invisible string - simon elroy

three

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" Their dad asked Xavier as he walked towards them.

"Like you said you haven't found anything yet. And you know that means anything on me." Xavier took a step forward as Evangeline stood as well. "So, i'm going back to school."

Xavier pushed past him grabbing his jacket and exiting and Evangeline quickly followed.

"Are you driving yourself?!" She called out to her brother who just nodded and jumped in his truck.

She sighed as she climbed in her car herself and started driving to school. As Evangeline pulled into the parking lot she spotted Simon standing at the bus stop with his headphones in and pacing back and forth.

"Hey!" Evangeline greeted as she walked up to Simon. "Wait up!"

"Hey, Vange." Simon said as the two walked into the school together.

"What did you find last night in the garage?" She asked him as they walked the halls. Simon bit his lip as he looked around the hall and pulled her into an empty classroom.

"Okay, I haven't even told Nicole this yet." Simon said as she tilted her head. "I found a piece of Maddie's phone. Two pieces actually. At least i'm sure it's hers."

"Wait, but what about the phone that was in Xavier's bag?" She asked him.

"I'm not sure, but I think it's just a decoy." Simon said. "This might sound crazier but I think Mr Anderson is involved somehow. He was acting so weird last night.

"Yeah he really was. He was like mad that we were there. Like we interrupted something." Evangeline crossed her arms as she leaned up against a desk.

"And it's weird Mr Anderson gave Maddie his number."

"Wait what?" She looked up at him. "He gave her his phone number?"

"Yeah." Simon responded.

"How do you know this?" Evangeline asked him.

"There were some kids talking about Maddie.. Online." Evangeline furrowed her eyebrows as he spoke. "Isn't that suspicious though?"

"Well yeah. Definitely weird." She said to him. "That sounds like one of those weird teacher student relationship that shouldn't happen."

"Okay ew no. It wasn't like that." Simon made a disgusted face as she said that.

"I didn't mean it like that. That's just what it sounded like with the phone number thing!" She stood from leaning on the desk. "Plus he just seems weird. Did you see his car last night? It looks like he sleeps in it."

"His car?" Simon questioned and she nodded. "You free right now? Actually you are now."

Simon grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the classroom. He held her hand as he led her down the halls to Mr Andersons class, causing the girl to go slightly red in the face as he held on.

Simon's plan was for her to distract him so he could go into his class.

"Hey Mr Anderson!" The girl said as she walked up to him at the water fountain.

"Evangeline. How are you?" He asked.

"I'm good! So I had some questions about the last essay i wrote."

"What are the questions?" He asked while filling his water bottle.

"Okay so I noticed some people have gotten their essays back but I haven't gotten mine yet." She said as he looked at her. "Was my essay bad? Did I choose a stupid topic. I'm usually one of the first to get my essays back considering I always turn mine in early. So are you not giving it to me to shield me from a bad grade or did you just lose it or not get to it yet or.."

"Woah woah woah." Mr Anderson screwed the lid back onto his bottle. "Calm down. I promise you will get your essay back soon. I just haven't gotten through all of them yet. Why are you freaking out over this?"

"I'm just stressed with everything going on." He gave her a sad look. "Do you have any advice on how to deal with stress."

"How about I recommend you some books on stress." He said and she noticed Simon leaving the classroom.

"Yeah! Yes please if you could!"