3 Chapter Two.

Worried and confused as ever, Jake had been driving around the area in search Hailey, he knew she would not return to the house, but he could not resist the urge of wanting to call her mother to check if she had come home. Yes, they only lived 15 minutes Away from the school but that’s quite a hefty distance for someone who’s on foot. Jake also did not like the idea of alerting her mom, as she’d freak out, despite that fact that he didn’t know what he’d say to her. After all, it does sound a bit absurd calling someone’s mother and telling her that her daughter had disappeared because she saw a ghost in the schools restrooms. Would she even believe that? That was beside the point, Jake just wanted to find Hailey.

He drove around a bit longer, but he still had no idea where she could possibly be. He pulled over and pulled out his phone, speedily searching for Mrs Andersons number. He froze for a moment and stared at the number, contemplating on whether he should call her or not. He did not want to get her too worried, but he also could not think of any other option.

“Well, here goes nothing” he said to himself.

He took a deep breath and dialled the number. The phone rang for several seconds before Mrs Andersons voice was audible on the other end of the call.

“Jake?” she said, “shouldn’t you be at school right now?” she asked with a muddled tone in her voice.

“Hey Hi, Mrs Anderson” he said, speaking slightly louder than usually as he tried to drown out the worried tone in his voice. “I don’t mean to worry you or anything but –”

“But?” she interrupted.

“Is Hailey at home by any chance?” he asked, trying to act as casual as ever.

“Hailey? Jake it’s 10:00am on a Friday morning. She Left the house this morning and said she would head to school with you. Did you guys not go to school together?” she asked, even more confused this time.

“No, I mean yes, yes we did leave together. We got to school, and she went to the restroom for a few minutes. She came out the restroom tumbling all over the place and crying, I asked her what happened, she told me and ran off, she said she had to go.” He replied, as he rushed through his sentence.

“Jake, slow down.” She said, “what do you mean, ran off? And why?” she asked as she got up and walked out of the lounge and headed outside onto the balcony.

“Well, uhm” Jake said hesitantly as he scratched the back of his head.

“Jake!?” She responded.

Jake could sense the worry in her voice, he knew he could not hide it from her, so he told her anyways, even though he thought it was ridiculous.

“She said she saw a ghost in the restroom, well two of them to be more specific something about death and her returning. I’m not quite sure, she was rushing through everything and seemed really scared, I tried to talk to her, but she just took off. I don’t know, maybe she might have been watching some scary movie last night and got spooked or something, she’s been acting really strange today. She also said something about a little girl saying the same thing while we were on our way to school. She seemed extremely uncomfortable and appeared to be awfully jumpy.” He responded

Mrs Anderson froze for a moment and tried to make sense of what Jake just told her, but she couldn’t. She was however worried as to why her daughter would just run off like that, some part of her wants to believe the ghost story but the most part of her was simply scared as to where her daughter may have gone.

“Jake, did you just say what I think you said?” she replied

“Look I know all of this sounds crazy and possibly blown way out of proportion, but this is what she’s been telling me, I really didn’t take note of what she said this morning but now it has actually started to worry me, but that’s beside the point. Do have any idea where she could of ran off too? He said as he hurried through what he just said once again.

“Uhm yes, I think I know where she might be. Remember the park you guys used to go to when you were kids? She still goes there when she’s upset, she might be there, I don’t know. I mean it’s worth having a look” She replied, with apprehension drowning her heart.

Jake quickly responded as he Started his car, “Alright, thank you.”

“Do call me whe –.”

Jake hung up the phone before she even finished her sentence and Stepped on the accelerator. With the tires squalling on the tar road and the 320 horsepower V8 engine roaring aggressively, Jake rushed to the park. Swerving and weaving through traffic Jake has never been as scared as he has at this very moment, all he could think about was finding her and holding her ever so closely and never letting go of her ever again.

Jake Arrived at the park and immediately got out the car in search of Hailey. It did not even take him a second to spot her. She Was sitting by the pond with her legs dangling off the deck hovering right above the water.

“Hailey” he said to himself as he sprinted towards her.

As he got closer, he shouted out her name.

"HAILEY! "

She turned around and spotted Jake, she got up and started running towards him. Arms spread wide open the two immediately hugged each other. Hailey still crying, Hugged Jake as firmly as she could.

“It’s okay, I’m here” he said as he kissed her on the forehead.

Jake held her as they made their way to the car, they got in and he hugged her once more.

“Hailey, you had me worried sick about you” he said to her as he held her even tighter this time.

“I’m sorry Jake” she responded, “I have no idea what’s going on with me. I’m seeing things, hearing things that no one else can, I’m scared Jake.”

“it’s okay I’m here now. I’ll take you back home and well talk about it there. Your mom is probably just as worried about you as I was.”

“my mom?” She said with a blank look on her face and raised eyebrow. “uhg, as if she has ever cared about me in her lifetime”

“Well, She’s the one who told me where I’d find you, so I guess she cares, maybe not in the way you want her too, but she does Hailey.” he said while statting the car.

Hailey did not respond, she turned around and looked out the window.

She Never had an amazing relationship with mom, she was always working and in her spare time she was either drunk or going out with her friends. She was however extremely successful and well off, but that did not seem to mean much to Hailey. She felt like the mother of the house and was the one that always had to care for her little sister. Her mom would just give them money and tell them to go shopping or do something. That was her version of looking after kids, but Hailey was not interested into all of that. She just wanted a mother who actually noticed her.

20 minutes later Jake drove into Mrs Andersons driveway, they found her standing at the front door waiting, Hailey got out and gave Jake a hug.

“I’ll see you tonight” Hailey said softly while staring into Jakes eyes “and thank you, for everything.” Hailey gave Jake a gentle kiss before she walked off and into the house.

Mrs Anderson shrieked in a high-pitched voice, “Excuse you young lady, where in the world have you been!” looking tipsy as usual. The half empty wine bottle in her hand kind of confirmed that. Hailey walked right past her without a word and slammed the door behind her.

“Thank You Jake” Mrs Anderson said, while trying to balance herself on the wall next to her “I really appreciate you looking out for her.”

“Anytime.” Jake responded as he got into his car and reversed out the driveway.

Jake did not even bother heading back to school he just immediately went home to get some rest. His house was only 6 houses away from Mrs Andersons house, so it was not much of a drive. As he got home, he parked the car and went straight to his bedroom. He turned some music on and hurled himself on his bed. He then grabbed his iPad to continue reading the newspaper article he was reading in the morning. He did not go much further though as he passed out 5 minutes later.