Zeyon's POV
Okay, okay. Everything was fine just an hour ago. We were all laughing like idiots at the park, throwing chips at each other, drinking iced tea like we were at a tea party with no manners, and now—NOW—we're in the middle of a crisis.
"Where the hell is Allison?!" Leo shouted, looking around in circles like a confused cartoon character.
"I thought she was with you!" Elisse yelled back, eyes wide, hands in the air.
"Why me?! I was getting corndogs with you, remember?!"
"Oh my god, you're right. So... she was with Jessa?!" Elisse turned sharply.
Jessa blinked, offended. "Excuse me? I was busy taking selfies with the duck statue. I wasn’t babysitting!"
I stood there, frozen. My hands still had ketchup on them from the fries I didn't get to eat. My heart was racing. My stomach twisted. I wasn’t breathing right.
"No, wait," I said slowly, my eyes scanning the entire park. "She was just sitting with us earlier, and then she said she was gonna... Wait, did she say anything to anyone?!"
"OH MY GOSH!" Elisse suddenly gasped, covering her mouth.
"What?!" I snapped.
She looked guilty. Guilty like a puppy who chewed a shoe.
"She told me earlier," she said, slowly, like she was trying not to die, "that she was gonna go buy a notebook. Just nearby."
Everyone went silent.
"And you didn’t tell us?" I asked.
"I FORGOT, OKAY?!" Elisse screamed. "I THOUGHT SHE WAS BACK WITH YOU GUYS!"
Leo facepalmed. Jessa groaned and flopped on the grass.
"This is ridiculous," Leo muttered. "We lost Allison. In a city. Because someone needed a notebook."
"You act like she went to the jungle," Jessa added, rolling her eyes.
I wasn’t laughing. My chest felt tight. My mind was going all over the place.
"I'm calling the police."
"WHAT?!" everyone said in unison.
"I’m serious," I said, pulling out my phone. "We’ve been looking for almost an hour. It’s already dark. We don’t know if she’s safe. I—"
"Zeyon, chill—"
"NO, I WON'T CHILL!" I snapped. "What if something happened to her? What if she got lost or someone took her or—or—"
"Bro, breathe!" Leo grabbed my shoulders. "Dude. She's smart. She probably just went somewhere and lost track of time. Or maybe her phone died."
"Or maybe she went to get bubble tea and is vibing somewhere," Jessa added.
I didn’t care. I already dialed.
"Hello? Yes, police? I want to report a missing girl. She's about 5'4", wearing a pink hoodie and jeans, long hair, possibly carrying a shopping bag. We’re at Central Park near downtown—"
Everyone freaked out.
"Zeyon, YOU CALLED THE COPS?!"
"What do you expect me to do? Sit here while my crush—uh—I mean, my friend—is MISSING?!"
Leo gasped. "YOU HAVE A CRUSH ON—"
"Not the point right now!" I yelled.
A police car showed up 10 minutes later. Lights flashing. Officers stepped out, serious faces and all.
We explained. They took notes. They asked for a photo. I showed them one from my phone—Allison laughing with fries in her mouth. Not exactly helpful, but it’s what I had.
Then, right when the drama hit level 100...
"Guys... why are the police here?"
We all turned around.
ALLISON.
Standing there.
Holding a paper bag.
Confused.
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!" I ran to her like some dramatic movie scene.
She blinked. "I... I told Elisse I was gonna buy a notebook?"
Everyone slowly turned to Elisse.
"I SAID I FORGOT, OKAY!" she yelled defensively.
One of the officers sighed.
"Ma’am, you’re not missing anymore," he said, half amused. "Just... maybe tell all your friends next time."
Allison blinked again. "I was gone for, like, twenty minutes."
"More than an hour, actually," Leo corrected.
Allison laughed, shaking her head. "Oh my god, you guys."
Zeyon.exe has stopped working.
She looked at me. "Wait... did you really call the police?"
I looked away. "I thought you were taken or something!"
"Zeyon..."
I was dying.
But she just laughed and lightly punched my arm. "You're so overdramatic. It's kinda cute."
And that was the moment I realized I’m never living this down.
Jessa leaned to Elisse. "Told you he likes her."
"I knew it from day one," Elisse whispered back.
Leo patted my shoulder. "Congrats, bro. You're officially the king of overreaction."
And even though I wanted the earth to swallow me whole... I couldn’t help but smile.
Because at least... she was safe.
And maybe... she thought I was cute.
Even if I nearly sent a SWAT team after her.