"Hey Emily!"

Quickly sticking her phone in her pocket, Emily sped up her walking, waving excitedly at the two girl in front of her. "Elysia! Sonata!"

The three girls met in the middle of the dock, high-fiving. Emily pulled Elysia into a quick hug by her sweatshirt. "I missed you guys!"

"Same," Sonata cut in, her usually stone cold face curved into a smile. "You've been busy."

"Mom," Emily said, waving it off.

"Oh," Elysia said sympathetically "Well, if you need anything..."

"Will ask," Emily said brightly, trying to move the conversation along. "Wait-where's Tamarind?"

Sonata shrugged, flicking her glossy brown hair back over her shoulder. "We don't know. She didn't reply to any of our messages."

Elysia glanced down at her phone, looking worried for her girlfriend. "I hope she's okay. She mentioned her dad was back a few days ago, but hasn't said anything else since then." She tugged on the sleeves of her sweatshirt uneasily, brushing off stray blonde hairs.

Sonata placed her hand on Elysia's shoulder. "She's very capable. I'm sure she'll be okay."

"Wish we could check in on her physically," Emily said, wishfully.

"But we're not allowed," Sonata reminded them, quashing any fantasies about visiting their other friend. "And we're going to respect Tamarind's words, right?"

"Right," the other two grumbled. Stupid Sonata and her logical reasoning.

"Let's go to Casey's," Sonata suggested. "I could use some good food."

"Yeah..." Elysia said slowly, glancing down at the dock like Tamarind would pop out of nowhere. "Let's go."

"Ooh, I love Casey's," Emily chimed in, linking her arm through Elysia's. They headed off, switching the conversation to lighter topics.

-

"So that's what Mila's up to? Go figure."

"Not going to lie, I saw this coming," Sonata boasted, taking a bite of her burger. "She and Finch always seemed really close."

"Besides," Emily added, raising her hand like she was in school. "She talked about dating so much in middle school." Emily lowered to hand to grab a bunch of fries. Mmm, she thought, relishing the taste.

"Yeah, but Finch?" Elysia made a face. "I thought she and Abigail had a thing."

"Didn't you hear about their fight?"

"What?" No." Elysia leaned towards Sonata interestedly. "Tell me more."

"Well-" Sonata began, smugness layered over her tone as she began with whatever gossip she had in her mind. But before they could get into it, the TV volume was heightened, drawing their attention.

"...-another person has been reported missing. Tamarind Reynolds was reported to have last been seen by Drew Reynolds, her father, around eight o'clock three nights ago. She stands about 5'7, Hispanic, and might be seen with a bright green jacket. If spotted..."

Emily sat, struck dumb by the information just presented to her. What? This couldn't be true. Tamarind...Tamarind couldn't be gone. She was their spitfire of a friend, the reason they were often in trouble. She was the one who defended Emily when she was mocked for her parents' divorce. She was the one to encourage Sonata to try out for the play and chase her dreams of acting. But more than any of those...

Emily turned towards her friend, subconsciously already knowing what she was going to find.

Elysia's horrified face was turned to the TV. One hand was outstretched, like she could reach through the TV screen to grab her girlfriend. Sonata had already reached out and grabbed her wrist, grasping it tightly like she was trying to keep Elysia from running off.

But Tamarind's girlfriend didn't seem very inclined to do anything. She stayed frozen in her seat, just staring at the TV. Emily knew exactly what she was thinking. Is Tamarind okay? Did she run away from her dad? Will she maybe come back on her own? Or...or did something else happen?

"Elysia? Elysia!" Sonata desperately called, shaking the wrist she held.

"Elysia, please say something, talk to us," Emily begged, reaching out as well.

Elysia seemed to come back to life in that moment, sharply shaking off Sonata's restricting hand and standing up quick enough to make her chair scrape the floor, drawing attention.

She looked over at Emily for a split second-pain and anger covering her face like a mask-then took off, bolting for the door.

"Elysia no!" Emily screamed, shoving her chair back and running after her panicked friend. Fear pushed her on, dodging people and sliding past tables. Sonata yelled out 'sorry' to the people behind them. Emily had no such care, shoving people aside in her haste to get to her friend.

"Elysia!" Sonata hollered from behind. She passed Emily (stupid tall people and their legs) and snatched her shorter friend's hand, dragging her along.

"Careful!" Emily yelped, nearly sprinting. Should've picked better shoes, she grumbled, internally. Not now! She added, refocusing on her current situation. Elysia had run down the street, heading for the woods Emily knew was back there.

"Hurry!" Sonata yelled, letting Emily go once they were outside the restaurant. "We have to-"

"-get her before she gets lost, I know," Emily yelled back. The two friends ran after the distraught teen, just hoping they would reach her in time.