Page 41 of Tell Me You Like It

My worry for Bree is climbing higher by the second, and I wrestle with the idea of going straight to the police. No one from the school is responding with the appropriate amount of urgency—not Ms. Ramirez, not security. But Roman warned me not to go to the police, and until I can ask him why, I’m going to heed that warning. For now.

At the end of the day, I return to my residence hall. I stopped by Bree's room on my way in, and there was no answer. Not surprising. I mean, I half-expected no answer, but it still ties my stomach in knots. I glance at my phone and note the time. I have a little while until Roman shows up to take me to some kind of get-together.

I don’t even care what this get-together is. I’m trying tolook at the bright side. If there are other people there, then I can use it as an opportunity to ask around about Bree.

When I open the door to my room, Emily is sitting at her desk, working on her computer. As I shut the door, she half-turns in her chair and smiles at me.

“Hey,” she says. “How’s it going? Any news on your friend?”

I toss my backpack next to my desk and plop onto my bed with a sigh. “Nope. I’ve left a message for the Undergraduate Dean. And I’ve talked to security, but no one is concerned. Apparently, students up and leave all the time.”

Emily swivels in her chair and turns to fully face me, her delicate brows drawn together in concern. “Is that something you think she would do? Just…up and leave? I mean,honestly? I know you don’t want to believe she would just ditch you, but is it a real possibility?”

I pause on that thought. After a second, I shrug one shoulder. “She seemed upset yesterday morning, so…I don’t know,maybe? But without her phone? That part isreallyweird.”

I don’t tell Emily about my gut feeling, because I know it’s going to sound crazy. This dark feeling has been sitting like a bolder in my chest since finding her phone in the sand. Like, Bree’s been taken. Stolen from me.

Emily leans back and thinks for a second. “What about her parents? Maybe they know something?”

I bite my bottom lip. “Yeah, I don’t want to worry them.”

“It’s your only option at this point. I think they’d probably rather know, than not,” she says with a shrug.

It’s a fair point.

I pull out my phone and search for her mom’s number. I’ve had it programmed into my phone for years, but neverneeded to use it. With a deep breath, I hit ‘call’ and immediately put it on speaker. Bree's mom picks up on the second ring.

“Lux,” she says cheerfully. “How are you, babe? Everything okay?”

God, I just love Bree's mom. She’s always been warm and affectionate towards me—everything my own mother never was. I hate to kill the happiness in her voice, but I’m doing this for Bree.

“Um, hey, Mrs. Langley,” I say, my voice shaking just a little. “Um, I’m sorry to bother you, but I’m worried about Bree. I haven’t seen her since yesterday. She hasn’t been back to her room, and I’ve asked around, but no one has seen her…”

Then I tell her about finding her phone on the beach and all the steps I’ve taken to contact the campus powers-that-be. When I’m done, the other end of the line is silent.

After about ten seconds, I speak up, afraid we may have gotten disconnected. “Hello?”

“Oh, sorry. I’m at the grocery store. Um, yeah, you know I wouldn't worry about it too much, hon. She’ll turn up.” There’s a complete lack of concern in her voice that floors me. “This is her first college experience, and I’m sure she just lost track of time. When I was a freshman, I’d disappear for a couple of days here and there. I was usually holed up with a cute guy.” She laughs at that last part.

“Um, I….” I don’t even know what to say. Mrs. Langley has always been a bit liberal parenting-wise, but I wasn’t expecting this level of nonchalance. “Okay. Can you let me know if you hear from her, and I’ll do the same?”

“Sure, hon.”

When we hang up, I let the phone fall to the bed in complete disbelief. I glance up at Emily, who was listeningto the entire conversation. “That was weird, right?” I say. Honestly, I’m beginning to think I’m going crazy. No one seems concerned, except me. “Is it me? Am I overreacting?”

Emily’s brows pinch together, and I can tell she’s being careful about what she says. “No, you’re being a good friend.Buuut,” Ah, there it is—the part where she’s trying to be careful. “...if her mom isn’t worried, then I don’t know, maybe just give it a couple more days?”

I push out a breath. “Yeah. I guess.” I glance at my phone again. Thirty minutes until Roman picks me up. I dread seeing him again–because every time I’m in his presence, I feel a little out of control, and Ihatethat feeling.

But, I don’t know, maybe tonight will be a good distraction.

“Roman is picking me up soon, so I guess I’d better get ready,” I say, getting up off the bed to walk to my desk, where I have all my makeup laid out—it’s not a lot. Just foundation, eyeshadow, mascara, and lip tint. I'm pretty low-maintenance as a rule.

“So what’s going on with you two, exactly?” Emily asks, turning around so her back is to me. “The entire school, and I mean everyone, even the professors, are talking about you guys.”

I roll my eyes as I dab on a thin layer of foundation. I’m almost out, and I can’t afford to buy more, so I use it sparingly. “Why, though? What’s the big deal? He’s a manwhore, right? Doesn’t he date all kinds of girls? That’s the impression I get anyway. That he’d fuck anything with a pair of tits.”

“Yeah, I don’t know,” she replies. “But I’d be careful with him. I’ve heard he’s into some pretty dark stuff.”

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