Anwar

The night at Andy's apartment goes by as expected. It was just me worrying my ass off while Andy tried to calm me down a bit. Jury's still out on whether it did any good. Andy is a really nice guy, the type that is just too pleasant to get on your nerves or stay on them for long. As I tried futily to fall asleep on his couch, he just did his best to make me comfortable. Fluffing my pillow, getting me water, and just about anything else you could think of.

It was all very sweet but I still didn't get any sleep that night. I just couldn't stop thinking about everything. How Maxxie was gone. How I seem to have this weird gay crush on him. How I have no idea what to do now. My eyes felt like they hadn't even blinked when the sun finally rose. I tried to get off the couch but it was more bloody painful than I expected. Apparently I hadn't moved a single freaking muscle throughout the night. Son of a bitch.

After I finally managed to lob myself off the couch, I sat down to a breakfast that Andy made for me. It was scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast which wasn't exactly a special breakfast dish here in Britain but still thoughtful of Andy to make. I didn't eat much of it though. Andy noticed how preoccupied I was with staring at my food rather than eating it.

"Hey, mate, you can talk to me. You don't have to eat but at least say what's on your mind…"

"I can't…I have way too much shit on my mind to get out," I say. I wonder if Andy is homophobic. He seems way too nice to be but you never know with some people.

"Well I won't push you to saying anything but I'm sure you'd feel better if you did."

"We'll see, Andy. Maybe later…" Just then my phone rings. I check the contact and see that it is Detective Archer. "Uh, one sec, Andy. I gotta take this. It's one of the detectives."

I pick up my cell once Andy gives me some alone time. My breath lingered as I awkwardly tried to speak. Finally I said hello, hesitant to find out what this call was about. I didn't want to imagine the purpose.

"This is Detective Archer." I roll my eyes. I could tell that from Caller I.D., dumbass. "We checked into that Sketch girl you were talking about."

"And?"

"We visited her home and found that nobody was there except for her mother…who is dead."

Dead!? What the fuck did I just hear? "Sketch's mom is dead?" I ask incredulously.

"Yeah, by heart attack. It seems her daughter is missing."

"SO IT WAS-"

"Don't jump the gun, kid. I'll let you know when we find anything else."

"Wait-" He hangs up. I groan in frustration. Either way, I now get what happened. Sort of. Sketch has to be involved somehow, that much is obvious. But what the hell can I do about it? I don't know anything and it's not like I can join in the investigation. Its shitty times like these that make a guy wanna kick something or, more fittingly, someone!

"What happened, Anwar," Andy said after I hung up the phone.

"That bitch, Sketch…the creepy stalker one I was telling you about…she's missing."

"You think she has something to do with this?"

"No idea. Probably." I heave out a tired sigh and lower my head, using my hands to support my dead body from falling forward.

"You need to wind down, mate. Maybe have a smoke with me? Or even better, how bout we get drunk off our asses, eh?" Andy tried nudging me into life but I was too beside myself with thoughts and emotions I wasn't ready to confront. Uncharacteristically, I said no. Andy gave a sad sigh and it sucks that he's trying so hard to help me yet getting nowhere.

It's nobody's fault, though. Sometimes people just need to be left alone. I remember the time when I had tried to be there for Maxxie when the break-up happened. At first, Maxxie just wanted to be left alone and I couldn't do much to help him. Thankfully, he came around and we began to enjoy life again. He laughed and smiled and reminisced over how I kicked that bloody cheating bastard's ass right in the…hold on.

Why didn't I think about that yet? Maxxie's ex! Maybe James knows where Maxxie is!? At least it's worth a shot. There's not much else I can go on, after all.

I call up Detective Archer and I tell him about James. He thanks me for sharing with him what I could and tells me he'll update me whenever he can. We hang up. Just then, Andy starts putting on a leather jacket and a hat.

"Where you going?"

"If I can't enjoy a little hash and booze with you then I'm gonna see if my buddy, Daniel, will."

"Suit yourself, mate." The door closes and I flop onto the couch.

I get ready to sleep even though it's still early I know I'll barely get an hour at most. I doubt Maxxie is getting much sleep either.

Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I'm actually really busy since it's March Madness and I'm looking for scholarships, working on three other stories, preparing for a trip to Florida, and hopelessly job-hunting among other things :P This was a short chapter but the next one will be longer and will have more plot so yay!