so that he hadn�t noticed the bus stop. AJ stood up and grabbed one of his many hats, which he put on his head. He put on his dark trademark sunglasses. When he stepped off the bus, he saw a sign on the wall of the building. Heather�s picture was on it. �We have to find her,� he said, sounding more confident than he felt. �We just have to.� �I know,� Nick agreed, coming up behind AJ. �It�s been a whole MONTH Nick,� AJ said sadly. �What if she�s�� �Don�t say that,� Nick said immediately, not wanting to hear the depressing words. �She�s NOT dead, you understand? She alive and well. She just doesn�t want to come back.� The older man sighed, his face looking older everyday. Her lack of presence was killing him. For all he knew she could�ve changed her name and moved on�but there was a problem. He didn�t. He couldn�t. *** �Ok this is just too much woman,� JC complained, coming out of the GAP store with his arms full. �You�re stalling. And I think I have a hole in my credit card.� Jessie smiled sheepishly. It was true she wanted to get away from calling AJ, but she knew she had to do it. She and him had been keeping in touch, you know, about 2 calls a week, but every time she lied about her presence on the NSYNC tour. Finally, the hurdle had gotten too big for her to jump, so instead she tried to go around it. Again, she failed. �Sorry,� she said, saying the first word in her mind. JC shook his head. He saw the familiar black Lexus and unlocked the trunk with some difficulty. The trunk popped open and he dumped the bags into the dark colored compartment. �Hey!� Jessie cried, watching her new belongings drop to the bottom of the trunk in a heap. �That�s my stuff!� �That�s what you get for stalling something important,� JC scolded, getting into the driver�s seat. �Learn from this.� �Humph,� she grumbled, sitting down in the passenger�s seat. �Well?� �Well what?� �Call.� JC gestured to her cell on her pants. She sighed and picked up the cell. She pressed the on button slowly, then dialed as slowly as she could. �Hurry up!� JC cried, watching her sluggish dialing. �He�s dying y�know!� Jessie rolled her brown eyes and pressed the last number. Not even a full ring later, AJ picked up. �Hello?� �AJ?� �Oh hey. I thought you were the police.� �You put up those missing signs?� Jessie asked, making her way slowly towards the point of her call. �Yeah. Everyone�s looking for her, but nobody�s seen her,� he sighed sadly. �Um well�I think I know where she is,� she said, biting her lip. �WHERE?� he asked immediately, making her jump. JC looked over at her. She tried to smile at him. He just shook his head. Jessie took a big breath. �Here.� �Where�s HERE?� he demanded. �On the tour,� she said. �SHE�S WHERE?!� he shouted, making her wince. �She on the tour?� she squeaked. �You lied to me,� AJ said softly, feeling betrayed. �Why? I�ve been so worried.� �I�m sorry AJ. She didn�t want you to know.� �Well where are you?� AJ asked. �I�I�� she trailed off, not wanting to break her promise. �I can�t tell you.� �UGH!� AJ shouted in frustration. �Why is this happening to me?!� �I�m sorry,� she said softly, �but I promised.� AJ sighed deeply. �I guess I understand. I�ve never broken a promise before either.� �Oh. That�s good to know.� �I�ll try to find you guys, that�s for sure.� �Yeah well�I gotta go.� �Bye sis.� �Bye.� �How�d it go?� JC asked, knowing the answer already. �Not very well.� *** Plink, plink, plink. Loading! Loading! His sunglasses were glowing blue and red from the site loading on his laptop. He bit his lip in anticipation. Finally, the tan words appeared on the screen, making him smile as he looked for that day�s date. At the end of the page he found it. �Ha ha ha,� he laughed, writing down the location. �Found ya.� |
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