-12:56-
"Mr. Silver!"
Aza Froze. He'd been caught sneaking into school late. When he had returned to the road his car was missing. he figured someone had towed it and figured he would ask Gabriel and Lillie for a ride to the Tow yard after school. He had run the last couple miles to school.
"Yes Mr. Fuller?"
"Will you accompany me to the office please?"
Aza found this odd. He was late to school, not leaving early. if anything he expected a tardy for coming in so late.
"Yes, sir." Aza answered hesitantly. He didn't like this. His first week of school and he was being dragged in by his coach to the principles office.
Mr. Fuller lead the way to the office, his steps hurried.
"Am I in trouble Mr. Fuller?" Aza asked, worried he may have crossed a line.
"Well Young man the answer to that question depends on a few factors."
"What do you mean Mr. Fuller?"
" You will soon see."
Aza Felt surprisingly calm. He continued walking behind the coach enjoying the rhythmic pace and the growing warmth in his lower abdomen. Soon the two reached the office and Aza was greeted by the Principle, the Sheriff, as well as his mother. all of which had looks of frustration and worry. His mother rose from her chair and rushed at him. Aza felt danger and braced himself for a right hook, surprisingly, all he was met with was a warm embrace.
"I was so worried! Where have you been? I called you so many times!"
Aza pulled out his phone and looked at it again. As soon as he unlocked it he checked the call logs. 79 missed calls. To any teenager, this means death.
"Aza, please take a seat. We need to have a talk."
Aza nodded and took a seat on the opposite of the principle.
"Um, I apologize for being late. I pulled over this morning because I saw something in the woods. when I got back to the road, my car had been towed. Why was my mom called to the school for being late to school if you don't mind my asking?"
"Late?" The Principle scoffed. "If you were simply late I would have let you off with a simple warning. However, Young Aza, You have been missing for over a week. Honestly we are ultimately worried for your well-being, We have a few questions to ask you."
"A Week? there's no way! So I missed my date with Lillie?" Aza was speechless.
"You are worried about a date? We thought you were dead! Why didn't you answer your phone? I've been worried sick!" Aza's mother was in tears.
The Sheriff took a step forward and placed his hand on her shoulder. Aza could tell the two had recently spent time together, but so much was coming at him at once.
"Son, now I'm going to ask you a few questions and It is imperative that you tell the truth."
"I understand sir, please ask away."
"One week ago your car was found on a back road outside of town. now you said you saw something? Can you describe what you saw?"
"A figure in the woods.It was wearing All black and had these crazy blue eyes.I could draw it for you if you'd like?" Aza obviously wasn't going to tell the whole truth but this could be perceived as the truth nonetheless.
The four adults grew even more frustrated. "What do you mean draw? It was a guy in black! Why would you park and follow someone into the woods?" Yelled his mom
"Ma, I had been dreaming of that figure for a few days, seeing it felt like it meant something. I Honestly don't know how to describe it."
The Sheriff made a note in his notepad, "That aside, What else occurred that day. Were there any other people, Was there any recreational Drugs or alcohol present?"
"No sir," Aza frowned. he had never drank or done any drugs in his life because he was always playing sports."I've never done any drugs or drank in my life."
His mother looked angry, and Aza understood why. He had been missing for a whole week! The other adults in the room were looking from Aza to each other as if having a private conversation.
"Aza, would you be willing to take a drug test today?" Asked the principle.
Aza's eyes lit up, "Yes sir! If I pass can I go back to class?"
"Well, I don't see any harm in it, but you will need to pass the test and answer a few more questions for sheriff."
Aza could tell that the principle was trying to be lenient as long as Aza was honest with them.
"Lovely. Mr. Fuller, will you please escort Aza to the nurses office to be tested?" The principle asked in good spirits with Aza's sincerity.
"No problem sir. Aza please follow me."
Aza nodded, and rose from his chair. "Just one moment sir." Aza walked to stand in front of his mother. "Ma I have no clue what happened or why I was gone for so long, but I want you to know I love you and I apologize for making you worry."
Aza's mother had tears in her eyes. "You idiot, I love you too." She hugged him tight. She didn't see any signs of him lying to her. She was happy to have such an honest son.
"Now," She started saying while wiping tears from her eyes, "Go with Mr. Fuller to get checked out Sweetie."
Aza complied and walked to the doorway. Mr. Fuller placed his hand on his shoulder and lead him down the hall towards the nurses office.
"You handled that splendidly Young man. Most young men would have panicked and told a lie just to sound better. Don't worry, no matter what I Won't let a man telling the truth fall. However, A man making up for what he missed is also a quality i like to see. so after school, you will be doing all of the conditioning that you missed out on over the last week while the rest of the team scrimmages. Once you finish, ill give you a ride home since the sheriff currently has your car as evidence in your case of disappearance.
"Thank you Mr. Fuller for believing in me." Aza .spoke solemnly
'Well you're welcome. However you have some explaining to do to a young lady. and it appears that you have been sighted."
Aza looked around to find who he had meant.
"AZA!" he heard from down the hall. Facing the voice, he was met with the tear-stained face of Lillie.
'Lillie, I...." He began.
SLAP!!!