Chapter 36

Xander's POV

The alarm woke me up the next morning. I groaned and got out of bed, stretching. Sighing, I walked to the bathroom and washed my face. Then proceeded to get a bottle of water. On my way, I checked Xavier's room. Still not home. Checking my phone, there wasn't any message either. Where could he be? I've called everyone I know and still they keep saying they haven't found him. This is starting to get annoying.

After drinking some water, I began calling him again. This time, it was switched off. Okay... What's going on? People just don't suddenly disappear. Dropping the now empty bottle in the trash can, I walked back to my room to have a shower and prepare for school. Maybe he's there.

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Turns out... He's not in school idea. I stopped to ask Darren is f he knew where he was, but Darren said he hadn't seen him since last week Friday. We tried calling him, but it also said switched off.

“Have you called the cops?” Darren asked. I glanced at him.

“The cops? If something was wrong, I'll know. Besides, the cops won't do anything until after 48 hours. I don't think I have that much time.”

“But he's been missing since the night before yesterday. That's up to 48 hours.” Darren suggested.

“I don't want to involve them yet...” I said.

“Why don't we ask Natalie? She might have an idea of where he is.” He suggested.

“You think so?”

“We'll have to try.”

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“No. I don't know where he is. “Natalie replied when we finally saw her. I ran my hands through my hair in frustration.

“What do you mean he's not been home since the day before yesterday?”

“He said he was going out... And he's not yet back.” Darren supplied.

“Maybe he's in one of the hotels nearby. He can't be that far..” Natalie said.

“I've called every hotel in the vicinity and everyone who probably has an idea of where he might be. No sign of him.”

“But this isn't the first time. Why are so worried?” She asked again.

“You don't get it. This is the first time he'll go out like this and NOT leave a message. He always leaves a message or a way we can track him.”

“That's true... And we've been calling him for a while now. At first, they went to voicemail now it's just telling us switched off.” Darren said. Natalie closed her eyes and sighed. When she opened them, she said, 

“But I don't know where he probably might be. How am I supposed to help?”

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Natalie's POV

I saw the despair on Xander's face, and I felt sorry for him. This is new, but I needed to find a way to calm them down, so they don't begin to freak out.

“Okay, look. We'll wait till the school is closed. If there's still no sign of him, I will help you look. Okay?”

They both stared at me. I smiled.

“You sure about that?” Darren asked me.

“Absolutely....” I said. Just then, the bell rang. I took in a deep breath.

“I have to go now. We'll talk later...” To Xander I said.” Don't worry, we'll find him. Let's have faith.”

Amidst the rush of students going to class, I turned and went to class myself. Finding and sitting in my seat, I brought out my books.

“What happened?” Ariana asked after a while.

“Can't find Xavier,” then sighing, I added. “I offered to help.”

“Oh... Okay. Good luck with that.”

“Thanks.”

”You're welcome.”

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School had already closed and there was still no sign of Xavier anywhere. Ariana had already left, but I was still in school with Xander. Darren also promised to help, so he went in search of him with Mira. Xander had been calling everyone he knew, but the reply was negative.

”He's not there.” He told me after calling the final person on his list. I sighed.

“Let's go for him,” I said and walked ahead. Xander stared at me.

”Where?”

”Anywhere... At least we have to start from somewhere.” I said. He shrugged and followed me. We got into his car, and he started it up but didn't move. 

“Now, where do we go from here?” He asked and glanced. 

"Just move... And I'll think of someplace where we can go look for him.”

He shrugged and started up his car and we drove out of the school. After driving out a few distances, I placed my head on the window and closed my eyes. If I had a lot of things on my mind and talking to friends wouldn't help, where would I go? I asked myself.

Home, my subconscious replied to me. But I didn't have parents to meet. My dad wasn't home neither were my brothers or mom..... That's it!!

“Stop the car!” I suddenly said. Xander looked at me, stunned for a while, but eventually rolled over and stopped it.

 ”What happened?” He asked after he parked the car.

“Xander..... When last did you visit your mom's grave?” I asked him. He looked at me for a while, then slowly relaxed in his chair. 

“I probably never had in a long while. Why didn't think of that?....” He slowly said. “You think he'll be there?”

“There's only one way to find out,” I replied to him. He nodded and started up the car, making a U-turn. We went back the opposite way we came, maybe that's where the cemetery where she was buried.

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We arrived there after a while and Xander parked his car in the parking lot and looked around.

“That's his car.” He announced. I stared in the direction where he was pointing and truly that's where his car was parked. I glanced at him.

“I'll go check if he's there. I'll be right back.” He said and got out of the car, closing the door behind me. I stayed behind and watched him go.

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 Xander's POV

Xavier and I used to come here every year after mom died when we were much younger. It's strange that after this happened I couldn't think of this place as the first place to look for him. What kind of a brother am I?? I was particularly worried about the fact that he might not be here, but I first have to check don't I? I kept passing by templates until I got to where my mom was buried.

Lo-and-behold, he was there. He was backing me, and his head was slightly bent... As if he was squatting. I took in a deep breath and began walking towards him. And that's when I heard quiet, low sobs emanating from him. I froze.

It was hard to make out what he was saying, but eventually, I did. And it was not a good speech.

“I don't know what else to do...” I heard him say. “You asked me to take good care of him, but I messed that up. I can't even look him in the eyes. He hates me, mom..... Xander hates me. I even thought maybe agreeing to the bet would make things easier for us, but what happened? I fall in love. It's just so annoying. I can't watch him hate me forever. Dad doesn't care, and he's the only one I've got..... I don't know what else to do, honestly, I don't.”

It took me a while to realize that a tear had crept out of my eye. That's when I realized that I couldn't take more of his words. Slowly, I walked back the way I came... Make sure that Xavier didn't see me come and he won't see me leave either.

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I got into the car had stared ahead, not talking or doing anything. Just staring.

“What happened?” I heard Natalie ask. “Did you see him?”

“I did... He's there.” I answered.

“Then why isn't he here with you?”

“He isn't here with me...... Because I couldn't bring myself to tell him I was there with him.” I answered, my voice hoarse.

“Why what happened? Is he doing something bad there??” she asked, alarm on her tone.

It took a while, but eventually, I answered her.

“Xavier thinks I hate him..... That I hate him. Why would he think I hate him??” Natalie was quiet for a while, just looking at me, not saying anything.

“Aren't you going to say anything?” I heard her sigh.

“What do you want me to say, Xander? It's okay..... Do you hate him?”

“Of course not! I'm angry with him, yes but hate him?? He's the only one I have!”

“I guess Xavier doesn't know that...” she said.

“He doesn't... And it hurts that he doesn't.”