She looked around the school and asked where he was, the class said that he didn't show up since prom night and she grew weary just walking to the field.
His teammates didn't vouch about seeing him even Ciara was starting to worry, the finals already happened and they got third place, he wasn't there when they finished.
She exhaled and walked the remaining steps to his house surprised to find Scarlett by the tree at their place, Gracie looked up while she swung her hands.
"Did you hear?" She asked running to her.
"Hear what?"
"He's out of reach and he's bailing on his exams"
Rose held her arm at the girls waiting and went down the steps watchful of Scarlett's pet dog sleeping on the end of the stairs.
"Do you know where George went?"
Jean was surprised at her question, she didn't look good and her eyes were baggy, she looked down when Gracie closed her fingers and opened them in an attempt to say hi.
"He came to me last night and he was very upset"
"What did he say to you? What?" She interrogated and Jean stepped back.
"Not that I know of"
"Oh god," She paled "What was he doing at your house, did he tell you any of his plans?"
"No"
"Why are you still standing there, I told you to leave hours ago?" Dale stepped out and the dog ran away to hide behind Scarlett who straightened up peeking at him.
"George's missing"
Jean saw the bruise on her face when she turned and she trembled afraid of him.
"George...nobody I know of." He glared at the other two and their mangy dog "Get outta here, scram!"
Scarlett pulled her hand and they shuffled down the block watching Rose back away covering her lips.
"Did you see that?"
Jean said to Scarlett who was trying to keep her dog in order as he rounded her with the leash on, she ruffled his fur when he settled down.
She glanced behind her at Rose walking down the road, their eyes met and she covered her cheek walking faster. Jean wondered how many hits she had to endure.
"See what?"
She shook her head and they accompanied each other.
"Nevermind"
George leaned on the wall of the bus while it rolled, lost in thought, her voice echoed in his head, it brought tears to his eyes how Dale spoke to him on the phone.
He sobbed and took in the air when a lady touched his arm with a concerned look, it took him time to adjust to the new face, she wore a cloth cap and a leather jacket with a nice dress and had the cutest nose he saw.
"Are you okay?"
"Could be worse" He murmured then looked at her hand swaying when the bus neared a bend, she took off her hand and settled down beside him holding her purse in front of her.
They sat in the quiet and she glanced at him "I like your shirt"
"Thanks, I borrowed it" He sniffed and wiped his eyes, she laughed.
"That's nice, are you a big fan of Monroe? Because I am, I listen to her music and a friend of mine does too...more than I do"
"Are you into poetry?" He asked trying to get his head out of the clouds and what happened the other night, he held his bag distrustingly, not entertained by talking to strangers, even with one as gentle as her, he nodded when she spoke and she looked ahead as though she was searching for her stop.
"No, I'm more of a science nerd than an art geek, I don't write poems but I'm glad you picked that up," She said laughing and her shoulders shook, laugh marks appeared on her eyes, she looked incredibly young and her skin was glowing,
George looked ahead then at her when she put a hand to her abdomen rubbing it and squinting her eyes, her lips twisted in pain.
"Cramps." She explained smiling again then swayed toward him on her seat at another bend.
"Are you going to be alright?"
"As you said, could be worse, this is my stop, see ya...I was wondering the same about you too"
She said, he was confused for a bit and then looked down when she passed him a kerchief and he took it gratefully and wiped his eyes, she apologized to the impatient bus driver and nodded when he opened the door hurrying outside.
The bus stop passed him and he swallowed, walking down the street to an open neighbourhood, he counted houses.
"You wanna know him? Go to Lavenders Grove and find him at this address."
Reaching fifty-seven, he gazed at the house and his heart raced stepping back at the large brown cottage with a black lamp stand, trying to picture what he looked like, what reaction would he have when he saw his son for the first time, doubts clouded his mind but that was what pushed him to find out who he is.
His hand rested on the small gate staring blankly at the neat concrete walkway and a flat lawn with stones on each side, he tried to open it and the gate squeaked.
"Excuse you"
He turned to a lady with brown hair and golden highlights tied in a rough ponytail wearing a bathrobe, she scratched her head and her eyes squinted.
"Good_good afternoon"
"He's not at home..." There was a change in her expression and she flapped the ends of her robe together and tilted her head at him.
"I need to see him, it's urgent"
"He won't be home till this evening."
George looked around, it was still daytime and his phone was dead to check the time, he huffed and hung on to his pouch
"Oh, that's fine" He shook his head, more disappointed than he was before.
"I_I can give him a call" She suggested pointing at her house walking out of the shrub surrounding her house, she wore a watch, sweatpants and sneakers, she looked like she had just come back from jogging.
"Oh, um...thank you"
He walked into the house and waited, she paced about holding her forehead.
"Someone's here to see you...uh, what's your name son?"
"George Heffner"
She turned to him
"George...what?"