Page 4 of Hidden Truths

“Are we sure he didn’t walk home?” I ask, assuming Kai already checked if he has us searching, but wanting to ask anyway.

“Yeah, Kai called home, and his mom said he wasn’t there. He’s been calling his phone nonstop too. Ezra isn’t answering.”

I shake my head. Ezra doesn’t wander or take off without telling anyone. If anything, he’s probably the most responsible out of all of us. Which is making me feel uneasy. Any buzz I had left from the show or the beer I was drinking has been sufficiently smothered.

I look over my shoulder and see Belle motioning for us to follow her and Kai. I grab Willa, and we quickly catch up to them. Belle had seen Ezra in a small opening in the trees, but that was hours ago. At least it gives us a starting place.

“What do you want us to do?”

I turn around to see Blonde One with a flashlight in her hand and a group of people behind her, including Firecracker.

“Split into groups, but don’t go too far. These woods go for miles, and I don’t want anyone else getting lost tonight,” Kai says, his voice tight with barely restrained emotions.

We take off in groups, all screaming Ezra’s name until our voices are hoarse, our feet hurt, and the sun begins to rise.

Three months. It’s been three fucking months and not a single word on Ezra. We’re supposed to go back to school soon. How the fuck am I going to do that without him? Kai isn’t even considering it. Belle and Willa still went shopping to get things to decorate their dorm with, but I think it was a feeble attempt at keeping things positive.

My phone dings, letting me know I have a new email. I check it quickly, expecting it to be my advisor. I emailed him, asking about the withdrawal process. I haven’t officially withdrawn or even made that decision, but I want the information in case I need it.

“Holy shit,” I mutter as I read the email I just received. “Holy shit!”

It wasn’t from my advisor, it’s from one of the many record labels I sent a video of us performing to. I took a risk and sent in the original song. The one Belle wrote. And one of them responded.

“Belle?” I scream as loudly as I can so that she can hear me no matter where she is in the house. “Where are you?”

“I’m here,” she says, making her way to where I’m standing in our parents’ rundown kitchen. I miss the yellow walls and worn wooden cabinets when I’m at school. Belle and I made a lot of macaroni in this room. Ever since she and Willa watched Practical Magic and wanted Midnight Margaritas but were waytoo young to drink, Midnight Macaroni became one of my best ideas. “What’s up?”

I explain the record deal to her at the same time I text Kai and Willa.

Guys, you need to get to my house right now.

Kai

I was about to go check the train station and the hospitals again.

I cringe. We’ve been checking everywhere we can think of on repeat for months.

Willa

I can be there in two minutes. Kai, I’ll go with you after we go see what Cal needs.

Kai

K.

Once everyone is here and I finish explaining why and how this deal came about, I take in their faces. Willa looks shocked and Kai is glaring at Belle for some reason. Okay, not exactly what I was expecting.

I open my mouth to complain about the lack of excitement, but Belle speaks before I can.

“I’m out.”

Her words feel like a slap. “What? What do you mean? You can’t miss the opportunity!”

“Then don’t! You don’t need me to do this,” she fires back.

“You wrote the song they want!” I yell, completely blown away by her lack of understanding.

“Keep the song, Callahan! I’m not taking that from you. This isn’t what I want. I can’t do this without Ezra. I just. . . I can’t,Cal.” I see the plea in her eyes. She needs me to understand. I quickly glance at Kai and see she won’t be getting the understanding from him. He looks angry. I don’t know if that shocks me or not. He’s been in a constant state of anger for the last three months.

---