Fourteen: where is she!

School finished with a ring of a bell and the swarm of students hurried out and down the long halls and towards the exit of school, trying to escape, even if it was the first day everyone was itching to leave.

Just like everyone else, Austin was desperate to get out of this hell hole. Lenny was pissing him off on his left and one of Lenny's 'boys' who's name he Austin couldn't quite remember to his right. Finnick? He didn't quit remember the boy as he annoyed Austin and played on the basketball team. No one knew the basketball team.

"Have you heard Josie is throwing a party on next weekend? You guys thinking of going?" Lenny started, looking to Austin and then Finnick. Finnicks Brown eyes brightened like a kid being handed candy and he gave a nod, as always he was down to party. While Austin gave a nonchalant shrug, eyes on the ground as he walked.

"I dunno man, I mean.. it's the first week of school it's a bit soon for a party.. I'm trying to actually get good grades this year. Dads threatening me with work." Austin gave a small chuckle as he looked at Lenny, who's features twisted to the side, annoyed.

"Well too bad. Cause I over heard Staceys planning to wear that red dress.. you know the one" Lenny snorts, a devilish smile licking at his lips and humour glimmering behind his icy eyes. Austin scrunched his nose in return and gave a shove to Lenny's arm

Oh boy did Austin know exactly the red dress Lenny spoke of. New Years Eve, a bottle of whiskey. He had no chance .

"Don't know what your talking about.. piss off already, Len" Austin shoves Lenny in the chest again playfully with a chuckle, making Lenny grunt as he pulled away to trudge off after Cole and the other boys to his place.

Rolling his eyes watching the group of boys walk off, he gave a small smile to himself as he turned his eyes to look around. He was stood in front of the school, most buses left by now and other kids were probably already on their ways home. Only a few stragglers waiting for late buses like his. It was so quiet, no more hustle, no hurry, no life, not a sound.

Moving over to the bus stop he leans himself against a blue pole while taking out his phone and earbuds to to listen to music while he waited for the bus. Shoving his hand into his pocket he lets his head drop and hair fall into his eyes, trying to hide from the other students with his phone and pole.

School had been shit for him, so incredibly shit. he wasn't really in the best of moods. Lenny and Stephanie had been bugging him all day about Tess, asking about her and saying some unimaginably cruel things they wanted to do to her. Even Stephanie's thick friend Josie tried to join in on their conversation.

They didn't give him the time to go see Tess at lunch like he promised, didn't even give him the slightest f chances. Not even when he tried to escape to the bathroom, Lenny followed him in! Otherwise he would've gone, somehow snuck away to avoid them but just couldn't.. he couldn't risk it!

He had been trapped and didn't wanna risk them finding out. He had even made Jace lie to Tess that he was at Backnott training when really he was trying to keep his reputation with his friends so they wouldn't think he was some kind of human lover.

Hearing the sound of brakes he looked up only to groan. The bus isnt new and sleek like the morning bus, rumbling over the road with a cough and splutter and running up the road so fast that students had to step out of the way to avoid being hit. His bus of course had to be the ugliest, oldest bus around. The bus driver a hairy old looking man, with a beard that grew down to his belly and a cowboy hat that looked old and probably smelled of ash.

Glancing about the campus, he felt the urge to sprint to the bus and just hide in the back. So embarrassing. But he couldn't do that or people would think he's a freak. He didn't know why but he'd always had this cloud over his head, thoughts always scratching at the back of his mind that everyone was judging. Everyone was watching him, looking at his next move. He'd always been like this, even as a kid he'd always think what people might say, what would they think if he did this, or say that. It only got worst in high school.

Hesitantly he tugs out an earbud as he pushes himself off the pole. He counted four people headed toward the bus, including himself it was five. Biting the inside of his cheek he began to wander over, head down pretending to be looking at something on his phone as he climbed on. He headed for the back seat, falling into the chair and nestling into the wall.

Never again was he catching a bus. Never. Tess can find her own way next time.

"Oh shit" he gasps, Tess! turning his head quickly out the window, he looked around searching for a familiar human running toward the bus stop. "Shit shit shit" he murmurs under his breath, looking up to see students were already piled on and seated. the bus was about to take off. Grabbing his bag he scrambles to his feet, like a maniac escaping the crazy ward he hurried towards the front of the bus.

"Wait!" He held out his hand out of desperation, almost stumbling down the isle as he tried to get off.

In his desperate escape he nearly collided into a girl called Katy who was in his bio class and lived around the corner from his house. She had a shaved head and beautiful dark skin and long legs.

He didn't have time to admire, not now! Not when Tess could be left behind all alone! Raising his hands in surrender as bumps into Katy, making her gasp as he nearly knocks something out of her hands that she held close to her stomach protectively, her big green eyes staring at him as he stumbled away down the stairs. Nearly breaking his ankle in the process

"Sorry sorry!" he barely calls back to Katy under his breath, glancing at her apologetically before hurrying away hearing the bus driver shout out to him if he should wait or not. He didn't reply, too focused on getting to Tess. He was gonna be in so much shit.

Sprinting over to the human entrance, he probably looked like a total moron but he didn't care for once in his life. His heart was pounding and eyes wide as he searched the ground, nearly tripping over his own feet as he was too focused on looking for Tess

Making it to the human doors, a heavy breath escaped his lungs as he looked around. No human, no Tess. No one.

"nononono" pushing his fingers through his hair and squeezing the chestnut curls, he spins looking around him at the ground before him, hoping to see Tess walking out toward him laughing at him or even angry.

Letting out a grunt, he collapses to the ground, seeing his bus drive away, he would have to walk home now. Maybe Tess was still inside, maybe she was just kept behind or something? Leaning over he tried peering in through at the minuscule doors, how someone could fit through them hurt his head. His pinkie could probably barely fit.

Maybe she left already? Maybe she was smart enough she got on the bus by herself! Yeah Tess wasn't dumb, she was smart! He was over reacting. Looking down to his phone, he rolled his eyes realising he could just call her

Quickly scrambling to his feet, he wandered away from the doors and looked about wondering if anyone had seen him. Pressing her name in his contacts, he raised his phone to his ear, pacing about waiting for her to pick up.

"Sorry I missed your call~"

"Oh come on!" He shouts and groans, hanging up he presses his hands to his face and rubs at his eyes. "Where are you.." he huffs, dropping his hands from his face and letting them hang loosely by his sides. Looking around hopelessly at the empty school, he began to panic. Not knowing what to do.

Where is she?!

~~~

He runs, feet kissing the pavement. Perhaps a little while ago he would have balked at the idea of running so far and fast for someone especially a human, now he was desperate. His feet were made to travel at the top speed and as light as the paws of a lion. Breathing steady, heart strong - he was born to run. He wasn't the captain of the Backnott team for nothing.

Grabbing onto the white fence of his home he stared at the front door. He couldn't face his father, not without Tess in hand. He'd be torn to shreds and never trusted ever again. Pacing back and forth, he quickly ducked down and hid behind the fence near a bush, not wanting to risk his father seeing him. Quickly pulling out his phone, he scrolled through his messages til he found the right person. Maybe he'd know where Tess was.

Austin: 'EMERGENCY! Get your ass over here something's happened with Tess!'

In no time Austin could see the familiar light brown haired, blue eyed boy running up the street toward him.

"Jace!" Austin hissed as the boy nearly goes to open the gate to go inside, quickly waving him over to the bush where he sat hidden on the pavement against the fence "come here"

Jace looked to him confused, brows furrowing he walks over and stands beside him "what are you doing?" He looks up, looking around him confused.

"Get down! You Idiot, I'm hiding from dad" Austin hisses, grabbing at Jace's shirt and bundling it in a fist, dragging him down to the ground beside him. Jace collapses down, eyes wide, looking confused and as worried as ever still not knowing what was wrong with Tess or where she was.

Austin peers over the edge of the fence, up at the house looking for any movement in the windows, then back to Jace with a furrowed brow and pursed lips. It was clear something was wrong, Jace could tell.

"What happened to Tess?" He whispers, looking around the boy looking for a small injured crying girl.

"Um~~ I don't know where she is.. I lost her. I went to the humans entrance and she wasn't there" Austin frowns, letting go of Jace's shirt he leant back into the fence and rubbed at his eyes. His entire body collapsing in on itself.

Jace's mouth fell and his eyes widened, his face turned a dark red close to the colour of a beetroot. A vein was close to bursting from his forehead. Shoving at Austin's shoulder, he jumped to his feet not caring if Brian saw him "you idiot!" He shouted, "What if someone grabbed her! What if she's still there! You moron, did you even think about that? She's new she doesn't know what she's doing Austin!" he growls, letting out a frustrated groan and turns away to open the gate

"I'm sorry! Look I panicked I didn't know what to do! That's why o texted you!" Austin's eyes followed Jace, eyes widening he quickly stands and follows "where do you think your going?" He reaches to grab at Jace's arm to pull him back

"To get your car keys so I can go back and find Tess, who YOU left behind!" Jace's eyes narrowed as he tugged his hand away from Austin.

Austin frowned and rubbed at the back of his neck, awkwardly following after Jace inside his own home. Hovering by the doorway his eyes searched the premises for his father who could turn around a corner any second. knowing for sure he'd be killed on the spot if he found out Tess wasn't with him. His father loved Margaret to the point that it was sickening and any mis behaviour that could embarrass his father or upset his women meant he would be in trouble. No, dead.

Jace on the other hand barged through the house as if he owned it. Walking down the hall to the key rack then quickly walking back, jingling the keys at Austin.

"Come on" Jace snapped, running his fingers through his light hair as he pushed by Austin. Austin was taken aback a little not having seen Jace so mad before. It wasn't like him to be like this, usually being the bubbly happy person in the room.

Even when he got shit from Lenny and the other boys Jace always was happy and had a smile on his face no matter what. Turning slowly Austin watched as Jace climbed down the porch and silently went to his car to climb in the passenger seat since he didn't have his license.

Pursing his lips, Austin moved to leave, opening the door and heading out onto the porch. Oh boy did he feel bad, he hoped Tess was okay.

"Where do you think your going?" Austin froze, eyes wide as he turned around to see his father standing in the hallway with a small smile tugged up on his lips. He always had a smile on his face..

"Dad! I can explain!"

Left on another cliff hanger but I promise this next update will be quicker cause I've already got it half written out! Sorry for such a long wait I promise I'll update soon xxx