Casey was shaking as she took her first sip. "Case? What's wrong...?" Nick asked her, taking ahold of her free hand.
Casey put the cup down and shook her head. "Nothing." She wouldn't tell him where Brian was...she couldn't. She had lied to his face and told him Brian went to get some food at McDonalds.
"You sure? If it's about Kate....I'm sure the police'll find her."
Casey nodded. Then suddenly she took his other hand in hers and stared him in the face. "Nick, do you love me?"
Nick looked as if he had just been slapped across the face. He took a breath. "I don't use the term lightly, Case. I've never told any girl that before. But I can honestly say I've never felt this way about anyone before...I don't know what it is. But I know if it was you and not Kate - God forbid - I would be looking for you, not at McDonalds."
Casey suddenly placed her head on his arms and started crying. Nick pulled her chair closer to his. "Oh please don't cry, Casey....what did I do wrong?"
"NOTHING! You did NOTHING wrong," Casey said, suddenly standing up. "You did everything RIGHT and that's what I can't stand about you! You do everything right and I love you so much it hurts me!" Casey finished yelling and caught her breath. "I've never said that before, either. But I mean it." She placed her cup in the sink and walked out the door.
Nick got up to follow her, but he heard someone from behind him. "It's no use, Nick. She just needs some time alone," Sara said, taking a seat at the table. "You know none of us is saying anything, but we all know the truth. She held us together, and now that she's gone.... If she doesn't come back I don't know what I'd do."
Nick crossed over to her and hugged her. "She'll come back, Sara...trust me." He pulled away and took a seat next to her, and for the longest time the two just sat there. But then Nick got up and without talking he walked to the door. And Sara knew exactly where he was going.
Casey ran out of the house and started walking. She didn't actually know where she was going, nor did she care. All she knew was that one of her best friends was missing and she could have done something to prevent it.
So she turned out of Kevin's driveway and walked down the block. The beach was only a mile or so away, and she reached it in twenty minutes of fast walking. When she stepped on the sand it was so cold on her bare feet that she missed a breath Soon she was used to it, so she started walking to the shore. She stopped right before the tide line. The water rushed within inches of her feet as she sunk down to her knees.
She didn't even gasp when the freezing cold water now flooded over her legs. She brought her hands to her face to tuck her blonde hair behind her ears. When she did so something cold brushed against her cheek. She brought her hand down and examined the bracelet. They all had one, Casey, Sara and Kate. She felt the initials dug into the silver name plate. C....S....K. Casey smiled as memories of that day flooded back to her.
They were in 8th grade, and it was Kate's idea to go to this little fair in their town. So when they were walking, Sara found this neat little jewelry place that did engravings. Since none of them had boyfriends at that time, they decided to have their own initials carved in it.
"Best friends forever," Kate had said, rubbing her hand over her new bracelet.
"Always there for each other," Sara had added.
Casey had brought her hand to the sun and squinted at the way it glistened. "Let's make a pact," Casey had said suddenly. "That we will always be best friends, and that no matter what happens we will always be by each other's side."
So Kate, Sara and Casey placed their hands together and made a pact.
Casey wiped a tear from her face as she remembered that day. Kate with her hair twisted into a messy bun, Sara eating cotton candy and Casey playing with the bracelet. The girls had never taken the bracelets off. Even when they went to the prom they kept them on their wrists.
And even thought it was a long shot, Casey smiled when she thought Kate might be looking at hers right now.
All of a sudden Casey heard footsteps behind her, but before she could turn around, someone placed something around her neck. She looked down and saw a gold anchor on a gold chain.
Nick sat down beside her. "Hey," he said.
"Hey," she answered. "Look Nick, I'm really sorry....those things I said were stupid and horrible and I don't know what made me say them."
"No need for apology."
Casey fingered the necklace. "What's this for?"
"I love you, Casey. And I don't know why this is happening, and I don't know that I even WANT to know. All I need to know is that I love you. So much it hurts. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Casey looked at him, and then got up. "What are you saying, Nick?"
"Casey, I'm young, I know. I'm only 19 and you're only 19. But that necklace....that's a promise. That's a promise of my love to you. Even though I can't marry you now, I want to marry you Casey. In a few years, when I'm older...." Nick dropped to his knees. "I know it's not a ring, but when I propose to you for real you'll have a ring so heavy you won't be able to lift your hand." He took her hand for effect, and she smiled, tears forming at her eyes. "Casey Williams....will you be my girlfriend?"
Casey laughed. "Your girlfriend? Hell, in a few years I'll be your wife!" She knelt down to him and hugged him so forcefully he fell backwards. "I love you, Nick."
"And I love you." He kissed her, and they rolled onto their backs to watch the sky.
Brian glanced at the digital clock and drummed his fingers on the dashboard. Almost there, he thought to himself, and sure enough, the motel popped into view ahead of him. He pulled into the parking lot.
God I'm stupid, he thought, as he turned off his car and slipped out of the car. He walked to the manager's office. The door was open, but when he walked in he saw no one at the desk. So he ran the bell and a girl around 17 ran from another room.
"Sorry...." she apologized, looking at the clock. "Isn't it a little late?"
"Yeah, I guess. I'm looking for someone....can you tell me if someone's staying here?"
"I'm sorry Sir, but that's against the law....wait a sec...are you Brian Littrell?"
"Yeah I am."
"Oh my God! I'm so in love with your group! I can't believe this is happening! Could you sign something for me?" The girl said, freaking out.
"If you can tell me if someone's staying here."
The girl looked around nervously. "Well, I'm not supposed to...but I guess...." She pulled out a book from under the counter. "Name?"
"Jefferson. Michael Jefferson."
"Um....oh yeah, here we are. He's here."
"Room?"
"No way....I'd get fired if anyone found out."
Brian thought for a minute, then dug in his pocket. He pulled out five backstage passes. "You can have these."
The girl grabbed them excitedly. "OK fine...but please don't tell anyone." She glanced at the book. "Room 31." She pulled a magazine with them on the cover from under the counter. "Could you sign this?"
So Brian did, and then ran out the room. He leapt up the stairs that led to the second floor, and skimmed the rooms for numbers. 28, 29, 30, 31. Brian held his breath. He had no idea what to expect.
He jiggled the handle and found it open. So he pushed it inward. There were no lights in the room, and at first Brian couldn't see anyone. But then his eyes adjusted and he saw someone lying on the bed in the middle of the room. Brian couldn't make out who it was. He turned on the lights quickly and struggled not to scream when he saw Kate.
She was lying face up on the bed. Her arms were hanging off the sides at weird angles, and her head was bent away from him. Brian ran to her and bent to her side.
"Oh God Kate....oh please say something....say something please, Kate...." It was at that time he saw a folded piece of paper on the bed. He picked it up and opened it.
Brian...isn't she pretty? Don't bother looking for me - I'm long gone.
SEE YA!!
Brian crumpled the paper and threw it against the wal, not caring if it was valuble evidence for the police. He brought his fingers to Kate's neck and prayed to God he would find a pulse.
He let out a breath he had been holding for ages when he felt a beat. He ran his hands through her hair and started crying. When he stood up to use the phone, he saw the back of her dress was covered in blood.
That's when he lost it. He walked to the wall and slammed his head into it as hard as he could. Then he slid down slowly and screamed as loud and as long as he could.
He swore on his life he would kill this man.
