CHAPTER ELEVEN

[TONY]

The loud wheezing sound coming from my phone rips me from my sleep. It's my school alarm: set with the appropriately titled 'Old Car Horn' sound. I groan, picturing the day ahead of me, the faces in the hall.

Wait. What am I thinking? I'm not going to school today; Clay's still suspended.

My alarm continues, blaring out that annoying wheeze at a rhythmic pace.

Clay. Fuck. I probably just woke him up. That's the last thing he needs: to wake up at seven in the fucking morning on a day when he isn't even going to school.

I reach over and shut the alarm off as quickly and quietly as possible. I start to turn to my other side, forgetting that I have my phone still in my hand. My fast movement causes my charger to be ripped from the outlet. Fuck.

I turn my head towards Clay's side of the bed, my mouth ready to inaudibly slip an apology.

"No," I hear myself saying involuntarily, taking in the sight of the empty half of my bed. The folded pajamas. "No, no, no." I can feel my eyes widening as I shoot up in bed.

This isn't happening.

He wouldn't do this.

He couldn't do this.

I let my body take control as my mind races with all of the possibilities. Clay in his bathtub, bleeding to death. Clay jumping off of the cliff. Clay taking a shitload of painkillers.

My eyes run over the bed; the nightstand; the floor. No sign of a note, no sign of Clay at all. I pick up the folded stack of pajamas, praying that he left something, anything, hidden and folded inside, or underneath.

Nothing.

Thoughts race through my head as I hastily put on the first pair of shoes I can find. I grab my head with both hands, trying to force myself to focus and steady my breathing.

Think. Think.

Shoes. Phone. Wallet. Keys.

Before I can process what I'm doing, I sprint upstairs and practically leap towards the door. The sunlight hits my eyes, almost blinding me as I run towards my car.

All of my movements become a fast blur of memorized habits. I turn on the ignition and hit the gas pedal: the tires screech on the road as I race against an invisible clock.

No, not a clock. An hourglass.

An hourglass full of the sand of Clay's life.

The sand that's now draining away.

What if he's in pain right now, struggling to hold on? What if it's already happened?

What if he's already gone?

No. There's no way in hell that all of this can happen again. I'll get there in time.

I have to.

I pull up to Clay's house, relieved that I could make it there while being so distracted. I practically jump out of my car. I notice, with fear, that there are no cars in the driveway. His parents aren't home.

I sprint across his lawn, mindlessly trampling on some flowers.

"Clay, please open the door. Clay, it's Tony," I helplessly shout, as I bang mercilessly on the front door.

No answer.

I rip my hands through my hair and take a step back as I try to decide the best way to break it down. I inhale sharply, studying the door as quickly as I possibly can. I brace myself to launch towards it with my entire body weight.

My phone rings.

With my concentration broken, I stare powerlessly at the door, praying that I won't be wasting precious time.

"Please be him. Please be him," I whisper to myself as I rapidly tear my phone from my back pocket.

It is.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hey guys, I'm sorry this update took so long! I have a lot going on right now with online classes and visitors for my birthday (woo!) and I've been really debating on what I want to happen in this story and what direction I want to take it in. I hope this chapter measures up to all of the rest! Once again, thank you for reading and taking the time to review!