Thursday 3rd October 2017

"Are you gonna wait for the bus with me?" Kelly asked Tarrow. "Isis is at her guitar lesson." Tarrow shrugged.

"Yeah, alright. But I'm kinda stressing about that history essay I've got to do; it's in for Friday and I haven't even started it."

"Boo. That's your fault for choosing essay subjects."

"Whatever. Don't act like it's any better than your options. What did you take again-" Tarrow grinned. "Art, drama, geography... and?"

"Music," Kelly snorted.

"You're just training to be homeless."

"Whoop, poor life choices."

"What are you planning on actually working as?" Tarrow asked.

"Probably something in 'the arts'. It's not a very stable job, is it? Oh god." Kelly snorted. "You better come visit me when I'm living in a cardboard box. What about you?"

"Oh, I dunno. Something to do with history or English hopefully."

"Maybe teaching?"

Tarrow gave a non-committal "Hmm."

Pause. They both knew they were avoiding talking about Triston. Officer Nicko Relpek, Tarrow and Isis's uncle, the policeman in charge of the missing person case, seeing at it was personal.

"Tarrow," Kelly said, quietly.

"Mm?" Tarrow was picking at his fingernails, but when Kelly didn't speak after a moment, he looked up at her. She was staring out across the bus bay, looking uncharacteristically forlorn.

Then she turned to look right at him.

"What's going on with you?"

"What?"

"You- you haven't been the same recently."

Tarrow blinked.

"I'm... sorry."

"No, no... it's just... is there anything going on? You always seem down. Isis says the same, but she didn't want to bother you."

Tarrow sighed. So, the two of them had been bitching about him behind his back? Wondering what was wrong with him?

"And I mean- I get it," Kelly said quickly. "I know we're all bummed out about Triston, but... this seems like it's been going on for longer. Since before he went missing, I mean."

"I... I think it's school," he said through gritted teeth. "You know, revision. Exam pressure. Like you said, the essay subjects... there's just so much content in the courses- it- it's a lot to take in. And... he's not here."

As stupid as he knew it was, he couldn't bring himself to say Triston's name without his voice cracking.

"You been sleeping okay?" Kelly's eyes were wide and worried.

Tarrow hesitated.

"Not the nightmares again?"

Tarrow looked at his feet.

"I knew it," Kelly muttered. "Tarrow, mate, you should've said something. We all miss Triston."

Tarrow was about to reply when the bus pulled up. Kelly gave him one hard, burning look, then pulled him into a quick hug.

"See you tomorrow," she said, then ran to get on board. Tarrow gave a feebly wave.