Chapter 14

Flashback (Many years ago)

“Will you just stop tormenting that phone?” Carlos said as he walked by, sitting beside Tristan. He groaned in despair. “Just stop already, please.”

Tristan glanced at his friend, his features filled with sorrow and despair. “Her line is not connecting.”

“Maybe she had a low battery,” Carlos offered.

Tristan shook his head stubbornly. “I don’t think so. Jolene never has a low battery.”

“There is always a first for everything,” Carlos said, moving closer to Tristan. His heart broke as he watched his friend wallowing in pain. He wondered what happened to Jolene and why she wouldn’t turn her phone on. He secretly feared she had changed her number, but he dared not tell Tristan, or else he risked his head getting snapped off. He would have to be heartless to say that to a boy who already was feeling pathetic.

Tristan shook his head in objection. “No, not Jolene. I have been trying to reach out to her for a week without succe