MASSIE BLOCK STILL MISSING!
Alicia Rivera stared at the words, hardly believing them. The newspaper article had been pinned to the bulletin board of the main office at Westlake High School since freshman year. Even though it had been there the entire time Alicia had been in high school, even though she had seen it every day, she woke up every day hoping it wasn't real.
She scanned the rest of the article. She had read it so many times she had nearly memorized the words.
Eighth grader Massie Block vanished Friday, October 10th. Police have searched the area, coming up with no trace of the missing girl. Police assume she is being held for ransom and expect Massie's safe return shortly…
Alicia's eyes brimmed with tears. There had been no safe return. Days turned to weeks, weeks turned to months, and months turned into years. Eventually, the Westchester police force declared the case closed. Massie's parents were devastated. They hired hundreds of detectives, but it always ended the same way. The last Alicia heard, the Blocks had moved, partly to avoid the constant swarm of reporters, but Alicia had a feeling they couldn't bear to stay in Westchester. No one knew where they went.
That day haunted Alicia. She had been at home texting her boyfriend Josh when she got the news. As soon as she heard, she fainted. She spent her whole life believing Massie was perfect. Nothing bad happened to her.
Two girls in her homeroom walked up to her, snickering.
"Hey Alicia," they said with exaggerated enthusiasm. Alicia pretended not to hear.
"I didn't know there was an STD that caused hearing problems," one of them hissed. Alicia could picture Massie barking out a comeback. Massie always defended her. She even went up against a teacher for giving her a C on a report. Then she remembered. She was fighting with Massie around the time she went missing. She doubted they had spoken. If somehow she had known…
Alicia shook her head, trying not to think about it.
"Slut," one of them hissed. Alicia stiffened. They walked away, cackling. Alicia watched them go. Two years ago, those girls were afraid to walk in front of her. She couldn't help wondering how her life would have changed if Massie hadn't been…
Her whole body was shaking. She slumped against the wall and crumbled. Tears streamed down her face, but this time, she didn't care how many people watched with prying eyes. She kept telling herself that somehow, Massie was okay, until the tears stopped.
Alicia tore down the newspaper article and crumpled it in her hand.