Pretty Little Things

Chapter 22 - Jacob

“If you fail, then we failed as parents,” my dad spat angrily as I slumped over on the couch.

“School isn’t important, and I think it’s time to throw in the towel on this one. I’m a lost cause.” I shook my head and laughed as my high settled deep into my chest. I dug my pack of cigarettes from my pocket and knocked the box against my hand.

“Don’t smoke in this damn house,” he yelled as his face turned red with anger. I glanced up at him through heavy eyelids. My father’s shirt was only half tucked in, and the bags under his eyes made him look twenty years older than he was. I watched as he slowly fell apart, much like me. The man who was once my childhood hero was now nothing more than a shell of his former self. My mother’s death and the downward spiral of his son had worn him down until he no longer functioned.

My head was spinning with my visit with Annie last night. I was anxious to get to spend the entire day with her and find out whether she was upset that I had been talking to Nat. I scrubbed the heels of my hands over my eyes, hoping to sober myself.

“What do I have to do to get through to you?”

I stared up at my father with blurred vision, waiting for him to stop lecturing me so he could leave for work and I could call Annie.

When I didn’t respond, he shook his head and walked out of the back door angrily.

“Thank fucking God.” I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and texted Annie to let her know she could come over. I got up and walked to the door, staring across the field. I pushed open the screen door and flicked my cigarette out onto the dirt road.

I slipped on my sneakers and walked toward our “bear” tree, hoping to catch her on her way over. When I reached the fence and still hadn’t received a reply, I decided to slip through and continue walking through the trees on her property.

As I walked up the steps to her porch, I smoothed my hands over my shirt before knocking on the oversized wooden door. After a few seconds an older man answered, causing me to take a step back.

“Hi, um…I’m looking for Annie.”

He eyed me for a moment. “She’s in school.”

My eyes narrowed as I scratched the back of my head. “Are you sure? She…uh…said something about not feeling well and wanted me to take her homework in.”

He walked by me, coughing into his fist, and went down the steps of the porch. I followed behind him as he walked to the garage and opened the door.

“The car’s gone.” He glanced from the garage to me again. “Where is your uniform?”

“Shit…” I shook my head.

“You have one minute to tell me where she is, or I’m calling the police.”

“My old man is the police, and I don’t know. She was supposed to meet me. We were going to spend the day together.” My gut turned as I realized she must really be upset with me.

Pulling a cell phone from his pocket, he dialed a number, his eyes fixed on me.

“Is Annabel with you?” There was a pause before he spoke again. “There’s a boy here saying she was supposed to come see him today and never showed. My car’s gone.” There was another pause, and I shifted my weight from foot to foot.

“I’ll call the school.” He held the phone away from his mouth. “When was the last time you saw her?”

“Yesterday. She was watching the news and was acting weird about some girl who went missing that looked like her. She left and promised she’d come back today.” I conveniently left out the part about Nat, guilt gnawing at me.

“Call your father. We have a problem.”