Emily’s phone is turned off, so there’s no way to find her with the location app.
We spend the next thirty minutes texting everyone we know who might have any idea. It’s Ariel who gets an address, and I take off into the night, relieved and terrified and angrier than I’ve ever been.
Chapter Five
Gentry
It’s a field party. Because of course it is.
I hated field parties when I was in high school. Not that I got invited to a ton of them, but the few I did go to involved a lot of wandering around in the dark, trying not to bump into people. Add in an alcohol-induced haze of confusion, and my memories of the parties are more stressful than fun.
“I so don’t want to be here,” Sophie says, echoing my thoughts perfectly.
“We’ll split up,” I say. “That’s the quickest way to find her.”
“We have to gointhere? Just call her and tell her to get her ass out here.”
“Her phone is still turned off.”
“God, she’s such a brat.”
“We’ll stick to the shadows,” Ariel says. “If we see anyone we know, we’ll act like we’ve been here all night.”
“Can’t we just stay in the car and you go find her, Gentry? I cannot handle seeing Ben…Anyone from school.”
I recognize the pain in her voice. Fear of embarrassment is strong in both of us. “It’s going to take longer to find her if you two don’t help, but—”
“You can stay in the car, Sophie,” Ariel says. “But I’m helping Gentry. You know what Dawson can be like. Time is of the essence.”
“What’s Dawson—?” I start.
“Fine,” Sophie says. “Just gang up on me, both of you.”
She marches off into the darkness. Out here in the country, dark is pitch black. Especially on a cloudy night in October.
“Dawson is one of those guys who can get any girl he wants, but prefers a challenge,” Ariel says. “And he’s not afraid to use whatever chemicals are on hand to get what he wants.”
My stomach roils, and I press a hand to my mouth to keep from vomiting. I swallow hard. “I thought they were teaching about consent in schools now?”
Ariel snorts as she heads off into the night after Sophie. “Some assholes are still going to asshole even when they’re taught better.”
My mind now doom-spiraling with thoughts of Emily, unconscious and drunk, being assaulted by a sixteen-year-old predator, I stumble-run into the darkness.
The sounds of laughter and talking emerge after a few steps. Tall grass brushes against my jean-clad calves. I’m so grateful that it’s October and all the snakes are likely hibernating.
A few more steps and there’s the glow of a bonfire. I can just make out Ariel heading in the same direction. I pick up my pace as the ground under my tennis shoes becomes more visible.
But there are only about twenty kids around the fire. None of them is Emily, and none of them has any idea where Emily is.
Ariel and I agree to split up, and I smack into Sophie just outside the circle of light from the fire.
“Ouch,” Sophie whisper-shouts. “Watch where you’re going, Gentry.”
“I literally can’t watch where I’m going, Sophie. Have you found Emily?”
“Obviously not. She’s not here. Can we leave?”
“You know how these parties are. Just because she’s not by the fire, that doesn’t mean she’s not here.”
