"Nothing. I've checked absolutely everywhere. There's nothing here," Gwen replies for the tenth time. It takes me a second to process it. He's not here. The thought that he could be far, far away by now resurfaces, and it frightens me. He did everything to save me, and I feel like I'm doing nothing, although I know I'm doing absolutely everything. I mutter under my breath, "He's gone. I know it."
"Na, Courtney. We'll find him," Trent says to me. I didn't expect him to overhear what I said, but I just nod. I look terrible. I have ever since he left. Duncan's parents have come over twice since he disappeared, and they've filed hundreds of reports about their 'run-away' son. I always feel bad when I hear about. I always feel like I did this to him, although I know I shouldn't. I didn't. I think.
"Duncan is fully capable of looking after himself. He'll be absolutely fine," Bridgette assures me as I poke through some more old cupboards.
"I know, okay? I just wanna keep looking in case," I reply, flatly. Saying I've not been great is an underestimate – I'm literally terrible.
"Yeah, but if he really cared about you, wouldn't he have come back be now? Obviously, he doesn't. Poor Courtney," she laughed, and I see Gwen send her an evil glare across the room. "Oh give it up, Weird Goth Girl, we all know you like Duncan." Gwen bites her lip, but I barely take notice of what Heather said. She's right. Duncan's gone.
And I'll never know if he comes back.
A/N - …read next a/n.