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Chapter 16: Missing

"I'll see you guys later," Sandy said as he dropped Ryan and Seth off at school.

"K, see 'ya," Seth waved to his dad. They walked down the steps and headed in the opposite direction to where Marissa was, completely oblivious to what was happening. Just as they reached the school building they heard car horns.

"Ok. What's happening to this world! Road rage at 8:30 in the morning!"

They both glanced up to the car park which was obscured by trees. Ryan just shrugged his shoulders.

"Somebody is probably angry because the forgot their digital organiser come phone come personal servant, or something like that."

"Hey, I bet it was Summer." Ryan looked at him. "Don't tell her I said that."

"I won't," Ryan smirked at the look of fear on the Seth's face.

"No, seriously don't."

"You know anyone would think you were scared of Summer! Hey," Ryan smiled at Summer who was a few metres away.

"Now why would I be scared of Su…"Ryan elbowed him in the ribs. Seth turned to see Summer in front of them.

"Scared of what?" she asked innocently.

"Uh…sunbeds." Summer and Ryan both looked at him weirdly. "I mean all the celebs are doing it, but I'm just…just not so sure. You know sensitive skin, jew-fro…." He grinned at Summer.

"Ookay. Have you guys seen Coop?"

"No. We said we'd meet her here," Ryan replied.

"In the natural sun," Summer looked at Seth. "Or the shade. Whichever you prefer…."

"I'm just glad she's back," Summer said, ignoring Seth's comment.

A kid ran past Seth in to the school. Seth looked at Summer who was leaning against the wall with her arms folded, then at Ryan who was sitting on the ground against the wall.

"Uhhh….is it just me or does it seem kind of quiet?"

Summer looked at her watch.

"Coop should be here by now. Where is she?" Summer was getting worried.

"Maybe she decided not to come in," Seth said trying to reassure her.

"But she would have phoned us."

Seth could see Summer becoming more worried.

"Hey, I bet she's talking to Dr Kim."

Summer looked at Seth. He was probably right. Something still didn't feel right though. Ryan stood up. He glanced around nervously. Just like Summer, there was a nagging feeling in the back of his mind telling him that something wasn't right. He tried to ignore it.

"We should get to class, find her at break," Seth said. Summer sighed.

"Yeah." Seth put his arm around Summer's shoulder and they walked in to the school. Seth looked back at Ryan who was still standing outside.

"Ryan? You coming?"

Ryan glanced around outside.

"Yeah." He picked his bag up from the ground and followed Summer and Seth.

Little did he know that he would soon be wishing that he had listened to the nagging voice in the back of his mind.

Ryan's eyes were glued to the clock. The second hand gradually made its way around. He turned back to his work. He couldn't concentrate – right now he really couldn't care less what happened in act 3 scene 2 of hamlet.

He looked back at the clock. How was it possible? He could have sworn that it was at least ten minutes since the last time he looked not three.

"The clock must be wrong," he told himself. He looked at his watch then back at the clock. They read exactly the same time. He drummed his fingers on the desk with frustration. He just wanted to see Marissa, to know that she was alright.

Eventually the sound of the bell rang in his ears. He grabbed his books not bothering to put them in his bag and ran out of the classroom.

Summer walked out of class just as Ryan ran up to her. He looked past Summer expecting Marissa to follow her out, but the room was empty. He looked at Summer.

"She didn't turn up."

Summer had spent the whole lesson just waiting for Marissa to walk in. But no matter how hard she stared at the door it never opened. Seth walked up to them.

"Hey." He looked at Summer when neither of them replied.

"Didn't turn up?"

Summer shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. Seth put his arm around her shoulder and kissed her head.

"There's nothing to worry about. I'm sure she's fine."

"Then why do I have a weird feeling in my stomach?"

"Maybe you ate something funny."

"Cohen, I'm serious. Something's up."

Seth looked at Ryan whose brow was burrowed in thought.

"Ryan?"

He looked at Seth. "We should go and ask Dr Kim if she's seen her."

"Yes, good plan," Seth said smiling and squeezing Summer's shoulder.

"Come in."

Ryan pushed the large wooden door open.

"Ryan," Dr Kim smiled. "What can I do for you?"

"Uh, I was just wondering if Marissa came by to see you this morning?"

"Marissa Cooper? No, I haven't seen her since before the incident."

"Oh."

"Is everything alright?"

"Uh, yeah, yeah. Thanks." He quickly walked out shutting the door behind him. Dr Kim frowned. She was about to follow Ryan when her phone rang.

"Hello. Oh. Yes, yes." She sat down at her desk, her strange encounter with Ryan slipping to the back of her mind.

"Well?" Summer looked at Ryan.

"She hasn't seen her."

Seth's smile faded.

"Have you tried her cell?" Seth asked Summer.

"I tried earlier but she didn't pick up."

"Try again."

Summer raked around her bag and brought out her cell phone.

It just kept ringing….and ringing….and ringing. It eventually reached the voice mail.

"Hey, it's Marissa. Leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as possible."

"Hey Coop. It's Summer…. and Seth and Ryan. Umm, you didn't come to school so we're just checking you're ok. So, uh, call me."

She ended the call and looked at Ryan and Seth.

"I don't understand. She always answers her cell."

"It was her new number you were phoning?" Seth asked.

Jimmy bought Marissa a new phone straight after the mugging. He wasn't going to have her going out without being able to get in touch.

"Yeah."

"Try her house," Ryan suggested.

Summer got the same noise. Constant ringing.

"If she's not here and she's not at home then where is she?"

"Well Jimmy's not at home either so maybe he took her out," Seth said reassuringly. He could tell that Summer was getting more worried by the second.

"Hey I'll phone my mum. See if she's seen Jimmy." Seth was running out of ideas. He took out his cell and phoned home.

"Hello."

Seth heard his mum's voice on the other end of the line.

"Mum."

"Seth? What's up? Why are you phoning in the middle of the school day?"

"Umm, I was just wondering if you've seen Jimmy."

"Well not since last night. Wh…"

"Or Marissa?"

"Why would I have seen Marissa? I thought she was at school."

"Ye so did I until she didn't turn up."

"Well she probably decided to stay home."

"We've called her cell and her house but didn't get an answer."

"I'm sure it's nothing to worry about," Kirsten replied noticing the concern in Seth's voice. "I'll drop by Julie's, see if she's there."

"Ok. Call me if she is."

"Ok, bye."

"Bye."

"My mum's gonna go see Julie, check if she's there."

Summer raised her eyebrows. "Highly unlikely but…."

The bell rang.

"Well we can't do anything more until lunch," Ryan said.

They all just looked at each other. Even Seth was worried.

Jimmy drove up the Cohen's driveway. He got out the car picking up a bottle of wine from the passenger seat. He rang the doorbell.

"Jimmy," Kirsten smiled at him. He produced the bottle of wine from behind his back. "What's this for?"

"I just felt I had to do something after all that you and Sandy have done for Marissa. I mean I know it's not much but…."

"Jimmy you really didn't have to," she said taking the bottle.

"I know, but I wanted to."

"Come in," she ushered him through the door. "You want a glass?"

"Ye, sure. Thanks."

Jimmy sat on the couch as Kirsten filled up two glasses. She walked over and handed him a glass, sitting down beside him.

"Is it strange that I'm drinking the wine that I just bought for you as a gift?"

"Well I wasn't going to drink it on my own."

Jimmy held his glass up.

"Cheers."

Kirsten clinked her glass on his.

"Cheers," she took a sip. "Mmm," she swallowed. "Seth phoned me earlier, asking if I had seen Marissa."

Jimmy swallowed his mouthful of wine. "Why would you have seen her? She's at school."

"That's what I said, but apparently she's not."

"What do you mean she's not at school? I saw her leave this morning."

"Oh," Kirsten said, Seth's concern reflected in her voice.

"Well if she's not at school then where is she?" Jimmy couldn't understand. He watched her leave for school only a matter of hours ago.

"I thought she would be with you when Seth phoned." She noticed Jimmy's knuckles turning white as he gripped his wine glass.

"Well she's not with me." He dug his hand in to his pocket and took out his cell. He dialed her number.

"Come on, come on," he said under his breath as the phone kept ringing.

"Hey.."

He flipped his phone shut when he reached her voice mail.

"Dammit!"

Kirsten looked at him worried. Jimmy stood up and gulped down the rest of his wine. Kirsten stood up beside him. He thrust his empty wine glass in to Kirsten's hands.

"Thanks for the wine." He turned around and headed to the door.

"Wait, Jimmy! Where are you going? We have to think about this."

Jimmy spun round to face Kirsten

"I watched my 17 year old daughter leave for school this morning and no-one has seen her since. And all just a week after she was mugged and attacked in this very neighborhood! I really don't have time to think!" He said almost angrily. When he reached the door he turned around again.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to take it out on you. It's just if something happens to her again…..I just need to find her. I need her back."

"It's fine. Phone me if you find her."

Jimmy nodded and shut the door. Kirsten downed the rest of her wine in a oner. She sat back down as she felt it burn down her throat. Maybe she shouldn't have told Seth that there was nothing to worry about.

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