Chapter 7 – The Truth Comes Out… And This Time it’s Not Mine

            My phone suddenly buzzed, startling me out of the trance that I was in. It was a message from Avery.

‘yeah, im still in if u r’ the text read. I had asked if she still wanted to hang out tonight. Truth be told, I didn’t really feel like seeing her, or anyone for that matter, until my head was cleared, but I felt as if I’d been neglecting Avery the past few days, in more ways than one. I owed her some quality time.

‘yeah i am. what do u want to do?’ I typed in reply. Sent.

Okay, now what was I thinking about? Oh yes, how could I forget. Ashley. For the last hour and a half since school had let out, I had been thinking about her. Today’s conversation with Aiden had aroused my curiosity. It burned in my mind, longing to be quenched. What could possibly have happened to her? It wasn’t as if she ever let anyone close enough to her to hurt her – she was virtually invulnerable. Ashley’s walls stayed up, no matter what. It wasn’t as if I had lowered them… right? She wasn’t with me anymore, after all.

Part of my mind knew that I should just try and forget her, once and for all. I had a really great thing going with Avery. I should just immerse myself in her and forget Ashley. She chose to leave. If she still loved me, it was her own fault. I was moving on. Yeah, that’s a good idea, I told myself.

I sat there in silence for a few moments. Real silence – even the seemingly ever-present mumblings of my mind were quiet. Well, what now? The curiosity ember sparked once more, almost as if reminding me of its presence.

Well, finding out what happened to her wasn’t wrong… right? I wasn’t going to do anything about it, obviously… since I was moving on and all…. Was it wrong to want to know?

Before I could answer that for myself, my hand sought out my phone and began clicking through my contacts. I scanned through them quickly as if my time was limited. Aiden, no… I didn’t feel like speaking to him again, Ashley, obviously not, Avery, no, Bill, did he even know her? Brianna, no…

I got all the way to the K’s before I saw something. Kelly, no, Kim, no, Kyla…. Kyla! My finger hit the ‘send’ button before my mind even had a chance to catch up.

            I could feel my heart beating faster and faster, my chest becoming tighter and tighter with each ring. I told myself to calm down and breathe, but to no avail. Voicemail. Ugh, what a let down.