Kidnapped

Chapter 3: The Milkshake Bar

Clay POV

A week had passed and news had spread on the grand opening of the milkshake bar, everyone was excited but mostly Karl. We promised to take him as soon as it opened and none of us were going to break that promise.

The entire school day Karl was practically bouncing for joy, we all couldn't help but smile at his behaviour. Although I couldn't help but feel a pang in my chest. Something didn't feel right but I didn't know if I was the only one who felt it.

Karl practically dragged me to my car once he heard the bell, everyone else tailing behind us. "Guys come on we have to get a good seat!" he shouted over to the others. "Alright Karl" Nick laughs, everyone jumping into the car and putting their seatbelts on.

I pulled outside of the milkshake bar, it wasn't as packed as I thought it would be but it still looked pretty busy. "Ill find us a table" Alex said, Karl following closely behind as Nick and I get out the car.

"Clay?" I turn to see Nick standing at the door "Yeah?" I ask, still holding the door open for him. "I- uh..this is a bit much actually" he looked down to the floor before looking back up at me. "I know, cmon lets try not to think about it okay?" I faintly smiled as he slowly nodded.

We made our way over to the table near the window that had a corner seat, Karl and Alex already sitting down with menus. Karl eagerly handing us the menus as we sat next to them.

Karl POV

I used to love milkshakes. They were one of my favourite things to have, whether it was a bad day or a good day they seemed to help with anything. I didnt have the heart to tell them how much they hurt instead.

"George careful your going to make a mess!" Karl said, catching the glass that nearly fell off the edge. "Then dont put the glass there and I wouldn't knock it off, duh" George smirked as he sat back in his seat, dipping his straw into the cream onto of his milkshake. "We've had two already how are you still able to eat that?" Karl smiled, holding his hand on his stomach as he had eaten too much.

"Theres no such thing as too much" George smiled followed by a hiccup. "Uh oh" He looked back up at Karl, covering his mouth with the back of his hand "I think Ive had too much" Karl managed to let out a giggle before stopping himself. "I actually don't think I can move right now" Karl laughed and George agreed. "Ay no regrets though" George laughed "Yeah no regrets!" Karl agreed, both of them leaning back letting their stomachs rest.

"I have your milkshakes" the waiter states, placing down a tray of milkshakes, we had all ordered chocolate. "Clay I thought you weren't keen on chocolate?" Nick enquires, Clay looking up from his drink "Well I thought you two always ordered vanilla" he looked between Nick and I.

The table went silent, Alex finally breaking it "Look we all think about him so why dont we just talk about it" None of us dared to answer. We all knew we thought about him but we never spoke about it.

We never brought him up, not to each other and not to parents. It was easier to not speak about it. "Hows your milkshake Karl?" I look over at Clay "Were drinking the same milkshake" I state with a faint smile.

"Right.." He went back to swirling his straw into his drink, the silence drowning the table once again. "Ill uh...Ill go pay" I stated, about to get up when Clay stopped me "Ive got this one, my treat" he smiles, looking down at our table number and getting up, walking over to the counter.

Clay POV

I felt bad that after a whole day of Karl being excited, today turned out to be a bit too much for all of us. I knew we would come back here once we were ready, we should be by now but somehow the wound still feels fresh.

I took out my wallet as I approached the counter. "What number are you?" "Table 4" I responded, waiting for him to bring up our order. "That'll be £12.50, are you paying with cash or card?" "Card please" I use contactless and the payment goes through.

I dropped Karl and Alex home, Nick didn't plan to spend the night but he wanted some company so I invited him to stay. After my mum made us dinner we went upstairs into my room, sitting down on my bed as we both aimlessly scrolled through our phones.

"Clay?" I looked up from my phone for a brief second to show him I was listening "Whats up?" It took him a while to speak up "Do you think he's dead?" "Jesus Nick what the hell" I growled, angrier then intended.

"Its just I don't know what I think..I think about it too much and its eating away at me..my mum wants to send me to therapy" I finally look up from my phone, turning it off and chucking it to the side.

"I think we all think about it more than we should" I say, making Nicks eyes go wide as I usually shut down the conversation "Its been a year now and the only difference is that the rest of the world has moved on" he faintly smiles over to me.

"Yeah..exactly" The conversation dies down for a moment, both of us clearly lost in thought "I miss him" he sighs "I miss him too"

"Trust me guys 2 weeks is not that long" George smiles as he puts his charger into his backpack "Yes it is, besides were not a group when it isn't all of us" Clay pouts, making George shake his head. "Well Im okay with it, I dont have to hear his annoying voice" Nick laughs as George throws a jumper at his face. "Ow Georgie that hurt" he pouts. Karl gives George a hug, faintly smiling "Im gonna miss you" "Ill miss you guys too"