The Crimson Prince： Awakening 17 Chapter 16: Those Left Behind

It had been practically five months since she heard Will's voice, but she couldn't have mistaken that voice. It was the same one she had heard whispered in her ear countless times before he moved.

Her phone still in her hands, she called the only person she could think of to call. Dialing Leo's number she prayed with Every ring that he would answer.

"Ello?" answered a not at all tired voice.

"I heard Will." Bianca blurted out before she could think of what to say. Though it sounded like she was going crazy, she hoped that maybe Leo would take her seriously. She knew he had been trying to keep tabs on Will since he left for Colorado.

"Hearing voices Bee? After so long of not hearing him I should have known this would happen." a c.o.c.ky response answered from the line. Bianca could have expected a response like that. Lee had a personality where he couldn't necessarily turn off his sarcasm, but in some cases that was why she and Will hung out with him. After all, normal was overrated.

"Haha Lee, get dressed and meet me at Java Joint." Bianca said as she hung up the phone, throwing on a pair of jeans and a pink tank with a Jean jacket, she ran down the stairs of her house and left. Luckily a few months ago she finally saved up enough money for a car. Her mom was fine with putting down half for a decent Chevy Malibu.

Bianca got in her car and got the keys out of her pocket. 'It could have been a sign from him,' she thought as she cranked on the ignition. 'At least a way for him to tell us he's okay.' She knew how she sounded and it wasn't like her usual self, but when Will stopped contacting her, she tried everything. She called Jonathan's phone which went straight to voicemail. She had Leo try tracking him down via GPS and nothing came up. It was like Will just completely vanished off the face of the earth.

The car ride to downtown Saint Cloud took no more than ten minutes taking the road past tech high school and the bowling alley. Bianca soon saw Leo's old banged up white Buick parked in front of Java Joint. Oddly enough, Leo got his car long before she did. Will still didn't have one seeing as though his dad would have made sure he had at least a thousand in his account for insurance and the first payment upfront before he could get one. Bianca looked at the old beat up car for a minute, she remembered the trails they took, the branches of the trees on either side sc.r.a.ping each side of the car. Leo didn't care about the look of the car, he only cared that he could take it on their numerous adventures. Taking herself out of her thoughts, she headed towards Java Joint.

Entering the coffee shop, Bianca was. .h.i.t by a hint of nostalgia. This was the place the three of them hung out in most of the time. The quiet atmosphere in the daytime and the bands at night, it was the perfect place for three teenagers to spend their time.

Bianca remembered the time Lee was acting his normal goofy self playing the tambourine to a guitarists song, making a fool out of himself while Will recorded it. Bianca would just be on the side laughing at the two kids while they made a mockery of themselves. That night she laughed herself to death on the drive home.

The place hadn't changed in years, though it was more quiet than it used to be. It was ten o'clock at night and there was no band, just music playing in the background. Usually having to fight through a crowd of dancers to get to the seating, Bianca walked through the empty dance floor and found Leo seated at the usual table wearing his usual black, white and red ma.s.s effect hoodie and baggy blue jeans, his unruly hair going just barely past his gla.s.ses. Even if it had been a while since she had seen him last, he didn't really look all that different. He had the usual laptop on the table, no doubt searching the internet using the shops wifi.

Seeing the table only made Bianca miss Will more. It was nice to see Leo again, they had become fast friends. Despite his appearance, Leo had always been friends with the cheerleaders and football team in high school. He was always outgoing and spontaneous, and was also the one to introduce her to Will. He had always said that being a part of everything was worthwhile. No matter where he went, he was always well informed. Regardless of his social standing, everyone seemed to like and trust him.

"I heard Will, I swear I'm not making this up." Bianca said as she slid into the opposite booth of Leo. "I don't know how, and I don't know where from, but it was like he was right next to me." She had hoped that driving to meet him would give her a little time to think about what to say that didn't sound crazy, unfortunately ten minutes wasn't enough.

"I thought we both agreed that he was abducted by aliens months ago," Leo said without cracking a smile. "We haven't heard from him in half a year, he must really be living it up in Colorado." Looking up from his laptop, Leo gave Bianca just a hint of a smile.

Bianca rolled her eyes. Leo always had a sense of humor he wore on his sleeve, but she could tell he missed Will just as badly as she did. "You know he didn't have a choice but to leave, his dad found another place." she stated matter of factly. "He wouldn't ditch us and you know it, there's something going on that we don't know about." Bianca had a feeling he wouldn't have broken contact so easily unless something was going on. Will always had a knack for getting in trouble.

Leo waved his hand at the waitress who seemed to be busy on the phone. "Could we get a few c.o.kes over here?" he yelled at the busy woman who raised a finger for patience. Nodding his head, Leo turned his attention back to his hopeless friend. 'After so long of not hearing from her boyfriend, she must finally be having a breakdown,' he thought, having nothing to say, he looked back down at his facebook page. Of course he was worried about Will, but as long as he'd known him, he knew that he could take care of himself.

Leo thought back to the kid he took off the soccer hill to hang out with. His eyes were completely s.p.a.ced out, as if he weren't even present in his own body. Leo had instantly taken it upon himself to bring the kid back to reality. What started as s.p.a.ceship quickly became kick ball. Bianca had joined the two of them later on in middle school which slowly brought Will out of his mind and into the actual world. After elementary school, Leo had always gone over to Will's place to play his Xbox. When he finally got a car, the three of them had no limits. They would go to the state capital, seeing as though there was a burger joint they loved right next to the big house itself. They had gone to Mall of America countless times. Leo even picked Bianca and Will up right after Will got off work and drove to Minneapolis to watch the fireworks on the fourth of July.

Leo sighed, of course he missed Will. He was the glue that held the three of them together, without him it seemed like he was alone most of the time. What he wouldn't give to be able to get in the car with the two of them and go off on another crazy adventure. 'It seems like forever ago,' he thought as he looked at Bianca.

"If he wanted to get in contact with us, he could just pick up the phone." he said with minor annoyance in his voice. "Face it Bee, we've been dumped, he's probably got a new girl and a more interesting best friend to keep him company." The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her, but he knew it wasn't healthy for her to become so hung up on one person.

"I don't and will never believe that." Bianca said. She could never believe that will would throw two lifelong relationships away, it wasn't in his character. He had always been very supportive of the two of them. If they ever got in trouble with anyone, he would be there to fight for them. She and Leo were more family than his own family, she knew that if he could get in contact with them, he would.

Looking back when they were in school, Will was always hard to approach. He always had the same blue jeans, white t shirt and black leather jacket on. With his long hair he looked intimidating, no one really took the time to get to know him. Either he was sleeping in cla.s.s or reading a book, Will always did love his magic.

Bianca remembered all the times they went to the field behind his house, he would always have his phone with him. The one thing she had always noticed was the fact that it never rang. He rarely texted anyone and he wasn't a huge gamer. More often than not, Will would have his kindle app on his phone so he could read just about anywhere. Whenever anyone came up to him and asked what he was reading he would always reply 'a book.' It wasn't as if he was trying to be rude, but Bianca knew that the books of magic were precious to him. Not many people would understand his obsession, but Bianca knew that it was an escape from reality. It was the only thing that kept him from lashing out at people. It took Bianca and Leo years to finally break through his sh.e.l.l and actually get him to open up. On the outside he looked like a troubled youth, on the inside he was just a softie.

"Just promise me you will keep your eyes open Lee," Bianca said with a worried look settling in her eyes, "I know there's something going on with Will, I can feel it."

"I think you are worried about nothing and seriously need some unwinding time." Leo said with a smirk on his face.

Bianca reached across the table and punched Leo's arm. She was used to his witty comebacks, but she'd always make sure he paid for them later.

"OWW hey what was that for?" Leo cried out in indignation, "I said you need unwinding time, that doesn't mean I won't keep a lookout!" he said while rubbing his arm. Clearly he was just as upset about Will as she was. She looked at Leo with a smile.

"Thanks Lee, it means a lot that you came out to talk to me," she said honestly, "we need to try to stick together more often just in case Will does pop up somewhere." giggling to herself, she got up and ran to the door.

"Hey! What about your c.o.ke?!" Leo yelled after her, but the door to Java had already shut behind her.

Leo stared at the now served two c.o.kes and sighed. "Dammit Will, how long are you going to keep her waiting?" he whispered to himself as he picked up his drink.

"Not long Lee, just a little more time." Will's voice replied out of no where. "Keep her safe for me."

Leo jumped out of his seat looking around, seeing nothing he sat down and took a long drink of his c.o.ke. "You better be alright man." he said as quietly has he could. "If not I'll raise you from the dead to kill you myself from all the grief you've put her through." With that, he packed up his laptop and left for his car.