Silas sat at his desk with a copy of the school paper, barely holding it together with trembling hands. His friends, the business of the paper, the book club, everything he had worked so hard for was just gone within a single day. Everything was gone, just crumbles of dust in the air from the buildings above and a load of questions that nobody seemed to have the answers to. He let a tear escape his left eye, grieving the death of his classmates and friends and as the investigation of what really happened was still underway, he'd begun obsessively going in and out of the police station for answers, but nobody was talking. With a sigh, he took out his small notepad, taking notes of what he remembered from the newscasting of the accident and what he was able to piece together by talking to others who were in the area at the time and the reporters he ran into that were looking throughout the area. He would include the last photo he took of himself and his friends in the memorial panel of the paper. His gift of writing and love for the camera was most of the passion he got from his mother and his mother's side of the family.
He had a passion through the lens to see the world through other people's eyes. He enjoyed the colors and expressions of what he was able to capture through it. He stood up from his desk, walking around the room, pushing the side button as a smile came across his face, reminiscing the past. He continued to click the button, smiling more intently as each picture became funnier than the last one that included work and their favorite places they all went together. Even pictures of June popped up during the happier times of their friendship. Wiping another tear from his eye, he stopped at an older photo as if it happened yesterday. A group photo that included June was taken after the paper had first opened the previous school year. June was always included as much as possible and it was a very chaotic, but happy day as he remembered. He laughed at the superhero pose he did in front of everyone and how stupid he looked. His staff was laughing and doing small poses of their own. He took note of the happy and proud moment before setting the camera down on the bed, laying his head down on the pillow. He did not intentionally open it as a business, but he enjoyed it more as a hobby now.
He knew who he wanted to be and did what he could to help everyone he had the opportunity to. Most of his counterparts lived in nice houses all across the town of Silvergrove, but he grew up in the rougher part of town before his mother and father had his first two siblings and left the military life behind. Both of his parents were retired Navy Seals as they were in similar job placements, which was how they originally met. His family was living beyond their means, but he didn't mind it. At times, the parties and family come and go just to drink the booze and eat the finger sandwiches. June was the first friend he made here when he moved from a town over years ago. She was the first one to say hello and introduce herself while sitting down alone at a lunch table. Sitting up in his bed, he stood up and walked over to the board above his desk where he spotted his favorite photo of him and June. She was wearing a pink sundress and her hair had pulled up in a ponytail and he wore a simple black tank top and blue jeans. He had taken her out for snowcones that day and he remembered her laughter in the car while playing her favorite music. He unpinned the photo and smiled to himself, tracing his index finger on the outer edges. He turned over and took note of the date. It was taken just two days before her parents disappeared and she had changed forever that day.
As time went on, she became more reclusive. Didn't come over much anymore and didn't speak to him on many occasions until a few months ago. He had been on his yearly family camping trip and didn't hear the news until he got home and felt like he had abandoned her. He had been trying to make up for it ever since, but she has since pushed him away. He sighed and pinned the photo back to the board, hoping that he would have his friend back. He missed her, he loved her, but never pushed the topic out of fear that she would explode. He was grateful he still had her, even in the darkest times when she shut down and stopped visiting his family. His two siblings asked about her for weeks before they gave up, but knows his mother likes to keep in touch with how she is doing from time to time. Walking from his board, he pulled his headphones over his ears and grabbed his phone from his sachel before singling it over his shoulder. Before he could break free from the silence of his own thoughts, a knock on the door pulled him out.
"Come in!" He shouted. The door creaked open slowly, his mother standing there with a plate of cookies, her eight-month pregnant belly sticking out from underneath the plate. She seemed extra fragile today.
"I made you chocolate chip", she explained innocently.
He laughed. "Thanks, Mom." He gave her a peck on the cheek and helped her down onto his bed as she rested her hand on her belly, letting out a loud sigh. "How's my little sibling doing in there?" He placed a hand and felt a kick before he laughed again and she glared at him.
"Knock it off. She is doing too much. Turns out, she is definitely my kid. Likes chocolate chip along with the rest of you kids." She frowned when she looked at his satchel on his shoulder. "Where you headed? I want you to be careful out there. That collapsed building has the entire town in a panic again. I feel so bad for all those people and there are no answers yet. The chief spoke with your father, they're going to do a press conference within the week."
He nodded, sitting down next to her, "I will be fine. I promise. I am going to see Juniper. She hasn't been going to school."
His mother's eyes shifted into concern. "How is she? This must be so hard for her."
He nodded again, "It is, but she is strong enough. She will get through it if I have anything to say about it. I will be back before dinner, okay?" He kissed her cheek and waved goodbye before trotting down the stairs, biting into the warm cookie he grabbed from the plate and ran into the morning. Silas enjoyed walks in the morning. The calm chill of the breeze mixed with the songs amongst the crickets to indicate the morning was here. The warm weather was going to soon fade and he looked forward to the more chillier days. The walk from his house to Juniper's was not a long one, roughly ten minutes if he struggled along the curbs. He pushed the play button on his playlist and hummed quietly to the music blasting through his headphones as he lifted the camera off his neck and snapped a few photos of the trees above where cherry blossoms could be seen and some green, yellow, and red leaves.
The vibration of his phone pulled him from his camera, pulling it out from his back pocket, he felt the color drain from his face as he pulled the headphones back down to the base of his neck. With a sigh of annoyance, he clicked the green button, putting the phone to his ear;
"Why are you calling me on my personal phone? I could have been around my family." He stood still for a moment, before continuing to walk along the sidewalk.
"Well, hello to you too, Silas", a familiar tone but rippled with confidence.
"Zander." He said.
"I am back in town. Where are you? We need to talk." He said with a sense of urgency.
"We're talking now." He said closing up his camera lens.
A booming laughter can be heard before Zander spoke again, "I just want to help. Are you busy today?"
He rolled his eyes. "I have school, but depending on how Juniper feels, I may skip today."
Silence could be heard between them before Zander spoke again. "You're still friends with her? I am surprised at you. Do you think she is going to want anything to do with you when she finds out what you did?"
He knew Zander was right, but did not let that stop him from continuing. "Who is going to tell her? Keep your mouth shut, Zander."
He laughed again. "Okay, Okay. I have a few things to take care of first. I am at the motel downtown so when can you come meet me? Did you finish your task yet?"
He knew he had no choice but to comply. "I haven't, no. I still have some details that need to be sorted out. Zander, Juniper is off-limits. I can come to meet you this afternoon once I figure out what's going on."
Zander lowered his tone. "Come meet me asap and bring Juniper with you." He hung up before he could get in another word. With a sigh, he rubbed his temple.
"Wonderful." He said with annoyance as he stepped on to her porch, hoping she would answer the door.