Tom's relationship with Ada began when she was just a quiet freshman, feeling like she had no place in her own life. She was a sweet girl with an extraordinary heart and in the last four years, he'd watched her blossom into an exceptional woman. Because of that closeness, that bond, he'd given in when she requested more than just a brief glimpse into his life. She'd let him into her own life so willingly throughout the years it seemed only fair.

While he was waiting for her to come over, he'd been noticeably nervous. He used that hour to clean the best he could; re-stacking the boxes he'd been too lazy to unload and packing his trash with the to-go containers that had taken over his kitchen counters.

Agreeing was not an effortless thing for him to do. Tom lived his life by the rules and above all, lived his career that way. A student over at his place was against those rules, but one glance at her hopeful face and he gave in.

It was the greatest conversation he'd had in... hell, he couldn't recall the last time he enjoyed conversation or someone else's company like that. Though they had known each other for four years, it seemed longer and on a much profounder degree than it ever had been before. Sitting with her on the couch and talking felt like the most natural thing in the world, despite the initial hesitation.

She'd stripped away all nervousness he felt and all the insecurity within him seemed to vanish. Ada had an incredible mind and spirit that opened up to him that night. Remarkably time flew while talking to her.

But he hadn't spoken to her since the day after.

It was not surprising when a student missed a day of school, but when he couldn't remember the last day she'd missed, he checked her records. He couldn't remember because it hadn't happened. Ada had the perfect attendance until then.

Now his nerves were back, induced by the absence of her presence this time. He hadn't seen or spoken to her and neither had Brittney, who appeared further on edge than himself.

Tom spent Saturday painting and unpacking boxes. He checked with her godmother, Crystal, who owned the coffee shop and was covering Ada's shift. But she wouldn't tell him a damn thing. Tom could see it in her eyes, she knew something; something she was unwilling to share with him.

Saturday night he hung out at the bar which had an unobstructed view of the coffee shop, but still no Ada. Sunday morning, he remembered he had her cell phone number because of the newspaper, but it went straight to voicemail. He called the house phone after looking it up in the phone book. Her mom said she'd return the call when she was ready, but Tom wasn't holding his breath.

The uncertainty that tormented him didn't come from her missing school, but because no one was talking. He'd run into Britt when he was leaving for the bar and she was leaving the coffee shop and she'd admitted no one was telling her anything either.

That's what struck him.

Because of their bond, Ada seemed comfortable turning to him with many obstacles throughout the years. Only this time, she wasn't just avoiding him but also avoiding her best friend.

He was feeling like 'Creeper', hovering around the balcony of his apartment hoping to see Ada. But with it being Sunday, it was Tom's turn to monitor the place, per Brittney's request. It was reasonable considering she'd spent her entire Saturday night there, but it didn't make him feel any less creepy for staring.

Instead of investing his day into staring over there like a psycho, he just went to the damn place. It was lively with the Sunday church crowd and loud as hell. A political debate was going on at a table to his left, and the table to his right had a group of women cackling away.

Both his front table and back booth were occupied, not unusual this time of day on a Sunday. Scanning the small shop, there was no sign of Ada. He could even hear customers comment on it as he walked passed the growing line. Everyone seemed to feel her absence. No one, however, more than Crystal.

Crystal was calling out orders to the employee behind her, who also appeared out of sorts, her hair dropping out of her ponytail as she struggled to do two things at once. Tom counted three times he expected her to drop something as he made his way toward the front. And Crystal looked like she was about to lose her damned mind as she rehashed the order to the poor girl in the fiercest tone he ever heard her use.

She was customarily full of enthusiasm and elegance, a woman who you could tell drew plenty of attention. He knew a few men who'd wanted to ask her out after her divorce became official, but no one seemed confident enough. Not that she wasn't approachable. They just punked out when the time came.

Her normally clean company tee shirt was discolored, making it clear to Tom that she'd been working a lot harder than she was used to. How this place would survive once Ada went to college was a mystery.

Her blue eyes fell on him as he approached the register. "Tom, I don't have time for this."

"Make time," he demanded, leaning against the counter. "Brittney's freaking out and it's making me freak out."

Crystal let out a hefty groan as she gave the customer their change. "She'll talk when-"

"-she's ready," Tom finished. "That's all anyone says. What the hell is going on, Crystal?"

"I-" Crystal took a deep breath. "I can't tell you. I wish I could, but this is something she will have to go to you about. Please, Tom, try to understand. I know you care about Ada, but I promise you she's okay. She's just struggling a little, trying to deal with some things that no one her age should have to deal with."

Tom attempted to inquire further, but Crystal put up her hand. "I'm sorry. That's all I can tell you."

Tom let out a huff before swinging around and leaving before he said something that would get him banned. Her words reassured him in some ways, but agitated the hell out of him in every other way. If the front door to the shop didn't automatically slowly close on its own, he would have smashed the damn thing shut.

"No peppermint mocha?"

Ada's voice made him turn away from the window. There she stood in front of him on the sidewalk, appearing so casual in her magical reappearance. "Line's too long," he answered. "Where the hell have you been, Ada?"

Her chapped lips pursed together for a moment. "In bed."

"Sick?" Tom questioned further. He didn't want to overwhelm her with the questions he craved to ask. He didn't want to scare her away by revealing to her just how much her little disappearing act had put him through. So Tom used all the self-discipline he could muster to maintain a relaxed disposition.

"I dunno," Ada spoke faintly, forcing Tom to take a step closer just to hear her. She ran her fingers through the end of her tangled ponytail, getting stuck. "Maybe."

He'd never seen her look like this. Like Crystal, she was out of her element. Her green eyes that normally sparkled with warmth or determination appeared heavy, depressed, almost vacant. She'd never put much effort into what she wore, but was still wearing a sweatshirt at least two sizes too big for her. It took him longer than it should have to notice it was the one he'd lent her on Wednesday night.

The sweatshirt and jeans she wore appeared as if she'd been in them for days. Her blonde strands appeared greasy. All of this added up to a presence he'd never seen on her before.

After a lengthy silence, Ada was the one to speak up. "I went to your place, but you weren't there so... so I figured this would be the next best guess."

His eyes tried to study her for some kind of sign to what the hell was going on, but she was a sealed book. Minus looking tired or sick, she wasn't giving much away. She just looked like she was having an off day.

"You were looking for me?"

Ada nodded. "I wanted to take a ride. You know, get out of town for a while. The thing is that I don't want to drive."

Tom smiled. It was a lazy one, but genuine none the less. "So where are we going?"

"Doesn't matter," Ada said with a shrug. "There's the gigantic furniture place in Henning's. It's open on Sundays. You need new furniture."

Tom's smile spread. Of course she would bring up furniture shopping. It appeared she was task oriented no matter what frame of mind she was in. "Hope they deliver. I'm not fitting more than an end table in my Charger, and I'm pretty sure your car is even smaller than mine."

"They deliver. Crystal had all of her furniture delivered after her divorce."

He recalled then why she wanted to get away from town, and it wasn't his need of furnishings. Tom's grin diminished, and he took another step toward her. "Will you tell me what's going on? Please?"

Her head dipped for a moment. Once it returned, her eyes were sealed, seeming unable to look at him. "By the end of the day," she conceded and opened her eyes again. "Right now, I just want to pretend it isn't happening."

Though he nodded his acceptance, Tom felt the opposite. He could avoid saying anything, or at least try, but there was no way he could pretend something wasn't going on.

"You have to shower first though," he said, forcing another smile. "Seriously, you can't be in my car like this. You can shower at my place and borrow a shirt."

Ada's cheeks turned pink at his remark. "I always keep a bag of overnight things in my trunk, just in case."

This woman was prepared for pretty much anything life threw at her, provoking the uneasy feeling in Tom's stomach to grow stronger. Anything that was too big for Ada to handle would be damn serious.