I must have fallen asleep, or fainted, or something, because the next thing I know, I'm hearing voices. And not the kind in my head! (I'm not that crazy!) They were calling something over and over... but they were too far away, and I couldn't hear exactly what they were saying.
The voices drifted closer, and I could hear what they were saying now, but I still didn't move. "Sheen!" the voices called, "Sheen, where are you?" I pulled my knees up to my chest and laid my head on them. It was cold. I wanted to go home. But I didn't want anyone to see me crying, so I wiped my eyes and nose on my beige pants (My dad was still going to kill me about ruining them).
"Sheen!" I looked up and saw the familiar face of Mr. Neutron. "Sugarbooger! I found him!" I sighed, and shivered.
"Sheen Juarerra Estevez!" said Mrs. Neutron in the same voice she used to scold her son after one of his experiments goes awry. She ran up to me, and I half expected her to smack me. But her gaze softened and she bent down beside me, laying a hand on my shoulder. "Thank God we found you. We were so worried. Come on, let's get you home." She helped me to my feet and held my hand like a mother would as she walked me away from my place of misery.
Mr. Neutron was running around yelling "I found him! I found him!" It wasn't long until we reached the edge of the forest, and I was so relieved that I (might have) cried (a little, tiny bit). People started emerging from the trees; a lot more than I would have thought. I even saw Mrs. Fowl and Cindy's mom, two people who hate me, with relieved expressions as they were told I'd been found. Apparently they found my backpack and figured out I'd gotten lost in the woods, and put together a search party.
I wasn't sure if I saw him first, or if he saw me, but the next thing I knew my hand was free of Mrs. Neutron's hand I was running toward my dad. He enveloped me in a giant hug, not saying a word. He kissed my forehead and I clung to him desperately, like a life raft in the sea.
I don't know how long we stood there. All I know is the fear ebbed, and I slowly began to feel better. I saw Jimmy and Carl looking relieved a few feet away and released my dad and turned intending to go see them. He caught me arm and I yelped, the cuts stinging. He let go, but turned my shoulder so I faced him.
"Sheen," he said, and I swore I think I saw his eyes water in the moonlight, "Sheen, son, don't ever, ever run away again. Do you hear me?" He looked me in the eye; we were the same height. "Don't ever scare me like that." I blinked away an onslaught of new emotions, mostly regret.
"I'm sorry," I mumbled, trying not to meet his gaze. I felt so ashamed. He smiled slightly and patted me on the shoulder.
"Sheen, thank God you're alive!" I heard Carl say, walking up to me and ruining the moment. Jimmy quickly followed, expressing similar feelings.
I looked around for Libby as my dad drifted off to talk to the adults, but I couldn't see her. The guys were talking about something I wasn't listening to. "Where's Libby?" I finally voiced, looking at them with wide eyes. "Did she not fear for my life as I battled the Terrors of the Tiresome Trees like UltraLord did in episode 419?"
Jimmy and Carl looked around for her, too. "Yeah, Cindy isn't here, either," Jimmy said, confused, "But I swear I saw her with her mom earlier." I nodded. I'd seen Cindy's mom, so Cindy must be around here somewhere. And where Cindy went, Libby went.
"Maybe they got lost," said Carl, eyes wide with fear, "Looking for you, in the trees! What if they're still out there and don't know you're here with us?" Jimmy frowned.
"They'll turn up soon, if that's the case, Carl," he said seriously, "My dad's running around yelling that we found him."
Speak of the devil, I thought as I saw a certain dark-haired beauty and her best friend emerge from the trees not far from where we were standing. She spotted me in a second, and then raced towards me, a grin on her angelic face. She threw her arms around my midsection and hugged me very, very tightly (not that I was complaining). She buried her face in my chest.
"Sheen, what were you thinking?" she scolded into my wrinkled t-shirt. But she didn't sound really angry, more relieved. I smiled and kissed her forehead.
"Sorry."
"That's not an answer, silly." But she didn't pursue it any more. Cindy stood awkwardly off to the side of everyone, not really talking or going home like most of the searchers. I gently removed Libby's arms from around my waist and kissed the back of one hand.
"I shall return momentarily, my love," I promised, letting go of her hand and walking over to Cindy.
"What do you want, UltraDork?" Cindy sneered in her usual way, eying me with distaste. I fumbled around in my pocket and pulled out the shiny bracelet.
"I found this in the park today," I told her, holding it out, "I remembered it was yours, and took a short-cut through the forest to bring it to your house." Cindy's hand shook as she took the bracelet from my outstretched hand.
"You...? You were trying to return something of mine when you got lost?" Her voice was almost a whisper. "That's so sweet." She examined the bracelet, and I saw an odd emotion cross her face: fear. I swore I saw it, if only for a moment. She quickly shoved it back towards me. "Sweet, but misguided. This isn't mine."
I looked at the bracelet, then back at her. "Yes it is," I protested, "Jimmy gave it to you. See, it has a 'C' on it for 'Cindy' and everything!" I tried to show her, but she backed up, putting her hands out in front of her as if to try and ward me off.
"No, it must be someone else's. That's not mine," she repeated, her voice shaking a little. "Jimmy didn't give me that." I shrugged and put it back in my pocket.
"If you say so."
I turned around and went back to Libby, who was trying hard to follow whatever Jimmy was talking about. "Sorry, Libby," I said, approaching the group. Libby nodded in slight acknowledgement and put her hand out. I took it in mine and stood beside her as she listened intently.
"And I'll monitor his brainwaves the whole time," Jimmy promised, and Libby bit her lip.
"I dunno, it still sounds dangerous..." She looked at me, then back at Jimmy. "Are you sure it's safe?"
"I just explained all that!" he groaned, "Gosh, life was a lot easier before I had to get permission before testing things on Sheen. It's just a few harmless watts of electricity. It's perfectly safe! He'll even enjoy it. You know how he is with shocks."
"Shocks?" I asked excitedly, remembering the last time I felt that wonderful painful tingle from my scalp to my toes. "Cool!"
"See?" Jimmy patted her arm. "Doesn't bother him a bit."
"Well, I guess so..." She sighed. "As long as it doesn't interfere with my plans on Saturday. I got tickets for us to go see Grey Star!" She grinned at me excitedly. "I was going to tell you today at school, but you weren't there... you'll come with me, right?"
"Of course! As long as Jimmy can tape UltraLord for me." I looked at him. "Pleeeeeease?" Jimmy rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, sure."
"Great!" Libby punched the air triumphantly. "Then it's settled. This weekend you can test your whatchamacallit on Sheen, then on Saturday he, Cindy and I are goin' to see the best band ever!"
Inwardly, I groaned. Cindy would be coming along? She'd be whining about how her feet hurt, or how it was too loud, or how I was dancing too crazily the whole time! Not to mention she'd call me 'UltraDork' or 'UltraDweeb' and mock my hero vivaciously! She'd blab on about Nick or his skateboarding skills, or his most recent breaks, or his 'adorable flaws,' and we'd end up missing half of the good songs. Taking Cindy anywhere was a pain in the butt, but she came along with Libby, unfortunately.
"Perfect! Sheen, I expect you to be at the lab tomorrow after school as soon as you can."
"Sure, Jimmy, whatever."
"Shheeeeeeeeeenie!" I heard my annoying little sister call. "Daddy says it's time to go hoooooooomme!"
"I'll be right there, Mia! Hold your horses!"
"I don't have any horses!"
I turned to Libby. "I've got to go."
"Alright." She pecked my cheek. "Just remember to go to Jimmy's after school. I have choir practice, so I won't be able to come." I nodded.
"Shheeeeeeeeeeeeen!"
"I'm coming!" I squeezed her hand quickly, then raced off towards the little bugger yelling, "Miiiiiiiaaaaaaaaa!" just to annoy her. As I was running, I saw Cindy and Nick standing over by the trees. They were obviously having an argument; she had her hands bawled into fists by her side, and so did he. She was red-faced from yelling, though I was too far away to hear the words. He grabbed her hand and dragged her into the forest, kicking and screaming.
If my dad hadn't made me come home, I would have gone over there to see what was up. I should have gone over there. I should have helped her. But how could I have known? How could any of us have known? And why hadn't anyone else noticed?