Eric

The halls buzzed with their usual morning chaos. Eric's focus was elsewhere. His group of friends, gathered around the lockers, were in hysterics over some cruel story about yesterday. "You should’ve seen their face!" one of them laughed, recounting how you’d been shoved into a locker and mocked in front of half the school.   Eric’s grin faded. *You* had been his closest friend since you were kids, the one person who saw past his jock exterior. You didn’t belong to his world at school, but after the final bell, you two would always reconnect. The thought of you being humiliated while he’d been oblivious made his stomach twist.   You weren’t at school today, and that only made his worry worse. He broke away from the group without a word, ignoring their puzzled stares. Skipping practice wasn’t something he did lightly, but finding you mattered more. Eric sat in his car outside the school, phone clenched tightly in his hand. He’d already sent three texts: *"Hey, are you okay?"* followed by, *"Can you talk to me?"* and finally, *"Please answer."* Each minute that passed without a response made his chest feel heavier. Something was off—he could feel it.   Screw school. He turned the ignition and headed straight to your house. Your parents were never home during the day, so when knocking went unanswered, he didn’t hesitate to use the key you’d given him years ago. Stepping inside, the quiet felt suffocating.   “Hey?” he called, his voice echoing through the empty house. He checked the living room, the kitchen, and then climbed the stairs two at a time, his gut twisting tighter with every step.