"Ashton, buddy. You should come tonight."

I'm sitting on my bed, Vi's comforter draped over me, even though it's almost 85 degrees. My laptop is open and in front of me, and I'm re-watching over and over her interview with that reporter. It's the only thing I've watched for weeks. It's the only thing I have with her voice. Mostly I just replay the part where she says my name. "My friend, Ashton..." Is it weird that I considered making that my ringtone?

Yes, definitely.

"All right, that's it." Luke says. He pushes my laptop screen down and pulls the blanket from off of me.

"Hey," I shouted.

"You've got to quit this. This is pathetic. You're pathetic."

"Stop." I protest weakly, snuggling more into Vi's blanket.

"You stop. I want my friend back."

"Well I want my girlfriend back."

"I can't give you that." Luke says. I'm sure he's done being sympathetic with me. He was my shoulder to cry on after it happened. It's been almost a month now, and there's been no sign of her. Nothing. The police are considering giving up on the investigation. That must be why they're always the bad guys in my dreams now. Because they can't find her. "But I can tell you Vi wouldn't want this for you. She'd want you to continue on with your life. Even if you won't look for another girlfriend, which I'm not saying you should do, you at least have to keep on living for when they find her."

"I am living."

"No, you're not. Living is not sitting in your apartment with your girlfriends pillow and not eating or sleeping and watching a video of her on repeat. That's barely being alive." Luke pauses, crossing his arms over his chest. "And creepy."

"I'm still breathing, which might be more than we can say of her." Plus it's her blanket, and sometimes I watch the slideshow Sarah made from spring break.

"Vi is not dead, Ashton. You need to shut up with that kind of stupid talk."

"Don't call me stupid." I snap.

"Then don't act like it! Come on, Ash. Would Vi want you wasting your days away cooped up in here, like some sort of deranged animal, or would she want you out and enjoying life like you should be in college?"

"Well, no. I'm certain she wants me to find her."

"Right...But you won't even get up to do anything. Certainly won't find her like that." he mumbles.

"You're right. I need make the effort to find her."

"No, Ashton, that's not what I meant..." Luke said. "I meant you should come swing dancing tonight. Do some normal things again."

"No, waste of time." I say absentmindedly opening my laptop. "I've got to find my girlfriend."

***

Well. Life kinda sucks right now, so I'm not really sure how these updates are going to go. I have ideas for what's going to happen, but idk how to get there...sorry the chapters were so short, hopefully they'll get more interesting and longer later on! 

Hope everyone's having a good day <3 

~ashtonfortherwin