1. The missing girl
Joanna Audley, 18 years, missing since one year.
It was the second time I saw this poster of a beautiful girl. She had dark hair and deep blue eyes, just like the sky on a sunny day. She is smiling, like the happiest girl in the world. The sentance about her name, age and since when she is missig was written in big red capital letters. I was wondering who she was and what happened to her. Feeling sorry about her I started walking again and made my way to the collage.
Just when I arrived at the collage, my phone pipet. I opened my bag und started to search for it. There was a massage from my mother.
‘Bel, I am so sorry, I could not be with you yesterday. I know its not easy for you, try to make the best of it. At last, I am now at our new home and I selceted a cute room for you. Hope you will visit your mother soon. I am sure, you will find new friends. Just be yourself. Love you, mum‘ I rolled my eyes at her massage. As if it was that easy.
My mom got a new job offer from her company and since she is a hard and loyal worker she did not want to decline it. I was shocked when I heard about it in the frist place. Everything got so complicated, because in the same time, when my mom took the job offer I got news from the Greenwood University.
They wanted me. It was a full paid scholarship with a dorm room. The university was just two hours away so I could visit her everytime I wanted. That was the reasion, why I choose this university, but now she would move in a other city and it was so far away from me. At last for eight hours from my university. Now I was really alone. I had always my Mom with me. We had a good relationship, because I needed her as much as she needed me.
I never met my father. My Mom did not like to talk about him. All I know was, that it was an One-Night-Stand and he did not want me in the first place and because of that, he never interested me. I did not need him. I mean, I am now 18 years old and I made it without a father, so I will made it till the end without one.
I took a deep breath and walked to the doorway. My first class was in creative writings and I could not find out where it was. In spite I become the folders about all my classes from the administration office some days ago. I was struggling with all the bumf and did not noticed where I was walking. Before I could realize it I bumped in someone.
“I am so sorry. I was to fixed in the paperwork.“ I apologized and kneeled down to pick the sheets as I saw she got down too and helped me.
„Its not a big thing. Can I help you maybe? Where do you need to go?“ she asked while we got up from the floor.
„In the creative writings class.“ I told her and as I saw her familiar face I recognized her immediately. „I think you are my roommate. I arrived yesterday lately and did not what to wake you up. My name is Bella and I am studying creative writings and further reading.“ I smiled at her and stretched my arm to her.
„So you are the Girl who kicked her toe on the bed yesterday? The way you tried to stay quite was so hilarious. Its so nice to meet you finally.“ she said lauging and added „I am also studying creative writings. Come with me, we can walk together to the class.“ as she took my hand.
„Thats great!“ I just found a classmate.
„By the way, my name is Layla.“ she said as we were on our way. I already liked her and hoped we will become good friends.
The first class want by so fast. The second class also. We decided to go to the cafeteria because we had a free period. Layla was so nice to me, all the time. She also agreed to show me the school and the importend places here. She is a first year student just like me, but thats because she failed last year and had to repeat the class. All her friends were sophomores. I do not know why but I had the strange feeling, that it had something to do with the missing girl but I did not feel comfortable enough to ask her.
When we arrived at the cafeteria Layla got us to cups of coffee and we made our ways to one of the free seats. The cafeteria was not full, there were only a few students since it was class time.
“It was a difficult year for us and my studies were the last thing I cared about.“ Layla took a sip of her coffee.
“Do you want to tell me about it? I am a good listener.“ I smiled at her.
“Maybe you discovered the posters all around the city. Joanna Audley. She was one of my childhood friends and in one single night everything changed in our life.“ Layla put the cup on the table and gaped on the floor.
“What happened?“ I asked her.
“We were on the bonfire party, the seniors every year make and this was the night she disappeared. I thought she were with Noe, her boyfriend, so we did not look for her. After a while we heard a loud scream and it echoed in the whole wood. We got confused. Ace, her cousin was the first one who realized she was not around and we started to search for her. He is over protectiv about her. They grew up together and were more like sibilings.“ she got silent for a moment.
“But, as we could not find her, he got angry and started to believe that something bad must be happened. We called the police and the bonfire party was broke, everyone left the party. Some tried to help us to find Joanna and some got back home. But we never found her. Shes been almost one year missed. Ace does not like to speak about-“
Layla could not finish her sentance and stopped when she spotted someone behind me. I turned around and followed her gaze.
Against the door leaned a tall boy. He was looking mad at our direction and when I was looking closer I realized he was looking at me. I was confused. Why did he look at me like this? I did not even know him.
“Who is this? Did I do something wrong?“ I started to talk and took my eyes away from him.
“This ist Ace Adams. The cousin I told you about just a few seconds ago.“ Layla explained and tried to look away from him.
Wonderful.
What was his problem? I never met him in my life and yet it seems like he already hates me. Ace looked like a typical bad boy with his white shirt under his black leader jacket and ripped jeans combined with black boots. I would lie if I would say he did not scare me. And if his evil gace throwed at me was not enough, he started to walk in our direction an I could feel how my heart stopped beating and my breath stucked in my throat.
