Reckless Hero

“Dammit Brandon, why didn’t you call me?” I said out loud. My angry words bounced off the walls of the empty car.

The two of us had been so close. When had we drifted so far apart that he wouldn’t feel safe in confiding in me?

I felt like I’d failed him.

When I reached the school, I double parked but was unconcerned about that fact.

Present were two police cruisers, one with lights flashing.

I ran out of my car, leaving everything behind. I found my father and sister within a few minutes, being interviewed by the cops. Somewhere in the distance, I thought I saw camera flashes and suspected they were news cameras trying to catch drama around my father. But there was no time to be concerned about that at the moment.

I quickly hugged my father and sister, and they updated me on what was going on. Brandon had skipped class early that morning and no one had seen him since. A small bag containing a suspicious substance had been located in his locker shortly thereafter. The school was obliged to report this to the police. They had also contacted Brandon’s mother, who was at work. Her workplace being located so far away, in addition to problems she was having with her boss, led her to call my father for help. Hearing how worried sick she was, he and Autumn rushed to the school to check on the situation.

I listened to it all in shock and disbelief.

What the hell was my cousin doing? I could only hope that he hadn’t just thrown his life down the drain.

CHAPTER 15

Tucker

The seat next to me in class was empty. I felt Anna’s absence as if a piece of me was literally missing.

I initially thought she might just be late, until a half hour passed, and she still hadn’t shown.

I pulled my phone from my bag and sent her quick text reading: Hey, where are you?

Even though I didn’t expect her to answer - at least not right away – I placed the phone facedown next to my textbook.

Yesterday had been great. A turning point in our relationship, so to speak.

I’d been scared that she would disappear on me again – or worse, give me another ‘we can’t be anything more than classmates’ speech. I had even mentally prepared myself for it, just in case. Anna had surprised me though, staying in my arms until we risked getting caught butt-naked in the college classroom.

I had walked her to her car afterward, and she had even let me to hold her hand. Before parting ways, we shared a lingering kiss. Her eyes had been soft and welcoming, with no regrets. Consequently, I had allowed myself to hope the romp had been a changing tide in our relationship.

I’d meant what I had said to her; I had tried to respect her wishes for me to keep my distance. As much as I wanted her, always watching her turn away from me was torture and I didn’t know how many more times I could take it without going insane.

However, when she had taken comfort in my arms, I hadn’t been able to curb the urge to feel her lips on mine again. I had expected to get slapped and told off. Now, however, I was glad I to have taken the risk.

Even after we had left each other’s company in the lab, she had called me later that night.

I had just stepped out of the shower when I heard my cellphone ring.

I adjusted the towel around my hips as I headed to my bedroom. I picked up the phone from where it had been thrown carelessly on the bed.

My heart skipped when I saw Anna’s number on the screen.

I swiped to answer and sat on the edge of the mattress. “Hey, sweetheart.”

“Hey,” she said, sounding breathy. “I hope I’m not calling too late.”

I glanced at the digital clock next to my bed. 11:23. “Not at all. You can call me any time. What’s up?”

“There’s something I need to tell you,” she said after a pause. “But I think I should wait until we’re face-to-face.”

“That doesn’t sound good,” I said, slightly worried but trying to keep my voice light. “Are you going to give me the boot again?”

She hesitated, and my heart leapt to my throat.