(Edited)

Something serious was going on with Autumn, Dustin wondered while driving home. It was the tenth time that she bought a prescription from him in one month. Usually, he wouldn't care what his customers did with what he sold them. But this was Autumn; even though he was angry at her, he still couldn't help but care. The meds that she needed a prescription for wasn't over the counter meds. They were serious stuff, but Dustin couldnt understand why she needed them. What had happened to her?

Dustin looked in the living room and kitchen for James but found no one, so he went upstairs. "James, can I talk to you?" Dustin asked, entering his room. James was lying on his bed with a book in his hands.

He sat upright and put the book on one side. "What's wrong dude? You look stressed."

Dustin sat down next to him, fidgeting with his hands. "I didn't say anything before because I didn't think it mattered. I usually dont worry about what the people do with what I sell them." Dustin explained. James looked at him as if he grew a second head.

"I'm not following."

"I've been selling stuff to Autumn," Dustin blurted out, suddenly jumping away from James before he could punch him. "Let me explain first!" He yelled pleadingly.

"Talk!" James growled, clenching his fists. He was livid.

"Autumn has been one of my customers for a while now. And before you yell at me for not telling you, you need to know that at the time it all started I didnt care much about her. I was so angry with her that I didnt care what she went through." Dustin sighed, running his hands through his face. "Things changed okay! I got over it, and now the guilt is eating me up alive."

"What is she taking?"

"She isnt taking anything. I sell prescriptions to her." James scrunched his face; confusion was written all over it.

"Prescriptions for what?"

Dustin rubbed his sweaty hands on his jeans. "For some serious pain medication that I can't even pronouns. I just sell it to her, and she fills it in by herself." She was quite smart; she thought of everything. She bought it from him, filled it in and then went to different pharmacies every time.

James turned to look at Dustin; an Erika moment struck him. "Remember that day I went to meet her, and I mentioned that she seemed as if she was in pain?" He asked rhetorically. "Goodness, I knew there was something wrong." He mumbled to himself.

"Here's the thing, this past month she bought about five prescriptions from me." James gave him a look that said 'he wasnt following'. "One container has about thirty pills in them. These meds are for bad injuries; broken limbs, ribs, tears, things like that. One container is the recommended dosage, and she bought five of them," Dustin explained.

James looked pissed off and frustrated. "Maybe she's selling them?" The look on Dustins face was comical. He hoped James was joking.

"That's definitely the optimistic version of it." James shot him a glare, and he shrugged. "We both know thats not it, besides the level of urgency in her voice every time she buys them indicates something horrible."

James sighed and placed his elbows on his knees. "We royally messed up with her. You have to keep an eye out for her at school and tell me everything." James said, standing up. "We have to help her somehow."

Dustin stood up. "It's going to be hard with those goons she's hanging out with now, but I'll try to keep a low profile."

***

To say things were awkward between Autumn and I was an understatement, Michael thought while looking towards the direction that Autumn and Emily went.

He couldnt help but wonder what on earth had gotten into her. It seemed that there was something she was hiding, and even though he was now used to it, she was doing it to Emily as well. She was an enigma to him, and he loved every second of it. Michael had to admit that she was driving him nuts, no amount of pep-talk was working, because the harder he fought to stay away from her, the more he craved her. Now he felt like a hypocrite, telling Ashton off for befriending her when he couldnt stop thinking about her in more ways than one.

To be frank, this entire thing is Ashtons fault. I should beat him up for it, Michael thought, glaring at his friend for turning him into a lovesick puppy.

Love? Not possible. Michael shook his thoughts lose and placed his focus back on his friends, realizing that something was up with them.

"Okay spill it. What is going on with you two?" Michael asked, leaning back against his car arms crossed in front of his chest.

Mason looked at Autumn and scratched his chin; something he did when he was anxious. Jason, much like his brother, ignored Michaels question too and instead looked at something interesting on his shoes.

"Oi, now Im curious, what the hell is going on?" Ashton asked them standing next to Michael. Michael hid a smile, Ashton was clearly spending too much time with Autumn for him to use the phrases she used.

If Ashton didnt know what the situation was then it must have been something very crucial. The four of them were a tight group; they were Michaels best friends, but he preferred Jason most of the time, he didnt piss him off that easily. Jason and Mason exchanged a look and upon seeing Michaels raised eyebrows.

"Mom and Dad decided to start up the missing person investigation again." Jason started. He was about to continue when Mason interrupted, frustration evident in his voice.

"Why the hell they would do that doesnt make sense. Next month will be thirteen years since she went missing and they still havent found her." He exclaimed with tears in his eyes.

Michael instantly felt sorry for his friends. He knew that this was a touchy subject for the Loud family they lost someone very significant to them. We all did! Jason was six and Mason five when their four-year-old sister went missing on her birthday. The details surrounding the matter was a bit foggy; the boys never talked about it. They blamed themselves for her disappearance.

"What brought it up?" Ashton asked, but the look on his face said that he was dreading it.

"Remember the party we went to a week or so back when Michael told us that he saw our uncle outside?" Mason asked, and the boys nodded. "Well, my uncle found a gold locket with a silver ring with our sisters name on it."

"And now they think that shes here somewhere and that they can find her," Jason said, aggravated.

Ashton spoke up before Michael. "Wait, why do they think its hers? It can be a coincidence a lot of people could have her name or that locket."

"Ashton has a point, and I cant believe I actually said that," Michael scrunched his nose. The boys laughed at his comment, causing Ashton to punch Michael on the arm and glared at the others. The boys got sober again, and both Jason and Mason removed a locket from under their shirts showing everyone.

"That's exactly what we told mom and dad, but then they showed us the locket and we had to shut up," Mason explained, whilst admiring it.

Jason was looking at his intently and then put it back under his shirt. "The locket that our uncle found matched ours to the last line; same colour, same ring, same everything." They both sighed. "We're happy about it, but we don't want to get our hopes up and then have to go through the pain of it being a false lead all over again."

Michael felt their pain; he knew what they were going through. He was there when they went through it all. Their house was his second home, his second family. He didnt remember much about her, but he knew that his six-year-old self was crushing hard. Michael remembered telling her mother one day that he was going to marry her. How silly of him. He could remember though how funny and free-spirited she was. Her piercing blue eyes still haunted him until this day. They reminded him of Autumn. He shook his head, denying that thought immediately, it just wasnt possible.

***

Michael walked out of Biology and turned down the hallway, heading to lunch. His mind was turning more than usual, and it stumbled on the same thing it has been for the past month, Autumn. He hasn't seen much of her today since this morning. He could sense something was wrong, more than usual, and he couldnt help but worry.

Michael was pulled out of his thoughts by whispers emanating from a vacant class. Usually, he wouldnt eavesdrop, but when he heard her voice, he stopped dead in his tracks. Michael peeked inside the classroom, careful to not be caught and found Autumn talking to Dustin. His blood ran cold. Dustin was a shady guy, a drug dealer at best. Him and his merry band of misfits. He couldnt decipher why a sweet girl like her would be talking to the likes of him. But deep-down Michael wasnt surprised, with her anything was possible.

"Its the fifth time this month that you come to me." Dustin pointed out, leaning against the teachers desk. What the f

"Why are you complaining? I pay you and you give me what I want. Its a win-win."

"Why do you need more, didn't you buy one a while ago?" Dustin asked, suspiciously.

Michael could see Autumn getting riled up. "I don't ask you questions so neither should you. Now give me what I pay your for!" she demanded.

Dustin gave her a pleading look; he didnt want to do it, and this surprised Michael. Why would Dustin care? When Dustin saw that she was dead set on it, he turned around and grabbed something from his bag. "Same thing as always?" she nodded. He handed her something that Michael couldnt see and held her hand. "This is none of my business, but you should be careful. Youre playing with fire and sooner or later your gonna get burned." He let go of her hand and grabbed his things.

Michael dashed down the hall in fear of getting caught. He headed towards the cafeteria with so many questions running around in his mind. What he just saw happening between Autumn and Dustin was unreal. It felt like a concept his mind couldnt grasp. He knew she was mysterious and had a lot of secrets, but this was something even he didnt see coming. Drugs, really? He couldnt fathom her being so incredibly idiotic; he thought she was smart. He wasnt surprised about Dustin though. He was known for pulling shit like that. How could he be such a punk ass hoe, selling her stuff that could mess up her entire life? No, there must be a reasonable explanation for this. I cant make assumptions; Dustin sold more than just drugs. Who was Michael trying to kid? Dustin said so himself that she was playing with fire.

"Michael!" he heard someone call him.

Michael looked around the cafeteria and spotted his friends grinning at him like idiots. While walking towards them, he noticed that none of the girls was at their table. Michael felt the attention around him; all the girls drooling over him and the guys killing him ten times over with their eyes. Michael relished in it, it always gave him an ego boost and with all the craziness going on he needed it. Talking about craziness, he realized that it had been a while since hes had the pleasure of a girl, with that thought in mind, he pulled out his phone and texted a girl named Charlize to meet him in the janitors closet after lunch. She responded immediately and eagerly agreed like Michael knew she would. Pathetic! Precisely what Michael liked about Autumn, he realized. She wasnt like the other girls that drooled over him and wanted to get with him. She was different; she hated his guts. Michael sat down next to Mason with Jason and Ashton across from them.

"Where are the girls?" Michel asked, trying to be nonchalant.

Jason answered, taking a bite from his sandwich. "Katie said they were going with Autumn."

"Where?"

He shrugged, not very interested. "No clue, Ashton lend them his car and off they went."

Michael looked over at Ashton, who sat there with the biggest smile plastered on his face. Instead of paying attention to the conversation, he was typing away on his phone while eating. Michael kicked him under the table, and he looked up.

"What?" he asked incredulously, making all of them smile. He was something else.

"Where are the girls going in your car?" Michael asked, being very adamant about it.

Ashton shrugged without a care in the world. "I dont know. Autumn asked to borrow my car, so I gave it to her." He shoved his phone into his pocket, focusing solemnly on the conversation.

Michael was getting very annoyed with his best friend. "And you didnt think to ask where the hell she was going?" he asked perplexed.

Ashton winked at a girl passing by their table. "No, why would I? I trust that she would bring it back." He explained looking at the others confused. "Not everyone is stuck up about others driving their car, Mate."

"Why are you being weird about this?" Mason asked slapping Michaels hand that kept stealing food from his tray.

"Awww," Ashton cooed. "Does Mikey like Autumn?" he asked with a chuckled.

Michael wasnt focusing; he was having an internal battle with himself on how he would tell his mates what he saw happen between Autumn and Dustin. Maybe he shouldnt tell them anything until he was sure what was going on. Michael thought he should confront Autumn first before sharing this information with his friends. But what if something was seriously wrong?

Mason shoved Michael hard to get his attention, causing him to almost fall of the bench. "Dude focus." Michael only glared in return.

He could feel the look Jason was giving him, it said that he knew Michael was hiding something, but Michael being unsure only shrugged at him.

Jason glared at Michael and said, "Katie says they are on their way back, they went to the pharmacy."

Michael picked up on the subtle hint that Jason was throwing. He drew a deep breath, and without thinking further of it, he asked, "If something was going on with one of the girls you guys would like to know right?"

"What happened?"

"Which girl?"

And of course their special boy, Ashton had to ask, "Are one of them pregnant?" he got glared at by all three his friends only making him chuckle.

Michael ignored his stupidity and continued. "Maybe I'm overreacting, or I misunderstood, but something is going on with Autumn."

"What happened?" Mason asked.

Michael looked over at Jason, and to him, it seemed that his friend couldnt be bothered with her. Ashton the overdramatic one wanted to know what was wrong with his baby and Michael couldnt help but feel bitter at that.

"So, we all agree that shes been more unusual than usual?" They all nodded. "Well, I was walking down the hall when I heard her and Dustin talking in a classroom. She gave him money for something, but Dustin started arguing with her, telling her to not take so much it was dangerous." Michael leaned forward so that the people around them couldnt listen in. "If Dustin, the biggest asshole amongst the school, was worried for her, then it must be serious."

Ashton was the first to speak up. "I can't believe it. Autumn wouldnt do drugs, she not the type."

"Don't defend her!" Jason jumped in. "We don't know her that well. She's a stray that Ashton picked up."

Michael could feel the anger dripping from every single word that came from Jasons mouth. He called it; he knew that Jason didnt like her. Okay in his defence neither did Michael two months ago, but he was sensing that their reasons were completely different.

Both Mason and Ashton glared at Jason. Jason rolled his eyes and sighed. "Unfortunately, she's still part of our group so well have to figure something out to help her."

Ashton jumped up unexpectedly, scaring the other three boys. His face was priceless, excitement written all over it. "I have a plan!" The boys urged him on, because they didnt have one, and his crazy ideas were better than nothing.

"Well start by inviting Cassie to go camping with us."

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